As a woman living with gastroparesis, a chronic stomach condition, Mia Roberts is used to people telling her that her condition “might just be anxiety.” Even though Roberts finally got a diagnosis after years of pestering multiple doctors, she still sometimes takes the words of these skeptics to heart.
That’s why, one morning, Roberts thought she’d give their suggestions a try and do some mindfulness meditation. She turned on a calming guided meditation video, took a few deep breaths — and almost immediately projectile vomited everywhere.
She was baffled. How could a trained medical doctor who diagnosed her with a serious, incurable medical condition be correct? That would mean her mom’s friend Brenda, the antivax uncertified shamanic healer, was wrong? It just didn’t make any sense. Brenda really seemed like she knew what she was talking about when she said to “just align your chakras.”
Roberts tried to be mindful while cleaning up the puke that was now all over the floor. She had to admit, it was better to clean up puke with a calming meditation video playing in the background than in total silence. Thanks, Brenda!