Running head: The Open Door from Recovery !

The Open Door from Recovery

Cassidy Moon

Arizona State
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Abstract

In this essay I explained how a bump in the road rerouted my life and put me on a new path in

life. Nutrition has played a big part in my life and helped me face some ups and downs.

Keywords: Nutrition, Recovery, Concussions

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Title

Over the past 4 years I have had ups and downs as any high school student would say.

But one thing has kept balance in my life and plays the biggest role in who I am is my diet. In

my personal experience, I have noticed if I eat unhealthy foods, I feel like shit and therefore the

negative factors continue to drag me down. When I eat healthy foods, I feel on top of the world

and can accomplish anything I put my mind to. Nutrition has shaped me into I am, and taken me

here.

The beginning of my freshman year of high school, I was on the cross country and track

team, and played AAA hockey as well. I was busy, so busy that McDonalds and Subway were

dinner almost every night. I was hurrying from practice to Student Council meetings to sporting

events to cheer my friends on. I completely overlooked what I was eating and how it had affected

me.

I was a tiny 100 pound freshman who had an overflowing amount of confidence, and

nothing really seemed to slow me down. After experiencing 3 major concussions, in the course

of that year, my brain suffered. It was then months later I was still having brain fog and was

struggling in school. I had developed really bad anxiety and went into a phase in life where I

didn't care about anything, and eventually ended up quitting sports. The indulging in unhealthy

foods never stopped, but the exercising did. Never once did I question that food was making me

fat. I had always just been content eating whatever I wanted.

I grew up in a very athletic household, and could tell I was disappointing my parents by not

being involved in as much anymore. My other three siblings were obtaining the attention I once
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had. My parents didn't see my injury as a stop sign, like I did. They encouraged me to do more

therapy, read more, and get rid of my phone. I didn't have the motivation to do this nor did I see

that as a way to get better. I did the wrong thing and let myself go. I just felt too overwhelmed

and lacked the large amount of self confidence I once had, and I was being to be uncomfortable

with my body. I was always thinking what if I could be that skinny girl again and have my life

back, which just destroyed me.

It wasn't until a whole year later that I would make exercise and nutrition a priority in

my life. I tried every detox, protein bar, and weight loss supplement you could believe, just to

gain the weight I would loose right back. I read article after article on healthy vs unhealthy

foods, just to read the next that broccoli is bad for you. Slowly I convinced myself to eat whole

foods and listen to my body when I was hungry and started skipping my nightly bowl of ice

cream. Its when I started eating these real foods that I felt progress in my recovery from my

previous head injuries. I stopped standing in the mirror judging myself. I was a real person. I

didnt shy away from new friends anymore. I got out of bed everyday with energy in the

morning. I was overall happier. What I was eating was becoming who I am now.

Over this short period of time I have switched from my major from real-estate business to

nutrition. I was so inspired that eating healthy had an impact on my physical health, and that my

mental health was beginning to improve as well. So many people forget this component when

they are struggling with their health, especially mental health. Since nutrition has helped me

become me again, I am so ready help other people find themselves again too.
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References