ABOUT OUR Ross Mckenzie
I grew up in the ’80s and ’90s
And while I thought that to be my greatest weakness, I’ve come to understand that it’s actually my greatest strength.
In 1993, I attended a self-development seminar. I was in my early 20s. I participated in a fire-walk initiation and had a Kundalini awakening. And as the scalding coals singed the bottoms of my feet like blazing needles, I knew that something had irrevocably shifted inside of me.
Energy follows thought,
and our thoughts, words and actions collectively form our reality. In maintaining a reverent commitment to affirmative thoughts and positive actions we embrace the support of all creation and ascend to a higher plane of self-love and understanding.
From that moment on, my life would never be the same.
I began to feel a volt of energy that could not be contained. I couldn’t sleep or eat for days on end. So I was restrained and hospitalized. The mental institution subjected me to toxic, sedative medications (many of which they continue to use today). And for the first time, I saw a new title stamped beside my name: “Ross McKenzie – BIPOLAR”
Like a diabetic needs insulin, I was told that I needed lithium for the rest of my life to survive. And when you take lithium, you need blood tests every three months—its toxicity requires regular monitoring. Nine years into my treatment, my quarterly blood work revealed kidney damage. Unfortunately, this was just one side effect of the many I would experience.
I was mortified.
We grow up with labels. When you’re in school, you’re “the smart one,” “the jock,” or “the artsy one.” And when you get a diagnosis, you become “the bipolar one,” “the schizophrenic one,” or “the depressed one.”
But these labels only serve to further separate us from each other. They tell us that we’re different, that we don’t belong. And so we buy into the lie that we are alone in our experience.
The thing is, we’re all just humans trying to make our way in this world. We all want to feel safe, loved, and accepted. And we all have the same basic needs.
And as my journey unfolded in my 20s, that truth revealed itself. It became clear that millions of people worldwide have similar stories of psychiatric misdiagnoses along with prescribed unnecessary psychotropic medications. I knew this couldn’t be the only way to understand and address mental health challenges and symptoms. The Western medical approach to mental wellness didn’t add up. How can dependence on synthetic drugs be the true solution to something that is, quite literally, human nature?
I have been medication and symptom-free since 2010. It’s a miracle I am alive today, given what I went through. Being fully detoxed feels fantastic, and releasing my label, while also learning about the true nature of neuroplasticity and brain repair, has been incredibly empowering. It was a 20-year period of soul searching and self-discovery, and I wouldn’t change anything.
Caring for your mouth is caring for your whole well-being
%
ADULTS AVOID SMILING
due to the condition of their mouth or teeth
%
BELIEVE STRAIGHT & BRIGHT TEETH
help you get ahead in life
%
THINK LIFE IN GENERAL
is less satisfying due to their oral health
Now, it’s my turn to help others which I have been doing since 2015.I want to share my knowledge with as many people as possible. I want to show them that there is another way. A way that is natural, holistic, and sustainable. A way that empowers us to take control of our lives and our mental health.If you’re ready to take the first step on your own journey to mental wellness, I invite you to join me. Together, let’s explore the mind, body, and soul connection. Let’s discover the root cause of your symptoms and create a customized plan for healing.Because there is one thing that I know for certain: you are not alone.
ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS
The Treatment Specialist
As a child, I felt my true calling. In my 20s, I witnessed it firsthand.
About Ross McKenzie
As a child, I felt my true calling. In my 20s, I witnessed it firsthand.
I’m Ross McKenzie, and I’m a Professional Life Coach and Somatic Trauma Counselor. I’ve been supporting clients restorative journeys since 2015.
My own journey of healing began when I was just a child. From the outside, I was seemingly regular—I had parents who loved me and wanted the best for their son. I had friends, went to school, and played sports. I was a star athlete who earned good grades at an all-boys private school. I had all the makings of a “good” childhood.
Everything was great.
I’ve been incredibly sensitive for as long as I can remember. Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I didn’t have tools or a frame of reference for my feelings.
This was a valuable point of inflection in my life.
I had to find another way.
But I faced two challenges. First, getting off Lithium safely. And second, stabilizing my mood and unpacking the symptoms which led to my diagnosis in the first place.
What I learned was that it all came down to three things: the mind, body, and spirit.
The mind is incredibly powerful. Our thoughts create our reality. And when we’re in a state of stress, anxiety, or fear, our thoughts can quickly become negative and destructive.
But the body is equally important. We need to nourish it with healthy food, exercise, sleep, and exposure to the natural world. When we neglect our physical needs, it’s impossible to maintain a state of mental balance.