Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessica Guzman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jessica , sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
As a first-gen Mexican American, it once felt very lonely to navigate the symptoms and challenges related to mental health issues. It wasn’t until recently our culture began to openly speak on mental health and all its complexities. Certainly, it wasn’t because mental health struggles were not felt and experienced in our families and households, but it was a taboo topic and one that we did not feel comfortable talking about. It wasn’t until I began working in the mental health field that I began to understand what I had been experiencing for many years. Shortly after working as a nurse in the mental health field, I became pregnant with my daughter and experienced my first panic attack. I did my best to learn about alternatives to begin to feel better while pregnant and came across an article that spoke about nutrition, meditation and yoga as an alternative to medication to reduce anxiety. Being I was afraid to experience the side effects of medication while pregnant and what could be adverse reactions, I decided to learn more about a holistic approach to mental health. It’s been 12 years since I decided to learn more about different wellness modalities and what I call “my invisible wellness toolbox” has expanded and evolved since then. Each day I take a few minutes in the morning to meditate, pray and ask myself what I might need that day to feel stronger within. Sometimes it’s journaling to clear my mind, other times it’s allowing myself to cry and not hold back the tears, other days it might be to remind myself to connect with loved ones. Each day is different, but one thing I know for sure is, focusing on what I can control and is within my reach- like my health and wellness habits and the way I respond to life, is one way I have been able to navigate some very difficult mental health challenges. I take it one step at a time, sometimes it’s one intentional moment at a time.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Jessica Guzman, I am a certified health and wellness coach and a lover of all thing’s health and wellness. I was born in Mexico, San Luis Potosi and have lived in California for most of my life. At the age of 10 years old, my parents chose to send my youngest sister and I to live in Mexico with my grandmother. We lived there for close to 2 years. It was a challenging transition to say the least, yet it was one of the best memories of my childhood because I was able to connect with my family and reconnect back to my roots. I often joke and say that if it was my decision, I would have stayed living in Mexico. I loved it out there but destiny had different plans for me. I am a mother of 2 amazing humans and had my first child at the tender age of 13. Being a teen mom, a proud immigrant, a mental health warrior and advocate and a cycle breaker of abuse and addiction- has helped shape the way I view the world and the way I do my best to live each day with faith and belief that we can all heal, grow and thrive despite our background and challenges.
My mission as a women’s health and wellness coach is to support them in the beginning stages of their health and wellness journey to live a wholesome life. Many of my clients have never experienced what it’s like to focus on their health and wellness outside of weight loss and fitness. I help them to shift their perspective to taking a wholesome and holistic approach to their health for overall wellness. I do this by meeting them exactly where they’re at in their life’s journey and create clarity around the next steps for better health and wellbeing. In this process, I introduce them to different wellness modalities to create a healthy relationship to their body, food and view exercise as a tool for mental health. My approach has shifted and evolved as time has progressed but the foundation of my programs and everything I do as a health coach, will always have mental health at the forefront. Currently I am the most excited about a mastermind I launched earlier this year for current and future health and wellness coaches who are desiring to make an impact in their communities through group coaching. The first cohort are launching their first wellness programs fall of 2023 and I couldn’t be more excited!
My hope is to continue inspiring others and supporting them on their own health and wellness process and I am looking forward to bringing back in-person wellness events including mental health and wellness events for our youth.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The 3 qualities that have been the most impactful on my journey have been a positive outlook on life, strength and sympathy. I’m not talking about bypassing difficult situations with toxic positivity; however, I do believe that cultivating a positive outlook on life is not about denying our reality but more so, it’s about believing you can come out of any situation stronger and better than before. Practice viewing your challenges as a way to become a stronger version of yourself and don’t forget to create the time to take care of your mind and body so that you not only look good on the outside, but you feel good on the inside too. A way that I have not only sympathized but at times empathized with others is by remembering we are all human living in our own world in this massive world and school of life. Sometimes enjoying the ride while other times it feels like we are hanging on by a thread, so practice being kind and give what you would like to receive in return.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
Above all, what has helped me to overcome challenges is my faith and being open to building an intimate relationship with God. I didn’t always think and feel this way but life’s curveballs and learning lessons have led me to surrender when I did not know what to do or how to navigate difficult situations. Next would be my life partner of 15-years, my parents and sister. They believed in me when no one else would.
Contact Info:
- Website: under construction
- Instagram: @coachjessguzman
Image Credits
Images by Carolina Adame
