Meet Your Resident Contrarian

Hello again, my wellness seekers and curious souls! I’m Rebecca, your resident Compassionate Contrarian and the Editor-in-Chief of this website.

I’m a storyteller. A continuous learner. A wife. A dog mom. A Spoonie. A user of many exclamation points (you’ll see). An Aquarius Sun, Libra Moon, Capricorn Rising, and Scorpio MC (for my astrology lovers). A 2/4 Emotional Projector (for my human design obsessives). A beautiful being made of stardust. And that just scratches the surface.

I live in New Jersey with my husband and our two rescue dogs. I met my husband when I played in a men’s flag football league and yes, I was the only female in the league and no, I was not on his team. Our pups are both named after characters from Starcraft (the military science fiction strategy game series). Unsurprisingly, at least one of us is a gamer, while the other is perhaps more of a casual dabbler in MMORPGs.

I’ve always been fascinated with the merging of art and science, and intellect and spirit. When I was a child, I remember saying I wanted to be an Art Teacher, an Astronomer, and a Book Editor.

I also apparently used to pretend I was a hair stylist. In school, I loved Science, but I was good at English. I spent summers going to work with my mom (she was a librarian) and reading all I could get my hands on. I’ve dabbled in making jewelry, my preferred mediums being wire and chainmaille. I’m also a former natural beauty blogger.

I ended up getting a BFA in Graphic Design and then I spent 15 years chasing professional development based on what everyone told me I was good at and what I felt I was “supposed” to do. I’ve worked as a designer, production artist, proofreader, editor, electronic submissions specialist, and copy approval/promotional review manager. I also picked up various certificates along the way, specifically in Regulatory Affairs (Pharmaceuticals) and Human Resources Management.

During all of the years above, I was also trying to manage sixteen (16+) migraine days per month, hormonal issues, insulin resistance, extreme fatigue, abdominal pain, and my declining mental health (complete with panic attacks).

I couldn’t take care of anyone or anything because I could barely take care of myself. All of my diagnoses came throughout my working years, even though some of the symptoms I had been dealing with since puberty.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Insulin Resistance. Leaky Gut. Chronic Migraine with and without Aura. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Suspected, but Unconfirmed Endometriosis. Occipital Neuralgia. And every time they put a name to something, I felt relieved and hopeful—only to then fall back into a pit of despair because of the never-ending cycle of feeling better temporarily and then feeling way worse.

I had support from my family, friends, and luckily, because I’d always been vocal about my illnesses (even when it made people uncomfortable), my bosses and colleagues were pretty supportive as well.

They still tell me to take PTO when I’m feeling sick, which makes me laugh. I tell them: “If I take PTO every time I’m feeling sick, I’ll never work!” And let’s be honest, sometimes working is a better distraction for my pain than taking a sick day to wallow in all the feels.

But handling my health felt like a second full-time job. And I wasn’t provided with resources. I had to do my own research and it felt utterly overwhelming. All of that to say, I really did lose my spirit.

Then, something clicked. I started working with a therapist in 2021. And I got even more honest with my doctors. I continued exploring all types of healing modalities. In 2022, I signed up for a 30-day leadership intensive. And I went through that program twice. Then I hired myself a coach. And I determined my core values. I also became a Patient Advocate for the American Migraine Foundation. In 2023, I got promoted and started working in Operations and Human Resources. And I worked on my emotional intelligence. I updated my core values. And I BECAME a Life Coach. In 2024, I started my Flower Essence and Homeopathy training. And added a homeopath to my care team. And connected with another coach.

So far in 2025, with the support of an amazing group of women, I’ve learned to set boundaries. Shed guilt. Find my alignment. Embrace my spirituality. Ride my emotional wave. And I’ve started this blog. I may have chronic pain, but I refuse to let it define me or stand in the way of my noble goals. And I want the same for you.

If you are here reading my story, then know that you are part of an amazing community of humans who understand what it is like to live with chronic conditions and invisible illness. You know what is it like to care for others. You know what it is like to seek out all of the different options for healing that are available in this world.

You are the reason Compassionate Contrarian exists. Let’s ignite open and respectful discussion of viewpoints, beliefs, and approaches in health advocacy, spirituality, and wellness. Let’s cultivate knowledge and power. Let’s shed expectations. Ignore judgment. Inspire one another. Forge friendships. Make things happen.

Together, we can reimagine what wellness resources look like. And I am committed to helping you all confidently navigate allopathic, alternative, and arcane practices with critical compassion.

I strongly believe that kindness, connection, and unconventional thought will change the world. So if anything in my story resonates with you, please follow me on Instagram, subscribe to my newsletter, or send me an email. I can’t wait to meet you!

Get In Touch

My Chronic Conditions:

• Chronic Migraine with and without Aura
• Occipital Neuralgia
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) with insulin resistance
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Suspected, but Unconfirmed Endometriosis

Relevant Career Background & Training

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