6 minute read
COVER STORY
Thank You, Brain!
WRITER Leslie Ogle PHOTOGRAPHER Chelsea Bren
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–DR. DANIEL AMEN
“IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEAD.” I don’t know about you, but whenever someone has responded to my concerns with that quip, it hasn’t made me feel better because, trust me, with all the commotion going on up there, inside my own head isn’t exactly a place I like to be. But what I’m coming to realize, and what Stacy Sweeney, founder of BrainWise Solutions and co-owner of VYVE Wellness of Lake Norman (coming soon), understands very well is that the ubiquitous “it’s all in your head” is not only true, it’s great news!
After all, the most powerful computer known is the human brain; it possesses about 100 billion neurons with roughly one quadrillion (that’s a thousand trillion or one million billion!) connections known as synapses wiring these cells together. It can generate 23 watts of electrical power … enough to fuel a small lightbulb. It is, not-so-simply put, the most complicated object in the known universe. at’s why phrases such as “Don’t let your mind go there”; “When thoughts become things”; “What you feed your brain determines your appetite”; and, of course, “It’s all in your head” have withstood the ages … it’s the power of the brain, or in other words, the power of YOU, that plays a major factor in our health, strength, capabilities, and successes.
As health coaches, Stacy and husband Mike (BrainWise’s CEO) have made the mind/body connection their life’s work and passion. “Many Scripture verses talk about being thankful or rejoicing in gratitude,” Stacy says. “Scienti c research has now found that thankfulness increases blood ow to the brain and decreases chronic illness. I love when science backs up our foundational belief system.”
Stacy and her team partner with their clients and their clients’ practitioners to break down big lifestyle changes into accessible steps. ey use motivational strategies, behavior change theory, and communication techniques to help clients create sustainable changes that lead to better overall health. “In addition to health coaching,” she continues, “we utilize mild hyperbaric oxygen, exercise with oxygen training, and neurofeedback. is year we are partnering with VYVE Wellness of Charlotte to bring us VYVE Wellness of Lake Norman which will have physician directed IV therapy, whole body cryotherapy, whole body compression, red light bed, infrared sauna, and cold plunge as well as an entire neurocognitive suite.”
With a lifelong love of healthcare—especially helping people with neurological issues—Stacy attended the University of Wyoming for her undergraduate degree and the Paci c University in Forest Grove, Oregon, for physical therapy school. She later obtained her master’s in exercise and wellness from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
“I received my functional medicine health coaching certi cation through the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy,” Stacy says, “and subsequently my national board certi cation in health coaching. My personal journey with functional medicine started when I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and found that changing my diet, decreasing stress, and focusing on sleep made a huge impact on my health. My journey into brain health came as we were trying to nd the very best resources to heal some family members who had experienced trauma, both physically and mentally.”
“We’ve walked the path our clients are on so many times,” Stacy empathizes. “We’ve had family members with attention span issues, signi cant trauma, mysterious neurological symptoms, cardiac problems, and addictions. By walking those roads ourselves, we have encountered holistic approaches that address brain, body, and behaviors and reroute them towards health and healing. We know how it
feels to be diagnosed but left feeling completely stuck— having no concrete plan or accountability partner to help implement the doctor’s plan. I absolutely love the day-to-day interactions with our clients … acting as the guide at their side!”
Stacy and Mike met in the fth grade in their small hometown of Sheridan, Wyoming, and have been married for over 28 years now. ey have eight children and three grandchildren. While many things stand out in Stacy’s life, two things have changed her world most dramatically. e rst was nding out that their infant triplet son had a congenital heart defect and required surgery. Just 10 days old and weighing only three pounds, it was a delicate and di cult time.
“ at experience strengthened my faith in God and our marriage,” she shares, “as we navigated the roller coaster of emotions that came with the possibility of losing our son. e second life-altering moment was much more joyous as it was the adoption of our youngest daughter. I learned very quickly that I didn’t have to birth a child to fall completely in love with her.”
Having lived in 14 states and traveled to Mexico, Canada, Guatemala, China, Uganda, and Ethiopia, Stacy is no stranger to globetrotting. All their overseas trips have been especially impactful since many of them have included adoptions and mission trips. “One of my most memorable trips was to Uganda,” Stacy recalls. “At the time, our 16-year-old daughter was doing an internship in a program for children with HIV. Every morning, the children gathered for worship with smiles on their faces. Even though they had a lifethreatening illness and living in an orphanage setting, they were lled with great joy and gratitude. It changed my life!”
With only one very independent child still at home, Stacy and Mike are experiencing a taste of empty nest; but, not one to “let her mind go there,” Stacy has adjusted accordingly and considers herself blessed beyond measure. She looks forward to pouring herself back into her work and helping everyone who walks in her door. After all, Stacy and her husband know as well as anyone that it is possible to live your best life with a hope- lled future. w
