About me

Storytelling has the power to shape moral values and help us form deep connections.

Stories are a vital part of solution. Facts might live in our brains, but stories exist in our hearts.
It was the exactly what I was thinking when I have created this blog.
My life story is what Born Warrior is all about, everything I write comes from my own life experiences.

My name is Erika Bernardes, Brazilian and I have been living in Ontario, Canada with my husband, my son, my daughter and my pets (a dog and two cats) since 2014 after literally my entire life has been became up side down. All my symptoms starting in 2016 and the diagnostic just came in 2020.

After 5 years, it is still hard to live with something that we can not make a "deal". It is hard to make plans or want to do things that I can not do anymore. I have learning every single day because everyday is a new day. But life, experiences and traumas brought more.

Every person has their own unique set of experiences, strengths, and challenges that make them who they are. No one will prepare you for a lifetime of chronic illness, chronic pain, invisible illness... the true roller coaster life. There is no preparation for that. It can happen to anyone at any time in their lives, yet everyone thinks that it can't possibly happen to them.
Nobody ever prepares you for chronic illness, neither life, nor family. You will learn that you maybe will be invincible, you have to work hard, be successful, give your best for a good life. So, you grow up thinking that if you ever get ill, there will be a cure and then you're not ill anymore. But, what if that never happens, and you just stay sick? Our society really isn't prepared for this. I remember the day when the diagnosis and my family doctor was tell me that it maybe could be Fibromyalgia, I had did a small search about the illness and it scared me. So, I was to specialist, praying, my fingers crossed, positive vibes and saying to myself "It is not Fibromyalgia, I will take medications, maybe go to some physiotherapies and it will be fine". It is what we learn. I was prepared to live or die, not to live in the middle. When the finally I was in the doctor room, I feel so frustrated, it literally put me down. As a perfectionist, almost a "wonder woman" (yep, I was proud to be a daughter, woman, wife, mom and entrepreneur, stress, multitasks so great for me) who's prone to experiencing shame easily, my first response was: "I failed. I'm weak. I should be able to keep up with everyone without stopping".
The "don't stop" mentality supports the false, unrealistic idea that successful person can only be achieved with hard work and selfcare. I noticed how my anxiety increased, body pain and my blood pressure had been repeatedly high and shrugged off as nerves around doctors' visits and E.R.
I have learned to mask my symptoms and say "I'm good, l'm okay, I'm fine" when my entire body is not. I have learned to hidden my feelings, pains, because our society is not prepared to hear the true. I have learned to smile to hidden my suffering and my pain.

Fibromyalgia is a whole different life style. One that nobody signs up for, but once you're in it, you're in it for life. Don't take your health for granted. You have no idea how lucky you are to not be living with a chronic condition and chronic pain that will be there for the rest of your life.

My advice to anyone who feels like their concerns are being ignored is this: No one knows your body better than you do. No one is better able to advocate for yourself than you. No person knows your body better than you. You are the only one who knows what your body needs. And the last and most import: "There is just one version of you!" Remember that.

So, my blog's personality can be described in three words: Don't give up.

This page reflects that by showcasing my journey, shaped by life experiences and challenges. After so many challenges, I've learned to trust in myself and my gut. I want readers to discover their purpose and go for it, just like I did.