This past Saturday, my life took an unexpected turn. While transporting a patient in the back of an ambulance, I suffered a new concussion. It was one of those moments that made me realize, yet again, just how fragile life is—and how quickly things can change. I immediately felt the all-too-familiar symptoms: dizziness, a sense of disorientation, and that unmistakable “drunk” feeling I had experienced before.

As a paramedic for over 20 years, I’ve faced countless challenges, but this one hit differently. You see, I’ve been down this road before. I know the grueling process of navigating the traditional medical system, and I refuse to go through it again. In 2006, I suffered a brain injury from a domestic violence incident. What followed was 13 years of medical mismanagement—over 50 providers, $350,000 in medical debt, and a life that was spiraling out of control. I was misdiagnosed, told I had multiple sclerosis, and lived in a world of medications that masked symptoms but never truly helped me heal.

I’m sharing this part of my journey because I know so many others are trapped in the same cycle. We’ve been conditioned to believe that the traditional medical system is the only answer. We follow the prescribed path—doctor visits, tests, medications, repeat—only to find that we’re stuck in a system designed to manage disease, not promote health. It’s emotionally, financially, and even spiritually abusive. And I refuse to go back to that place.

Why I’m Rejecting Workers’ Compensation

When this latest concussion happened, I knew it was a work-related injury. By law, this means my treatment should go through workers’ compensation. But here’s the problem: I’ve lost all faith in the traditional medical system. I’ve learned through painful experience that it’s not designed to help people truly heal; it’s built to manage symptoms. For 13 years, I lived under the weight of incorrect diagnoses and was told I wouldn’t live past 50. The system failed me, and it’s failed countless others.

In 2019, I finally found healing through functional medicine and neurology. After years of suffering, I found practitioners who looked beyond symptoms and focused on the root cause of my health issues. Through neurofeedback, lifestyle changes, and alternative treatments, I began to feel better than I ever had in my life. I’m no longer on medication, I’m living a healthy lifestyle, and I’m thriving. That’s why I’m not willing to get trapped in the traditional system again—especially under workers’ comp rules that would force me to jump through bureaucratic hoops for months before getting the care I need.

Instead, I’ve made a bold decision: I’m signing off from workers’ comp and taking control of my healing. I’ve consulted with a workers’ comp attorney, weighed the risks, and I’m ready to take this journey into my own hands. I know it won’t be easy, but I also know it’s the only way to ensure my health and well-being remain intact.

Taking My Healing into My Own Hands

I’ve been through this before, so I know what works. I’ve already reached out to my functional neurologist, and I’m putting the strategies that helped me recover last time into place. I’m implementing fasting, supplements, brain health exercises, and other treatments that I know will help me recover quickly and fully.

Over the next eight days, I’m giving myself time to heal at home. I’ve taken vacation days, set up my brain health equipment, and I’m ready to put in the work. I’m confident that by the end of this week, I’ll be back to nearly 100%, ready to return to work and move forward.

Some might say I’m taking a risk, but I see it differently. The bigger risk would be putting myself back into a system that nearly destroyed me. I’ve learned the value of functional medicine and holistic wellness. When you take care of yourself—when you focus on what your body truly needs—the healing process is faster and more complete than anything the traditional medical system can offer.

The Problem with Traditional Healthcare

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: the traditional medical system in America isn’t healthcare—it’s disease care. It’s built to treat symptoms, not find root causes, and it keeps people trapped in a cycle of dependency. As a paramedic, I see this every day. Patients go to the ER for one issue, only to be back six months later with the same problem. They’re given more meds, more tests, but never a real solution.

I’m not saying there’s no place for traditional medicine. If I break a bone or have a heart attack, I’ll go to the ER like anyone else. But when it comes to chronic issues, the system fails us. I’ve seen people lose everything—jobs, homes, hope—because of chronic illness and pain that the traditional system can’t fix. Some of them take their own lives because they feel like they’ll never escape.

That’s why I’m passionate about sharing my story and showing others that there is a way out. You don’t have to stay trapped in the system. You can take control of your health, make lifestyle changes, and find healing outside of the mainstream.

Join Me on This Journey

I’m sharing this not only to keep myself accountable but to inspire others who might be going through something similar. Over the next few days, I’ll be documenting my progress on my social media channels—The Courageous Survivor and Paula D Walters. You’ll see videos of my recovery process, the brain exercises I’m doing, the supplements I’m taking, and how I’m working hard to heal at home.

I hope that by sharing my story, I can show others the power of functional medicine and holistic wellness. When you’re truly well, recovery becomes so much easier. I’m excited to take you along on this journey and show you what’s possible when you step outside the traditional system and take control of your health.

Thank you for being part of my story. I look forward to sharing more with you in the coming days.

Stay courageous, stay strong, and be blessed.

— Paula Walters