Check Out Olivia Rehberger’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Rehberger.

Hi Olivia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois but haven’t lived there since I left for college to attend the University of Missouri. I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Psychology, after struggling with debilitating migraines throughout my time at Mizzou. After graduation, my boyfriend (Paul) and our German Shepherd (Bear) moved to Kansas City where we’re remodeling and creating a home for our wolf-pack!

It wasn’t until after college and well into my late 20s that I was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a genetic disease that affects connective tissue. All of the sudden, the symptoms and oddities I’ve managed most of my life made sense! After many years of struggling with every medication on the market for migraine, going to several renowned migraine clinics across the country, seeing dozens of specialists, and receiving treatment after treatment with no prevail- I decided to take matters into my own hands. I stopped treatment, detoxed my medications, and started making lifestyle changes.

After taking one mat Pilates class, I decided that I wanted to be a Pilates instructor; luckily I happened to nanny for the owner of Pilates Kansas City and transitioned from nanny to the studio. Since I decided to go for it, the studio has become my second home, and my clients like my little family in KC. Helping others manage chronic pain conditions through movement has been beyond rewarding.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I believe that invisible illness is my biggest blessings because it served as a catalyst for prioritizing health and self-advocacy at a young age and presented me with an opportunity to create a healthy lifestyle. I probably wouldn’t care as much about self-care, lifestyle, and my health in my twenties if I had not been debilitated by chronic pain throughout my adolescents and college.

As the disease took over my life, I never stopped wondering why, pushing for answers, and pursuing my instincts which led me to prioritize self-awareness instead of numbing pain and symptoms. When I was surviving life with chronic, daily, intractable migraine I was told by doctors around the country that there was no cure and to have realistic expectations for my pain management. Life at age 23, was looking pretty bleak until I committed myself to finding a way to thrive as opposed to surviving my life with chronic pain. I began to look at symptoms as signals and used food and movement as medicine.

Today, I have episodic instead of chronic migraine, which feels like a chance to start again. I have learned to make the best of a bad situation by embracing life’s challenges with a positive attitude and utilizing my limited energy efficiently.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Certified Pilates Instructor at Pilates of Kansas City & Patient Advocate for Alliance Headache Disorders Advocacy. You can find all of my published writing collected on my website: www.invisiblyenhanced.com and keep up with me on Instagram @invisibly_enhanced.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Growing up, I was always performing, dancing, and singing. My mom says I was “a very rambunctious child”. When I wasn’t center stage, I was at my late dad’s interior design studio, “Home Enhancements”. I named my website “Invisibly Enhanced” as a nod to him as well as the invisible illnesses I manage.

The whole concept is living a full and enhanced life with chronic pain conditions!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://invisiblyenhanced.com/
• Instagram: @invisibly_enhanced
• Facebook: Invisibly Enhanced

Image Credits
Ruthie Stark and Jefferson May Photography and Mallory McBride photography