A Dentist’s Journey Through Trauma, Faith, And Self-Care
From Beirut to Orange County: A Life Rewired
How one dentist turned trauma into clarity, resilience, and joy
Childhood Under Fire
Before age five, Dr. Guitta Harb could tell the direction of incoming bombs by their whistle. She slept with slippers on and a flashlight in hand, guarding her neighborhood shelter. Trauma normalized chaos, and comfort meant vigilance. Moving to the U.S. at fourteen added language barriers and accelerated schooling. College at fifteen, dental school next, and a career built on drive—but also perfectionism, overgiving, and constant control.
When Success Hits the Body
The first warning came in her chest: arrhythmias, dizziness, tingling fingers. Tests said her heart was fine. Stress wasn’t. The stakes were clear: no change, no mom, no wife, no dentist. That wake-up call sparked a radical reset: early mornings, journaling, meditation, breathwork, and a home gym became her new “shelter.” Movement rewired fear, running released pressure, and small rituals anchored daily life.
Support, Surrender, and Systems That Work
She asked for help at home, stopped working Saturdays, and trusted her team at the office. Little acts of surrender—letting pillows go unfluffed, pausing between tough cases—shifted the energy for patients and family alike. Calm became contagious. Faith threaded through it all: nightly prayer became a handoff of fear, creating space for guidance, clarity, and purpose.
Beyond Metrics: Joy and Meaning
Her book The Keyholder pairs memoir with journal prompts, turning adversity into power. The Smile Diaries podcast exposes the truth behind public smiles. Her Awaken coaching program offers a framework anyone can use: morning rituals, movement, meditation, gratitude, boundaries, and shared load at home and work.
The Takeaway
Success without self is hollow. Balance is a practice, not a finish line. Light, coffee, breath, and honest conversations are the tools that rewire a life. Trauma can shape fear—but with clarity, support, and ritual, it can also guide joy.
