Rachel detailed her struggles with numerous health issues from a young age, leading her on a path to functional medicine. She overcame challenges by addressing root causes through diet and lifestyle changes. She explained how chronic stress keeps the body in a constant "fear" state, impacting cells and health over time. Mental, emotional and environmental stressors all contribute to dysregulation of the HPA axis and stress response.
Rachel recommended starting each day with solo time to self-regulate the nervous system and reduce stress-driven behaviors. Other tips included identifying stress signs, using supplements to calm the stress response, and prioritizing rest. For those experiencing burnout, she stressed the need to completely stop all activities and prioritize self-care and rest through nutrition, movement, social support and relaxing activities to allow the body to heal from chronic stress.
Rachel suggested small, sustainable lifestyle shifts like improving morning routines, food choices, movement habits and mindset to take control of health, focusing first on nervous system support before addressing other issues. By gaining self-awareness and writing personalized wellness goals, one can gain freedom from past limitations. Journaling, expressing emotions and self-love help reprogram thoughts for ongoing mental and physical optimization.
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Dr. Christina Bjorndal shares her journey into naturopathic medicine after a suicide attempt left her hospitalized, revealing how conventional medications failed to fully treat her mental health issues. She emphasizes treating patients holistically by addressing their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being, not just symptoms, explaining the four pillars' interconnected roles in health.
Simple changes like reducing sugar, coffee and carbonation intake make a difference by supporting the body's natural functions, while eating nutrient-dense whole foods better nourishes the physical, mental and gut microbiome. Mindfulness practices like recognizing unhelpful thoughts, relaxing into stillness and rephrasing narratives cultivate presence and self-compassion, countering inner critics and core wounds driving self-sabotage.
Dr. Bjorndal unravels cases by considering neurotransmitters, hormones and the immune-gut axis, gleaning insights from symptoms' origins to pinpoint each person's unique macro-system imbalances. Our subconscious dialogues shape our lives, but conscious awareness allows redirecting thoughts to healthier beliefs, as she demonstrated overcoming rejection fears to transform her career path.
Louise shared her personal experience with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, and how she became a brain expert through holistic healing. She shared how to identify and manage distractions or obstacles that might hinder intentions or goals. We also discussed the concept of taking on the energies of others, particularly parents, and how this can impact one's sense of self. Additionally, we explored the idea of utilizing Mind Gems to influence energy fields and past relationships.
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In this episode of the Holistic Health Bites podcast, Dr Fred Moss, a Holistic Psychiatrist, joins Andrea to discuss alternatives to pharmaceuticals for mental health treatment. They explore Dr Fred's career trajectory, expressing reservations about the over-reliance on medication in psychiatry and the importance of transitioning patients off medications gradually. The conversation also delves into the potential risks and challenges associated with coming off certain medications and highlights the significance of a healthy lifestyle, including a clean diet, mindfulness practices, and good sleep hygiene. The episode concludes with an emphasis on the importance of open communication and human connection for overall health. 
On this episode of the Holistic Health Bites podcast, Functional Nutritionist Andrea Nicholson is joined by Psychotherapist Jenny Robbins who is sharing her wisdom on techniques for recognizing and working through stress, trauma, and grief. These are topics that affect us all, whether we recognize it or not. It doesn't have to be related to death, abuse, or physical injury. It can be a thought in your head, a witnessed event, or even a worry about something.
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