Abbie Lee Louw Naturopath

27/04/2026

Most of the women I see aren’t doing anything wrong… they’re just worn out 😫
Doing everything for everyone
Thinking about the next thing before finishing the first
Running on coffee and not quite enough food
Never actually switching off 🫠
Then wondering why they feel flat, bloated, anxious or just not like themselves.
Your nervous system can only keep up for so long before it starts pushing back.
And I get it… slowing down can feel really hard when you’ve got everything on your shoulders.
Kids, work, house, life… it doesn’t just pause because you need a break.
But pushing harder usually isn’t the answer. It just digs the hole deeper and the symptoms and resentment just start to grow!
So just start small.
Eat properly.
Create a bit of space where you can, even if its just 15 mins a day.

Even on the messy weeks… there are still good moments there.
You just have to notice them 🌸🌺

24/04/2026

23/04/2026

Anxiety, fatigue, mood swings?
Hysteria.
Treatment plan: co***ne.
Things have definitely changed over the years!

12/03/2026

Burnout is something I see a lot in clinic at the moment

And it doesn’t always look like someone lying on the couch unable to function, although I have been there!

More often it shows up as things like poor sleep, feeling wired but exhausted, digestive issues, anxiety, or hormones that feel completely out of whack. 😴⚡️

When the body has been under stress for a long period of time it starts prioritising survival over things like good sleep, digestion, fertility and steady energy. Not ideal when you’re trying to get through work, kids, life… all the things.

Over time this can also increase the body’s demand for certain nutrients.

Some of the supplements I often consider when someone is feeling burnt out include:

Magnesium: helps support the nervous system and relaxation. I often use forms such as magnesium glycinate or threonate as they tend to be better tolerated and helpful for sleep and nervous system support.

B vitamins: important for energy production and supporting the body’s stress response. I generally prefer activated forms such as methylfolate, methylcobalamin and P5P.

Adaptogenic herbs such as Rhodiola or Withania (Ashwaganda): these can help support the body’s stress response and resilience over time. 🌿

Omega-3 fish oils: support brain health and help reduce inflammation associated with chronic stress. 🐟

Of course supplements aren’t a magic fix (I wish they were… it would make my job much easier). They work best alongside things like sleep, nutrition, stress load and nervous system support.
But they can definitely be part of the bigger picture. ✨

If this sounds familiar, it might be worth looking deeper at what your body actually needs rather than just pushing through.

This is something I work through with clients regularly in clinic. ✨

11/03/2026

Being a naturopath is a slightly unusual job sometimes but oh so rewarding!

We don’t see each other outside appointments… but I end up learning a lot about people’s lives and nervous systems.

Things like:
• how long someone has been quietly running on empty
• how much they’re carrying mentally every day 🧠
• and how often they’ve been pushing through exhaustion just to keep everything moving.

And honestly, most of the women I see are incredibly capable.

They’re working, managing homes, looking after families, thinking about everyone else… all while their nervous system has been sitting in high alert for far too long ⚡️

So when someone says something like:

“I feel exhausted all the time… but I can’t seem to switch off.”
or
“My brain just never stops.” 🤯

I hear that a lot.

The good news is the nervous system is actually very adaptable when it’s given the right support 🌿

It just usually needs a bit more than “try to relax”… and another coffee ☕️

If your body has felt like it’s stuck in overdrive for a while, you’re definitely not the only one 🤍

And it’s something we can absolutely work through.

📍Bookings available via the link in my bio.

20/02/2026

Just because you can cope doesn’t mean you should have to 💭

So many people I see are incredibly capable 💪 They hold it together, get it done, show up for everyone… and slowly burn themselves out in the process 😮‍💨 We get so used to surviving at a certain pace that we stop questioning whether it’s actually sustainable.

Burnout doesn’t usually come from one big event. It comes from proving you can cope for too long 🔁 and I think we can all relate to this at some point.

If this one hit, it might be worth asking:
What am I carrying right now that I don’t actually need to be? 🎒

You’re not weak for needing support 💛

18/02/2026

Burnout doesn’t start with a big breakdown. It sneaks up when life is just… full on, all the time 😮‍💨 And I think a lot of us can relate.

I went through proper burnout years ago when I had two little ones 👶👶, was studying at uni 🎓, trying to keep everything together and basically running on adrenaline and coffee ☕ On paper I was “coping”. In reality, my nervous system was fried and I fell apart for a bit there 🫠

This is why I’m big on looking at what your days actually look like, not just telling people to rest more, that’s kind of like telling people to just “not worry about it.” Weekends help, but they don’t undo five days of rushing, under-eating, being mentally on and carrying everyone else’s stuff and plus a lot of people I know and work with are just as busy on the weekends

I know this is a bit too relatable, for many, just know you’re not lazy or failing at life 💛 Your system is just overloaded.
And that’s something you can work with.

12/02/2026

I’m truly grateful for the trust my clients place in me to support them through their health journey and challenges. It’s never taken lightly

12/02/2026

Most women don’t wake up one day “burnt out” it is something that happens over time. It's that feeling of being on all the time.
Running on caffeine.
Pushing through tiredness.
Telling yourself “I’ll just get it done”, “no one else will do it”, or “I don’t have time to stop”. Often with very little support, and rarely asking for help even when you need it. 🫠

Under ongoing stress, your body keeps cortisol elevated to help you cope. That’s helpful short term, but when stress becomes your normal, your physiology shifts into survival mode. In that state, energy is diverted away from ovulation and progesterone because reproduction isn’t essential for immediate survival. This is why periods can become irregular, more painful, heavier, lighter or unpredictable during long periods of high load.

I remember being at uni with three little ones, barely sleeping, trying to do everything and just pushing through. At the time, I didn’t connect the dots between that level of pressure and what was happening hormonally and it also affected my mental health in the form of severe anxiety for a few years.
Looking back now, it makes complete sense. 🧠

These changes aren’t random they’re a predictable physiological response to sustained stress, not a personal failing. 💛

If burnout is this widespread, something has to give and it shouldn't be your health ✨

08/02/2026

Stress and burnout aren’t the same thing, even though they’re often used interchangeably.

Stress is usually temporary and eases once the pressure passes.
Burnout is what happens when stress becomes chronic and the nervous system doesn’t get the recovery it needs.

If rest or time off doesn’t bring your energy back, and you still feel switched on, overwhelmed or flat, it’s often burnout rather than stress.

A few simple things that can help take the edge off burnout:
– Keep meals regular to avoid blood sugar crashes
– Create a slower start to your day, even by 10 minutes
– Reduce stimulation at night (screens, multitasking, late emails)
– Get outside daily, even briefly

These aren’t a “fix”, but they help stabilise the nervous system.

If this feels familiar, this is exactly the kind of support I provide in clinic, helping you work out what’s driving burnout in your body and how to recover properly

04/11/2025

You’re not imagining it.
The mood swings, the energy dips, the “I just don’t feel like myself anymore.”

It’s easy to blame stress, work, or even your cycle, but sometimes, it’s your hormones shifting gears.
Perimenopause isn’t a switch that flicks overnight. It’s a gradual transition that can start up to 10 years before your periods stop, and it can mimic a lot of other things like thyroid changes, gut inflammation, or blood sugar imbalance.

If you’ve been told your bloods are “normal” but you still don’t feel right… there’s more to explore.