MindBody Empowerment Psychiatry

10/20/2025

Now licensed in Texas and Virginia!

09/13/2025

09/01/2025

Labor Day savings have landed in my Fullscript store! Save on high-quality supplements and wellness products September 1 until Sept 3!

Shop today or sign up for access at:

08/30/2025

08/12/2025

Now to study for the Certification Exam in November. Who needs some help??

08/12/2025

Have you heard of "The Steal"?
( by Melissa poepping)

CORTISOL (The real "jerk" of the story)
The stress hormone. It's actually referred to in the medical world as "the death hormone" because of how it impacts vital body systems.

High cortisol can manifest in several different ways
• weight gain in the face or abdomen (aka: spare tire)
• Increase facial hair
• irregular menstrual cycle
• Thinning or easily bruised skin
• muscle weakness
• fatigue
• anxiety / depression
• sleep disturbance (waking at 3 or 4 am which is "the cortisol dump / surge")

We NEED this hormone to be balanced because of what it regulates
• Metabolism
• immune response
• stress
• other hormones....(Well, kind of)

Here is what cortisol steals the body of when it's too high
■ The Pregnenolone Steal
When the adrenals (where cortisol is produced) are fatigued from chronic stress, the body prioritizes production of the hormone cortisol.
And it does this at the expense of other hormones derived from pregnenolone.

Pregnenolone is the precursor to ALL the other hormones.
This prioritization issue is where the problem begins to go out of control.

Pregnenolone is the starting point for progesterone, estrogen, DHEA, and testosterone.

This increased demand, shifts the body's primary focus of Pregnenolone to cortisol production and thereby steals its pathways that lead to the production of s*x hormones like progesterone and DHEA (imbalance = fatigued, weight gain, low libido, infertility)

WHEN FLOURISHING.....
● Estrogen (the beauty hormone) maintains gorgeous skin health, beautiful hair, stimulates collagen production, skin elasticity and hydration.

● Progesterone (the happiness horome) regulates mood, and demeanor by influencing neurotransmitters like GABA which help us to be calm, and relaxed.

These imbalances .... The Steal .... is affected by the softest and slightest imbalance or trigger.

It's no wonder that during ANY phase, at ANY age, women feel "disconnected" and not themselves.

07/25/2025

Anxiety is lies your brain tells you about yourself or the situation.

07/14/2025

Interesting info I found:

“90% of serotonin is made in the gut!” You’ve probably heard that. And it’s true. But here’s what most people don’t realize:

➡️ The serotonin made in your gut doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier.
➡️ That means it doesn’t directly boost mood, reduce anxiety, or help you feel more emotionally balanced.

So why does this stat matter?

Because the gut still plays a major role in brain health—just not in the way people think. A healthy gut supports the production and absorption of nutrients and amino acids that do help your brain make its own serotonin and other neurotransmitters.

If you want more serotonin in your brain, here’s what actually helps:

✅ Support protein digestion – Your brain needs tryptophan (an amino acid) to make serotonin. Poor digestion = poor absorption. Use bitters, digestive enzymes, or HCl if needed.
✅ Eat enough complete protein – Especially foods rich in tryptophan: turkey, eggs, salmon, seeds, and legumes. Aim for protein at every meal.
✅ Stabilize blood sugar – Glucose helps shuttle tryptophan into the brain. Skipping meals and sugar crashes make it harder to produce serotonin.
✅ Get B vitamins + magnesium – These are serotonin’s “cofactors,” or the helpers your body needs to convert tryptophan into mood-regulating neurotransmitters.
✅ Heal the gut – Inflammation, infections, and poor gut motility can still interfere with nutrient absorption and overall brain-gut signaling.
✅ Address stress + cortisol – Chronic stress blocks serotonin synthesis. Daily nervous system support (like breathwork, walking, sunlight) matters just as much as food.

Serotonin isn’t just a “gut chemical” or a “happy hormone.” It’s a complex neurochemical, and it needs a strong foundation to function.

You don’t just need more serotonin in your gut.

You need the building blocks and conditions that help your brain make and use it well.

06/29/2025

We often think of gut issues as bloating, gas, or irregular bowel movements. But what if your gut imbalance is showing up somewhere completely different?

Your gut isn't just for digestion. It's a central hub for immunity, inflammation, and even mood regulation. When the microbiome is off, it can ripple through your entire body. Even without digestive complaints, gut imbalance can show up in surprising ways:

Fatigue - Poor nutrient absorption and chronic inflammation can drain your energy.
Brain Fog - Gut inflammation affects neurotransmitters and cognitive clarity.
Skin Issues - Acne, eczema, or rosacea can stem from internal imbalances.
Joint Pain - Food sensitivities and gut-driven inflammation often trigger stiffness.
Frequent Illness - 70% of your immune system lives in the gut - imbalances weaken your defenses.
Mood Swings or Anxiety - Gut-brain dysfunction alters your emotional resilience.
Food Sensitivities or Histamine Reactions - Dysbiosis can heighten reactivity.
Poor Sleep - Gut health impacts cortisol rhythms and melatonin production.

If you're dealing with symptoms that seem disconnected or hard to explain, it might be time to look in the most overlooked place of all: your gut.