Dr. Riley Smith
Are your physical symptoms actually emotional signals in disguise? When my mother’s anxiety manifested as breast cancer, I witnessed firsthand how our mental and physical health are directly linked. After years of treating symptoms while ignoring root causes, I discovered that emotional health requires a strong metabolic foundation. For most of my life, I approached […]
I am a cycle breaker. And if you’re reading this article, I believe you are ready to be one too. The realization hit me with stunning clarity while sitting in a hospital room, watching my mother struggle with cancer that had manifested after years of chronic anxiety. In that sterile space with its mechanical beeps […]
Have you ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” for your health – the perfect diet, exercise routine, supplements – yet still feel depleted, disconnected, or stuck in patterns that don’t serve you? What if the missing piece isn’t about adding more to your wellness routine, but about transforming your fundamental relationship with yourself? The […]
Have you ever wondered why, despite doing “all the right things,” your body still feels depleted? Why the supplements, clean diet, and exercise routine aren’t creating the vibrant health you’re seeking? The answer might lie not in what you’re adding to your wellness routine, but in what you’re continuing to do that undermines your body’s […]
I’ll never forget the day my doctor showed me my cortisol test results. The jagged line on the chart looked nothing like the smooth curve it was supposed to be. Instead of the natural rise in the morning and gradual decline throughout the day, my cortisol was erratic—spiking at odd hours and barely registering when […]
Heart rate variability (HRV) is one of the most powerful indicators of health, measuring the flexibility of your nervous system. Interestingly, self-acceptance and self-compassion have been shown to directly impact HRV, improving resilience and reducing stress-related inflammation. In this post, we’ll explore how your thoughts influence your heart’s rhythm and how to cultivate a more […]
Your nervous system isn’t just an electrical network – it’s a complex biochemical system that requires specific nutrients to function optimally. While breathwork, meditation, and other regulation techniques are valuable tools, they might not reach their full potential if your nervous system lacks the basic building blocks it needs to maintain balance. The Biochemistry of […]
Remember when play wasn’t something you had to schedule? When it wasn’t a “self-care activity” but just… life? Somewhere along the way, most of us learned that becoming an adult meant leaving play behind. We replaced spontaneous joy with productivity, creativity with responsibility, and playfulness with professionalism but adults need play for nervous system health. […]
There’s something we don’t talk about enough in the helping professions – the profound way our work lives in our bodies, and how our connections sustain us through it all. Think about your last full day of client work. By the end of it, you probably felt that familiar heaviness – not just mental fatigue, […]