People who struggle with nervous system dysregulation (NSD) often get labelled as having “anxiety”, “depression”, “ADHD” or other mood or behavioral disorders where SSRI’s or mood stabilisers are prescribed.

NSD can exacerbate symptoms of other conditions and changes within the body, including changes like menopause and conditions like thyroid dysfunction, gut health issues and auto immune disorders.

People who struggle with NSD may resonate with the symptoms of these mood or behavioral disorders (like anxiety disorder or ADHD) but they often feel like the diagnosis is not right. This causes them to feel reluctant to use prescribed medication and they end up suffering for far longer than necessary.

People who struggle with NSD are usually high functioning and highly capable. They often have a lot of responsibility and work high stress jobs or study high pressure subjects at uni. This history of being ‘high functioning’ often adds to the in congruent feeling they have about the labels they receive.

If the information in the article resonates with you, reach out because I would love to support you.

NSD is one of the many health imbalances that I have struggled with over the years, I understand it on a personal and clinical level and it is important to know that there is a way out.

What is NSD?

Nervous system dysregulation is a term used to describe a set of symptoms that develop after a stressful or traumatic event or after experiencing a prolonged period of stress.

Examples of traumatic experiences may include: an accident, a diagnosis, hearing bad news, losing a loved one, a relationship breakdown, a surgery, etc

Examples of times where people may be exposed to prolonged periods of stress include: studying, working a stressful job, pregnancy and raising young children (especially if sleep is compromised), caring for a loved one, grieving the loss of a loved one, abusive relationships, etc.

The stress and/or trauma does not need to be 'severe' for NSD to develop, in fact, often times, the smallest thing can be the 'final straw'.

Symptoms of nervous system dysregulation include:
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• Feeling on edge, feeling anxious, feeling like something bad is going to happen
• Gut health issues like cramping, bloating, gastritis, food intolerance, IBS
• Sleep issues like inability to get to sleep or waking frequently throughout the night
• Hormone issues, symptoms of PMS or menopause may be exacerbated, thyroid function may appear to be slowing down without any changes in blood results
• Difficulty concentrating, brain fog, memory issues, feeling scattered, clumsy
• Lack of motivation, loss of interest in things that used to bring joy
• Feeling fatigued, wired but tired, difficulty relaxing, feeling like you have to keep busy
• Difficulty maintaining a healthy weight, unwarranted weight gain (especially around the mid section) or rapid and extreme weight loss
• Changes in appetite and cravings, hungry while also experiencing a loss of interest in food

The interesting thing about NSD is, symptoms often come to the surface long after experiencing a stressful event.

It may feel as if that stressful chapter is closed and life is good, then all of a sudden some or all of the symptoms mentioned above, begin to develop. This can leave people feeling confused and frustrated as they struggle to make sense of why their body is behaving this way.

NSD often presents as anxiety, panic disorder, insomnia, depression and ADHD. Medication for these diagnoses may provide some relief but they fail to address the true, underlying cause.

When I finally discovered that a majority of my symptoms were due to NSD, I felt a huge wave of relief. It was comforting to know that I wasn’t going crazy or losing my mind. What I was experiencing was an appropriate response to the level of stress I had experienced over the preceding years.

The approach to heal NSD is going to be different for everyone. Some people will resonate will all of the above symptoms, while others will find that only a few body systems are out of balance.

Treatment also depends on how much you are able to do throughout the healing process. For me, the fatigue, brain fog and lack of motivation was so severe that simply changing one or two things felt like an ordeal.

Steps towards resolution

Although treatment varies, there are a few things that most people will benefit from and I will briefly list them below.

1. Restore nutrient deficiencies

During prolonged periods of stress, our body burns through its resources. Diet is often something that is neglected during these times of stress and this combination leaves us completely depleted.

Nutrients like magnesium, potassium, sodium, vitamin c, B6 and more are usually completely depleted but it is not as simple as simply supplementing these nutrients and getting back on with normal life.

A dysregulated nervous system will often produce issues like low stomach acid, sluggish digestion and impaired detoxification. We must work on resolving these issues while supplementing with high quality nutrients that are specific for your body in order for them to have a positive effect.

My favorite way to begin replenishing these lost nutrients is with an Epsom salt foot soak (1/2 cup Epsom salt in 1 tub of warm water) this will slowly increase magnesium, once the body starts to show signs of healing we can accelerate the process with a supplement (if necessary).

The second thing I like to use is an 'Adrenal Mocktail'. Drink 1 mocktail daily to begin to replenish some of the lost nutrients. Ingredients are: 1/2 cup Nudie orange juice, 1/2 cup coconut water and a generous pinch of salt. This combo is rich in wholefood vitamin c, sodium and potassium. You could also stir in 1 tbsp of collagen for a little dose of protein. This is a great afternoon 'pick-me-up' for people struggling with mid afternoon fatigue.

2. Deliberate relaxation

NSD is often characterised by feeling like you are stuck in a constant state of flight and fight. When this becomes our 'norm' if often feels uncomfortable to relax and we may feel like we need food, alcohol or something else to unwind.

Part of the healing process is to find a method of relaxation that resonates with you. It could be meditation, hypnosis, drawing, painting, walking in nature, swimming, dancing, listening to music or taking a warm bath.

People who feel stuck in a state of flight and fight can often feel worse after relaxing and may feel better when they are constantly busy, but this is part of the problem. Running on stress can be somewhat addictive and it takes time to feel comfortable in a relaxed state.

Be persistent, try different activities and find something that helps you to relax and recharge.

3. Herbal Medicine and Bio Resonance

These are two of my favorite tools that both calm and re-energise the nervous system.

Both modalities are completely tailored to your individual needs, which means results are gentle, rapid and effective.

Herbal medicine and bio resonance can help to bring your major body systems (like your nervous system, digestive system, endocrine/hormone system) back into balance. When a gentle approach is used, these modalities are free from side effects. I use both modalities in clinic for a variety of issues on a daily basis with great success.

4. Hypnotherapy

Hypnosis is a wonderful tool that communicates directly with your unconscious mind. This is the part of your mind that is driving a majority of the symptoms. When appropriate, I may suggest the use of certain hypnosis recordings to promote feelings of rest, relaxation and calmness. Not everyone with NSD will respond well to hypnosis, for some it can be irritating due to the discomfort they feel when they try to relax. As the nervous system begins to heal, I often encourage clients to explore hypnosis as it is a lovely and effective tool.

If you are ready to start seeking support to heal your nervous system and the associated symptoms, reach out because I would love to help you.

Whether you are looking to avoid medication or seek additional support to improve the way your medication works, there is much that can be done in both scenarios. 

My approach is completely flexible and I will meet you where you are at. Some people like to do everything all at once while others seek gentle and subtle change. Either way there is so much we can do to get you feeling like YOU again.

Use the link below to get started with an initial appointment. 

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I used to be the type of person who couldn't eat carbs on a regular basis without gaining weight.

I was introduced to the keto diet in my early 20's just after I had been diagnosed with PCOS. I was struggling with stubborn weight gain (only a few kilos but enough to make me feel uncomfortable and unhappy with my appearance), I was fatigued, not coping well with stress, constantly craving sugar and struggling with regular episodes of binge eating which I would then follow with periods of restriction.

I had skin issues, sluggish digestion (which left me feeling constantly bloated), severe PMS and big issues with my cycle.

For 8 years, I used the keto diet (on and off) to manage these symptoms. I was able to get my symptoms under control while on the keto diet but as soon as I relaxed my diet, the symptoms would return. I resigned myself to the fact that I would have to be very conscious of carbs for the rest of my life.

In the early months of 2020, I decided I needed to put myself back on the keto diet to get these recurring symptoms under control. In the past I would begin to see these symptoms improve within the first week, but this time, weeks passed and nothing changed. I persisted with the plan, I cut out more carbs and focused on eating as 'cleanly' as possible. Eventually my weight and skin health started to change but other aspects of my health were getting much worse.

Something was wrong.

After many months of trial and error, reading and research, I realised a number of facts about the keto diet which were difficult to accept.

I had devoted the past 8 years to promoting the benefits of the keto diet and I had worked with thousands of people, coaching them on various keto plans. It was a scary thing to be in a position where I wanted to change my message and my mind.

Now, 2 years later, I consistently have no signs of PCOS, insulin resistance, gut health issues or hormone imbalance. I eat an abundant amount of carbs daily. Rice, potato, fruit, honey and even fruit juice forms a regular part of my daily diet and it feels freeing to be able to enjoy these things without worrying about gaining weight. 

Throughout this article I want to share some of the things that helped me to realise that keto was not the answer for me, and these are some of the things that have helped me to be able to eat a wider variety of food again without it affecting my health or my weight in a negative way.

If you would like to experience this same level of freedom, read on.

These are 3 of the many things I learned which allowed me to start the process of healing my body so I could break free from keto dieting.

1. Carbs are not the problem

Carbs are our bodies preferred source of fuel. They are not supposed to cause rapid weight gain, bloating, binge eating, insulin resistance, hormone imbalance or any other health issue that gets blamed on carbs. I'm not suggesting you can eat all the sugar you want without repercussions, but carbs are not the evil macronutrient that we are led to believe they are.

If carbs do appear to cause health problems, cutting them out will work, for a while.. just like it did for me. But eventually, the symptoms will break through and you will be forced to deal with the REAL root cause.

It was interesting for me to learn that there are certain nutrients and minerals that your body needs to be able to turn carbs into fuel. If these nutrients are lacking, carbs may cause problems.

I decided to use a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (along with a bio resonance scan) to uncover my mineral status and I discovered I was deficient in EVERY mineral needed to utilise carbs. Discovering this also helped me to understand how imbalances like insulin resistance and PCOS developed in the first place.

So one of the problems with the keto diet mindset is, instead of balancing the missing minerals and nutrients that the body needs to thrive, we simply blame carbs, we cut them out of our diet and we think we have solved the problem.

It was also interesting to discover that certain foods can impair or block your bodies ability to turn carbs into fuel. When we are aware of these foods, we can reduce them (because these foods are not essential like carbs are and your body wont miss them), and then you can eat the carbs your body wants without gaining weight.

2. The keto diet can make things worse

Any kind of extreme restriction forces the body into a stressed state and a stressed body will struggle to heal.

When I was first diagnosed with PCOS I was struggling with estrogen dominance, insulin resistance, subclinical hypothyroid function, gut health issues, impaired detoxification and nervous system dysregulation.

The LAST thing my body needed at that time was to be starved of carbs. 

By cutting out carbs, I starved my liver of the fuel it needed to function well, which further perpetuated toxin build up and estrogen dominance. I starved my thyroid and metabolism of the fuel it needed to work well, causing me to regain weight rapidly every time I went off plan. I caused my body to be in a high stress state where it was forced to produce ketones for fuel. In this stressed state I was unable to heal my gut, I was unable to heal the hormone imbalance and I was unable to signal to my body that it was safe to maintain a healthy weight.

What my body really needed at this time was nourishment. But sadly, we are brainwashed by diet culture to think dieting and restriction is the answer to all of our health concerns, when really, it makes everything worse.

3. Just because it feels good, doesn't mean it is healthy

One thing I struggled to get my head around was, how could the keto diet be making things worse if I felt so good when I was on it?

If you've tried the keto diet before, you would know that cravings and hunger disappear within a few days, which honestly should be the first red flag. An absence or loss of appetite is not a good thing, its a sign that something is wrong, but once again, it has been glamorised by diet culture as something we should aim to achieve.

I saw a social media post by Jessica Ash Wellness saying "if your dog loses it's appetite for days on end, you don't think.. "YAY, they are in ketosis!" you rush them to the vet. Same goes for a child or elderly person, a loss of appetite is often a sign that they are stressed or unwell. It does not occur when the metabolism is thriving.

On a keto diet, bloating appears to improve, energy appears to improve, everything seems to feel better... until of course you fall off track because your body is desperate for carbs.

As I mentioned in point 2, any kind of extreme restriction forces the body into a stressed state. Carb restriction, extreme calorie restriction (anything below 1200 calories for an adult is extreme restriction), prolonged periods of fasting, even excessive exercise will cause stress to increase.

If you have to consistently eat 1200 calories or less to lose weight, then weight loss is not the thing you should be focusing on. Firstly because this is a sign that your body and your metabolism needs nourishment and healing.

Having to starve to lose weight is a sign that something is wrong. Secondly, it is unlikely that you will be able to maintain such a low intake of fuel long term, and when you do start eating more, you will gain the weight back (plus some).

And lastly, if you do manage to eat 1200 calories long term, your metabolism will continue to slow down, you will lose metabolically supportive tissue (muscle), hormone imbalance will develop, problems with detoxification will arise and you will begin to gain weight again.

This means you will have to eat even less next time you want to lose weight. This is how people end up on those horrible HCG and Fast 800 style diets (sadly, I am speaking from experience here too). 

So back to the original question, how come we feel so good on restrictive plans like a keto diet?

When stress is high, we can feel really good. High stress can cause your appetite and cravings to disappear, it can cause an increase in energy, it can cause brain fog to disappear. High levels of stress can suppress almost any symptom.. for a while (this is how corticosteroids work). But despite feeling good, prolonged levels of high stress are not healthy.

Eventually, the body cannot cope with these high levels of stress. This is the point where most people fall off their plan. We blame things like a lack of will power or a lack of motivation, but this is not the real problem.

When we spend too much time in a highly stressed state, whether that stress is because of life circumstances, work or restrictive dieting, our metabolism becomes suppressed and as soon as we start eating more, we regain the weight. Not only does the weight return but it becomes harder to lose it on our next attempt.

Periods of high stress will also deplete the very nutrients you need to use carbs for fuel, which further enforces the false belief that carbs make you gain weight.

Over time, stress will damage gut health, impair liver function and disrupt hormones. This is all going on under the surface while we're feeling "really good" on our carb or calorie restricted plan. It is not until we start eating carbs again that stress comes down (because carbs are actually anti-stress, its one of the reasons why we crave carbs, sugar and salt when we're stressed) and the symptoms begin to appear. Which reinforces the false belief that 'carbs are bad' and that carbs cause (insert symptom here).

When I first heard this information I was triggered, I was upset to learn that what I believed to be true may not actually be true.. but I was so desperate to fix my health issues that I was willing to do anything.

If these points have resonated with you and if you're ready to break free from restrictive dieting, yo-yo dieting and keto plans, reach out because I would love to help you.

Use the link below to get started with an initial consultation today.

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