121. What Keeps me up at night (Therapist Edition)

Your anxiety might not be anxiety. It might be hormones, nutrient deficiencies, or a body that is begging you to stop treating the symptom and start looking for the root.

In this episode, Stefanie shares what truly “keeps her up at night” as a therapist and holistic practitioner. She gets real about a pattern she sees constantly in clients who are labeled with anxiety and depression, prescribed medication, and told their labs are “normal,” yet they still feel exhausted, foggy, reactive, and stuck. Stefanie explains why traditional talk therapy and medication can be helpful but are not always the full answer when the body is out of balance.

She breaks down the physical symptoms that often get misfiled as mental health issues, why standard lab ranges can miss what is actually going on, and why she believes a whole-body approach matters if you want lasting healing. This episode is both a wakeup call and a permission slip to advocate for deeper testing, better support, and a more integrative path forward.

In this episode, Stefanie covers:

•  Why some “anxiety and depression” symptoms may actually be hormonal or nutritional 
•  The red flag symptoms she listens for (fatigue, brain fog, mood swings, sleep issues, PMS, weight changes, gut and skin concerns, low libido, and more) 
•  The difference between “normal” labs and optimal levels 
•  Why many people get stuck when they only use talk therapy or medication 
•  How to advocate for comprehensive bloodwork and deeper answers 
•  Why working with an integrative or functional practitioner alongside therapy can be a game changer 

If you have been told everything is fine but you know it is not, this episode will help you name what might be missing and what next steps to take.