05. Regulate and Restore: Balancing Your Stress Response

The Vital Spirit Podcast with Dr. Kelly Livingston

Do you ever feel like stress is running your life? If you’re constantly overwhelmed, exhausted, or struggling with brain fog and hormone imbalances, your stress response system may be out of balance.

In this episode of The Vital Spirit Podcast, I’m diving into the Regulate and Restore pillar of The Vital Spirit Method and sharing how balancing your stress response is key to achieving lasting health and well-being. I’ll break down how stress hormones—especially cortisol—affect everything from digestion and mood to hormone balance and mental clarity. When stress becomes chronic, our bodies shift into survival mode, disrupting gut health, hormones, and even our ability to connect with our authentic selves. I’ll also walk you through practical steps to restore balance so you can start feeling like yourself again.

In this episode, we cover:

• 02:00 - Why stress is a major roadblock to healing
• 05:00 - How the HPA axis impacts hormones and overall health
• 08:30 - The connection between chronic stress, thyroid health, and adrenal function
• 12:00 - Why I test pregnenolone and how it influences mood and hormone balance
• 16:00 - How nervous system dysregulation affects your mental and physical well-being
• 21:00 - Understanding your nervous system state: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn
• 26:00 - My favorite tools for nervous system regulation

Links and resources:

• Listen to Episode 4: Why Healing Your Gut Is the First Step to Hormone Balance: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/47733e90-298c-4bfb-bd76-46b443dd26a4/
• The Vital Spirit Method Webinar: https://drkellylivingston.com/webinar/signup
• Pregnenolone Testing

Connect with Dr. Kelly:

Website: drkellylivingston.com

Website Clinic: rootsdeepmedicine.com

Instagram: instagram.com/drkellylivingston

Facebook: facebook.com/rootsdeepnaturopathicmedicine

YouTube: youtube.com/@DrKellyLivingston

Thank you so much for joining The Vital Spirit Podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode: Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast—it helps us reach more women who are ready to awaken their healing potential.

Remember, healing isn’t a destination; it’s a journey. Every step brings you closer to the vibrant health you were born to experience. Let’s walk this path together.

If you’re ready to dive deeper or work with me one-on-one, visit www.drkellylivingston.com for more resources and ways to connect.

Note: Patient stories shared in this episode are used for educational purposes only. All names have been changed and identifying details have been modified to protect patient privacy and confidentiality.