Have you ever found yourself wondering, "Am I depressed? What's wrong with me?" As someone who's spent over two decades working with women navigating these very questions, I know how isolating and confusing it can feel. Depression isn't just a word or a diagnosis—it's a deeply personal experience, and often, it's a message from within.

Today we're exploring what might really be causing depression and why it's so much more than a simple chemical imbalance. We're moving beyond the debunked chemical imbalance theory, referencing Dr Kelly Brogan's work, and discussing how depression can be a signal (like a smoke alarm) alerting us that something in our body or life needs attention.

In this episode, we’re looking into the gut-brain connection and how closely our gut health is linked to our mood. We explore how nutritional psychology, restoring gut health, balancing blood glucose and removing processed foods can make a world of difference. We also discuss how chronic stress, hormonal imbalances and environmental toxins contribute to persistent low moods, and why a holistic approach looking at diet, lifestyle, and emotional wellbeing is so important.

Here's a perspective that might surprise you: depression isn't always pathological. Sometimes it's a natural, introspective withdrawal—a way to turn inward and find our own answers. We explore how low moods are normal parts of the human experience, like changing seasons. Drawing from Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, we discuss how depression can sometimes signal we're being called to make changes in our lives, and how answering that call can lead to renewed energy and purpose.

I’d love to hear from you. What would shift if you started viewing your low moods as information rather than something to fix?

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout

Today we're confronting an often vilified aspect of our lives: stress. You might find yourself in one of two camps—either you dodge stress like the plague, or you stride directly into challenges, fully aware of the stress they bring along. Both approaches are valid, yet there's a hidden narrative around stress that we don't talk about enough. What if stress isn't our enemy but actually a catalyst propelling us towards growth and strength? We're exploring the crucial difference between stress and challenges, and why eliminating stress entirely might not be the path to recovery from burnout that we think it is.

In this episode, we dive into how our bodies are biologically designed to grow stronger through stress—just like exercise creates minor muscle tears that heal and increase strength. We discuss Kelly McGonigal's research showing that if we perceive stress as harmful, it adversely affects our health, but if we see it as an ally preparing us for greatness, we can unlock beneficial responses in our body. We explore how world champions like Josh Waitzkin found success not in avoiding stress but mastering the art of balancing stress with recovery, and why perspective transforms pre-match nerves from hindrance into motivational force.

We're covering how to create your own recovery plan by weaving recovery into daily routines to counterbalance stress. This includes nutrition through balanced, whole-food diets, quality sleep and mental clarity by quieting mental chatter and minimising device time. Every challenge is a stepping stone to growth, and with a recovery plan in place, stress becomes manageable, paving the way for self-improvement rather than burnout. Stress isn't the enemy—it's the growth mentor we never knew we had.

What helps you shift your view on stress and supports your growth?

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout

Think that being stressed means you're busy? Not necessarily. Stress isn't a badge of honour showing how much you're juggling - it's actually a reflection of low mental and emotional bandwidth. If you're a woman in business, a founder, or leader managing work and family, this might completely change how you think about overwhelm.

Understanding Bandwidth: The Key to Managing Stress

Stress symptoms like anxiety, feeling frazzled and being overwhelmed don't necessarily mean you're busy. They point to depletion in your mental and emotional bandwidth.

Life and business are really challenging at times, but it doesn’t mean that we have to be in a constant state of stress. We can learn to deal with the challenges because here's what I’ve learned: bandwidth, not busyness, is the real factor behind how stress shows up. Even if you're successful, stress isn't directly derived from your schedule.

So how do we increase our mental and emotional bandwidth?

1. Take Care of Your Physical Body: Good nutrition is essential. Eating whole, natural foods will provide the necessary energy and support for your nervous system and body.
2. Prioritise Sleep: Deep, restorative sleep is vital for emotional processing and mental clarity. Adequate rest helps your brain detoxify and recalibrate overnight, setting you up for a productive day ahead.
3. Focus on Gut Health: Your gut significantly influences your mental state through the gut-brain axis. Maintaining a healthy microbiome by avoiding processed foods, sugar, and excessive caffeine can bolster mental health.
4. Create Space in Your Day: Allow yourself moments of nothingness. Disconnect from devices and immerse in brief periods of mindfulness to recharge and expand your bandwidth.

Those days when you feel exceptionally productive versus less productive ones? It all hinges on your bandwidth levels. Start noticing these patterns in your life.

What insights have you gained about your own bandwidth? What steps might you take to enrich it?

LINKS

Double Your Energy Masterclass:

https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Website: www.vesnahrsto.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout