How do you heal when "healthy living" isn't working?

In this episode of Mind Body Medicine for Self Healers, host Sarah Dawkins sits down with Natalie Elghossain, an Ayurvedic health practitioner and founder of Ayurvedic Wellness.

Natalie shares her raw and relatable journey of hitting "rock bottom" at age 30. Despite her background as an athlete and an MBA graduate, she found herself trapped in a cycle of chronic anxiety, digestive issues, yeast infections and a "dark night of the soul" while working in high-pressure corporate consulting.

Key Information and Time Stamps

01:51 Natalie discusses how chronic anxiety and digestive issues surfaced despite an "athletic" and "healthy" lifestyle. Ideal for those seeking holistic burnout recovery.

05:04 A deep dive into how gas, bloating, and stomach pain are biologically linked to worry, fear, and paranoia, showing how physical symptoms mirror mental states.

12:42 Natalie explains why treating only emotions or only the body felt "incomplete," and why a truly holistic system is required for transformational healing.

19:32 An explanation of Agni (Digestive Fire). Learn why you can eat "perfectly" but still feel malnourished if your body isn't metabolizing nutrients at a cellular level.

24:12 Natalie debunks the myth that raw salads are always healthy, explaining why warm, cooked foods are essential for grounding an anxious mind.

26:26 A surprising link between excessive sleep (over 7 hours), the Kapha (water) element and the physical manifestation of chronic yeast infections.

27:54 A breakthrough look at mental health: Anxiety (Vata/Air) vs. Depression (Kapha/Earth) and how balancing elements can eliminate these "diagnoses."

33:44 Natalie shares the core Ayurvedic strategy: assessing your out-of-balance state and using "opposite" elements (e.g., cooling for fire, warming for air) to heal.

Natalie’s story is a testament to the fact that symptoms are not enemies, they are invitations to return to your true nature. If you are feeling "scattered," "heavy," or "burnt out," this conversation offers a 5,000-year-old roadmap to feeling grounded and energized again.

Natalie's Bio

Natalie Elghossain is an Ayurvedic Health Practitioner, Speaker, and Founder of Ayurveda Wellness based outside Boulder, Colorado and serving clients globally. She is passionate about sharing Authentic Ayurveda teachings to guide others to vibrant health, happiness, and balance in their lives - just like it did for her. She received in-depth one-on-one Ayurveda teachings by renowned Doctor of Ayurveda and Yoga Teacher, Dr. Sylvia Strahl, that helped her heal from not just physical health challenges, but also transform her mental/emotional health, relationships, career, spiritual clarity, and overall quality of life. Through cultivating more balance in her body with Ayurveda, she is now thriving in health, relationships, and soul-aligned work sharing this life-changing Ancient Science with others. She believes in the power of Ayurveda for transformational healing that lasts and allows us to enjoy our lives to the fullest.

Connect with Natalie

https://www.ayurvedawellnesscoach.com

https://www.instagram.com/ayurvedawellness_/

Who am I?

Sarah Dawkins is a passionate Holistic Health and Healing Coach, international speaker and author of Heal Yourself. She’s also a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and the award-winning host of the uplifting podcast Mind Body Medicine for Self Healers with Sarah Dawkins.

With over 20 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse, Sarah combines her deep understanding of conventional medicine with her own powerful self-healing journey to create a truly integrative approach. Having overcome multiple chronic health challenges herself, she now supports others in uncovering and addressing the root causes of their symptoms, helping them restore balance, reclaim their energy and create lasting, vibrant wellness.

www.sarahdawkins.com

Who are you without your story? 🧠

✨ In this episode of Mind Body Medicine for Self Healers, Sarah Dawkins explores the psychology of the victim mentality and why our minds cling to painful, familiar identities as a survival strategy.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in cycles of bad luck, illness or people-pleasing, this episode is your invitation to step into personal responsibility and true empowerment. Learn how shifting from blame to curiosity can completely rewrite your reality.

Key Episode Highlights

00:31, Sarah introduces the concept of the victim mentality, sharing her own past experience of blaming external factors—such as her childhood, physical symptoms, and other people—for how she felt.

02:06, The focus shifts to nervous system conditioning, explaining how trauma, rejection, and illness train the body to become hypervigilant. This survival strategy scans for danger and expects struggle, which is a matter of conditioning rather than weakness.

03:18, Sarah explores the comfort of familiar pain, noting that victim consciousness can become a familiar "home" because the known often feels safer than the unknown, making personal responsibility feel terrifying.

04:25, She addresses the fear of letting go of your story, highlighting the deep, uncomfortable questions that keep people stuck, such as wondering who they are if they are no longer the abandoned one or the person with bad luck.

06:40, Shifting from blame to curiosity, showing how changing the internal question from "Why is this happening to me?" to "What can I learn from this?" instantly moves a person from powerlessness to possibility.

08:36, Sarah defines true empowerment, emphasizing that healing is not about denying pain or forcing positive thinking, but rather the process of reclaiming the power that pain convinced you that you'd lost.

Subscribe for more insights on holistic healing and reclaiming your personal power!

Who am I?

Sarah Dawkins is a passionate Holistic Health and Healing Coach, international speaker and author of Heal Yourself. She’s also a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and the award-winning host of the uplifting podcast Mind Body Medicine for Self Healers with Sarah Dawkins.

With over 20 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse, Sarah combines her deep understanding of conventional medicine with her own powerful self-healing journey to create a truly integrative approach. Having overcome multiple chronic health challenges herself, she now supports others in uncovering and addressing the root causes of their symptoms, helping them restore balance, reclaim their energy and create lasting, vibrant wellness.

www.sarahdawkins.com

#selfhealing #victimmentality #personalgrowthjourney #nervoussystemhealing #mindsetmatters #traumarecovery #empowerment

This podcast episode features a powerful role reversal as host Sarah Dawkins, author of Heal Yourself and a registered nurse, steps into the interviewee seat. Guest host Bethany Shipley explores Sarah’s journey from the front lines of cardiothoracic nursing to becoming a global advocate for natural self-healing.

Episode Overview

Sarah spent years on the front lines of surgery, surrounded by the best medicine money could buy. But while she was saving lives, her own body was falling apart. Psoriasis, depression, PTSD and chronic pain.

Sarah didn't just find a new prescription, she found a new path. Meet Sarah Dawkins: The nurse who stopped following orders, defied her training and healed herself. We’re diving into the "crisis of conscience" that changed everything.

Why Listen?

If you have ever felt "sick and tired of being sick and tired," this episode offers a roadmap of hope. Sarah’s story proves that healing isn't just for a "special" few, it is a possibility for anyone willing to listen to their body and step outside their comfort zone.

Key Topics & Timestamps

02:10 The specific 2005 encounter in a Florida hospital that challenged Sarah’s beliefs about pharmaceuticals.

02:54 Navigating a deep depression and the "crisis of conscience" while working in cardiothoracic surgery.

03:53 Why Sarah hid her book for 5 years and how she eventually gathered 74 contributors to provide "social proof" that healing happens.

07:01 The moment Sarah was reported to the nursing board for sharing her natural thyroid healing journey.

09:42 A list of the physical conditions Sarah healed, from psoriasis and acid reflux to chronic joint pain and PTSD.

12:06 An honest look at bulimia, emotional eating, and how "disgust" became a catalyst for change.

18:05 Sarah’s simple rule: "If I don't buy it, I can't eat it."

20:34 The "Single-Ingredient Food" strategy for feeding picky kids and busy families.

24:29 Why Sarah chose to bypass traditional publishing to get the message to the public faster.

28:02 Understanding the metaphysical link between "frozen shoulders" and carrying the weight of the world.

29:51 How spinal pain often correlates to feelings of financial or personal insecurity.

31:41 Using short meditations to stop "checking out" via food, alcohol, or scrolling.

33:45 Why we are afraid to trust our own feelings and how to stop seeking external approval.

Bethany's Bio

Bethany Shipley is a writer, speaker, and philosophical guide for people who are ready to live a life that is true to them.

Her work centers around a powerful idea: Being influences Doing. When you understand who you are at your core and have the courage to live from that place, your actions naturally align and your life begins to reflect something deeply authentic.

Bethany is known for blending grounded insight with spiritual depth, helping people reconnect to their instinct, expression, and internal compass. She moves beyond hype and surface-level encouragement, guiding people into a lived experience of alignment.

Through her podcast, Market Your Personal Brand and upcoming book, she empowers and inspires people to live an authentic life.

Connect with Bethany

https://www.bethanyshipley.com/

Who am I?

Sarah Dawkins is a passionate Holistic Health and Healing Coach, international speaker and author of Heal Yourself. She’s also a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and the award-winning host of the uplifting podcast Mind Body Medicine for Self Healers with Sarah Dawkins.

With over 20 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse, Sarah combines her deep understanding of conventional medicine with her own powerful self-healing journey to create a truly integrative approach. Having overcome multiple chronic health challenges herself, she now supports others in uncovering and addressing the root causes of their symptoms, helping them restore balance, reclaim their energy and create lasting, vibrant wellness.

www.sarahdawkins.com