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🎉 It's our 50th episode!

And for this one, we wanted to look at anxiety a little differently.

We spend so much time talking about everything anxiety takes from us, the overthinking, racing heart, sleepless nights, fear, overwhelm and those spectacular worst-case scenarios our brains can create.

But what if anxiety has also helped shape some of your greatest strengths?

In this special 50th episode of The Anxiety Compass, Sammy and Nat explore 10 surprising anxiety superpowers, qualities that can sometimes grow alongside an anxious, highly alert and deeply feeling brain.

We talk about things like Empathy and Compassion, Intuition, Humour Resilience, Creativity and more...

This isn't about pretending anxiety is wonderful or ignoring how debilitating it can be. It's about recognising that you are more than the difficult parts of anxiety.

Maybe that brain you've spent years wishing would just calm down has also helped make you observant, prepared, compassionate, creative and incredibly resilient.

And perhaps instead of only asking: “What has anxiety taken from me?”

We can occasionally ask: “What has it taught me?”

Thank you for listening, laughing, learning and navigating alongside us for 50 episodes of The Anxiety Compass. 🧭❤️

Here's to finding our True North...one wonderfully anxious step at a time.

Support the show

👉 Grab your free Anxiety Compass download here

👉 Grab a copy of Sammy's Book, Anxiety, The Best Teacher You Never Asked For here

Follow us @theanxietycompass

Connect with Sammy @nutritionwithsammy or website

Connect with Natalie @nataliemarieinbalance or book discovery call here

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Can the bacteria living in your gut influence how anxious you feel?

Most of us think of probiotics as something to take after a course of antibiotics or when our digestion is out of balance. But emerging research is revealing something far more fascinating... the microbes living inside your gut may be communicating with your brain every single day.

In this episode of The Anxiety Compass, we are joined by Rebecca Edwards, Director of Education at Biome Australia, a naturopath and one of Australia's leading voices in microbiome research, to explore the exciting world of the gut microbiome and 'psychobiotics', specific probiotic strains being researched for their role in supporting mental wellbeing.

Together, we unpack what the microbiome actually is, how the gut and brain communicate through the gut-brain axis, and why looking after your gut could be another important piece of the anxiety puzzle.

Along the way, we also tackle some of the biggest myths and most common questions about probiotics, including how to choose one, whether they really need refrigeration, and if fermented foods are enough.

In this episode, we discuss:

What the gut microbiome actually is (and why Sammy calls them our "microbial overlords")
The fascinating connection between the gut and the brain
What 'psychobiotics' are and why researchers are so excited about them
The emerging evidence around probiotics, anxiety, stress, mood and sleep
How modern life (including stress, antibiotics, processed foods and poor sleep) can impact our gut bacteria
How to choose a probiotic and why strain specificity matters
Fermented foods vs probiotic supplements
and more...

As always, this episode is about curiosity, not quick fixes. Anxiety is rarely from one thing, and probiotics aren't a magic pill, but understanding how our gut microbes communicates with our brain may help us better understand ourselves.

If you've ever wondered whether your gut could be influencing your mental wellbeing (and cravings!), this episode is for you.

Follow Rebecca at https://www.instagram.com/activatedprobiotics/

Support the show

👉 Grab your free Anxiety Compass download here

👉 Grab a copy of Sammy's Book, Anxiety, The Best Teacher You Never Asked For here

Follow us @theanxietycompass

Connect with Sammy @nutritionwithsammy or website

Connect with Natalie @nataliemarieinbalance or book discovery call here

Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever experienced anxiety symptoms that seem to come out of nowhere? Racing heart, flushing, brain fog, trouble sleeping, or feeling constantly on edge... even when life feels relatively calm?

What if, for some people, those symptoms aren't just anxiety?

In this episode of The Anxiety Compass, Sammy and Nat explore the fascinating connection between histamine, gut health, hormones, and the nervous system. Histamine is best known for its role in allergies, but it's also a powerful chemical messenger that influences the brain, digestion, immune system, and even our stress response.

We unpack why histamine intolerance can sometimes mimic symptoms of anxiety, why stress and gut health play such an important role, and why many women notice their symptoms become worse around certain times of their menstrual cycle.

This isn't about self-diagnosing or blaming every symptom on histamine. It's about becoming curious, recognising patterns, and understanding that our bodies often communicate with us long before they shout.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What histamine actually is and why we need it
• Why histamine symptoms can feel remarkably similar to anxiety
• Histamine-rich foods versus histamine-releasing foods
• The role of mast cells and the DAO enzyme
• How chronic stress can increase histamine and create a vicious cycle
• Why some women notice symptoms worsen before their period
• Practical ways to recognise patterns and work with your body instead of against it

As always, this episode is designed to educate and encourage curiosity, not to diagnose. If you recognise yourself in today's conversation, speak with a qualified healthcare practitioner who can help you explore the bigger picture.

🎧 If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love you to follow, subscribe, and share The Anxiety Compass with someone who's ever wondered whether there might be more to their anxiety story. ❤️

Support the show

👉 Grab your free Anxiety Compass download here

👉 Grab a copy of Sammy's Book, Anxiety, The Best Teacher You Never Asked For here

Follow us @theanxietycompass

Connect with Sammy @nutritionwithsammy or website

Connect with Natalie @nataliemarieinbalance or book discovery call here