depression

Episode 125: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTubeView transcript on Buzzsprout Maybe you’ve noticed this pattern in your own life:You’ve been managing anxiety for years, and suddenly your gut starts acting up. Or you’ve struggled with depression, and now you’re constantly exhausted or catching every cold that comes around. Or maybe it went the other […]

Episode 122: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTubeView transcript on Buzzsprout Shut down is your nervous system’s most protective response. If you’ve ever felt heavy, numb, and completely disconnected from life—like you’re moving through a thick fog with no energy or motivation—you’ve likely experienced a nervous system state called “shutdown.” This episode offers a deeply […]

Episode 121: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTubeView transcript on Buzzsprout Freeze is arguably the most confusing, nuanced, and self-blame-inducing state for people to understand. We often mistake it for laziness, depression, or some character flaw — it’s not.  It’s a protective state that your nervous system creates when it’s had too much for too […]

Episode 119: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTubeView transcript on Buzzsprout Ever wonder why a breathing exercise that works for your friend makes your own anxiety worse? The problem isn’t you – it’s that we’ve been treating nervous system regulation like it’s one-size-fits-all. In this episode, Amanda kicks off the five-part “Different States Series” by […]

Episode 118: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTubeView transcript on Buzzsprout Using a personal story about a difficult uphill walk versus an easy downhill one, this episode offers a powerful and validating analogy for the healing journey. Amanda explores why life and healing can feel so hard when you’re dealing with anxiety or depression, diving […]

If you’ve ever sought help for anxiety or depression, there’s a good chance you’ve heard something like this: “Your symptoms are caused by a chemical imbalance in your brain. These medications will help correct that imbalance.” This explanation is simple, straightforward, and has been repeated by healthcare providers for decades. It’s also a narrative that […]

Have you ever found yourself feeling completely disconnected, numb, unmotivated, depressed, or unable to move forward? Perhaps you feel like you’re watching life through a foggy window, your energy depleted, your motivation gone. If so, you may be experiencing what’s known in polyvagal theory as a “shutdown state” or “dorsal vagal shutdown.” This state isn’t […]

Anxiety and depression are not just in your head. That might sound surprising, especially if you’ve spent years in talk therapy or cycling through medications trying to find relief. But if you’re still feeling stuck, there may be a missing piece in your healing journey: your nervous system. Through the lens of nervous system science, […]

Episode 109: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTubeView transcript on Buzzsprout Welcome to the final episode in Amanda’s Back to the Basics series—a 9-part journey to help you understand anxiety and depression through a nervous system and whole-human lens. In this episode, Amanda ties it all together. She offers a comprehensive review and roadmap to […]

Episode 108: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTubeView transcript on Buzzsprout If you’ve ever been told you have a “chemical imbalance” in your brain and handed a prescription—without a single lab test to back it up—you’re not alone. The idea is still everywhere, despite decades of research that disproves it. And while medication can be […]

Episode 107: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTubeView transcript on Buzzsprout Does your nervous system feels like it’s always in crisis mode—jumping between overwhelm, anxiety, shutdown, and exhaustion? I lived there for many years too and I’m here to tell you that living that way long-term isn’t sustainable. This is at the heart of Regulated […]

Episode 106: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTubeView transcript on Buzzsprout Ever had a moment where you were about to lose it—with your kid, your partner, or your inbox—and thought, “I know what I should do… but it feels impossible right now”? In this episode, Amanda takes the conceptual and makes it practical. She shares […]