Why Your Brain May Feel Broken

flyhcoaches
May 24, 2023
6 min read

By Denna

Do you ever have those days when you feel ‘off’?

Like something’s stopping you, holding you back, or keeping you down:

You planned a really healthy meal and even purchased great good-for-you veggies and proteins – but come dinner time, you just can’t seem to muster up the will to cook, so you grab some go-to junk food instead.

Or you planned for a workout, but by the time that workout rolls around, you just can’t seem to get going.

You want to start your day off right but can’t stop hitting the snooze button on the morning alarm.

It feels like your brain just wants to shut down…

The brain is our powerhouse. It’s our control center. As much as we want to reach our goals, sometimes our brains work against us. The brain can actually create its own ‘fatigue’, leaving you feeling stuck.

And why wouldn’t we feel stuck sometimes, given what we may deal with in any given day… complex problem solving, stresses over work or family life, over-stimulation from our environment.

The Loop…

It may feel like you’re trapped in a loop.

Did you ever experience this trap as a young adult… In order to get a job, you need a car to get there, but you need a job to buy a car. *sigh*

Well, that’s how it may feel with your mind-body connection too. The body needs a functioning brain to work properly, but the brain needs a functioning body to work properly as well.

No wonder why we might not know where to start!

Mentally, the brain is wired to keep us safe. And we may find it hard to stretch ourselves to get out of our ‘funks’.

Physically, the brain is always striving for balance. And when the brain is getting signals confused (maybe too much or too little of one signal), the body becomes confused too. We feel drained, rundown, or become sick.

The brain says “stop” and your body says “ok”.

2 Ways Your Brain Breaks…

A Healthy Brain =

Optimized processing information + Proper communication with body + Trained to resist distractions

There are two ways your brain may break:

1. Neurotransmitter problems (a.k.a. brain chemicals) – Think serotonin, endorphins, dopamine. The “feel good” chemicals of the brain. These go hand in hand with the wiring of your brain. These chemicals help turn on and off the wiring like light switches. Imbalances in these chemicals can cause anxiety, depression, brain fog, trouble focusing, eating disorders, or struggles with self-esteem.

2. HPA-axis dysfunction (a.k.a. hormones) – “HPA” includes your hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands. All masters at controlling your hormones, and their jobs start in the brain. They are responsible for regulating your stress hormones, mood, digestion, metabolism, and energy levels.

When either or both of these areas are not functioning properly, it can lead to poor communication with the body and a breakdown in information processing.

What happens when you fix these areas?

Your processing improves – Fatigue, brain fog, and mood issues like anxiety and depression can be alleviated.

Your brain communicates better with the body – Hormones function properly to send the correct signals to where they need to go, so your body can do its job in harmony.

Become better at resisting distractions – You can free up space in your mind to allow for increased focus on the task at hand, boosted decision-making, or gain improved problem-solving abilities.

Let’s take a look at how we can start to heal these two problem areas, so that we can reap those benefits.

The Solution…

Brain Chemical Solution:

Heal your gut – They say your gut is your second brain. By using food as a tool to heal, the benefits will be carried forward throughout your entire body AND brain.
- Focus on a whole foods diet – Eat plenty of lean proteins, healthy fats, and a wide variety of vegetables. Minimize as much as you can sugar and refined carbohydrates, including desserts, sugary snacks, sodas, processed grains.
- You don’t need a ‘magic detox diet’. Your body already knows how to detox on its own. Simply giving it a break from processed foods, lowering your stress, and sleeping as much as possible will allow your body to begin to heal.
Remove toxins – You might not be able to control much in the outside world, but you can control some things at home. Our bodies are great at absorbing toxins. So, consider where they may be lurking in your home. Here are some suggestions to get you started:
- Replace any household cleaners with options such as lemon juice, baking soda, or white vinegar. Not keen on homemade options? Try safer options like Seventh Generation or Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products.
- Reevaluate your Personal Care products. You are putting all those products directly on your hair and skin after all. And a staggering number of products out there include industrial chemicals such as carcinogens, pesticides, and hormone disruptors. Shift to more natural products. Need a place to start? Check out one of my new favorite finds - 100% Pure: https://www.100percentpure.com/
- Take a bit of extra time to soak your fruits and veggies in a water and white vinegar solution (a natural cleaner). I like to do this in a big batch when I come home from the store. Fill a large tub with water and add 1 cup of white vinegar. Let your produce soak for 15 min, then give them a quick rinse.
Give your brain a break from sensory overload – We live in a world of sensory overload, from Netflix binges and endless scrolling on social media to overworking and constantly being on the go. Allow yourself time to unplug and let your brain rest.
- Begin taking note of how often you are on your phone, how much time you are on a computer, and is there always something playing in your background (music/TV)?
- Look around and notice where artificial light shows up in your day to day. See if you can find some ways to reduce it and instead get some natural sunshine.

Hormonal Solutions:

Again, heal your gut – I can’t stress this one enough. However, this is an opportunity to Explore & Experiment. Try new foods and listen to your body.
- Decreasing inflammation is a great way to start helping your hormones and their inner balance. Add anti-inflammatory foods to your diet, such as berries, turmeric, and ginger.
Reduce stress – Stress triggers Cortisol, which is your fight-or-flight hormone. And if that is always switched on, your body is living out of balance, which can cause a lot of fatigue issues.
- Destress with meditation, yoga, or finding a new hobby.
- Reflect on your stress – at the end of each day, ask yourself what bothered you most today? Consider the different types of stress – was it a physical stress to the body, mental or emotional stress?
Sleep – Sleep is when the body works to repair itself. So, if you’re not getting good quality sleep, your body is not going to be able to adequately repair itself. And it’s especially important when it comes to fixing hormone issues.
- Consistent and good quality sleep are the keys here. Ask yourself things like: How many hours are you asleep? Do you fall asleep within 20 minutes of laying down? Do you wake in the middle of the night? If so, how long are you awake? Do you feel well rested in the morning?

Bonus ways to feed your brain:

Exercise – Specifically, aerobic exercise, as it helps increase blood flow to the brain, which helps encourage growth of neurons and neuronal connections. Short bike ride anyone?
Brain aerobics – Challenge your brain each day, and in a variety of ways. Learn a new skillset, play some chess or checkers, or participate in a sport that causes you to think ahead, such as tennis or golf.
Music - Music can help reduce blood pressure and may increase blood flow to the brain. It may also give you a big dopamine release (a “feel-good” brain chemical) which can help with responsiveness. Just remember to go easy with this one. Constant music pumping into your ears can be a sensory overload.
- Bonus: Learn a new instrument! The most powerful impact of music to brain development is when you’re learning music.

Our journeys are highly individualized, and the above areas are simply a place to start.

Remember this is a process, and it’s important to work on habit changes in a gradual way so as you can find the right balance made just for you.

It can be tough to go at this alone. I strongly believe that whatever your goals are, the two must-haves in your journey should be: Support & Accountability.