What Contributed Most to My Inflammation? One Word: Stress.
If you asked me five years ago what was causing all the chaos in my body—my skin flare-ups, hair loss, gut issues, breakouts—I would've said, “I don’t know, probably my products? My hormones?” And sure, those things can play a role. But now that I’ve done the work, really paid attention, and given myself time to heal, I can confidently say this:
The root of my inflammation was stress.
Healing My Mind
Most of my life, I existed in survival mode: anxious, stressed, and unaware of the damage it was causing. But when I started therapy, began managing my anxiety, and finally achieved financial stability, things shifted.
I’m not saying it was only stress—but I know for a fact that once I started regulating my nervous system, everything else got easier. My digestion improved. My skin got more predictable. I stopped feeling like I was at war with my own body.
Stress Is More Than Just a Feeling—It’s Inflammation
When you’re stressed, your body stays in fight-or-flight mode. Cortisol spikes. Your immune system gets thrown off. Your digestion slows down. Your skin barrier weakens. Your scalp gets inflamed.
It’s not just about feeling overwhelmed. Chronic stress is physical. And for me, it showed up in:
- Flare-ups of eczema and dermatitis
- Fungal acne that wouldn’t quit
- Hair shedding and scalp issues
- Constant bloating and stomach pain
Food Sensitivities Didn’t Cause It, But They Didn’t Help
Now, I want to be clear—I don’t believe food was the cause of my inflammation. But some things were definitely not helping.
After getting an allergy test, I started cutting out foods I was sensitive to. I was skeptical at first, but I kept noticing patterns. For example:
- Every time I ate shrimp, no matter how it was cooked, my stomach was in shambles.
- Crawfish? Hello asthma attack.
- Certain ingredients I used to eat daily started making me feel bloated and not my best self.
Living in the South, shellfish is everywhere. I grew up eating it. But when I eliminated it, my gut finally got a break. I wouldn’t say it directly fixed my skin, but healing my gut definitely supported my skin healing.
I started listening to my body.
Real Healing Happens When You Slow Down
It’s wild to look back and realize how disconnected I was from my body. I was in a constant state of panic, trying to fix my skin, but not realizing that healing starts from within - literally and emotionally.
The biggest turning point wasn’t a new product. It wasn’t a supplement.
It was therapy, financial stability, and learning to regulate my nervous system.
If you’re struggling with skin issues, and you feel like you’ve tried everything - I see you. I’ve been there. And I’m not saying stress is your root cause. But I encourage you to look beyond the surface. Your body is always trying to tell you something.
What Helped Me Most:
- Starting therapy and getting consistent support
- Managing my anxiety with tools and (eventually) medication
- Prioritizing rest and creating safety in my environment
- Eliminating food I was sensitive to (even if it wasn’t the root cause)
- Listening to my body without judgment
Thanks for being here. If you're feeling overwhelmed, know this: you're not broken, you're just inflamed—and healing is possible. Sometimes, it starts with getting quiet and finally listening to what your body’s been trying to say all along.
