The Top 7 Physiological Causes of Anxiety You Might Be Overlooking | Ep 384

What do mast cells, histamine, estrogen, and endometriosis all have in common? A whole lot more than you might think. We're wrapping up the Endo Uncovered series with one of the most requested topics from Erin's Instagram community: the connection between mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and endometriosis. In this episode, Erin and Rachel start with the basics (because what the heck is a mast cell, anyway?!) before getting into the very real connection between immune system dysregulation, histamine, estrogen, inflammation, and endometriosis symptoms, plus why MCAS can be so difficult to identify. You’ll also hear a real client case study involving endometriosis, MCAS, mold exposure, elevated lead levels, gut dysbiosis, and methylation issues. In this episode: What mast cells are, how they protect the body, and what happens when they keep releasing inflammatory chemicals The dangerous feedback loop that can amplify real physical symptoms What mold, heavy metals, chronic stress, infections, and histamine intake have to do with mast cell activation Why antihistamines can improve PMS and PMDD symptoms for some women

We’re back with Part 4 of the Endo Uncovered series, and this one is all about surgery. How to think about it, how to prepare for it, and what Rachel wishes more women knew before going in. Erin and Rachel are talking through some of the biggest questions that come up when someone is considering endometriosis surgery: How do you choose a surgeon? What’s the difference between excision and ablation? Is a hysterectomy really a cure for endometriosis? Rachel shares about her own endometriosis surgery process, why excision is considered the gold standard, hysterectomy nuance, and exactly how she prepared her own body before surgery, from reducing alcohol and prioritizing protein to increasing iron-rich foods, vitamin C, omega-3s, pelvic floor PT, strength training, walking, and strategic supplementation. If you are considering endometriosis surgery, preparing for surgery, recovering from surgery, or trying to understand what questions to ask, this conversation will help you feel more informed and grounded.

What does your nervous system have to do with your digestion, hormones, immune system, inflammation, sleep, symptoms, and healing? And is “regulating your nervous system” just another wellness buzzword? Your nervous system is constantly scanning your internal and external world for cues of safety or threat. And when your body keeps perceiving threats (even when you consciously know you’re safe), it can keep you stuck in inflammation, immune activation, digestive dysfunction, and chronic symptoms. In this episode, Erin explains why nervous system regulation requires both top-down and bottom-up work. Breathwork, meditation, and yoga can be amazing tools, but if you never address the beliefs, patterns, trauma, emotional suppression, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and subconscious threat signals underneath the dysregulation, the work may only go so deep.

You finally got the endometriosis diagnosis. Now what do you actually do after years of pain, dismissal, weird symptoms, confusing imaging, surgery, or being told everything looked “normal”? While a diagnosis can feel validating, it can also bring a whole new wave of fear, especially around fertility, surgery, symptom management, and whether this condition is going to define the rest of your life. In part 3 of the endo series, Erin and Rachel walk through the labs, nutrition, lifestyle shifts, gut support, hormone testing, nervous system work, and supplements they think about when supporting clients with endometriosis. Rachel also talks about excision surgery and why you still need a whole body approach.

We’re back with Part 2 of the endometriosis series, and this one is personal. Lead practitioner Rachel Heintz shares her own story with stage 4 deep infiltrating endometriosis. You’ll hear about the symptoms she didn’t realize were clues, the functional work that helped her feel dramatically better, and the surgery that revealed just how severe things really were. Rachel walks through her timeline: going on birth control for acne, coming off the pill and experiencing debilitating periods, dealing with extreme allergies and histamine issues, living in a moldy apartment, and eventually discovering endometriosis in a pretty unusual location. Erin and Rachel talk about why surgery is not a failure, why not every OB/GYN is an endometriosis expert, why getting another opinion can matter so much, and what Rachel’s excision surgery ultimately revealed.