Show Notes
Have you ever found yourself wondering, "Am I depressed? What's wrong with me?" As someone who's spent over two decades working with women navigating these very questions, I know how isolating and confusing it can feel. Depression isn't just a word or a diagnosis—it's a deeply personal experience, and often, it's a message from within. Today we're exploring what might really be causing depression and why it's so much more than a simple chemical imbalance. We're moving beyond the debunked chemical imbalance theory, referencing Dr Kelly Brogan's work, and discussing how depression can be a signal (like a smoke alarm) alerting us that something in our body or life needs attention. In this episode, we’re looking into the gut-brain connection and how closely our gut health is linked to our mood. We explore how nutritional psychology, restoring gut health, balancing blood glucose and removing processed foods can make a world of difference. We also discuss how chronic stress, hormonal imbalances and environmental toxins contribute to persistent low moods, and why a holistic approach looking at diet, lifestyle, and emotional wellbeing is so important. Here's a perspective that might surprise you: depression isn't always pathological. Sometimes it's a natural, introspective withdrawal—a way to turn inward and find our own answers. We explore how low moods are normal parts of the human experience, like changing seasons. Drawing from Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, we discuss how depression can sometimes signal we're being called to make changes in our lives, and how answering that call can lead to renewed energy and purpose. I’d love to hear from you. What would shift if you started viewing your low moods as information rather than something to fix? LINKS Double Your Energy Masterclass: https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass Website: www.vesnahrsto.com Mentioned in this episode: Website
More from Peak Revival
LINKS Apply for Peak Revival here: www.peakrevival.com Double Your Energy Masterclass: https://training.vesnahrsto.com/email-webinar-registration Website: www.vesnahrsto.com Mentioned in this episode: Website
Apply for Peak Revival here: www.peakrevival.com Double Your Energy Masterclass: https://training.vesnahrsto.com/email-webinar-registration Website: www.vesnahrsto.com Mentioned in this episode: Website
If you struggle with negative self-talk, this episode is for you. That quiet inner voice (“here we go again”, “my body is broken”) can keep you stuck even when you’re doing everything right with nutrition, supplements, training, and sleep. Vesna and Melissa unpack how negative thoughts can trigger a stress response and keep your nervous system in fight or flight, making fatigue, anxiety, inflammation, brain fog, and poor sleep feel worse. You’ll learn how to spot the story you attach to symptoms and shift it with simple awareness practices. Perfect for anyone navigating burnout recovery, chronic stress, nervous system dysregulation, women’s health, and healing mindset. CHAPTER MARKERS 00:00 Introduction 00:54 Inner Voice and Healing 01:52 Stress Chemistry of Thoughts 02:53 Interpretation and Setbacks 05:26 Spotting Wins and Progress 07:54 Symptom Meaning and Hypervigilance 10:39 Worthiness and Self Priority 12:11 Belief as the Prerequisite 16:03 Redefining Beliefs and Fear 19:39 How to Change the Pattern 20:02 Write It Down Practice 23:04 Final Reflection LINKS Apply for Peak Revival here: www.peakrevival.com Double Your Energy Masterclass: https://training.vesnahrsto.com/email-webinar-registration Website: www.vesnahrsto.com Mentioned in this episode: Website
If you’ve been wondering whether it’s burnout or perimenopause, this episode breaks down why the symptoms can feel so similar. Fatigue, poor sleep, anxiety, brain fog, irritability, mood changes, hormone shifts, and feeling overwhelmed can all point to burnout, perimenopause, or both. We talk about the overlap between chronic stress and perimenopause, why stress can amplify hormone symptoms, and why it’s important to look at the full picture. That includes your symptoms, cycle, stress load, lifestyle, and pathology testing rather than guessing too quickly. If you’re dealing with perimenopause symptoms, burnout, women’s hormones, chronic stress, sleep issues, mood swings, or nervous system dysregulation, this episode will help you better understand what your body may be trying to tell you.
If you deal with bloating, gut issues, food intolerances, IBS symptoms, constipation, diarrhoea, nausea, or stomach distension, this video explains why it may be more than “just bloating.” A lot of women are told these symptoms are normal, hormonal, or just part of getting older, but ongoing digestive issues can point to something deeper happening in the gut. In this video, I talk about SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), one of the possible causes of chronic bloating and unexplained digestive symptoms. We cover why symptoms like gas, abdominal swelling, discomfort after eating, and irregular bowel movements are often brushed off or misdiagnosed, and why proper gut health testing can matter when standard blood work comes back “normal.” I also break down why the low FODMAP diet is not a long-term solution for gut healing, even though it can help manage symptoms during treatment. If you’ve been struggling with women’s gut health, IBS, microbiome issues, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, fatigue, or brain fog, this conversation will help you understand what may be going on beneath the surface. If your gut symptoms keep getting dismissed, this is your reminder to look deeper. Chronic bloating, SIBO, digestive health, gut inflammation, microbiome balance, women’s health, and functional testing all matter when it comes to getting real answers and feeling better long term.