Hey Reader!

Have you ever felt like you’re doing everything right—medications, diets, therapies—but still not getting better? If so, you’re not alone.

The reality is that traditional approaches to chronic illness are failing us because they ignore one of the most crucial factors: the mind-body connection.

Until we address the emotional wounds and stress responses locked in our brains, true healing remains out of reach.

This was what our guest speaker for August, Erin Wildheart, shared with us last week. She chatted with us by the fireside to share her personal journey of navigating chronic stress, survival mode, and the impact of the limbic brain on our health.

She explained how our brains create a chronic stress response that, when left unchecked, traps us in a cycle of symptoms that no amount of medication or diet seems to fix.

Erin delved into how the limbic brain—responsible for our emotional responses—often keeps us stuck, protecting us in ways that ultimately harm our bodies and minds.

Here are our top 3 takeaways from our chat with our Guest Speaker last August, Erin Wildheart:

1. Reclaiming Yourself Is Key to Healing

Erin talked about how, during tough times like trauma or chronic illness, we often lose “parts” of ourselves—our confidence, our voice, or our sense of joy.

She called this journey “a homecoming,” where healing means finding those lost pieces again.

Imagine how a puzzle looks incomplete without its missing pieces; that’s what it feels like when we’re not whole. Reclaiming yourself is like finding those pieces and finally seeing the full picture of who you are.

Pro Tips:

• Break the Habit of People-Pleasing
  ​Instead of just saying no, try “energy audits” of your commitments. List out everything you’re involved in, then mark what truly fuels you and what feels like a drain. Let go of at least one “energy vampire” activity each week.
• Embrace Play Therapy
  ​Think like a kid and engage in “play therapy”—do something completely random and fun with no goal other than enjoyment. Blow bubbles, finger paint, build a fort, or jump on a trampoline. The goal is to reconnect with your inner child and rediscover joy in the unexpected.
• Write a Rage Letter (and Burn It)
  ​If speaking up feels too hard, try writing a no-holds-barred “rage letter” where you spill every thought and feeling you’ve been holding back. Don’t censor yourself. Once it’s all out, burn it safely. It’s a powerful way to release pent-up emotions and reclaim your voice without the pressure of saying it out loud.

2. Your Brain's Stress Response Affects Your Body

Erin explained that the limbic brain, which controls our emotions, often gets stuck in “survival mode” because of chronic stress and trauma.

It’s like a smoke alarm that keeps going off, even when there’s no fire—it tells your body that you’re constantly in danger, leading to symptoms that won’t go away.

For example, if you’ve ever felt your heart race or your muscles tense up after a stressful event, that’s your brain overreacting. Understanding and calming this stress response can be the missing link to feeling better.

Pro Tips:

• Engage in Breathwork with Visualization: Instead of just deep breathing, try combining it with visualization. Imagine inhaling a bright, calming light that fills your body with peace, and exhaling dark, heavy smoke that represents your stress. This not only helps calm your mind but also gives your brain a mental image of releasing tension.
• Use Emotional Freedom Techniques (Tapping): Rather than just identifying triggers, use tapping (EFT) to physically tap on specific pressure points while thinking about your stressors. This simple action helps disrupt negative thought patterns and calm the body’s stress response, rewiring your brain’s reaction to those triggers.

• Experiment with Sensory Play: Instead of sticking to traditional routines, try incorporating sensory play like finger painting, sand play, or kneading dough. Engaging your senses in a creative, hands-on way can be unexpectedly soothing, grounding you in the present moment and helping your brain break free from survival mode.

3. The Mind-Body Connection Is the Missing Piece

Erin emphasized that healing isn’t just about medications or eating right—it’s about addressing how your mind and body are connected.

If you’ve ever noticed your symptoms flare up after a bad day or felt better after a relaxing walk, you’ve experienced this connection firsthand.

Erin’s own story showed how she tried every kind of treatment, but nothing worked until she started focusing on her mindset and calming her nervous system.

Simple practices like deep breathing, meditation, or even just taking time to relax can help shift your body from stress to healing mode. Catch more from this Fireside Chat replay exclusive inside the BrightlyThrive™ community!

AIP Ingredient of the Week:

Want something that’s stockable in the fridge and easy to use for various recipes? Bone broth is your AIP superfood staple!

Rich in collagen, amino acids, and minerals, it’s perfect for gut healing, reducing inflammation, and supporting joint health.

Whether you sip it straight, use it as a base for soups, or add it to your favorite dishes, bone broth is an easy, nourishing way to boost your AIP diet.
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​Download this AIP recipe​

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Here’s to a hearty weekend!

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