Mental Health Rewired
The Mental Health Fix You Won’t Hear from Your Doctor (But It Works)
Rethinking Mental Health—It’s Not Just in Your Head
More people than ever are dealing with anxiety, depression, and burnout—but the path to healing often feels confusing, over-medicalized, or out of reach.
We’re told to fix our minds with medication, mindfulness apps, or sheer willpower. But what if the real solution starts with the body?
This resonates with so many today—especially in a world constantly bombarded by digital noise, stuck in comparison loops, and disconnected from real-life community and presence. Gen Z—often called the “anxious generation”—feels this deeply, but they’re not alone. So the question becomes: how can we heal ourselves, so we can also heal the next generation and pass down real tools for mental health and resilience?
Here’s what I’ve learned: mental health isn’t just about mindset. It’s about nourishment, daily habits, real human connection, and anchoring into the present. Here’s how I’ve been nourishing my body, mind, and soul.
1. Animal-Based Nutrition Fuels a Resilient Mind
We forget the brain is part of the body—and like any other organ, it needs real nourishment to function.
When I shifted to an animal-based diet—rich in pasture-raised meats, organs, eggs, raw dairy, and traditional fats—I didn’t just feel physically stronger. My mental clarity, emotional stability, and overall resilience skyrocketed.
Key nutrients that support mental health in an animal-based diet:
Omega-3s (EPA & DHA) – Reduce brain inflammation and lift mood
Vitamin B12 – Supports energy, cognition, and nervous system health (found in meat and organ meats)
Heme Iron – Boosts oxygen flow to the brain for mental clarity (bioavailable in liver, spleen, and meat—far superior to plant or supplemental forms)
Choline – Found in egg yolks and liver; essential for memory and focus
Zinc & Selenium – Help balance hormones and reduce anxiety
But beyond the science, the results were undeniable:
My mood stabilized
Brain fog disappeared
Sleep improved
I had the energy and presence to show up more intentionally for my work and community
Even my PMS symptoms became more manageable and less emotionally intense
Eating an animal-based diet, including more fat and protein also stabilized my blood sugar—which dramatically reduced irritability, panic spirals, and fatigue. It felt like someone turned the lights back on in my brain.
I won’t claim I’m in a perfect mood all the time—because hormones shift and life happens—but the emotional intensity softened. I could recognize what I was feeling and support it, rather than resist or feel lost in it.
This didn’t just happen to me. I’ve heard this feedback from clients and from my community on Instagram. The transformation is real.
2. Strong Mind, Strong Body: Cold Plunges, Grounding, and Embracing Discomfort
Nourishing your mind isn’t just about what you eat—it’s also about how you live.
Cold plunging became one of my most powerful mental tools. That deliberate discomfort trains your nervous system to stay calm under stress. It’s not just a shock to the body—it’s a reset for the mind.
Check out my go to cold plunge HERE and use code: BAE500
The same applies to any challenge that demands presence:
Lifting heavy weights
Meditation
Grounding barefoot in nature
Learning new skills (like butchery or archery)
Embracing silence in a sauna or solo walk
When you meet discomfort on your terms, you build a well of strength to draw from during the moments you can’t control. That’s the superpower.
It’s not about avoiding toxic things forever—but becoming so grounded that you can face discomfort with clarity. Your reactions become calm, and your decisions more mindful.
I recently heard a story that stopped me in my tracks. A woman launched a program to help teen girls navigate today’s intense social pressures—by removing the constant stimuli pulling them into comparison and distraction, and instead teaching them to ground themselves in the present. One girl shared a moment that stuck with me: during a particularly hard time, she remembered cold-plunging with the group—an intentional practice they did monthly to build resilience. She tapped into that memory during her dance tryouts, using it as a source of strength. That’s the magic of resilience: it doesn’t just show up in the ice bath—it shows up later, when you need it most.
3. Community: The Missing Nutrient in Most Mental Health Plans
Even the cleanest diet can’t nourish your nervous system if you feel isolated.
Loneliness doesn’t just hurt—it’s biologically dangerous. Chronic social isolation increases the risk of premature death by 29% and loneliness by 26%. In fact, lack of social connection can be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
For me, transformation came from leaning into true connection. I’ll admit this is still a challenge—I’m naturally introverted. But I’ve learned to listen to my body and soul and make intentional space for this missing nutrient.
Connection looks like:
Sharing slow meals with loved ones
Hosting or being part of women’s hunting trips
Building friendships rooted in nature, truth, and wellness
Letting others support me—asking for help! Doing hard things in community—cold plunges, saunas, meditation workshops
Fireside chats, relaxed gatherings, and camping adventures
When you’re surrounded by people who share your values, your nervous system exhales. You feel held. Grounded. More fully you.
4. Gratitude and Presence: Escaping the “I’ll Be Happy When…” Trap
For years, I lived on the edge of “almost enough.”
I’ll feel good when I help more people…
When my task list is finally complete (spoiler: it never is!)
When I post the perfect photo
When I feel truly worthy
But that mindset only fed anxiety and burnout.
Eventually, I flipped the script:
I chose to feel good now
I celebrated small wins
I practiced gratitude even when things weren’t perfect
And slowly, everything shifted.
Gratitude became my compass—pulling me back into presence. Life stopped being a finish line to chase—and became a moment to live.
This is still a daily practice for me. It always will be. But I now see mindfulness as a top priority—not an extra luxury.
Final Thoughts:
Your Nervous System Is Always Listening
If you’re feeling anxious, depleted, or stuck—you’re not broken.
You’re likely just underfed, overstimulated, and disconnected.
But there is a way back.
You don’t need to wait for a diagnosis, a retreat, or a 12-week plan.
Start here:
Eat real food—especially organ meats, raw dairy, and grass-fed fats found in an animal-based diet
Move your body and meet discomfort with courage
Connect with real people over slow meals and shared experiences
Practice gratitude—even on the hard days
Because your peace doesn’t live in a future version of your life. It’s waiting for you in this one. Right here. Right now.
