By Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Doctor of Nursing Practice | Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant
You’ve been through a lot—an injury, surgery, or a chronic condition that just won’t go away. You’re trying to rest, eat right, follow physical therapy, and take your medications, but something still feels off.
You’re exhausted, your pain flares up randomly, and sleep is a nightly struggle.
This isn’t just in your head—it could be your stress response working against your body’s ability to heal.
The Stress-Healing Connection
Stress is not just an emotion—it’s a physiological event that activates your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. In short bursts, stress helps your body respond to threats. But when stress becomes chronic—whether from pain, trauma, work, or emotional strain—it keeps your body in a fight-or-flight mode that directly interferes with healing.
Here’s how stress can sabotage your recovery:
- Elevated cortisol suppresses your immune system and increases inflammation
- Sleep disruption prevents your tissues from regenerating overnight
- Muscle tension and nerve hypersensitivity increase your perception of pain
- Digestive slowdown affects nutrient absorption critical for healing
- Mood imbalances (like anxiety or depression) further slow progress
Even if you’re doing “everything right” physically, your nervous system may still be stuck in a hypervigilant state—blocking recovery at the root.
Signs That Stress Is Impacting Your Recovery
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Pain that worsens at night or during stressful periods
- Brain fog, forgetfulness, or trouble concentrating
- Frequent illnesses or longer time to heal
- Anxiety, irritability, or low mood
- Blood pressure swings or digestive issues
How Functional Medicine Helps You Reset
In functional medicine, we don’t just look at where it hurts—we look at why your body isn’t healing. If chronic stress is interfering, we address the entire stress response system and restore balance. That may include:
- Cortisol rhythm testing (via saliva or urine)
- Adrenal and nervous system support using herbs, nutrients, and lifestyle tools
- Gentle movement therapies that calm the vagus nerve
- Sleep and circadian rhythm restoration protocols
- Mind-body interventions like breathwork, journaling, or trauma release
It’s not all in your head—but the healing starts with your brain-body connection.
Your Next Step: Calm the Storm
If this sounds like you, I invite you to take the first step toward restoring your nervous system and getting back to life.
Initial Functional Health Consultation: $25.00
Click here to book your session
Contact Info:
Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Doctor of Nursing Practice | Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant
Serving Orlando and Central Florida
Phone: 407-760-1662
Email: rosie@jrmnurseconsultants.com
Website: www.jrmnurseconsultants.com
