🌀 Day 25 of 40 – Leaky Gut-Brain Axis

🧠 Depression, anxiety and trauma response | Digestive system — #5 of 8 in the Leaky Body Syndrome Series

“Your gut and brain talk all day — when one is hurting, so is the other.” — Dee

💭 Did you know?

Your gut makes 90% of your serotonin and sends signals through your vagus nerve.

When your gut leaks or is inflamed, your brain feels it as anxiety, depression and trauma responses.

I didn’t just feel “blue” or “stressed.”

My brain was drowning in gut signals I couldn’t control.

Inflammation, infections and toxins rewired my nervous system,

and no one showed me how to heal from the inside out.

😞 My gut-brain whispers included:

• Anxiety that felt like it came from nowhere

• Depression or mood swings tied to meals

• Brain fog and poor focus

• Sleep disturbances or waking up with panic

• Gut pain during stress or emotional overwhelm

• Feeling disconnected from my body or emotions

🍃 I tried to mask symptoms with meds or distractions.

But my gut was still crying for attention.

No one asked if my nervous system needed safety.

No one taught me the gut-brain connection is key to healing.

💡 What I now understand:

• You can’t calm your brain without healing your gut

• Inflammation in the gut triggers inflammation in the brain

• Trauma lodged in the gut rewires nervous system responses

• Healing is a dance between gut care and nervous system repair

🧠 What My Gut-Brain Axis Was Trying to Say:

• “I’m anxious because I’m inflamed”

• “My depression is a call for gut peace”

• “I’m tired of the disconnect”

• “Feed me calm and safety”

• “Heal me gently from gut to brain”

🌿 Gut-Brain Healing Rituals That Helped Me:

• Mindful eating to soothe digestion and nervous system

• Vagus nerve breathwork and gentle movement

• Anti-inflammatory meals rich in omega-3s and polyphenols

• Avoiding sugar and processed foods that spike anxiety

• Meditation and grounding to calm nervous system

• Working with trauma-informed therapy or somatic healing

• Journal prompt:

“What does my gut want my brain to hear today?”

🕊️ You’re not alone in this gut-brain journey.

Healing flows from inside out.

Start with kindness. Breathe deeply. Listen closely.

With heart and gut love,

Dee

Peace Doula for the Gut-Brain Troubled and Mindful Healers