Notes on the video – Felishia’s Journey
● Became expressively ill at 14
● There were factors leading up to that
● The journey towards understanding all of those factors and how they influence the whole picture
of health and wellness + my experience getting well again
● I had a calling from a young age to be in health and wellness, I just didn’t know what that would
look like exactly and I didn’t expect the turn in my own life.
● Now I work as a Holistic Health Practitioner. I am a C.H.N.C and R.BIE but that’s a bit bulky.
● I offer people a different approach to health care.
My Observations On The Health of The World
1. We are undernourished, overworked and we live in a chronic state of self-protection and
self-promotion. I think one of the biggest lies that we believe that holds us back is that there isn’t
enough to go around. There’s not enough money, not enough opportunity, not enough food, not
enough resources. It’s the resounding narrative that media and the world pushes and it keeps us
trapped
2. We are also inundated with the narratives that:
a. Aging means getting old and decrepit. How many times in a week do you say or hear
other people say, “it just comes with getting older.” Where did that come from, why do we
believe that?
b. Everything in moderation will keep us healthy
c. Our only hope is the medical system.
3. Symptoms:
a. Chronic fatigue
b. Menopause wreaking havoc
c. Infertility
d. Children diagnosed with all kids of mental health disorders or ADHD.
Thyroid Health- (This is great. Would you also speak a bit to the relationship
of the Hypothalmus, Pituitary and Pineal)
The thyroid doesn’t simply control metabolism.
Thyroid hormone regulates nearly every aspect of neuronal function:
● neurotransmitter production
● neurotransmitter receptor sensitivity
● mitochondrial ATP production
● glucose utilization
● myelin maintenance
● synapse formation
● neuroplasticity
● cerebral blood flow
Think of thyroid hormone as the brain’s “power supply.”
Without enough power, every neurotransmitter system becomes less efficient.
HPT Axis
It starts with the hypothalamus, which is constantly scanning the body to make sure there is balance or
homeostasis. It’s like the CEO.
If the Hypothalamus senses that there isn’t enough energy or thyroid hormone, it released Thyrotropin
Releasing Hormone (TRH).
HRT gets sent to another part of the brain called the pituitary gland… kind of like the operations manager.
Which then responds to the TRH signal by releasing Thyroid Stimulating Hormone… just as it sounds,
this hormone stimulates the thyroid directly. When the thyroid is stimulated by TSH it starts to make more
thyroid hormone free T4 and free T3.
The thyroid itself is really like the factory that produces the product. But the job isn’t done yet.
T4 is converted into T3 by deiodinase enzymes in tissues such as:
● Liver
● Kidneys
● Skeletal muscle
● Brain
● Thyroid
● Other peripheral tissues
THEN, active T3 needs to bind to receptors in the nucleus of your cells. This is where the magic happens
so to speak. Once the T3 is utilized it does a number of different things:
● Mitochondrial ATP production
● Glucose metabolism
● Fat metabolism
● Protein synthesis
● Neurotransmitter production
● Neuroplasticity
● Myelin maintenance
● Cardiac function
● Muscle contraction
● Bone remodeling
● Thermogenesis
So you see, thyroid health doesn’t actually start or end with the thyroid. Brain signalling is crucial. (can
mention inflammation here, body inflammation directly leads to brain inflammation, we also know gut
inflammation affects brain signalling…)
Hypo-Hyperthyroidism Symptoms
Hypo – the brain and body are underpowered. Imagine everything functioning off of 60-70% of its
usual energy.
Brain
Reduced dopamine activity
Symptoms:
● Poor motivation
● Apathy
● Difficulty initiating tasks
● Reduced pleasure from activities
● Feeling “flat”
Patients often say:
“I want to do things—I just can’t get myself started.”
Reduced norepinephrine activity
Symptoms:
● Brain fog
● Poor concentration
● Difficulty staying engaged in conversations
● Slow reaction time
● Feeling mentally “checked out”
Patients often describe:
“It’s like thinking through molasses.”
Reduced serotonin function
Symptoms:
● Low mood
● Depression
● Irritability
● Increased sensitivity to stress
● Loss of optimism
Reduced acetylcholine
Symptoms:
● Forgetting names
● Word-finding difficulty
● Poor short-term memory
● Difficulty learning new information
Reduced overall neuronal firing
Symptoms:
● Slow thinking
● Slow speech
● Delayed responses
● Difficulty making decisions
● Feeling mentally exhausted after relatively little cognitive effort
Thyroid hormones are crucial for brain development, and influence brain function throughout
life. In adults, hypothyroidism causes lethargy, hyporeflexia, and poor motor coordination (1,2),
is associated with bipolar affective disorders, depression, or loss of cognitive functions (3).
Subclinical hypothyroidism is often associated with memory impairment. Conversely,
hyperthyroidism causes hyperreflexia, irritability, and anxiety among other symptoms (4). Hypo-
or hyperthyroidism may cause mood disorders, dementia, confusion, and personality changes
(5,6). Most of these disorders are usually reversible with proper treatment, indicating that
adult-onset thyroid hormone alterations affect neural function but do not leave permanent
structural defects.
Hyper – Now imagine every cell is being forced to operate at 130–150% of its normal
metabolic rate. Initially this may feel energizing. Eventually the body becomes depleted.
Brain
Increased adrenergic sensitivity
Even normal amounts of norepinephrine produce an exaggerated response.
Symptoms:
● Anxiety
● Panic attacks
● Feeling “on edge”
● Hypervigilance
● Easily startled
Excess neuronal firing
Symptoms:
● Racing thoughts
● Difficulty slowing the mind
● Poor sleep
● Trouble relaxing
● Mental restlessness
Impaired executive function
Although the brain is faster…
It becomes less organized.
Symptoms:
● Distractibility
● Difficulty finishing tasks
● Poor working memory
● Emotional impulsivity
Patients often say:
“My brain won’t stop.”
General Symptoms:
● Rapid heart rate
● Palpitations
● Elevated blood pressure (often systolic)
● Exercise intolerance
● Atrial fibrillation in some people
● Weight loss despite eating
● Increased appetite
● Heat intolerance
● Excess sweating
● Feeling hot all the time
● Muscle weakness
● Tremor
● Difficulty climbing stairs
● Loss of muscle mass
● Insomnia
● Light sleep
● Frequent waking
● Feeling tired but unable to sleep
● Frequent bowel movements
● Diarrhea
● Abdominal cramping
Similarities & Difference of Thyroid Disease and ADHD
ADHD = the brain’s communication system is wired differently from early development.
Hypothyroidism = the brain has the correct wiring, but it doesn’t have enough
metabolic energy to operate efficiently.
Hyperthyroidism = the brain is operating with the accelerator stuck down.
Hashimoto’s = the brain may experience fluctuating thyroid hormone availability plus
immune-mediated inflammation, causing changing neurological function.
BUT most ADHD is not truly examined under the microscope of brain functioning or
signalling.
“The clinical diagnosis process for ADHD involves a comprehensive evaluation using
clinical interviews, standardized rating scales, and behavioral criteria.”
When I look up what other diagnosis are ruled out before ADHD is positively diagnosed,
the internet tells me medical doctors might review hearing or seeing deficiencies… are
most kids tested for thyroid disease? Are things like metabolic disorders examined, gut
issues or food sensitivities… there are so many illnesses that overlap but our system
looks at one. We hyperfocus on one thing and try to affirm or deny that it’s that thing.
Where we fall short:
1. Holistic understanding
2. Whole body investigation
Why Is Thyroid Disease Missed?
1. It’s simply not checked and almost NEVER checked appropriately