Ask Dr. Katelyn: “I love my family, but the holidays always leave me drained. How do I protect my peace when old family dynamics resurface?”
The holidays have a way of bringing out both the best and the most tender parts of us. Love, nostalgia, warmth — and, sometimes, the same old patterns that we thought we’d outgrown. It’s not that we don’t love our families; it’s that the nervous system remembers. And when old dynamics resurface, the body often […]
Holiday Stress Inoculation: Preparing Your Nervous System Before the Rush
For high performers, the holidays can feel less like a break and more like an endurance event. Between travel, social obligations, family expectations, and year-end deadlines, your nervous system is often running a marathon you didn’t consciously sign up for. But what if you could train your stress response—just like you train your body—to stay […]
Family Gathering Survival Guide: Coherence Tools for Difficult Conversations This Thanksgiving
The holidays can be a mixed bag — especially when you live with chronic pain. While everyone else seems to be sipping cider and swapping stories, you might be silently scanning the room for the nearest exit or bracing for the next emotionally charged comment. Between family expectations, travel fatigue, and the pressure to “be […]
Ask Dr. Katelyn: “I feel disconnected from everyone lately. How can I reconnect without forcing it?”
It’s a common confession — though rarely spoken aloud. “I just feel… nothing.” Not angry. Not sad. Not happy. Just numb. For many men, this quiet disconnection can feel like being trapped behind glass. You can see your life — your relationships, your family, your goals — but you can’t feel them. And in a […]
The Gratitude–Coherence Connection: The Science of Thankfulness and Nervous-System Balance
Gratitude is often spoken of as a virtue — something we “should” feel to become better people. But beneath the surface of that moral ideal lies a fascinating and measurable neurophysiological phenomenon: gratitude changes the body’s electromagnetic rhythm. It transforms the heart’s signal, synchronizes the nervous system, and restores coherence to mind and body alike. […]
Ask Dr. Katelyn: Why Do the Holidays Make My Depression Worse (Even When I’m Surrounded by Love)?
There’s a quiet ache that can surface around the holidays. Even in rooms filled with warmth, laughter, and light — something in us still trembles. We tell ourselves we should feel grateful. We list our blessings, smile for the photos, light the candles. And yet, a part of us remains untouched — watching, distant, almost […]
Cold Weather and Chronic Pain: Why Stress May Be the Missing Link
When the temperature drops, many people with chronic pain notice their symptoms flare. Stiff joints. Aching muscles. Fatigue that feels heavier than the winter clouds. While it’s easy to blame the weather alone, there’s a deeper connection at play—one that has less to do with temperature and more to do with how our bodies hold […]
Ask Dr. Katelyn: Can Stress Really Make Pain Worse? A Veteran’s Guide to Healing
If you’ve been living with pain that seems to hang around no matter what you try, you’re not imagining it. Many veterans I meet here in Los Angeles tell me the same thing: “Doc, I’ve done everything they told me to—PT, meds, reducing stress—but my body still hurts.” That kind of pain isn’t just physical. […]
I Tried Floating for Anxiety, Here’s What Actually Happened
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I booked my first float therapy session for anxiety at Quantum Clinic. I’d tried everything — therapy, supplements, even meditation apps — but my nervous system always felt like it was running a marathon I never signed up for. My thoughts were loud, my chest tight, and my […]
Ask Dr. Katelyn: I Want to Stop People-Pleasing. How Do I Do It Without Burning Bridges?
If you’ve spent most of your life trying to keep everyone else happy, chances are you’ve learned to equate peace with self-sacrifice. You say yes when you want to say no. You check in on everyone else before you ever check in with yourself. And deep down, there’s this quiet fear: If I stop being […]
