The Body-Brain Breakdown: When You Feel Stuck (Even with Inner Work)

We are honored to partner with Unscripted Clinic to share the truth that your living can be better - and that you do have authority over your own health and wellbeing.

We are deeply grateful for the wisdom of Cara Merak, a nurse, functional health coach, and founder of Unscripted Clinic. Cara has a gift for bridging science and compassion, helping people see the powerful connection between body and mind. Her work is both insightful and practical, guiding others toward healing that is whole, sustainable, and life-giving.

We’re excited to share her perspective with you here.

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By Cara Merak, BSN, RN, CFNC

Nurse | Functional Health Coach | Owner, Unscripted Clinic  

We’ve been taught to treat mental and physical health as separate — two departments, two types of doctors, two unrelated conversations.

But what if that model is holding us back from real wellness?

At Unscripted Clinic, we actually see this all the time. People come in feeling anxious, burned out, foggy, or overwhelmed — even after doing all the "right things." Therapy. Journaling. Meditation. Breathwork. They’ve done the inner work… but something still feels off.

And often, it’s not just in their head.
It’s in their biology.

Your Mind Reflects Your Physiology

Your thoughts, mood, focus, and emotional resilience are shaped — every day — by what’s happening in your body.

For example:

•  When your blood sugar crashes, it can mimic a panic attack.
•  Chronic inflammation activates the same biochemical pathways as depression and anxiety.
•  Poor gut health affects serotonin levels — and since about 90% of your serotonin is made in your gut, not your brain, this is a big deal.
•  Low levels of magnesium, B12, vitamin D, or omega-3s are all linked to mood swings, brain fog, and irritability.
•  And even just one night of poor sleep can increase cortisol, spike insulin, and make your brain more reactive and emotionally sensitive.

In other words, your body is constantly sending messages to your brain.
If your body feels unsafe, depleted, or inflamed — your mind will reflect that.

This Isn’t Just Theory — It’s Backed by Science

We’re not guessing here. This connection between body and mind is supported by strong, real-world data:

•  1 in 3 people with depression have elevated inflammatory markers like CRP, IL-6, and TNF-alpha. (Biological Psychiatry, 2016)
•  People with autoimmune diseases are 45% more likely to also experience depression. (JAMA Psychiatry, 2013)
•  The CDC-Kaiser ACE Study showed that people with childhood trauma have higher risks for depression, addiction, and chronic disease.
•  Studies show that imbalances in gut bacteria are linked with anxiety, mood issues, and even cognitive decline. (Psychiatry Research, 2015)
•  Just one night of poor sleep increases emotional reactivity in the brain by up to 60%. (Nature Neuroscience, 2007)
•  Loneliness increases inflammation and weakens immunity — and is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. (PLOS Medicine, 2010 – Holt-Lunstad et al.)
•  Blood sugar swings, nutrient deficiencies, and hormone imbalances can all look like mental health disorders — but are often biochemical in nature.

So What Do We Do About It?

Here’s where functional medicine comes in.
It asks a different set of questions:

•  Why is the body reacting this way?
•  What’s out of balance beneath the surface?
•  What systems need support — physically, emotionally, and biochemically?

At Unscripted Clinic, we don’t separate mental and physical health — because they aren’t separate. We look at the whole ecosystem of your body and how it's shaping your thoughts, energy, and emotional resilience.

We look at:

•  Your gut and microbiome
•  Your blood sugar stability
•  Your inflammation levels
•  Your nutrient reserves
•  Your sleep-wake rhythm
•  And your nervous system’s ability to switch out of survival mode

We don’t treat symptoms like a checklist.
We treat your story like a roadmap.

Because real healing happens when your entire system feels supported, safe, and seen.

Your Body Isn’t the Enemy — It’s the Messenger

One of the most healing truths we share with our clients is this:

You’re not broken.
Your body isn’t failing you.
It’s trying to protect you — in the only way it knows how.

That low mood, that brain fog, that irritability or exhaustion?
Those are signals — not signs that something’s wrong with you, but signs that something deeper needs attention, care, and healing.

Once you start addressing the root causes — not just the symptoms — everything starts to shift.
Energy returns.
Emotions stabilize.
You feel more clear, more present, more like you again.

What Healing Might Look Like

At Unscripted, healing doesn’t mean perfection.
It means building a new baseline that works with your body, not against it.

That might look like:

•  Eating in a way that balances your blood sugar and your mood
•  Repairing the gut so your brain chemistry can function again
•  Supporting your adrenals so you can actually rest and restore
•  Calming the nervous system so trauma can finally release.
•  Reclaiming your energy, clarity, and connection — not by forcing it, but by becoming biologically ready for it

Ready to Feel Like You Again?

If you’ve been doing the mindset work and still feel stuck, this might be the missing link.

Let’s look at your whole story — body, mind, and history — and figure it out together, piece by piece.

🔗 Explore how we work

Or schedule a discovery call when you’re ready to start moving toward clarity, calm, and energy that actually lasts.

You don’t have to do this alone anymore.