Stress Is a Health Issue — Not a Personality Trait | Why You’re Always Tired (And It’s Not Just Age)

Stress and fatigue are often treated like personality traits in the Black community.

“You’re strong.”
“You push through.”
“You’ll rest later.”
“Everyone your age is tired.”

But stress and exhaustion are not character flaws — they are physiological experiences, and over time, they can quietly shape health in ways most people were never taught to recognize.

In these episodes, we slow the conversation down.

We talk about:

• How chronic stress affects the nervous system and the body over time
• Why being “the strong one” often comes with a biological cost
• How fatigue can exist even when labs look “normal”
• The difference between being busy and being depleted
• Why rest is not laziness — it’s regulation
• How to notice stress and energy patterns without panic or self-blame

These episodes are educational — not diagnostic.
They don’t mean something is wrong with you.
They mean your body may be communicating after years of adaptation.

If these conversations resonated, you can explore the Day 3–4 companion workbook, designed to help you slow down and reflect in a way that most healthcare visits don’t allow time for.

Day 3–4 Stress & Fatigue Awareness Workbook
A guided reflection workbook that helps you:

• Understand how stress shows up in your body
• Identify daily stress and recovery patterns
• Explore why fatigue may persist
• Prepare thoughtful questions for your healthcare provider
• Build awareness without pressure to “fix” everything

This workbook is educational, non-diagnostic, and designed to support clarity — not overwhelm.

👉 Get your Stress/ Fatigue E=book / Workbook

https://stan.store/Healthcarenavigator/p/stress-and-fatigue-are-not-personality-traits-

If you’re looking for continued education, structure, and long-term health strategy, you can join Vitality Catalyst — our membership focused on prevention, clarity, and sustainable health after 40.

And if you’re interested in becoming a patient in the practice, that information is linked as well.

No pressure. Just options.

If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment to become a patient of Delilah S. IFMP-C, BSN, you can schedule a call here:
👉 https://link.content360.io/Become-a-patient

Or reach out via email:
👉 https://link.content360.io/delilah

If this episode was helpful, please subscribe, follow, share, rate, and leave a review.

It’s a free way to support the show and help these conversations reach more people.

Be well — and thank you for listening.

In this episode, we slow the conversation down.

We talk about:

• Why blood sugar issues often start years before a diagnosis
• What insulin resistance really means (in plain language)
• Why stress and poor sleep matter just as much as food
• Common myths that create shame and confusion
• Early signals many people overlook
• How to think about blood sugar without fear or self-blame

High blood pressure is one of the most common health conversations in the Black community — and also one of the most misunderstood.

In this episode, we slow the conversation down.

We talk about:

• What blood pressure actually reflects in the body
• Why this issue is so common in Black adults
• Cultural myths that keep people stuck or discouraged
• Early signals many people ignore
• How to think about blood pressure without fear, blame, or panic

If this episode resonated, you can explore the Day 1 or Day 2 companion resources, designed to help you reflect, understand patterns, and prepare for better conversations with your provider.

The Blood Pressure Reset Guide (E-book) and Reflection Workbook
A deeper, easy-to-read explanation of what most people were never told about — including stress, nervous system health, and long-term prevention.

and a guided workbook to help you notice stress patterns, body signals, and questions you may want to bring to your healthcare provider.

Both are educational, non-diagnostic, and created to support awareness — not overwhelm.

If you’re looking for continued education, structure, and long-term health strategy, you can join Vitality Catalyst — our membership focused on prevention, clarity, and sustainable health after 40.

And if you’re interested in becoming a patient in the practice, that information is linked as well.

No pressure. Just options.

If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment to become a patient of Delilah S. IFMP-C, BSN, you can schedule a call here:
👉 https://link.content360.io/Become-a-patient

Or reach out via email:
👉 https://link.content360.io/delilah

If this episode was helpful, please subscribe, follow, share, rate, and leave a review.

It’s a free way to support the show and help these conversations reach more people.

Be well — and thank you for listening.

After 40, many people start noticing changes in their bodies — energy feels different, sleep shifts, digestion changes, or recovery takes longer.

And yet, most of us were never taught how to respond to these changes without either panicking or ignoring them.

In this episode, we talk about a smarter, calmer way to approach body signals — one that builds long-term health without fear or urgency.

You’ll learn a simple Watch, Wait, Act framework to help you decide:

• When something is worth noticing
• When it’s reasonable to give your body time
• And when it might be helpful to take the next step or have a conversation

This episode is not about diagnosing symptoms or telling you what’s “wrong.”

It’s about learning how to interpret information your body is giving you — especially in midlife — with clarity and confidence.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why body changes don’t automatically mean something is wrong
• What’s commonly done in standard healthcare — and what often gets missed
• How to tell the difference between watching, waiting, and acting
• Why thoughtful awareness is a form of prevention
• How to bring better context (not panic) into health conversations

You’ll also hear how this framework helps prevent two common extremes: overreacting to every symptom — or waiting until things feel unmanageable.

To support this episode, I’ve created a free Watch, Wait, Act companion tool, which includes:

• A one-page Watch / Wait / Act guide
• A simple body pattern tracking worksheet
• A “What to bring to your next appointment” reflection sheet

This tool is meant to support awareness, not diagnosis.

👉 Download:

https://link.content360.io/watch-wait-act

If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment to become a patient of Delilah S. IFMP-C, BSN, you can schedule a call here:
👉 https://link.content360.io/Become-a-patient

Or reach out via email:
👉 https://link.content360.io/delilah

Website: https://link.content360.io/healthcarenavigator
Instagram: https://link.content360.io/instagram-hcn
Facebook: https://link.content360.io/Facebook-hcn
TikTok: https://link.content360.io/tiktok-hcn
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@delilahsouter5152/podcasts

If this episode was helpful, please subscribe, follow, share, rate, and leave a review.

It’s a free way to support the show and help these conversations reach more people.

Be well — and thank you for listening.

What if something happened to you—today?

In a crisis, your loved ones shouldn’t be stuck on a scavenger hunt for vital information.

The “Just in Case” Emergency Planner helps you organize medical details, emergency contacts, household logistics, finances, insurance, and final wishes—so your family has clarity, control, and calm when it matters most.

To get started on your emergency plan now:

https://link.content360.io/ER-planner

We’ve all had that moment — noticing a new ache, a dip in energy, or a memory slip and wondering, “Is this serious… or am I just getting older?”

In this episode of What The Health: Confessions of a Black Nurse, we break down how to tell the difference between normal age-related changes, true red flags, and things that simply deserve monitoring — not panic.

You’ll learn how to understand what’s happening in your body, recognize patterns, and respond thoughtfully instead of reactively.

• What normal aging actually looks like — physically and cognitively
• Common body and brain changes that are expected over time
• The science of inflammaging and why it matters for long-term health
• Clear examples of normal changes vs potential red flags
• Why context, patterns, and impact matter more than isolated symptoms
• How to reflect on body changes without spiraling or self-diagnosing
• A simple weekly framework to help you decide when to watch, wait, or act

To help you apply this information without anxiety, we introduce the Calm Weekly Reflection Guide — a thinking tool designed to turn vague worry into useful, structured information.

The guide helps you:

• Name changes without judgment
• Place them on a timeline
• Assess impact on daily life
• Look for patterns
• Decide on a calm, appropriate next step

This tool is meant to support awareness, not diagnosis.

👉 Download: Is This Normal, a Red Flag, or Something to Watch? Reflection Guide
https://link.content360.io/watch-wait-act

• Regular movement and physical activity
• Nutritious, anti-inflammatory eating patterns
• Prioritizing sleep and stress management
• Staying mentally and socially engaged

If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment to become a patient of
Delilah S. IFMP-C, BSN (Certified Integrative Functional Medicine Practitioner), you can schedule a call here:
👉 https://link.content360.io/Become-a-patient

Or reach out via email:
👉 https://link.content360.io/delilah

Website: https://link.content360.io/healthcarenavigator
Instagram: https://link.content360.io/instagram-hcn
Facebook: https://link.content360.io/Facebook-hcn
TikTok: https://link.content360.io/tiktok-hcn
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@delilahsouter5152/podcasts

If this episode was helpful, please subscribe, follow, share, rate, and leave a review.
It’s a free way to support the show and help these conversations reach more people.

Be well — and thank you for listening.

In this episode of What The Health: Confessions of a Black Nurse, we talk about something most people were never taught: how to track health in a calm, practical way across time.

If you’re between 35 and 65 and trying to be proactive about your health without becoming overwhelmed, this conversation is for you.

Rather than focusing on one-off symptoms or lab results, this episode breaks down what’s worth paying attention to daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually — from both conventional and functional medicine perspectives — and how to use that information wisely.

This is not about diagnosing or fixing yourself. It’s about learning how to notice patterns, understand your body’s signals, and have more informed conversations with your healthcare providers.

• Why annual checkups alone don’t tell the full story
• How conventional medicine and functional medicine think about tracking differently
• What to notice daily vs weekly vs monthly
• Why weekly reflection is one of the most underused health tools
• How to use simple trackers without anxiety or obsession
• How wearable devices can support awareness — and when they may not be helpful
• How to talk to your provider about trends instead of isolated symptoms

  Free Downloads Mentioned in This Episode:

To support this episode, we created several simple, non-diagnostic tools you can download and use at your own pace by going to: https://link.content360.io/what-to-track

• What to Track by Timeframe Guide – a one-page overview of what to notice daily through annually
• Simple Weekly Reflection Tracker – a quick weekly check-in you can complete in under five minutes
• Provider Conversation Cheat Sheet – language and prompts to help you discuss patterns with your healthcare provider
• Wearables & Mindset Mini-Guide – guidance on using wearable data without stress or obsession (available inside Vitality Catalyst)

These tools are optional.

They’re meant to support awareness — not create pressure.

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment to become a patient of Delilah S. IFMP-C BSN (Certified Intergrative Functional Medicine Practioner) you can schedule an appointment using the following link:

https://link.content360.io/Become-a-patient or reach out via email at https://link.content360.io/delilah.

Please subscribe, share, follow, like, and rate if this episode was beneficial for you!

Website: https://link.content360.io/healthcarenavigator

Instagram: https://link.content360.io/instagram-hcn

Facebook: https://link.content360.io/Facebook-hcn

TikTok: https://link.content360.io/tiktok-hcn

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@delilahsouter5152/podcasts

Thank you

Be Well

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. Cancer is number two.
Diabetes and Alzheimer’s are rising fast.

Food doesn’t appear anywhere on that list.

And yet—food is involved in every single one of those conditions.

In this episode, I ask a question most people avoid:

Is food the leading cause of death in the U.S.—or are we just not counting what actually drives disease?

This is not a diet conversation.
It’s not fear-based.
And it’s definitely not about perfection or blame.

We talk about:

• Why we only count what kills loudly—and ignore what causes damage quietly
• How food shapes inflammation, blood sugar, energy, and long-term health long before diagnosis
• Why “normal eating” often leads to normalized symptoms
• The difference between final events and root drivers
• How to start paying attention to your body before it has to scream

You’ll also get practical, no-cost takeaways you can use immediately—no supplements, no programs required.

I created a simple Food Audit & Label Check Tool you can use as a Google Doc.
It’s not a diet.

It’s an awareness tool designed to help you see patterns you may have normalized.

👉 Download the free Food Audit tool via the link in the show notes.

https://link.content360.io/food-audit

If this episode resonated—if you’ve been told you’re “fine” but don’t feel fine—this is exactly the work we do inside Vitality Catalyst.

Vitality Catalyst is where we:

• Connect symptoms to patterns
• Learn how to read your body with clarity and confidence
• Build energy, resilience, and longevity on purpose

You don’t need more information.
You need structure, guidance, and support.

👉 Learn more about Vitality Catalyst through the link in the show notes.

https://link.content360.io/vitalitycatalyst

If this episode made you uncomfortable—in a thoughtful way—share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Your future health is being written quietly, one decision at a time.

Thank you & Be Well

In this episode, I talk about why a recent podcast conversation changed how I think about food, prevention, and the way we approach health in the U.S.

This isn’t about fear or blame.

It’s about awareness—and timing.

We are often taught to react instead of prevent, and food is rarely discussed as the powerful factor it truly is.

I’m sharing this in the hope that it sparks earlier conversations, better questions, and more informed choices.

🎧 Podcast mentioned: The Mel Robbins Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlxbVMfvir8&list=PLhW2xUEb-B-Y92Q1wVWw6TyMNr4idD-yv&index=22
📌 Please like, subscribe, and share if this message resonates.