Are You Making the Problem? (Spoiler: Maybe, But Not On Purpose)

Let’s talk about something that might sting a little.

What if some of the health challenges you’re facing aren’t just happening to you — what if you’re (unknowingly) helping them along?

I know, ouch. But stay with me.

This isn’t about blame or guilt. It’s about awareness and power.

Because here’s the truth: we often unconsciously create or contribute to our own health issues. Not because we’re lazy or broken or doing anything "wrong," but because we’re human. And because we live in a culture that normalises burnout, bad food, and busyness like they’re some kind of status symbol.

So, how do we make the problem?

1. We ignore the whispers

Your body always speaks first in whispers. A little fatigue here. A bloated belly there. Trouble sleeping. Random aches. Mood swings that feel like a rollercoaster.

But we push through. We tell ourselves it’s normal. We self-medicate with coffee, wine, sugar, Netflix, or "just getting on with it."

Until the whispers become screams. And now we’re flat on the couch Googling symptoms while eating toast for dinner (again).

2. We confuse coping with caring

We’re really good at coping. Like gold medal level. We can power through anything — school drop-off, deadlines, family drama — all on autopilot.

But coping isn’t healing.

You can get through the day with four coffees, two panadols, and a glass of wine at night. But that’s not care. That’s survival mode with lipstick.

Caring is slowing down, checking in, and asking: What does my body actually need? What is it trying to tell me? And then actually doing something about it.

3. We treat symptoms, not systems

Headaches? Take something. Bloated? Probiotic. Exhausted? Supplements and another strong latte.

But the body is a system, not a collection of disconnected parts. When we treat symptoms in isolation, we miss the opportunity to see how everything connects.

Is your bloating linked to stress hormones? Is your fatigue connected to blood sugar crashes? Is your low mood rooted in an inflamed gut or lack of sleep?

Your body is talking. Are you tuned in, or turning down the volume?

4. We get on the medication merry-go-round

One symptom leads to one medication, which leads to another side effect, which needs another pill... and before you know it, you’re spinning in circles without ever addressing the root cause.

Medications can absolutely be life-saving and necessary. But when they become our only strategy, we often end up stuck — managing the fallout instead of making progress.

Getting off that merry-go-round requires more than willpower. It requires a plan, support, and a return to what the body actually needs.

5. We believe the stories we’ve been sold

We’ve all heard them — and maybe even said them ourselves:

“It’s just getting older.”“It’s probably hormones.”“I’m just tired because I’m busy.”Or my personal favourite: “I must be perimenopausal — I mean, I am 35.”

These statements sound harmless — even helpful. But too often, they stop us from digging deeper.

Let’s talk about hormones for a moment. We love to blame oestrogen — too much, too little, out of balance. And sure, hormones play a role. But here’s what I truly believe: your body is never working against you.

If your hormones are shifting or out of whack, it’s because your body is doing what it needs to do to survive. It prioritises survival above everything — even if it means borrowing from one system to prop up another.

When we understand that the body is adapting, not attacking us, we can work with it instead of against it.

Your energy crashing at 3pm isn’t a life sentence. Your anxiety, poor sleep, or sluggish digestion aren’t personality traits. They’re signs. Clues. Invitations to do something differently.

6. We stay in Cause AND Effect

When you’re stuck in "effect," life is just happening to you. Your symptoms are a mystery, your health feels out of control, and you’re just trying to get through the week.

When you move into "cause," you step into choice. Ownership. Action.Not blame. Power.

7. We confuse scrolling for self-care

Social media can be great for inspiration, but it's also a breeding ground for comparison, misinformation, and distraction.

We scroll to relax but end up anxious. We look for answers but get bombarded with conflicting advice, diet fads, and curated lives that make us feel behind.

Real self-care isn't in your feed. It's in your fridge, your sleep routine, your boundaries, and the way you speak to yourself.

So what can we do?

Start with this: Get curious, not critical.

• What are you doing daily that’s helping you?

• What are you doing that might be hurting you?

• Where are you tolerating, pushing through, or tuning out?

• What does your body need more of?

• What does it need less of?

This is the work. It’s not sexy. It won’t get you a before-and-after photo in seven days.

But it will give you your power back.

And here’s the good news — you don’t have to overhaul your life overnight. One small, simple change — a glass of water first thing in the morning, a veggie with each meal, turning off your phone 30 minutes earlier — can begin to shift your biology, your energy, and your mindset.

Small steps create big momentum. Pick one. Start there.

You are not broken. You are just out of sync.

And that’s fixable.

Your body wants to be well. It is designed for balance. And when you support it instead of battling it, you’ll be amazed at how quickly things begin to shift.

This is the work I do every day in clinic — helping people recognise the physical, mental, and emotional patterns that are holding them back, understand what's really going on beneath the symptoms, and take small, powerful steps toward real change.

Let’s clean up the clutter, support your system, and get you back to feeling like you again.