Stop Treating the Symptoms. Start Healing the Root.
“Stop Treating the Symptoms. Start Healing the Root." - Misty Creaghe
We live in a world where treating the symptom is glorified.
Got inflammation? Take a turmeric supplement.
Diagnosed with PCOS? Here's some birth control and Metformin.
Pre-diabetic? Cut carbs and try Ozempic.
IBS flaring? Avoid trigger foods and take antispasmodics.
Knees hurt? Just rest—maybe forever.
Struggling with anxiety or depression? Here's your prescription, good luck.
Sound familiar?
Listen, I’m not here to bash medications or doctors. They have a place—sometimes an important one. But what I am here to say is this:
If we keep treating symptoms without addressing the root cause, the body will keep whispering, then shouting, then screaming—until we finally listen.
Let’s talk about what this looks like when it comes to your metabolism, your body, your mental health, and the quality of your life.
The Symptom Trap in Metabolic Health
You were told to treat your IBS.
You were told to medicate your blood pressure.
You were told PCOS is just a hormonal problem.
You were told your body is just "prone" to inflammation.
No one told you that all of these are symptoms of metabolic dysfunction.
Yes—your body is trying to communicate with you. Loudly.
Chronic fatigue, GI distress, insulin resistance, poor sleep, mood swings, stubborn belly fat, inflammation, skin issues, hormonal imbalance—these are all red flags.
Your metabolism is not just “how fast you burn calories.” It’s how your entire body communicates, heals, regulates hormones, fights inflammation, and sustains energy. It’s the CEO of your health.
So when that system is out of balance? Everything else starts to break down.
Why the Band-Aid Approach Fails
Let’s say you’re diagnosed with high blood pressure.
You start medication, maybe lower your sodium, maybe lose a few pounds… but the stress is still sky-high. You’re still barely sleeping. You’re grabbing coffee instead of breakfast. Your workouts leave you more drained than energized. You don’t feel better.
Now you’ve got new symptoms. More fatigue. Poor circulation. Brain fog. Your libido tanks. You wonder, “What’s happening now?”
That’s your body raising the red flag again.
Because the problem isn’t high blood pressure—the problem is what’s causing the high blood pressure. And it hasn’t been addressed.
You Can’t Heal What You Won’t Face
Let’s be real here. It’s hard to face our real problems. Especially as women, moms, and career warriors. We’re told to suck it up. To do more with less. That it’s selfish to prioritize ourselves.
So we don’t face the lack of sleep, the over-stressing, the chronic under-eating, the unresolved trauma, the ultra-processed food, the caffeine dependence, the “I’ll rest when I’m dead” mindset.
We cover it up with diet plans, supplements, caffeine, workouts, and the belief that if we just try harder, we’ll finally feel better.
But hear me:
You don’t need to try harder. You need to try different.
The Body Keeps Score—and It’s Trying to Help You
If you’re doing “all the right things”—eating clean, working out, sleeping 6 hours a night—and you still feel like garbage…
It’s not because your body is broken.
It’s because your body is wise.
Symptoms are not failures. They’re signals.
Signals that you need:
More food, not less
Balanced eating, not just clean eating
Stress management, not just stress suppression
Sleep optimization, not just a dark room
Consistency over extremes
Whole foods, not just macro-counting
Time to process emotions, not just ignore them
You don’t heal your metabolism by starving it.
You don’t fix hormones by overtraining.
You don’t gain energy by overworking and under-recovering.
And you don’t fix a broken system by ignoring the root.
Fitness Isn’t Just for the Uninjured
Let’s talk about old injuries.
I see it all the time. You had a knee injury years ago, so now you just avoid lower body work altogether. You had a back spasm once, so you stopped lifting.
But here's the truth: ignoring the injury doesn't heal it.
It turns that spot into a weak link.
And the longer you ignore it, the weaker the muscles around it become.
Suddenly, your knee hurts even more. Your hip joins the party. Your lower back flares. Why?
Because your body is compensating for what you refuse to rehabilitate.
The same applies to your emotional injuries.
Trauma Isn’t Just for the Broken
Everyone has trauma.
Yes, even if you had the “perfect” childhood.
Even if you were told others had it worse.
Even if you feel guilty for being sad or anxious.
Trauma is not just what happened to you—it’s what didn’t happen.
The love you didn’t receive.
The safety you didn’t feel.
The connection you didn’t get.
And if you don’t face those emotional injuries, they fester. They manifest as:
Self-sabotage
People-pleasing
Perfectionism
Fear of failure or success
Constant overwhelm
Stuck in freeze mode
Your next level will demand you face these things.
It will ask you to grieve. To rest. To process. To forgive.
Not because you’re broken. But because you’re finally ready to be whole.
Let’s Talk About Cortisol—The Sneaky Root of So Many Symptoms
Cortisol is your body’s main stress hormone. It’s not the enemy. In fact, it’s what gets you up in the morning, helps you think fast, and keeps you alert in times of danger.
But when cortisol stays high all the time—because of nonstop stress, under-eating, overtraining, poor sleep, unresolved trauma—it stops helping and starts hurting.
High cortisol can:
Keep your stress levels stuck on high
Prevent you from staying asleep through the night
Cause energy crashes midday
Leave you waking up already exhausted
Raise your blood pressure
Wreck your hormones
Make it nearly impossible to lose fat, especially around the belly
And here’s what most people don’t realize:
As we age, our bodies can’t handle stress the way they used to.
The same to-do list that once energized you now wipes you out.
The late nights that were manageable at 25 wreck your system at 40.
That one glass of wine? It now triggers poor sleep and inflammation.
But instead of helping you manage cortisol, most doctors reach for a prescription pad.
So you go in feeling anxious and wired… and walk out with Zoloft or Xanax.
And at first? You feel a little better. The edge is gone.
But here’s the thing they don’t tell you:
Anxiety meds like Xanax and Zoloft can actually raise your cortisol even more.
So yes, they help you feel calmer in the short term, but they don’t fix the cortisol imbalance.
They just shift the symptom. And soon, you’re dealing with:
Higher blood pressure
Worse sleep
Waking up at 2am again
Fatigue that doesn’t quit
New symptoms your doctor can’t explain
So now you're treating those symptoms too… and round and round we go.
So, What Do We Do Instead?
We start addressing the root. And here’s how:
1. Fuel Your Body with Balance, Not Deprivation
Stop starving. Start nourishing.
Focus on protein, fiber, healthy fats, and slow carbs.
Eat enough to support your metabolism, not just shrink your waistline.
2. Ditch the Ultra-Processed Foods
They are designed to hijack your brain, spike your insulin, crash your energy, and leave you hungrier.
Swap them for real, whole, vibrant food that your body recognizes and uses.
3. Strength Train with Respect
Yes, you can build muscle with old injuries—if you modify. Find what works for your body, not against it. Stability. Core strength. Muscle activation. Not punishment.
4. Prioritize Sleep Like Your Life Depends on It—Because It Does
Quality sleep repairs hormones, reduces cortisol, and balances metabolism.
Track your sleep. Improve your environment. Learn your patterns.
5. Create Stress Management Rituals That Are Non-Negotiable
Breathwork. Walks. Journaling. Saying no. Less scrolling. More pausing.
Your nervous system needs safety, not hustle.
6. Get Honest About Your Emotional Health
Therapy, coaching, journaling, support circles—whatever it takes.
You are not “too busy” to heal. You are too precious not to.
Healing the Root Changes Everything
When you stop managing symptoms and start healing the cause?
You stop gaining and losing the same 20 pounds
Your bloating goes away
Your cycles regulate
You stop needing 4 cups of coffee to function
You get better sleep and better moods
You stop feeling like you're always running on empty
You trust your body again
You’re not just healthier—you’re freer.
It’s Time to Stop Doing More of What Doesn’t Work
If you’ve been stuck in symptom-management mode, I want you to know this:
It’s not your fault.
But it is your responsibility to pivot.
You are not lazy. You’re misinformed.
You are not broken. You’re burned out.
You are not too late. You’re just getting started.
You deserve to heal. Fully. From the inside out.
A Note of Gratitude—And a Gift for You
If you’re still reading, thank you. Truly.
I know this wasn’t a fluffy “5 ways to lose belly fat” blog.
This was real. Raw. Rooted in truth.
And if this hit home? If you felt seen?
I want to offer you something special.
As a thank you, I’m offering an appreciation rate for my signature program.
50% off for the women ready to heal, not hustle.
Ready to stop putting out fires and start rebuilding your foundation?
Head to this page to claim your spot now:
Appreciation Link
You’re not “one more diet” away from the life you want.
You’re one root-level transformation away from everything changing.
Let’s heal that root. Together.
