How Midlife Stress and Thinning Hair Are Connected

If your hair has been acting up lately — and you’ve blamed hormones, aging, or a new product — you’re not wrong. But there’s one more root cause worth talking about: midlife stress.

I told myself the thinning, oily roots, shedding, brittleness, and dull texture were just part of being over 40. But deep down, I knew stress had something to do with it. When your nervous system is constantly running on fumes, your body starts conserving energy — and unfortunately, shiny healthy hair isn’t at the top of the priority list.

What to Know About Midlife Stress and Thinning Hair

“Here’s what I wish more women knew: Midlife stress and thinning hair often go hand in hand.”

Why Stress Might Be Behind Your Oily Roots, Thinning Hair, or Sudden Shedding

Here’s what I wish more women knew: midlife stress and thinning hair often go hand in hand.

When cortisol is chronically elevated, your body:

• Shifts into “survival mode,” pausing hair growth

• Throws off your hormone balance (hello, androgens and DHT)

• Triggers inflammation that can shrink hair follicles

• Interrupts sleep and digestion — both critical to healthy hair

And yes, sometimes this looks like thinning hair. But for many of us? It’s also oily roots, brittle ends, excess shedding, or a scalp that just doesn’t feel balanced.

It Wasn’t About Vanity — It Was About Not Giving Up

One of the small ways I started caring again? A scalp serum. Not because I was aiming for a magazine cover — but because I needed to stop pretending it didn’t matter anymore.

Serum. Breathe. Pause.That was it.

It wasn’t dramatic, but it was honest. And that moment reminded me: I could still take care of myself — even if I didn’t feel like “myself” yet.

You’re allowed to care about your hair. It doesn’t make you vain — it makes you human.

Your Hair Might Be Asking for Support — From the Inside, Too

Here’s what I suggest to families who want to support their kids naturally — especially those who struggle with mood, sleep, emotional dysregulation, or tummy troubles:

If you’re noticing hair changes and feeling stressed, moody, anxious, or burned out — it’s not in your head. It’s probably on your head.

Start with the Stress Type Quiz. I created it as a Certified Mental Wellness Coach to help women pinpoint what kind of stress they’re carrying — and how it might be affecting your whole body, including your hair.

Take the Stress Type Quiz Here

Speaking of ... here's the Thicker Fuller Hair Pack and the Serum only. Both include $10 off and come with a 90-Day Money Back guarantee.

Until next time, take care of what’s beneath the surface. You’re allowed to start small.

Nelea R. Lane, CMWC

Certified Mental Wellness Coach

aka The Happy Juice Chick

Have questions? Message me here

*THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.

Happy Life Quiz

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What I’d Do Differently: Gut-Brain Support for Kids Before School Starts

When my son was younger, he had tummy aches, trouble sleeping, and trouble focusing. He was moody and overwhelmed easily — and I assumed it was just his personality or part of growing up.

What I didn’t realize is that all of those struggles were connected.I didn’t know that his gut and brain were constantly in conversation — and that when the gut is under stress, the whole body feels it.

If I could go back, I’d make one change: I’d start gut-brain support for kids long before school stress hit. I'd start in the summer and remain consistent all year long.

Why Gut-Brain Support for Kids Matters

The gut and brain talk through the nervous system, immune system, and messengers like serotonin and GABA. When that connection is off, it shows up in:

• Emotional meltdowns

• Trouble focusing

• Tummy troubles

• Restless sleep

• Sensory overwhelm

Gut-brain support for kids means helping the body restore balance gently and naturally.It includes prebiotics, probiotics, and plant nutrients that support emotional regulation, digestion, and calm from the inside out.

Summer Is the Best Time to Start

Most parents wait until the first week of school to try something new — when nerves, new routines, and stress levels are already high.

But summer is actually the best time to build calm routines.

There’s more space.

Fewer demands.

And the body can settle into a rhythm before the next wave of stress hits.

The Gentle Routine I'd Recommend Now

Here’s what I suggest to families who want to support their kids naturally — especially those who struggle with mood, sleep, emotional dysregulation, or tummy troubles:

Morning – Kids Happy Juice™

A stick pack with gut-brain support ingredients like prebiotics, probiotics, and mood-balancing botanicals. Promotes focus and calm.

Afternoon – Kids Mood+

A chewable that supports mood and emotional regulation. Many parents give it midafternoon when kids are most reactive.

Bedtime – Kids Calm

A melatonin-free nighttime support to help kids settle down, fall asleep faster, and wake up feeling better.

It all comes in one convenient pack. (Link includes $10 off.)

"Helping your child feel better doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be consistent." -- Nelea Lane, CMWC

What to Expect: 30, 60, 90 Days

Real change takes time, especially with the gut-brain axis. Here’s what many parents notice over time:

• 30 days → fewer tummy complaints, improved mood, more restful sleep

• 60 days → better focus and fewer meltdowns

• 90 days → more calm, stress resilience, confidence, enhanced immunity

Use This Free Checklist to Spot the Signs

I created a Summer Reset Checklist to help you tune in to your child’s signals.

If your child struggles with mood, digestion, sensory overload, or restlessness — this may help you see what their body’s been trying to say.

Ready to Reset this Summer?

If you’re curious about trying gut-brain support for kids, I’d love to help you get started this summer BEFORE the the back-to-school chaos — while there’s time to settle in. Supporting the body before stress hits makes all the difference.

Just message me “SUMMER” and I’ll send:

1. The printable checklist

2. Discount code

3. Invite to private community for product support

There’s still time to support your child’s body — before school stress hits again.

Nelea R. Lane, CMWC

Certified Mental Wellness Coach

aka The Happy Juice Chick

Have questions? Message me here

*THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.

Happy Life Quiz

#GutBrainSupportForKids #NaturalFocusSupport #BackToSchoolCalm #HappySippers #SummerReset #KidsMoodSupport #StressLessEra

How Stress Shows Up on Your Skin: 5 Burnout Skin Symptoms

Burnout doesn’t always look like falling apart.Sometimes it looks like dry, dull skin. Puffiness you can’t explain. A glow that disappeared somewhere between stress and survival mode.

As someone who teaches about the gut-brain connection, I’ve learned that burnout doesn’t just affect your mood, focus, or hormones — it can show up on your skin long before you even realize what’s going on.

And the hardest part? You’re doing the things. Drinking the water. Taking the supplements. Trying to eat better.But you still don’t look like yourself. You catch your reflection in a window and don’t recognize the woman staring back. Not because of one dramatic change — but because your light’s gone a little dim. I’ve been there. And you’re not imagining it.

Skincare Treatments that Help

Here are five common burnout skin symptoms I’ve seen (in myself and the women I work with), and what you can do to gently start feeling more like yourself again.

5 Signs Your Skin Is Telling You You’re Burned Out

1. Dull, lifeless tone: Stress slows down cell turnover and circulation. When your nervous system is in survival mode, your glow is one of the first things to go.

2. Puffy or sagging under-eyes: Burnout often leads to poor sleep and inflammation, which shows up under the eyes as swelling or droopiness — even when you’re eating and hydrating well.

3. Breakouts around the mouth or jawline: Stress impacts cortisol and insulin, both of which influence hormonal acne. Combined with a disrupted gut microbiome, breakouts become harder to manage.

4. Dryness or flaking that your usual products can’t fix: When your skin barrier is compromised by chronic stress, moisturizers don’t seem to work. Your skin feels tight, flaky, or like it’s aging faster than usual.

5. Redness, blotchiness, or reactivity: If your skin starts “freaking out” over things that used to feel fine, you might be dealing with nervous system overload — not just a bad product.

What Helped Me Come Back from It

(No 10-Step Routine Required)

Here’s the good news: you don’t have to fix everything overnight. Just start with one thing that feels kind.

These are the little things that helped me re-engage with my reflection (and my body) when I didn’t feel like doing anything:

• A morning mocktail with my Happy Juice (something I actually look forward to drinking)

• Swapping coffee for a protein-rich meal replacement smoothie that gave me real fuel instead of a crash

• Giving myself just 3 minutes at night to treat my skin, breathe, and use something calming

• I finally started using a scalp serum to deal with the oiliness and thinning. Not to be high-maintenance — but because pretending it didn’t bother me wasn’t working. That one step reminded me I could still do something about it.

• Writing one thing per day on a “feel-better list” instead of a to-do list

Burnout Isn’t Just Mental — It’s Visible

Want something that helps from the inside out?

A lot of people reach for collagen when their skin looks dull, puffy, or inflamed — but I suggest something else. If your body is stressed or inflamed, it may not use collagen well. What it really needs first is support.

I’ve been using a supplement stack that helps calm stress, feed the gut-skin connection, and bring visible glow back. It’s made a real difference — not just in how my skin looks, but in how I feel.

"A lot of people reach for collagen when their skin looks dull, puffy, or inflamed — but I suggest something else." -- Nelea Lane, CMWC

The Supplement Stack Your Skin Might be Asking For

Your skin tells a story. Let it be one of healing, not hiding.

Nelea R. Lane, CMWC

Certified Mental Wellness Coach

aka The Happy Juice Chick

Have questions? Message me here

*THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.

Happy Life Quiz

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