Holistic Health with Melissa

Melissa Armstrong
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

So many people feel stuck by the limitations of conventional medicine, and that's exactly why I created Holistic Health with Melissa—to take you on a journey from conventional to crunchy! Here, you'll get empowering wellness insights, practical tips, and faith-centered strategies to help you feel your absolute best. In each episode, we'll dig into what true health and wellness really means, we'll dive into nutrition, lifestyle, mindset, and detox, all things so important in your health! Chat about raising kids with intention and living a life of faith. Join me to reclaim your energy, embrace your healthiest life, and find joy and purpose along the way!

  1. 7h ago

    Ep. 81 - Why You're Still Stuck in Survival Mode with Coach Keith

    Why can a woman love God, know Scripture, and do all the "right" things yet still feel stuck in survival mode? In this episode of Holistic Health with Melissa, Melissa sits down with Coach Keith Dorscht, a marriage and relationship coach with 30 years of experience, to explore the powerful connection between faith, the brain, the nervous system, and emotional healing. Together, they unpack why knowing the truth doesn't always change how a person feels, how past experiences shape relationships and patterns, and why emotional maturity and joy are essential to lasting transformation. They also explore how the brain and nervous system reflect God's design for relationship, why healing takes more than simply trying harder, and how deeper connection can help people move from disconnection and survival into greater peace, freedom, and joy. In this episode, you'll discover: Why faith alone doesn't mean the nervous system automatically feels safe How past experiences shape present-day patterns and relationships The connection between emotional maturity, nervous system regulation, and joy Why people can know the truth but still struggle to experience it How connection and relationship can support healing and transformation How to move beyond survival mode and begin experiencing greater freedom If you've ever wondered why you're still struggling with something you thought you'd already overcome, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on healing that honors both the brain God created and the faith that anchors you. Connect with Coach Keith: Visit Keith.coach to learn more about his work and access his resources. If you're interested in learning more about working with Melissa, you can find information and apply to work with her here: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/

    Ep. 81 - Why You're Still Stuck in Survival Mode with Coach Keith

  2. Oct 8

    Ep. 80 - The Hidden Beliefs Behind Anxiety & the Need for Control | Mind-Body Workshop, Part 2

    What if your anxiety, overthinking, and need for control aren't the real problem, but protective patterns you've developed over years of feeling unsafe? In Part 2 of this special Mind-Body Workshop, Melissa takes you inside a real, unscripted coaching conversation with a woman struggling with health anxiety and constant "what if" thoughts. What begins as a fear of getting sick quickly reveals something much deeper: a need for control, a fear of the unknown, and experiences from childhood that may have shaped the way her nervous system responds to uncertainty. Through this conversation, you'll discover how your subconscious beliefs can influence your thoughts, emotions, physical responses, and the patterns that keep you feeling stuck. Melissa also breaks down the science of your nervous system, why your body can respond to perceived threats even when you're not in immediate danger, and how her Root → Rewire → Restore approach helps women move beyond survival mode. You'll be invited to look at your own life and ask: Where am I trying to control things because I don't feel safe? What beliefs might be driving my anxiety, people pleasing, perfectionism, or overthinking? What would change if I stopped fighting these patterns and started understanding them? Healing isn't about becoming someone new. It's about uncovering the woman God created you to be beneath the fear, old beliefs, and survival patterns. If you're ready to stop simply managing symptoms and start exploring what's underneath them, this episode is for you. This is Part 2 of the Mind-Body Healing Workshop series. Listen to Part 1, "The Beliefs Keeping You Sick & Stuck," to hear Melissa's personal healing story and explore how identity and beliefs shape your health and your life. If you're ready to next the step with coaching, explore the options here: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com Apply for Freedom 1:1 here: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/clarity-call-form

    Ep. 80 - The Hidden Beliefs Behind Anxiety & the Need for Control | Mind-Body Workshop, Part 2

  3. Oct 1

    Ep. 79 - The Beliefs Keeping You Sick & Stuck | Mind-Body Workshop, Part 1

    What if one of the biggest things keeping you stuck isn't something happening around you, but something you've been believing about yourself for years? In Part 1 of this special Mind-Body Healing Workshop, Melissa explores the connection between your identity, your thoughts, your nervous system, and your physical and emotional health. But this episode is also deeply personal. Melissa shares more of her own story, from growing up in chaos and experiencing significant trauma, to struggling with anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and physical symptoms, and eventually reaching a point where she knew there had to be another way. You'll explore how beliefs like I'm not worthy, I'm not safe, I'm too much, or I have to perform to be loved can quietly shape the way you think, feel, respond, and move through the world. And you'll be invited to ask yourself one powerful question: What is one belief you hold about who you are that keeps you from fully living the life you were created for? This isn't about blaming yourself for your symptoms or pretending you can simply "think positive" and heal. It's about becoming aware of what's happening beneath the surface, learning to reconnect with your body, renewing your mind, and beginning to align your identity with what God says is true. In Part 2, you'll hear Melissa coach a woman in real time as they uncover what's underneath her health anxiety and constant "what if" thoughts, moving from the surface-level fear to the deeper belief her nervous system has been responding to for years. Interested in working with Melissa? See the options here: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com The next cohort of The Freedom Collective starts next week.

    Ep. 79 - The Beliefs Keeping You Sick & Stuck | Mind-Body Workshop, Part 1

  4. Sep 24

    Ep. 78 - Your Pain Is Not Wasted: How God Turns Adversity Into Purpose with Amy Lacey

    What if the hardest parts of your story aren't the end of your story? In this episode of Holistic Health with Melissa, Melissa sits down with entrepreneur, bestselling author, speaker, and founder of Cali'flour Foods and the first cauliflower pizza crust to hit the market, Amy Lacey for an incredibly vulnerable conversation about trauma, chronic illness, faith, forgiveness, and what can happen when you surrender the parts of your life that don't make sense to God. Amy shares how childhood trauma, sexual assault, and years of buried pain eventually became intertwined with her physical health. After being diagnosed with lupus and Sjögren's syndrome and reaching one of the darkest points of her life, she began searching for another way forward. That journey eventually led her to create Cali'flour Foods, pioneer the cauliflower pizza crust category, build a multimillion-dollar company, and ultimately sell the business. But success didn't mean the end of hardship. Amy opens up about losing the company she built, becoming sick again, finally facing the trauma she had buried for decades, and discovering the healing power of therapy, forgiveness, neuroplasticity, and faith. She also shares about walking through tremendous loss and betrayal in more recent years and how surrendering to God has given her peace even when she couldn't see how the story would unfold. Together, Melissa and Amy talk about the connection between unresolved trauma and the body, why forgiveness doesn't mean excusing what happened, and how some of the moments that feel like rejection or devastation can become unexpected redirection. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that your pain is not wasted, your current circumstances are not the end of your story, and even when you can't see what God is doing yet, He may be working in ways you never could have imagined. To learn more about ways to work with Melissa: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com To connect with Amy: https://www.instagram.com/heyamylacey/  For soursop products, use code HOLISTICHEALTH20 for 20% off https://www.soursopnutrition.com/

    Ep. 78 - Your Pain Is Not Wasted: How God Turns Adversity Into Purpose with Amy Lacey

  5. Sep 17

    Ep. 77 - "26% More Effective"? What the mRNA Flu Vaccine Data Actually Means

    The new mRNA flu vaccine is here. But what does the research actually tell us about its safety and effectiveness? In this episode of Holistic Health with Melissa, Melissa is joined once again by certified Physician Assistant Katie Collins to dig into the research behind the new mRNA influenza vaccine and explore what true informed consent should look like. Together, Melissa and Katie break down the difference between traditional and mRNA vaccines, what researchers actually measured in the clinical trials, and why understanding the way statistics are presented matters when making medical decisions. In this episode, they discuss: • How mRNA vaccines differ from traditional flu vaccines • Relative risk vs. absolute risk and why the difference matters • What the clinical trials reported about effectiveness, hospitalizations, side effects, and deaths • What it means when a vaccine is compared with another vaccine rather than a placebo • Questions surrounding research funding and conflicts of interest • The difference between regulatory approval and the questions patients may still want answered • Why reading beyond the abstract and conclusion of a study matters • How to ask better questions when making healthcare decisions for yourself and your family This conversation isn't about telling listeners what medical decision to make. It's about encouraging people to ask questions, understand the research, look beyond the headlines, and make truly informed decisions for themselves and their families. Because informed consent isn't simply being told that something is "safe and effective." It's understanding the potential risks, benefits, alternatives, and limitations of the evidence and having the freedom to decide what is right for you. Disclaimer: This episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always discuss individual healthcare decisions with a qualified healthcare professional. If you are interested in getting support and coaching from Melissa, please reach out at: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/clarity-call-form If you want to connect with Katie, you can find her here: https://www.instagram.com/katiec.pac/ Fluzone insert: https://www.fda.gov/media/170019/download Mflusiva: https://www.fda.gov/media/194120/download?attachment Robert Malone's substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/rwmalonemd/p/modernas-mrna-flu-shot?r=2erzw&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

    Ep. 77 - "26% More Effective"? What the mRNA Flu Vaccine Data Actually Means

  6. Sep 10

    Ep. 76 - The Hardest Part of Healing That Nobody Warns You About

    What if the hardest part of healing isn't the grief, the triggers, or even the pain you're processing? What if it's realizing that the version of you who survived your past can't come with you into your future? In this solo episode, Melissa talks about the identity shift that happens in the messy middle of healing, when old beliefs, coping mechanisms, relationships, and ways of seeing yourself no longer fit. She also shares what her recent viral reels have revealed about her own healing, visibility, rejection, and the beliefs that still get challenged along the way. If you're in a season where you don't quite recognize yourself anymore, this episode is for you. And if you're ready to understand the deeper connection between your mind, body, nervous system, and healing, come join me for my Mind-Body Workshop on September 28. https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/mindbodyhealingworkshop

  7. Sep 3

    Ep. 75 - Trauma Response vs. Identity Expansion: How to Tell the Difference

    Not every uncomfortable feeling means something is wrong. Sometimes it means you're growing. This week, Melissa is joined by Jamie Javed, a former ER and trauma nurse turned founder of the Weightless Woman movement, and one of Melissa's own coaches and closest friends. The conversation grew out of something Jamie posted on Instagram that Melissa couldn't stop thinking about: the moment nervous system regulation quietly turns into another form of avoidance. Together, they dig into a distinction most women have never been taught. Trauma activation and identity expansion can feel almost identical in the body, the same racing heart, the same tight stomach, the same pull to retreat. But one is asking you to regulate and find safety. The other is asking you to stay and keep going. Jamie shares how she learned to tell the two apart in her own life, including the decision to walk away from a ten-year marriage, and how that same discernment shows up in her work helping women pursue lasting weight loss without losing themselves in the process. In this episode, you'll hear: Why breathwork, journaling, and other regulation tools can sometimes become a way to avoid the action that actually creates change How to tell whether a feeling is trauma asking for safety, or growth asking you to expand What it means to become "unavailable" for an old identity so something new has room to arrive Why the supplements, the diets, the routines aren't the fix If this conversation stirs something in you, Melissa would love to walk alongside you. Her Freedom Collective is a six-month 1:1 coaching container with a community element that blends nervous system work, mindset, and Christ-centered identity healing, because you were never meant to do this alone. Schedule a Clarity Call to see if it's the right fit. To connect with Jamie, find her on Instagram at @iamjamiecatherine.

    Ep. 75 - Trauma Response vs. Identity Expansion: How to Tell the Difference

  8. Aug 27

    Ep. 74 - When Asking Questions Becomes Dangerous: A Nurse's Story of COVID, Medical Freedom & Faith

    In this powerful episode of Holistic Health with Melissa, Melissa sits down with her best friend, Stevie Silvers, a registered nurse and former hospital charge nurse, to hear the story of what happened when she began asking questions during COVID. Stevie takes listeners back to March 2020 and shares what she actually experienced working inside the hospital during the pandemic, including the disconnect she witnessed between what was being reported publicly and what she was seeing firsthand, the staffing crisis within healthcare, and the growing pressure to follow protocols without question. As Stevie began asking why, she found herself increasingly scrutinized by hospital leadership. She questioned masking policies, testing requirements, natural immunity, patient care protocols, and eventually the COVID vaccine mandate. Despite her efforts to find a way to remain compliant while protecting her health and keeping her job, Stevie was ultimately fired after 11 years of nursing, including time as a highly respected permanent charge nurse and recipient of a national Magnet Award for Transformational Leadership. Stevie shares what it was like to walk out of the hospital after giving so much of her career to caring for patients, how COVID changed her relationships and her trust in the healthcare system, and why she believes questioning medical decisions should be a fundamental part of informed consent. The conversation also goes deeper into the problems Stevie and Melissa see within modern healthcare, including standardized treatment, the loss of individualized patient care, fear-driven decision-making, and the growing divide between patients and the medical professionals they once trusted. But ultimately, this is a story about more than COVID or healthcare. It is a story about conviction, courage, integrity, medical freedom, and faith. After losing her career and many relationships, Stevie reflects on how God met her in the middle of the uncertainty and how the experience ultimately strengthened her relationship with Jesus and changed the way she views her calling in healthcare. If you've ever felt afraid to question a medical recommendation, pressured to make a decision you weren't comfortable with, or wondered whether there is a better way to approach your health and healthcare, this conversation is one you won't want to miss. What happens when asking questions becomes dangerous? And what are you willing to risk to stand by what you believe is right? If you are looking for someone to support you in your health journey,apply to work with Melissa here: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/clarity-call-form

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So many people feel stuck by the limitations of conventional medicine, and that's exactly why I created Holistic Health with Melissa—to take you on a journey from conventional to crunchy! Here, you'll get empowering wellness insights, practical tips, and faith-centered strategies to help you feel your absolute best. In each episode, we'll dig into what true health and wellness really means, we'll dive into nutrition, lifestyle, mindset, and detox, all things so important in your health! Chat about raising kids with intention and living a life of faith. Join me to reclaim your energy, embrace your healthiest life, and find joy and purpose along the way!

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