The Nervous System Eats First: Autism Spectrum, Menopause & Beyond

Dr. Stacey Denise | The Neuroaesthetic MD
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The Nervous System Eats First is a podcast about the midlife body—when masking stops working, menopause hits hard, and your nervous system demands more than just supplements and willpower. Hosted by Dr. Stacey Denise, a board-certified physician and founder of the Neuroaesthetic MD™ method, this show invites listeners into a new kind of recovery: one where healing begins through the senses. Each episode blends science, sensory ritual, and somatic insight to help women reclaim regulation—not as a reward, but as a requirement. This is not “self-care.” This is nervous system nutrition for: Autistic and ADHD women unmasking in midlife Black women and women of color navigating medical gaslighting Women in menopause who feel invisible, exhausted, and emotionally unmoored Highly sensitive women trying to feel something without getting overwhelmed If you’ve ever asked, “What is happening to my body?”—this podcast is your permission slip to find out, slowly and with grace. 🎧 The Nervous System Eats First Where your body is the expert, and your senses are the medicine.

  1. 2D AGO

    When Pain Won't Sleep: Touchology & Reflexology for Midlife Women with Dr. Njideka Olatunde | Ep. 18

    There's a specific kind of pain that shows up in midlife—burning feet at 2am, aching joints that won't settle, restless legs stealing your sleep. Your labs are fine, but your body is screaming. This episode is for you. Dr. Njideka Olatunde brings 40+ years of reflexology wisdom to teach you: • Why deep breathing (5-5-5) is your body's circuit breaker for pain • Hand reflexology technique for immediate relief • The pain-stress connection: why stress exits through your body • "Aging is blossoming"—the vintage wine reframe • Generational trauma and why "we're due our healing" • Listening as touch therapy—the #1 treatment for pain • FREE gift: Medication-free pain relief poster After losing family to the opioid crisis, Dr. Njideka created Touchology—a medication-free approach teaching people to use their own hands as first-line defense against chronic pain. For women navigating menopause pain, weight changes, GLP-1 considerations, and bodies that feel foreign—this is medicine. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Cold Open: When Pain Won't Sleep [03:00] Meet Dr. Njideka Olatunde [05:00] Origin Story: From Social Work to Touchology [08:00] The Opioid Crisis: Why Touch Became First-Line Defense [10:00] The Pain-Stress Connection: Why They're Inseparable [14:00] Empowerment: You Must Participate in Your Healing [16:00] Midlife Wisdom: Aging as Vintage Wine [22:00] Nervous System 101: The Elbow Example [28:00] Practical Tool #1: Deep Breathing (5-5-5 Technique) [30:00] Practical Tool #2: Hand Reflexology Tutorial [35:00] Generational Trauma & Healing: "We're Due Our Healing" [40:00] Making New Traditions: Adding Newness to Foundation [45:00] Nourish or Numb Segment [51:00] The Touch of Gratitude: Dr. Njideka's Personal Practice [53:00] African Tradition: The Gift (Free Pain Relief Poster) [55:00] Resources & Closing Resources: Dr. Njideka Olatunde: • Website: https://focusonhealing.com • Podcast: Touchology Wellness Experience • FREE Pain Relief Poster: https://touchologyreflexology.com • Contact: Available through website   Dr. Stacey Denise: • Free Quiz: "What Kind of Menopause Burnout Are You?" → https://drstaceydenise.com/take-the-quiz• Instagram: @drstaceydenise• Newsletter: https://drstaceydenise.com/newsletter• Website: https://drstaceydenise.com Podcast: The Nervous System Eats FirstHost: Dr. Stacey Denise | The Neuroaesthetic MDGuest: Dr. Njideka N. Olatunde | Pioneering Holistic Pain Relief Through Touchology™ Using the Power of TouchEpisode: 18

    52 min

  2. JAN 27

    Belonging in Your Own Body: Five Element Medicine & Late-Diagnosed Autism with Dr. Janice Campbell | Ep. 17

    "Janice has always been a wish. From the moment she was born, she was a wish." These are the words Dr. Janice Campbell's mother said when she learned about her daughter's autism diagnosis at age 50. That moment of being truly SEEN is what this episode is about. Dr. Janice Campbell—doctor of acupuncture, Five Element practitioner, former theater stage manager, and late-diagnosed autistic woman—teaches us: • Five Elements Explained: How Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water map your nervous system • The Christmas Party Game: Real-time nervous system regulation demonstration • "Chi Follows the Mind": Why body safety requires life belonging first • "Remember When It Was Easier?": Your nervous system's call for help • Autism + Menopause: Why you need BOTH hormonal AND nervous system support • Verbal Needles: How language shifts physical states • Aging as Adventure: Designing your elder self For women who've spent decades feeling like a "turtle without their shell"—performing belonging instead of embodying it—this episode is your roadmap home. Late-diagnosed autistic women in menopause, women who've been masking their whole lives, anyone whose body feels like foreign territory: You don't need to fix yourself. You need to remember you've always been a wish. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Cold Open: The "Wish" Story [03:00] Meet Dr. Janice Campbell [05:00] Theater Stage Manager to Acupuncturist Journey [10:00] Late-Diagnosed Autism at 50 [15:00] Five Element Medicine: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water [22:00] The Christmas Party Game (Nervous System Demo) [28:00] "Chi Follows the Mind": Energy & Belonging [33:00] Verbal Needles: Language as Medicine [38:00] Back-Body Awareness Practice [43:00] Autism & Menopause Intersection [48:00] "Remember When It Was Easier?" as Nervous System Signal [52:00] Nourish or Numb Segment [58:00] Designing Your Elder Self Concepts Mentioned:  • Five Element Theory (Traditional Chinese Medicine) • Chi/Qi (life force energy) • Acupuncture meridians • Diagnostic interaction • Verbal needles • Back-body awareness Resources & References Connect with Dr. Janice Campbell: • Website: http://www.drjanicecampbell.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-janice/ • Podcast: Once Upon A Moment • The Octopus Movement (Founding Member) Dr. Stacey Denise: • Free Quiz: "What Kind of Menopause Burnout Are You?" → https://drstaceydenise.com/take-the-quiz • Instagram: @drstaceydenise • Newsletter: https://drstaceydenise.com/newsletter • Website: https://drstaceydenise.com Podcast: The Nervous System Eats FirstHost: Dr. Stacey Denise | The Neuroaesthetic MDGuest: Dr. Janice Campbell | Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental MedicineEpisode: 17

    1h 12m

  3. JAN 13

    From Survival to Sovereignty: Pain Into Power Process with Cassandra Love Lambert

    Episode Summary Have you ever reached a point where your body simply refused to keep going? Where the usual tricks—green juice, journaling, sheer grit—just stopped working? In this powerful episode, Dr. Stacey Denise sits down with Cassandra Love Lambert—globally recognized somatic transformation coach, bestselling author, and founder of the Pain Into Power Process—to explore what it means to move from survival to sovereignty. Cassandra shares her raw journey: how becoming a mother surfaced unhealed childhood trauma, why all the healing work she did in her 20s (talk therapy, Landmark, shamanic circles) didn't reach the roots, and the moment EFT tapping changed everything. Through evidence-based somatic practices including EFT tapping, brain spotting, parts work, and somatic attachment therapy, she now helps high-achieving women—especially those in perimenopause and menopause—finally feel safe to be fully seen. This conversation explores how perimenopause strips away the mask, why rage shows up during midlife (and why that's healthy), the connection between boundaries and self-love, and why healing isn't about fixing yourself—it's about coming home to your body. Key Topics & Timestamps 0:00 – Cold Open: When Your Body Says "No More"5:30 – The Rupture: Becoming a Mother and Facing Unhealed Trauma11:20 – What Cassandra Tried That Didn't Work16:24 – The Moment Somatic Work Changed Everything18:41 – When Your Body Becomes Your Teacher20:58 – The Birth of the Pain Into Power Framework24:17 – Parts Work and Inner Child Integration27:30 – Perimenopause: When the Mask Cracks28:23 – Why Rage Shows Up in Midlife (The Rage EFT Tapping Circle)31:04 – Menopause as Rite of Passage and Rebirth34:15 – The Five-Phase Method: Awareness, Balance, Regulation, Safety, Belief38:00 – EFT Tapping, Brain Spotting, and Somatic Practices Explained Resources & References Connect with Cassandra Love Lambert: Website: cassandralovelambert.comInstagram: @c_love_lambertPain Into Power CoachingRage EFT Tapping Circle for WomenBook: "Into the Light: Becoming My Own Hero" (Number One Bestseller, February 2025) Practices Mentioned: EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique)Brain SpottingParts Work (Internal Family Systems)Somatic Attachment TherapyConnect & Community Listen on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / YouTubeSubscribe to the show for updates and new episodesJoin our newsletter for science and stories at drstaceydenise.comFollow us: @drstaceydenise on InstagramShare your story: Tag @drstaceydenise and @c_love_lambertTake Dr. Stacey's free quiz: FIND YOUR MENOPAUSE SLEEP PATTERNPodcast: The Nervous System Eats FirstHost: Dr. Stacey Denise | The Neuroaesthetic MDGuest: Cassandra Love Lamber | Somatic Transformation CoachEpisode: 16

    39 min

  4. 12/24/2025

    Aromatherapy as Nervous System Medicine | Amy Anthony | Ep. 15

    Episode Summary Have you ever walked into a room and instantly felt calmer? Or caught a scent that made you feel safe for the first time in weeks? In this episode, Dr. Stacey Denise sits down with Amy Anthony—one of New York City's top certified clinical aromatherapists and founder of NYC Aromatica—to explore how scent can be medicine for women whose nervous systems have forgotten how to rest. For late-diagnosed autistic women navigating perimenopause and menopause, aromatherapy offers something talk therapy alone cannot: a pathway back to your body that doesn't require language. Learn how inhalation of essential oils activates your parasympathetic nervous system, reduces cortisol, increases vagal tone, and directly modulates emotional states—especially for women struggling with alexithymia, brain fog, hot flashes, and the exhaustion of decades of masking. Amy blends scientific literacy with poetic connection, teaching evidence-based protocols for nervous system repair, emotional regulation, and sensory attunement through private practice, corporate wellness, and public workshops at the New York Botanical Gardens. Key Topics & Timestamps Cold Open: When Scent Becomes MedicineIntroduction: Meet Amy Anthony, Clinical AromatherapistThe Science: How Aromatherapy Activates Your Nervous SystemAromatherapy for Menopause Symptoms (Hot Flashes, Brain Fog, Night Sweats)Scent for Alexithymia: Healing Below the Level of LanguageEssential Oils for Sensory Overwhelm and BurnoutCreating Boundaries with AromatherapyMorning and Evening Aromatic RitualsWhich Essential Oils Work for YOUR Nervous SystemGentle Invitations: Two-Minute Scent Check-InResources, Connect with Amy, and ClosingResources & References Connect with Amy Anthony: Website: https://nycaromatica.com/Instagram: @NYC_AromaticaEmail: info@nycaromatica.comServices: Private aromatherapy consultations, corporate wellness programs, public workshops at NYC Botanical Gardens Connect & Community Listen on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / YouTubeSubscribe to the show for updates and new episodesJoin our newsletter for science and stories at drstaceydenise.comFollow us: @drstaceydenise on InstagramShare your story: Tag @drstaceydenise and @NYC_AromaticaTake Dr. Stacey's free quiz: What Kind of Menopause Burnout Are You? Podcast: The Nervous System Eats FirstHost: Dr. Stacey Denise | The Neuroaesthetic MDGuest: Amy Anthony | AromatherapistEpisode: 15

    1h 5m

  5. 12/05/2025

    Sound Healing to Release Old Selves: Grief & Transitions | Celeste Barbier | Ep. 14

    Episode Summary In this powerful episode, Dr. Stacey sits down with Celeste Barbier—professional vocalist, certified sound healer, ordained officiant, and sacred spaceholder—to explore the liminal space where sound becomes sanctuary. Discover how grief, trauma, and identity shifts can be held and softened through vibrational healing, especially for autistic and neurodivergent women navigating sensory overwhelm, emotional disconnection, and the unspoken grief of midlife transitions. Celeste shares her journey from childhood trauma to using her voice as medicine, her profound work with end-of-life transitions, and practical tools for using sound to regulate your nervous system when words fail. Whether you're struggling with alexithymia, burnout, or simply feeling disconnected from your body, this episode offers gentle, accessible pathways back to embodiment through vocal healing. Key Topics & Timestamps Opening: Sound as sanctuary for grief and traumaCeleste's origin story: Childhood trauma and discovering her healing voiceWhen performance becomes medicine: The shift to intentional sound healingThe difference between singing songs and sound healing vocal toningHolding space at end of life: Music as a bridge between worldsPairing with mediums and creating sacred transitionsThe science behind sound healing: Vagus nerve, nervous system regulationWorking with grief, alexithymia, and emotional numbnessCreating death rituals to close old identity chaptersSound healing for sensory overload and autistic burnoutHow to use your voice at home: Humming, toning, and sacred practiceColor, scent, and vibration: Layering sensory healingNourish or Numb Segment: Rapid-fire sound healing wisdomReclaiming your voice: Literal and metaphorical pathwaysResources & References Celeste's Website: celestebarbier.com (Resté Sound Healing portal)Instagram: @restesound & @celestebarbiereventsLinkedIn: Celeste BarbierEmail: celestebarbierevents@gmail.comUpcoming Thailand Women's Wellness Retreat (2026) with wife René Cosby, HHPForthcoming book: The Caterpillar CodeConnect & Community Listen: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platformsSubscribe: Never miss an episode—get weekly nervous system medicineJoin the Newsletter: Science-backed tools and stories for autistic women in midlife at drstaceydenise.comFollow Dr. Stacey: Instagram, YouTube, LinkedInDownload the Free Guide: 3 Questions That Change Your Menopause ConversationPodcast: The Nervous System Eats First Host: Dr. Stacey Denise | The Neuroaesthetic MD Guest: Celeste Barbier | Sound Healer, Vocalist, Sacred Spaceholder Episode: 14

    51 min

  6. 11/04/2025

    Hot Flashes At Night? Breath as Medicine

    Episode 14: Hot Flashes at Night? Breath As Medicine Guest: Angelia Abouhassan — founder of The Breath Lady Project, trauma-informed breathwork facilitator, stroke survivor, and Hatha yoga teacher Release Date: November 4, 2025 Length: ~40 minutes Episode Summary You’ve been told to “just breathe”—but what if that makes things worse? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Stacey sits down with Angelia Abouhassan, a trauma-informed breathwork guide who rebuilt her body and emotional safety after a stroke. Together, they unpack breathwork that won’t trigger your nervous system, including the double-exhale pattern that can support hot flash recovery and sensory regulation. This episode is especially for women navigating perimenopause, masking fatigue, and neurodivergence, who need somatic healing that’s safe, slow, and mapped to your lived experience. What You’ll Learn Why “just breathe” often backfires—and how trauma-informed cues really workThe double-exhale breath to interrupt hot flash cascades (short inhale, longer exhale)The power of low-dose, consistent breathwork over high-intensity interventionsHow to recognize high-activation methods (like Wim Hof) that may overwhelm the systemSafer options for alexithymia, masking, and sensory burnout (mirror work, Yoga Nidra, guided breath scans)Chapter Markers 00:00 – From Stroke Survivor to Breath Work Practitioner 06:54 – The Role of Breath in Healing and Safety 08:42 – Reframing Trauma and Healing 10:41 – Understanding Interoception and Proprioception 12:36 – Neuroplasticity and Breath Work 16:29 – Breath Work for Women in Perimenopause 18:46 – Trauma-Informed Breath Work Explained 20:53 – Designing Practices for Overloaded Clients 22:23 – Breath Work for Hot Flashes 24:49 – Breath Work for Neurodivergent Women 26:02 – Nourishing vs. Numbing the Nervous System 27:58 – Adapting Breath Work for Different Needs 30:52 – Choosing a Breath Work Practitioner 33:27 – Nourish or Numb: Everyday Patterns 40:04 – Practical Techniques for Managing Hot Flashes Resources Mentioned The Breath Lady Project – Angelia AbouhassanWebsite Instagram Facebook Community LinkedIn Free Quiz – What kind of menopause burnout are you? → drstaceydenise.com/menopause-burnout-quiz 💌 Connect with Dr. Stacey Denise Instagram @DrStaceyDenise Blog + Newsletter Waitlist for Upcoming Masterclass Programs + tools → drstaceydenise.com

    43 min

  7. 10/21/2025

    Eating Feels Impossible? 3 Food-Environment Fixes for Perimenopausal Neurodivergent Women- Michael Lawrence

    Podcast: The Nervous System Eats FirstEpisode: Eating Feels Impossible? 3 Food-Environment Fixes for Perimenopausal Neurodivergent WomenGuest: Michael Lawrence — Master Chef (World Master Chef Society), Licensed Architect Episode summary:Have you noticed the same meal is comforting in one space but exhausting in another? Chef–Architect Michael Lawrence joins Dr. Stacey to reveal how light, sound, temperature, color, and texture shape your appetite, attention, and digestion before the first bite. You’ll learn three food-environment fixes and a 60-second sensory reset you can apply tonight—at home or out—so eating feels calmer and more nourishing, especially in perimenopause.  Key topics & timestamps: 00:00 — Why eating feels “impossible” (it’s not your fault)  01:24 — Who this is for: late-diagnosed, high-masking autistic women in midlife  02:28 — Michael’s dual lens: Master Chef + Architect (sensory-first design)  06:20 — The room speaks first: invisible sensory cues (light/sound/texture)  07:48 — Fix #1: Quiet the Room (soften light, reduce noise, steady temperature)  08:25 — Fix #2: On-Plate Design (color + texture → grounding & satiety)  20:11 — Fix #3: 60-Second Sensory Reset (pre-bite downshift ritual)  20:23 — Nourish or Numb lightning round: car eating, candlelight, “perfect bowl”  24:24 — One gentle ritual if you’ve been eating in survival mode  25:24 — Where to find Michael + free quiz & resources  Takeaways: Environment is medicine: Your eating space can up- or down-regulate your nervous system.  Perfect Bite > willpower: Pair warm/soft with crisp/fresh to invite appetite gently.  Rituals beat rules: A 60-second pre-bite reset changes how your body receives food.  Resources & links: Free “Menopause Burnout” Quiz → https://drstaceydenise.com/menopause-burnout-quiz/Watch the video podcast → https://drstaceydenise.com/video-podcast/Listen to the audio podcast → https://drstaceydenise.com/audio-podcast/Guest — Michael Lawrence: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-lawrence-ml-design-studio/ • Site → https://ml-design-studio.webnode.page/Credits & CTA:Hosted by Dr. Stacey Denise, Lifestyle Medicine Physician & Neuroaesthetic MD. If this helped, share it with a friend who’s eating on survival mode. Subscribe on YouTube and your favorite podcast app, and take the free quiz to get your personalized reset rituals.

    28 min

  8. 10/07/2025

    Stop the Rabbit Hole: Autism & Social Media Rules — Temple Grandin

    Episode summary Temple Grandin and Dr. Stacey Denise outline digital-hygiene rules for autistic adults: what the algorithm rabbit hole does to mental health, the one-hour screen rule, how to curate your feed, and simple swaps for real-world connection that lowers anxiety and improves sleep—vital during perimenopause/menopause.   EDUCATIONAL SUMMARY1.Social media can lead to isolation for autistic individuals.2.Real-life activities are essential for building connections.3.Slow transitions are crucial for autistic individuals to adapt.4.Shared interests can help form friendships among autistic individuals.5.Real activities can help reduce anxiety and improve mental health.6.Creating a safer digital environment is necessary for young people. TIMESTAMPS00:00 — Social Media Isolation and Its Impact02:35 — The Importance of Real-Life Connections05:18 — Practical tools: Checklists and Independence06:51 — Temple Grandin’s Anxiety Journey08:14 — How parents balance Independence with safety10:02 — How to build Lasting Friendships11:37 — Risks, Mentorships and Community Repair14:20 — Digital Isolation impact on mental health15:40-    How to ensure young people Learn the skills they need17:40 -   Parents Safety & Real Activities23:22-    Creating a Safer Digital Environment25:10-    Communities & Retirees27:52-    Take Away28:20 -   Nourish or Numb RESOURCESTemple Grandin : Website: https://www.templegrandin.com/Facebook : https://web.facebook.com/drtemplegrandin/X                :  https://x.com/DrTempleGrandin WORK WITH ME / LINKS▸ Start your Neuroaesthetic Reset Blueprint™ →https://drstaceydenise.com/menopause-burnout-quiz/▸ Learn more about Autism & Menopause →https://drstaceydenise.com/audio-podcast/▸ Join the Newsletter for tools + research →https://drstaceydenise.com/waitlist/ ▸ Follow on Instagram & YouTube → drstaceydenise.comDISCLAIMER Educational only; not medical advice. #drstaceydenis #Autism #MentalHealth #SocialMedia   Credits Host: Dr. Stacey Denise. Produced by TNSEF—The Nervous System Eats First.

    37 min
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The Nervous System Eats First is a podcast about the midlife body—when masking stops working, menopause hits hard, and your nervous system demands more than just supplements and willpower. Hosted by Dr. Stacey Denise, a board-certified physician and founder of the Neuroaesthetic MD™ method, this show invites listeners into a new kind of recovery: one where healing begins through the senses. Each episode blends science, sensory ritual, and somatic insight to help women reclaim regulation—not as a reward, but as a requirement. This is not “self-care.” This is nervous system nutrition for: Autistic and ADHD women unmasking in midlife Black women and women of color navigating medical gaslighting Women in menopause who feel invisible, exhausted, and emotionally unmoored Highly sensitive women trying to feel something without getting overwhelmed If you’ve ever asked, “What is happening to my body?”—this podcast is your permission slip to find out, slowly and with grace. 🎧 The Nervous System Eats First Where your body is the expert, and your senses are the medicine.

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