As a physical therapist, Samantha spent years treating bodies in pain. But what she uncovered was that so many of her patients — high achievers, athletes, professionals — weren’t just dealing with physical symptoms. They were carrying deep emotional wounds: perfectionism, people-pleasing, addiction to productivity, and shame.

And it wasn’t just in their heads. It was in their nervous systems.

In her new book, Breaking the Circuit, she shares:
✨ Her personal journey through addiction recovery, grief, and self-forgiveness
✨ How trauma patterns live in the body and affect our health
✨ Why she reinvented the 12-step recovery model for modern women
✨ The life-changing practice of making amends… to yourself

One thing Samantha said that stuck with me:

“At one point, those coping mechanisms saved you. But if they’re running the show now, they’re keeping you stuck.”

We dove deep into the intersection of trauma, nervous system rewiring, hormone health, and how so many women are unknowingly trapped by patterns they didn’t choose. Patterns that are stealing their joy, their health, and their sense of worth.

If you’ve ever carried guilt, shame, or perfectionism on your back like a heavy bag of bricks — you’re not alone.

And it is possible to heal.

This conversation cracked something open for me, and I hope it does the same for you.

Dr. Samantha Harte is a physical therapist, author, performing artist, podcast host, and sober mom of two. She has been featured on ABC7 and CBS and has been written up in People magazine, Time magazine, Best Life, and The New York Post for her expertise on the intersection of mind-body health and wellness. Her self-help memoir, Breaking The Circuit: How to Rewire Your Mind for Hope, Resilience and Joy in the Face of Trauma is a reinvention of the 12 steps of recovery so that anyone, addict or not, can turn heartbreak into hope.

Find Dr. Samantha:

https://www.facebook.com/samantha.harte.5/

https://www.instagram.com/drsamanthaharte/

https://www.tiktok.com/@drsamanthaharte

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-about-addiction/id1604438985

Let’s clear something up right now — if you’ve been feeling off with your hormones… whether it’s bloating, mood swings, poor sleep, stubborn weight, low energy, or unpredictable cycles… there’s one simple thing you might be overlooking:

PROTEIN.

I know, you’ve probably heard that protein’s important. But do you really know why it matters for your hormones?

Most women don’t — and it’s costing them.

👉 Here’s how protein impacts your hormones at every level:

✨ Hormone Production:
Your body literally builds hormones out of amino acids (the building blocks of protein). If you’re not eating enough, you’re not giving your body the raw materials it needs to make estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, testosterone — all of it.

✨ Hormone Metabolism + Detox:
Once your body makes hormones, it has to process and clear them out efficiently. Guess what fuels your liver and gut to do that job? Protein.
Without enough, your system slows down, leftover hormones hang around too long, and you get symptoms like heavy periods, mood swings, and stubborn weight.

✨ Blood Sugar + Mood Regulation:
Stable blood sugar is one of the best-kept secrets to balanced hormones — and one of the best ways to stabilize blood sugar? Protein pacing (eating balanced amounts of protein regularly throughout the day). It keeps your energy up and mood more even.

✨ Stress Recovery + Resilience:
Women’s bodies respond differently to stress than men’s — we’re more likely to deplete our nutrient stores, especially during big life changes like having kids, starting new jobs, or hitting perimenopause. Protein is a key nutrient your body leans on to recover and rebuild from stress.

Here’s what I see all the time:
Women come into my program thinking they’re eating “healthy” — lots of veggies, salads, clean snacks — but when we look closer, they’re seriously lacking protein. And within weeks of upping their intake and learning how to protein pace properly, their energy, sleep, mood, and hormones improve.

This is why the very first thing we focus on in the Female Hormone Solution Program is something called the Primer — and it’s all about getting your protein game dialed in.

Because if you’ve spent years feeling behind on your health, stressed out, depleted, or like you “missed the boat” on taking care of yourself — you haven’t. You can start now. And protein is the simplest, most effective place to begin.

✨ The next 6-month round of the Female Hormone Solution Program is coming — and the waitlist is officially open!

If you’re ready to finally get real answers, personalized hormone testing, nutrition strategies made for your body, and guidance to start feeling better again — click below to grab your spot on the list:

👉 Join the Waitlist Here: https://drbethwestie.com/fhs-waitlist/

Don’t wait. Start today by making sure your next meal has at least 30 grams of protein — and watch how different you feel.

Let’s talk about burnout — the kind that makes you feel mentally fried, physically drained, and like even getting through your to-do list is a monumental task.

Here’s the thing nobody tells you: burnout isn’t just “being stressed out.”

It’s a physiological hormonal crisis happening in your body.

By the time most women hit burnout, it’s not just about being tired. It’s about your adrenals, cortisol, dopamine, testosterone, and progesterone all taking a nosedive — and your body sending up all the flares.

👉 Ever felt like you’re dragging yourself through the day?
👉 No motivation, no focus, maybe even brain fog?
👉 Working out but not seeing results? Libido MIA?
👉 Mood swings and crazy cycles out of nowhere?

That’s not in your head. That’s your hormones in distress.

What’s actually happening?

When your system hits burnout:

• Cortisol tanks (the stress hormone that’s meant to help you handle pressure)
• Dopamine plummets (so no, you’re not lazy — you’re literally missing the brain chemical that gives you motivation)
• Testosterone drops (which slows muscle repair, messes with metabolism, and crushes libido)
  Progesterone falls off (leading to cycle problems, PMS, mood swings)

And on top of that?
You’re likely nutrient depleted too. (B vitamins, minerals, everything your body uses to run the show.)

The problem is — most women just try to “push through.” More workouts. Less food. Another cup of coffee. Maybe a spa day for “self-care.”

But a bubble bath won’t fix a hormone crash.

This is exactly why I created the 6-Month Female Hormone Solution.

We run actual hormone testing (the DUTCH test, far more comprehensive than a blood draw) to see what’s happening inside your body. Then we create a customized plan — for you — based on your unique results.

We work on:

✅ Adrenal and cortisol support
✅ Rebalancing your dopamine and motivation
✅ Boosting testosterone naturally
✅ Supporting progesterone production
✅ Nutrient repletion (especially B vitamins and minerals)
✅ Gut health repair (because yep — burnout impacts digestion too)

This isn’t a quick-fix bandaid. Healing takes time. But when you work with your body instead of against it, the results last.

And you won’t have to guess at what you should be doing.

→ Want in? Join the waitlist now: https://drbethwestie.com/fhs-waitlist/