What if your symptoms weren't the problem...but the message? In this episode of PCOS Unfiltered, Lindsie sits down with holistic health coach, lymphatic drainage therapist, and chronic skin condition specialist Sabrina Hall to explore the powerful connection between stress, nervous system dysregulation, chronic inflammation, and skin health. Sabrina shares her personal journey from years of eczema, IBS, hormonal irregularities, lymphatic congestion, and autoimmune challenges to becoming symptom-free and helping other women do the same. Together, they discuss how perfectionism, people-pleasing, overachievement, and chronic stress can disconnect us from our bodies and contribute to chronic symptoms. This conversation dives into the limitations of restrictive diets, the importance of nervous system regulation, the role of self-awareness in healing, and why learning to listen to your body may be one of the most powerful health tools available. Whether you're struggling with PCOS, eczema, digestive issues, autoimmune symptoms, or simply feeling disconnected from your body, this episode offers a compassionate reminder that healing doesn't always come from doing more. It often begins with understanding better.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
Your body is always communicating.
Symptoms are often signals that something deeper needs attention, not simply problems to suppress.
Stress affects more than your mind.
Chronic stress can influence hormones, digestion, immune function, inflammation, and skin health.
Healing isn't always about doing more.
Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from slowing down, listening, and addressing the emotional and nervous system components of health.
You are not a problem to fix.
Approaching your body with curiosity instead of criticism can completely change your healing journey.
Small shifts compound over time.
Moments of rest, self-awareness, and nervous system regulation may seem simple, but they can create profound long-term change.
"Why do you feel like you have to be everything to everyone except yourself?"
"I was treating myself like a problem to fix."
"Your body is just speaking to you, and it's only doing the best that it can with what we give it."
"Healing doesn't come from doing more. It comes from understanding better."
Remember: Healing doesn't come from doing more. It comes from understanding better.
⚠️ Podcast Disclaimer
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health routine.
(0:00) I haven't had an eczema flare in a decade now, and that's why I chose chronic inflammatory (0:09) skin conditions to focus on for my online coaching, because I lived with the demolishing (0:20) self-worth. (0:23) Welcome back to PCOS Unfiltered, where we ditch the one-size-fits-all advice. (0:29) I'm Lindsie, nurse turned health coach, author of Healing Beyond the Diagnosis, and mindful (0:33) eating advocate.(0:34) Here, we go beyond that diagnosis, so you can start understanding the messages behind (0:39) your symptoms. (0:40) Before we get into today's guest, I wanted to let you know that I'm looking for 10 ladies (0:45) to help me up-level my offerings, so I can better serve you and get you the results that (0:50) you desire. (0:51) Be sure to check the show notes for the link to book a call with me, a quick call, and (0:56) grab your freebie.(0:57) So today, my guest is Sabrina Hall, and Sabrina is a holistic health coach and alternative (1:03) healthcare practitioner with advanced training in biology and natural healing modalities.
(1:09) Through her work as a lymphatic drainage therapist, reflexologist, and Reiki master teacher, she (1:15) helps women address the root causes of chronic conditions by supporting the body, nervous (1:20) system, and emotional health. (1:22) Inspired by her own journey with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, Sabrina developed (1:27) a whole-systems approach to healing, and now guides women in overcoming chronic skin issues (1:32) through her eczema and psoriasis recovery system.(1:35) As a reminder, the content shared on PCOS Unfiltered is for informational and educational (1:40) purposes only. (1:41) The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are not intended to serve as medical (1:46) advice. (1:47) Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your (1:51) diet, exercise, or treatment plan.(1:53) The information shared is based on personal experience and expert interviews, and is not (1:57) a substitute for professional medical guidance. (2:00) Now get cozy, maybe get ready to take some notes, and let's dive in. (2:05) Here is my conversation with Sabrina Hall.
(2:15) Hello, welcome back to the show, and welcome to Sabrina. (2:19) Um, we just realigned. (2:23) Thank you for having me.(2:24) You're welcome. (2:25) We aligned, I think, so much, just our messaging across the board, and now at this point I've (2:32) done a few kind of more dedicated episodes about nervous system regulation, but I still (2:39) can't stress it enough. (2:42) And everybody's story is so different, and you all have a different way of approaching (2:46) it, so I think that's also what people need to hear.(2:48) Um, so, starting off, you have your own, you know, journey, your own healing journey that's (2:56) also kind of led you to where you are now, so, uh, can you share, you know, where you (3:04) were, what happened, all that stuff, and then maybe even, like, what was kind of the big (3:07) turning point throughout that journey?
(3:10) You know, the big, like, wake-up call. (3:11) Yeah, definitely do that. (3:13) And like you said, I believe so much that each of us is our individual story, right? (3:20) And, like, having that opportunity to hear a similarity or have some commonality with (3:25) someone can be enough of, like, a little trigger or a lightbulb moment for just one or two (3:32) people out there that is enough for them to be like, whoa, I don't have to stay stuck (3:37) where I am.(3:38) You know, this isn't a lifetime of misery and suffering for me kind of thing. (3:43) So, um, my story started long ago when I was nine years old and probably even before that. (3:52) I, um, I attended the National Ballet School of Canada in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and, (3:59) um, I lived there for four years.(4:02) So, I was launched into this, like, super intensive environment, um, where we would (4:09) go to school through the day. (4:12) We'd have multiple dance classes and it, um, I lived there for four years and I would go (4:17) home for one day on the weekend. (4:20) And so, I was immediately launched into this mature very quickly, be very independent, (4:28) make all of your own decisions, um, be very, very disciplined, um, believe that there's (4:35) such a thing as perfection.(4:37) And so, after four years there, I said to my parents, I'm done. (4:42) I want to feel what it's like to be a normal kid and go to high school. (4:47) And, um, the school let me go for a year and, um, set me up at another dance school that (4:53) had been approved by them in case I wanted to go back.(4:56) And I didn't.
(4:58) I never went back, uh, because I really enjoyed the less, less stress, right? (5:04) I didn't know if I wanted to be a dancer for my whole entire life, especially at nine. (5:09) Um, and so, yeah, but all of that really translated into shaping me.(5:17) Um, I very much was a performer. (5:20) I would put the mask on for whatever circumstance I was presented with. (5:26) You know, everybody always would comment that you're so self-assured, you're so self, (5:31) you're like confident, all of this sort of things.(5:33) And, um, it's like, well, I know how to perform. (5:37) I know what people are expecting to see, and I can put that mask on regardless of what (5:41) I'm feeling underneath it all. (5:44) And, uh, so by my early, like late teens, early twenties, um, my digestive system was (5:52) a mess and I had eczema, um, in all sorts of different places all over my body.(5:59) Mostly my hands, my hands were chronically like entirely covered. (6:06) Um, and that has another story associated with it, but, um, and then I would get patches (6:12) around my eyes, mostly on my eyelids and underneath my eyes and that sensitive skin there, um, (6:17) in my armpits, in my elbow crooks, ever since I was a child kind of thing with the eczema. (6:23) And so, and my digestive system was like IBS for so many years, right? (6:29) Which is that blanket.(6:31) We don't know why you're so sensitive and why you're like, you have diarrhea all the (6:35) time kind of thing. (6:36) Can't eat anything without knowing where a bathroom is.
(6:40) Um, and then diagnosed way later with celiac.(6:44) So, um, but I was, you know, like doing my bachelor's degree and then my master's degree (6:51) and, you know, getting married young with my partner who I love, who I'm still with. (6:55) And he's an amazing rock for me. (6:57) Um, having kids, puppies, you know, like all of the things, this, that, and, um, and (7:05) I, my body had gone from whispering little whispers nudges at me, right.(7:11) Of like, Hey, I want to draw your attention to something, you know, like something isn't (7:17) right here to then screaming at me by the time I was, you know, like 25, I was dealing (7:24) with fibrocystic breast disease. (7:27) Um, IBS that the celiac thing, eczema still all over, uh, lymphatic congestion all down (7:34) my left side and, uh, chronic yeast infections, you know, like all of it, my entire system (7:41) was thrown way off. (7:42) I went through about a 10 year period where I only got a period every 60 days.(7:50) And so my naturopath was like, um, just ovulating from one ovary or, and like, don't expect (7:58) to have an easy time having kids just as a heads up thing, which luckily I didn't have (8:03) any trouble with, but it was like, all of these things were pointing towards your system is (8:10) completely messed up, you know, and like my hormones were out of whack. (8:14) Everything was out of whack because of that stress response, right. (8:18) That we can talk about it too.
(8:21) Um, and so for me, the aha moment was, um, I was crashing and burning. (8:28) I was on the verge of a mental breakdown and, um, I was on a board of directors as well (8:34) at that time, uh, for a school that was going bankrupt and everyone on the board left. (8:40) And left me alone.(8:42) And so I was dealing with lawyers and all sorts of things on top of everything else. (8:45) And I went to my naturopath for just a regularly scheduled appointment. (8:50) And she said, Sabrina, how are you? (8:52) And I broke the, the wall just came down and I cried for a whole hour, like sobbed.(9:00) And, um, and she, by the end of it was like, why do you feel like you have to be everything (9:05) to everyone except yourself? (9:08) And those words stuck with me and I'm getting emotional because they meant so much for me, (9:15) you know, like they really turned my whole way of viewing things around. (9:21) I already had the biology focus, right. (9:24) And very much like anatomy, physiology, all of it.(9:28) I like kind of knew inside out was fascinated by it, but it also meant that I overcomplicated (9:34) everything. (9:35) And I was treating myself like a problem to fix. (9:40) And like, I, I was telling you before we got on here, I was listening to your podcast about (9:45) your book and I would say to everybody, go read it because it's, it's so foundational to (9:55) realize that your body is just speaking to you and it's only doing the best that it can (10:02) with what we give it.(10:04) Right. (10:04) And how we choose to listen to it, if we listen to it at all.
(10:09) So changing your mindset around, you are a problem to fix is huge.(10:16) That alone can set you down a completely different path towards healing yourself of so many (10:23) different conditions that we are told and led to believe are just deal with it. (10:29) It's genetic. (10:30) You're going to have this for the rest of your life.(10:32) Like I literally, after many years of healing now and attention to all of those details (10:40) within myself, a lot of self love, a lot of self care. (10:44) Now I can say I'm celiac because it's genetic. (10:48) And I think there is a component of some things that we, that we can't necessarily heal.(10:54) And, and I've almost got my fibrocystic under control, but everything else is gone. (10:59) Like everything else. (11:01) I haven't had an eczema flare in a decade now.(11:06) And that's why I chose chronic inflammatory skin conditions to focus on for my online (11:15) coaching because I lived with the demolishing self worth and self identity that comes with (11:26) having a visible skin condition. (11:29) That people always can see and always comment on and always ask how you're doing and if (11:35) there's anything that they can do to help. (11:38) So, yeah.(11:39) And I feel like the skin conditions, I mean, again, talked about it many, many times before, (11:45) but everybody's listening is listening to like every single episode.
(11:48) They've heard this, but the skin, you know, can often be the first signal that something (11:55) is going on, but we don't really, we don't recognize that. (11:59) We go to the dermatologist and they prescribe a cream or whatever, you know, to try to suppress (12:04) it.(12:04) And then it goes, it hits the more internal side eventually when, you know, in fact, it's (12:12) really our, our body's way of saying, Hey, something's really going on here. (12:18) Like you said, maybe, maybe more referring at that point. (12:22) But yeah.(12:23) And I don't remember if we talked about it when we first, you know, when we first talked, (12:28) but it's interesting. (12:30) So I had, I was listening to something and they had mentioned that with celiac disease, (12:36) you can like lose your cycle for longer periods of time, you know, in, in earlier years. (12:44) And I lost mine for like, I don't know if it was a full year, but it was, it was probably (12:49) nine, 10, like I said, maybe up to a year, you know, nine, 10 months.(12:54) Um, and it was, it was when I was in high school and, you know, looking back again, (12:59) it was like one of those things like, was this now knowing what I know, but, you know, (13:06) at the time I was like, well, we'll just keep an eye on it. (13:09) It's probably fine. (13:09) You know, that's normal, which I'm sure you probably, you know, experienced a lot too, (13:14) but apparently there is a tie athlete kind of in all the performance.(13:20) Right. (13:20) You know, like I didn't develop until I was probably 16, 17. (13:28) Yeah.(13:28) It was like way behind any of my development. (13:32) Yeah. (13:33) Just yeah.
(13:34) Intensive dance schedule too. (13:36) Yeah. (13:36) Yeah.(13:37) That was, that was probably part of mine too. (13:39) Cause I had done gymnastics. (13:40) I ran, I, you know, did cheerleading, which is super active.(13:43) So yeah. (13:47) Um, so, you know, as you mentioned, the body is a messenger again. (13:52) Like I love that.(13:53) That's, that's probably one of my biggest, like overarching themes between the book, (13:58) the podcast, just all the things I do because personally for me, you know, (14:04) no matter what the diagnosis was, like that was a huge wake up call. (14:07) I think for one of the PCOS, that's a big, a big part of it as well as listening to the body. (14:12) Um, and so, you know, so what were some of the things that you, that you did when you finally, (14:19) like, you know, realize like, Hey, like, where did you start? (14:24) Where did you start your journey? (14:25) You know, when you finally realized your body was, was screaming at you.(14:29) Yeah. (14:29) For many years, I, I was really convinced I, I had really disconnected from that, like (14:37) mind body kind of perspective. (14:39) Right.(14:40) I was very much living in my masculine energy. (14:44) I was like super, super a type, very, you know, like goals, focused, task oriented, (14:50) um, go, go, go all of the time. (14:52) And so I had severely disconnected from my feminine energy body.
(14:58) And I also was like, everything's black and white science, right. (15:03) And so I was convinced that it was something in my body that I had to fix. (15:11) And so for me, because I had the digestive stuff and the skin stuff happening at the same time, (15:17) I was like, well, it's my digestive system, right.(15:20) You know, like I did all of this reading. (15:23) And at one point after all of the elimination diets, I did, I did dairy, I did gluten. (15:31) I did nightshades, oxalates, you know, like I did a high protein, mostly carnivore diet (15:39) for a long time.(15:40) Like I did all the things and, um, they were all so restrictive. (15:47) And in my mind, it was making things way worse, you know, like it would work for a tiny bit (15:55) and then it would like severely go back in the other direction. (15:59) Right.(16:00) Cause it was just like, it, it was way too restrictive. (16:04) Um, and I did at one point I was like, I was reading about the can, the candida connection (16:10) with, um, with skin conditions and like IBS and stuff like that. (16:15) And I'm like, okay, if I do this candida cleanse, then I'm going to be all set.(16:20) Like, this is totally my issue.
(16:21) Cause I've had recurring yeast infections since I was a teenager too. (16:25) And, um, so I did this massive cleanse and, um, it was in between when I had been seeing (16:32) my naturopath.(16:34) Um, so I did it for like two, three months and it was, it was like six different things (16:39) in this protocol that I was taking throughout the day. (16:42) And, um, I, when I went in to see her and told her about it and then how I was feeling, (16:48) um, which was pretty devastated, um, and nothing was working properly in my digestive (16:54) system at that point. (16:56) Um, she was like, you kind of dropped a bomb in your digestive system and we need to rebuild (17:02) now.(17:03) Um, so I did all of the, I did all of the wrong things before, um, before actually it (17:11) was a shift in my career that led me towards thinking about myself and my body differently (17:17) and reconnecting with my, my energy and like my true self. (17:24) Um, so my husband and I decided we've always been adventurers and we decided to take a (17:30) year and travel around North America in our camping trailer.
(17:34) We homeschooled the kids, um, had our dogs with us.(17:38) And, um, he was going back to his job, but, and I got a leave of absence, but I didn't (17:44) think I was going back to mine. (17:46) And so I spent the year thinking about all the things that make me happy and the things (17:53) that I'm super passionate about. (17:55) And so I, you know, like had this journal where I was like writing things down, music, (18:00) scent, all of these things.(18:02) Right. (18:02) And I literally came back, quit my job after three months and, um, and enrolled to become (18:08) an aromatherapist. (18:10) And everybody was like, I'm sorry, what? (18:13) You're like this scientist who is living up a career with pension and benefits to become (18:19) an aromatherapist.(18:20) I was like, yes, I am. (18:24) So yeah, I did that. (18:25) And then I learned lymphatic massage and reflexology and it all like snowballed from there.(18:31) Then the real turning point for me was when I went, um, for Reiki and started into understanding (18:41) and working with subtle energy. (18:43) And I, it really brought me inwards a lot. (18:48) Reiki, for those who don't know, it is, um, it's a hands-on healing, like energy practice.(18:54) But when you first get into Reiki with Reiki level one, it's only about self-healing.
(19:00) It's, it's your own personal journey. (19:03) And so you are like doing Reiki sessions on yourself, self-Reiki healing all the time (19:09) for like a month straight.(19:10) Um, and, and then afterwards you maintain a bit of a practice, right? (19:15) It's like yoga, meditation. (19:17) You get deeper into something, the more that you practice it. (19:22) And so through that, I, I really started looking at some of my mindset things, the limiting (19:30) beliefs that I had around, around food, around my health, um, around relationship with other (19:38) people.(19:39) And very much saw that I was a people pleasing fixer and, and I was constantly getting in (19:49) my own way, uh, getting in my own way of healing anything within myself.
(19:54) Um, and that actually brings us back to the, um, my eczema being predominantly on my hands (20:01) and so bad on my hands, right? (20:03) Because if you think about how we interact with the world, our hands are how we interact (20:09) with the world. (20:10) And they, for me, the, there were the sign of the constant doer, right? (20:16) Instead of being this like self-reflective person that could just be and have these simple (20:23) self-care practices, you know, I was always doing getting, you know, like, how can I help (20:28) this person in my life and what can I do to fix them? (20:30) And, you know, like super over-committed and all of that.(20:35) And, uh, turning the mirror in on myself, uh, through Reiki, through breath work and (20:41) meditation practice was my real turning point, um, for starting to make that connection and (20:50) then working in person with clients and seeing, you know, like, whoa, all of these people, (20:57) I predominantly work with women, um, with lymphatic massage therapy and reflexology and (21:05) seeing over time that whatever they are presenting with, when I really got into talking with (21:12) them, you know, and allowing them to tell their story, people get really vulnerable (21:17) when they're laying on a massage table and they don't have to do eye contact and just (21:21) like letting their stories come out, right. (21:24) And seeing so many synchronicities and commonalities between us, between like their (21:31) stress stories of their life, when things kind of got rough for them and then being (21:37) locked into this like cycle and pattern of just like repetition and not being able to (21:43) break out of it.
(21:45) Um, but seeing that even just bringing some sense of peace and calm into their life for (21:51) that hour, hour and a half that I had them and then repeatedly seeing them, you know, (21:57) every few weeks after a year, that can be a different person, you know, like when you (22:04) find your people and you really connect with them and allow some of that vulnerability (22:09) to come through and get real with yourself, you know, just be honest about all of the (22:16) things that you're, that you're thinking and struggling with and that are on like loop (22:22) repeat patterns in your head.(22:24) Um, getting that stuff out and just be super liberating and really, really contribute to (22:33) long-term healing. (22:35) Yeah. (22:35) Yeah.(22:36) And then, I mean, that's even something I, I talk about in the book too, is just, yeah, (22:40) just, you know, taking notes on, on, you know, you can call it journaling and call it like (22:46) for some people, like you mentioned, some of that stuff can just stress you out when (22:49) you're doing all the diets and all this and that.
(22:51) And it's like, no, let's back up. (22:53) Like, let's take a minute to just evaluate how you're really feeling and how you think (22:56) things are, you know, are affecting you.(23:00) Yeah. (23:01) I love what you mentioned about the, you know, the physical presentation of symptoms, you (23:08) know, because, um, I've, I've talked about, I think I mentioned it with you the first time, (23:13) but I've, I've had a few other episodes. (23:16) I've mentioned it and everything, but Germany medicine, but you know, whether you want to (23:20) call it, you know, that or whatever, but I think, yes, there is a tie to what's going (23:26) on internally as to how these symptoms, you know, are presenting.(23:32) Is there anything that sticks out to you? (23:34) Like in any of your clients that you see as well, I think, especially for women, (23:38) you know, for how these things are presenting. (23:40) Cause that might be an aha moment for anybody listening even. (23:44) Yeah.(23:45) Yeah. (23:45) I have, um, I have a couple of clients inside my, um, X-Men psoriasis recovery system right (23:52) now who, um, have facial eczema. (23:56) So like their entire face and neck is really impacted.
(24:00) Um, and I always talk about how, like with the eyes, if it's somewhere around the eyes, (24:06) maybe look at what are you not seeing or what are you not allowing to be seen of yourself? (24:15) Um, some women are impacted by chronic ear eczema, like right down into the canal. (24:22) So itchy. (24:23) Like you, I can't even imagine how terrible that would be.(24:27) The inside of your throat ends up feeling so itchy because of the connection there. (24:33) Um, and you can't get it. (24:35) You can't scratch it.(24:37) But again, that would be like, what are you not hearing? (24:41) What do you need to hear? (24:43) Um, about whatever comes to you, right? (24:46) Like if we sit quietly and listen to our intuitive selves, the answer will come. (24:54) And, you know, if you can, if you can get yourself into a nice space, do a little bit (24:58) of deep breathing and just try to get into a little bit of that meditative state, right? (25:03) Where you're just maybe just focusing and concentrating on, you know, like, what is (25:09) it that I'm not seeing? (25:11) What is it that I'm not hearing? (25:13) That sort of thing.
(25:15) Um, one woman was, she's really just got eczema all on the back of her neck, right? (25:20) And into her shoulders a little bit.(25:22) And so with the shoulders, I talk about how, like the shoulders are always that, (25:27) what kind of responsibility are you carrying? (25:30) Are you carrying the weight of your, of the world on your shoulders? (25:34) Are you responsible for everything in your life? (25:37) So look at responsibility there. (25:39) And then the neck is our connection between our head and our bodies. (25:43) And so it, it's a lot to do with like flexibility, but also intellect stuff.(25:50) So sometimes with, if, if you're predominantly have things affecting like your upper body, (25:59) especially shoulders, neck upwards kind of thing, then that can be that you are spending (26:06) way too much time in your ego side of your, of yourself, like your intellectual side, (26:11) as opposed to tapping into our intuitive kind of feminine nature side. (26:17) Um, yeah.
(26:18) And like flexibility in life, right.(26:21) Associated with the neck. (26:23) So yeah, those are a couple of, a couple of the, the interesting ones. (26:29) Yeah, no, that's good.(26:31) I'm, I'm glad you pointed that out because it makes sense when you say it, but you know, (26:34) a lot of people wouldn't automatically think about some of, some of that stuff, you know? (26:39) Yeah, yeah, yeah. (26:42) Such a great conversation with Sabrina. (26:45) I think they're relatable and I'll be sure to link everything in the show notes.(26:49) If you'd like to connect with her, in addition to how to book a quick call with me. (26:53) So I can be sure that I'm offering the programs and events that align with what you desire, (26:57) along with the opportunity to grab my mindful eating guide. (27:00) And if you love this episode, make sure to subscribe and share it with someone who needs (27:04) to hear it.(27:05) Remember that healing doesn't come from doing more. (27:08) It comes from understanding better. (27:10) I'm sending you so much love and I'll see you on the next episode of PCOS unfiltered (27:14) Nourish.(27:15) Heal. (27:16) Thrive.