The Wellspring
a blog by Dr. Elizabeth Miller and WMB Team
When Your Skin Feels Too Sensitive: Understanding Hyperesthesia Through a Mind-Body Lens
Have you ever felt like your skin is on high alert, where even light touch, clothing, or temperature changes feel unusually intense? This heightened sensitivity is called hyperesthesia, a form of sensory amplification that affects millions of people. At Well Mind Body, we frequently see clients experiencing sensory overwhelm as a result of stress, chronic illness, inflammation, or nervous system dysregulation.
Hyperesthesia is not “in your head.” It’s a real neurobiological response that reflects how closely the mind and body are connected, and how deeply the nervous system responds to overwhelm, illness, and inflammation.
How the Body Keeps Score: Mental Health, Trauma, and the Mind–Body Connection
For so many of us, especially high-achieving women, mothers, professionals, and students, the body speaks long before the mind can form words. A tight chest becomes the language of anxiety. Chronic stomachaches become the echo of unprocessed grief. Headaches, fatigue, inflammation, and sleep disturbances show up as the body’s attempt to keep us safe.
Healing Begins with Connection: Why Therapy at Well Mind Body Feels Different
Discover how Well Mind Body in Houston offers integrative psychotherapy that blends neuroscience, nutrition, and compassionate care. Book your first session today.
5 Signs Your Nervous System Is Overwhelmed and What to Do Today
When life gets loud, fast, or unpredictable, your nervous system is the first to let you know. But most people miss the early signs until anxiety, exhaustion, or irritability take over. As a therapist, mom of three, and someone who specializes in nervous-system-aware care, I see this every single day at Well Mind Body.
How to Practice Gratitude When Life Is Really Hard
When you’re in a season of grief, uncertainty, burnout, illness, or overwhelm, gratitude does not come naturally, and that is completely norma. Practicing gratitude isn’t about bypassing emotions or forcing positivity. It’s about finding gentle, accessible openings, tiny moments where light comes through.
The Mind–Body Benefits of Gratitude: How a Simple Practice Rewires Your Health
In a world that moves fast and demands more from us each day, gratitude can feel almost too simple or too small, compared to the stressors we carry. But from a mind–body perspective, gratitude isn’t just a pleasant feeling. It is a physiological event, a nervous-system regulator, and a powerful tool for mental and physical wellness.
Gratitude, practiced consistently, reshapes the brain, calms the body, strengthens relationships, and supports long-term well-being.
Increasing Intimacy: Practical, Evidence-Informed Strategies for a Stronger Relationship
Here at Well Mind Body, we see couples every day, and we understand how the hustle and shuffle of life, parenting, and work can be all-consuming. In that overwhelm, intimacy often becomes the first thing to fall to the wayside. Intimacy is more than physical closeness, it’s the emotional, psychological, and relational glue that helps couples feel secure, understood, and connected.
Rejection Sensitivity in Children with ADHD: Understanding, Supporting, and Intervening
Childhood can be a minefield of perceptions, missteps, and emotional hazards, especially for children living with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). One less-frequently discussed but highly impactful phenomenon is rejection sensitivity: the tendency to anxiously expect, readily perceive, and over-react to real or perceived rejection (Downey et al., 1998). In children with ADHD, this sensitivity can amplify emotional dysregulation, social difficulty, and academic challenges.
Trusting Your Mom Intuition: Why We Ignore It and How to Come Back Home to It
Moms often sense things long before anyone else does. You notice small shifts, subtle cues, changes in energy, and patterns no one else sees. This is your intuition! A powerful blend of nervous system attunement, lived experience, attachment wiring, and deep relational knowing.
Mothers are trained to please, accommodate, and stay agreeable. This makes it hard to hold your ground when something feels off. Your nervous system may be signaling danger or dysregulation, but cultural pressure says, Don’t be difficult. Don’t overreact.
The Science Behind Gratitude Practice: How Thankfulness Rewires the Brain and Boosts Mental Health
In recent years, gratitude has moved from the pages of self-help books into the focus of neuroscience and psychology research. Far from being just a “feel-good” idea, gratitude has measurable effects on brain structure, neurotransmitters, and emotional resilience. Understanding the science behind gratitude helps us see why this simple daily habit can improve mood, relationships, and overall mental health.
The Calming Power of L-Theanine: Natural Support for Focus, Relaxation, and Stress Relief
In this article, we’ll break down the core benefits of L-theanine, from easing anxiety to boosting focus, and how this gentle, naturally calming amino acid supports overall well-being.
Finding Balance in a Busy World: How Integrative Therapy Helps You Heal Mind, Body, and Soul
At Well Mind Body, we believe:
Emotional health and physical health are deeply connected.
Your story matters and we know that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
Change happens when you feel safe, supported, and seen.
Our team includes experts in anxiety, trauma, divorce recovery, parenting support, teen mental health, grief, and more. Whether you’re seeking calm after chaos, support for your child, or a fresh start, there’s a place for you here.
October: A Month for Awareness, Action, and Whole-Person Health
Every October, we see the world painted in color — pink ribbons for breast cancer, orange for ADHD, green for mental health, and teal for OCD. Each represents a unique cause, but together they tell one story: our well-being is deeply connected, and awareness is the first step toward healing.
For those of us in the mental health field, October is more than a month of observances. It’s a reminder of how intertwined our physical, emotional, and neurological health truly are — and how understanding one piece of that puzzle can transform the whole.
Finding Strength Together: Why a Women’s Divorce & Empowerment Group Can Change Everything
Divorce is more than a legal process, it’s an emotional, mental, and spiritual transformation. For many women, it can feel like the ground has shifted beneath them. Even when the decision is right, the uncertainty that follows can be isolating and overwhelming. That’s where joining our group support can make all the difference.
At Well Mind Body Integrative Psychotherapy & Wellness, our Women’s Divorce & Empowerment Group, led by Alberta Totz, JD, LPC, offers a compassionate, judgment-free space to process, rebuild, and grow stronger together. Whether you’re considering divorce, navigating it, or finding your footing afterward, the group provides structure, validation, and connection during one of life’s hardest transitions.
Choosing the Right College for You: Mental Health Tips for Making Early Decisions
For many high school seniors, October brings not only fall leaves and football games, but also the stress of early decision deadlines and the big question: “Which college is right for me?”
While academics and admissions stats often dominate the conversation, choosing a college isn’t just about rankings or acceptance rates. It’s about finding a place where you can thrive academically, emotionally, and socially.
College, Careers, and Coping: Mental Health Tips for Young Adults in Transition
October is a stressful month for young adults. Midterms, new jobs, social changes, and seasonal shifts can leave many feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck. If you (or your young adult child) are navigating these transitions, you’re not alone.
In our latest blog, “College, Careers, and Coping: Mental Health Tips for Young Adults in Transition,” we share practical strategies for managing stress, building resilience, and creating healthy routines during this pivotal stage of life.
Plus, meet Zoe Sheehan, CSC, LPC-Associate, who specializes in supporting teens and young adults at Well Mind Body. Zoe offers a compassionate, nonjudgmental space to explore challenges, strengthen coping skills, and move forward with confidence.
Why Is It So Hard to Ask for Help When You’re Struggling?
Most of us have been there, carrying the weight of stress, anxiety, or emotional pain in silence, even when we know deep down we could use support. Reaching out for help should feel simple, but for many, it is one of the hardest steps to take. At Well Mind Body, we see this every day, individuals who have been suffering quietly for months or even years before they finally walk through our doors. Please know that you do not have to suffer alone.
Why is it so difficult to ask for help when we need it most? There are SO many reasons!
Living with POTS: Challenges, Perspectives, and Hope
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system that affects blood flow and heart rate. When someone with POTS stands up, their heart rate increases abnormally, often by 30 beats per minute or more within 10 minutes, leading to symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, and even fainting (Raj, 2013). Though once considered rare, POTS is now recognized as a common cause of chronic disability, particularly among young women.
Living with POTS can be overwhelming. Everyday activities such as standing in line, walking across a room, or taking a shower may trigger dizziness, brain fog, and exhaustion. Research shows that the quality of life for individuals with POTS can be as impaired as those with conditions like congestive heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Benrud-Larson et al., 2002). Many patients face delays in diagnosis, which of course can increase frustration, isolation, and functional decline.
AI Is Not Therapy: Why Human Connection Matters for Mental Health
Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots and mental health apps are becoming increasingly more common. They promise instant support, low cost, and even advertise themselves as “AI therapists.” While the appeal is obvious, the truth is that AI is not therapy. and should not be used as such. Using AI as a replacement for licensed mental health care isn’t just insufficient, it is dangerous. At Well Mind Body, we want families, parents, and individuals in Houston and beyond to understand the difference between quick fixes and true healing.