Hey Rebel,
Every November, the internet reminds us to count our blessings, like gratitude is a cure-all for burnout.
But when your body’s still running on cortisol and caffeine, that advice can feel like a cruel joke.
I used to sit up late, scribbling gratitude lists like my sanity depended on it.
I was grateful but my body was in full survival mode:
- jaw clenched
- heart racing
- mind spinning
My brain knew what I should feel, but my body couldn’t catch up.
Here’s what I finally learned:
You can’t think your way into gratitude when your nervous system is still trying to survive.
Gratitude is real, but it only lands when your body feels safe enough to receive it.
We’re taking it back to the basics: safety first.
November's Theme + What's Happening
When you’ve spent months (or years) running on survival energy, your hormones learn one thing: We’re not safe.
So even when your mind says, I’m thankful, your body’s chemistry is saying, We can’t relax yet.
Gather around, all my nerds, we are going to take a look at what is happening on the inside of your body:
Cortisol - the stress hormone that keeps you in a constant state of scanning for danger. It’s trying to protect you, not ruin your mood. But high cortisol blocks serotonin and dopamine (your feel good hormones), so even when life is okay, you can’t feel it.
Insulin - the blood sugar stabilizer can swing wildly when you skip meals or overdo caffeine. Those spikes and crashes trigger irritability and anxiety, which make gratitude feel fake or forced.
Melatonin - the sleep hormone that struggles to show up when cortisol is high, which means poor rest and even less resilience to stress. Gratitude lists at midnight don’t hit the same when you’re running on fumes.
Estrogen and progesterone - the two hormones that help stabilize your mood now become sensitive to stress signals. When cortisol is high, they dip or fluctuate, causing emotional ups and downs that leave you feeling guilty for not being more thankful.
Adrenaline, thyroid, and even oxytocin join the party too. Your body stays in alert mode, scanning, tensing, bracing, which keeps gratitude stuck in your head instead of settling in your body.
So no, you’re not ungrateful.
Your body is simply prioritizing protection over presence.
The Safety Gratitude Reset
The Safety Gratitude Reset helps you regulate first, so gratitude actually lands. See it below or download your own copy!
Coming Up This Month
Here’s what’s next inside Spooky to Sparkly in November as your hormone survival guide for the holiday season:
- Next week: The Burnout Buffet - why your blood sugar’s crashing before the turkey even hits the table (and how to fix it).
- Nov 19: Permission to Do Less - the rebellious act of saying no, and how boundaries heal hormones.
- Nov 26: The Leftovers of Overwhelm - what your body’s still digesting after the holiday rush and how to release it.
Final Thought
Every time you choose calm over chaos, your hormones take note.
Safety is the foundation of balance, connection, and actual joy.
So this month, let’s trade performing gratitude for feeling it.
This Week's Question
What’s one small thing that’s helping your body feel safe this week, even for a moment? Hit reply and tell me. I read every single message (and LOVE hearing from you).
Stay Loud. Raise Hell! - Even Through the Holidays!
Tracey
That Hormone Girl
P.S. My collective space, The UNregulated Space, is open and for women who are tired, pissed off, and finally ready to raise a little hell. If you’ve been looking for a space to support your hormones and meet other women like you, you can sign up for as low as $40/month (find the link to the space in the black bar at the top of the email.).
