Have you ever felt like you just breathe easier when you step outside? There's a reason for that—and it’s much deeper than simply “liking” nature.

In this episode, we dive into why humans are biologically wired to crave nature and what happens when we ignore that inner pull for too long.

We’ll explore the science behind Nature Deficit Disorder, the powerful mind-body effects of spending time outside, and how reconnecting with the natural world can support emotional, metabolic, and immune health—especially after breast cancer.

You'll hear about:

• What Nature Deficit Disorder is and why it matters
• The science behind our innate drive to seek connection with the earth
• How chronic indoor living impacts your stress levels, sleep, mood, and immunity
• Why just 120 minutes of nature exposure per week can boost your health (Scientific Reports study)
• What happens in your brain when you spend time outside (NIH article on reduced rumination)
• Practical, simple ways to reconnect with nature no matter where you live

🌿 Ready to feel calmer, clearer, and more connected?
Tune in and rediscover the natural healing that's been waiting for you all along.

Resources and Studies Mentioned in This Episode:

• Scientific Reports: Spending 120 Minutes in Nature Each Week Is Linked to Better Health
• NIH: Nature Walks Reduce Rumination and Negative Thinking
• Current Biology: Camping Resets Circadian Rhythms for Better Sleep
• PubMed: Forest Environments Increase Natural Killer Cell Activity

💌 Join my email list for weekly wellness tips & podcast updates → The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

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🎙 Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts → Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

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Do you think it’s normal to feel discomfort in your body?

Or do you recognize discomfort as your body’s attempt to communicate with you?

In this thought-provoking episode, I challenge the idea that our bodies betray us.

We’ll talk about how we've been conditioned to ignore discomfort, push through pain, and normalize symptoms like bloating, fatigue, inflammation, and poor sleep—until something more serious forces us to listen.

I’ll share my personal experiences and real-life stories—including the heartbreaking loss of my brother to a curable cancer—to illustrate why tuning into your body’s signals matters now, not later.

I’ll walk you through the challenges of behavior change, the role of chronic stress in disconnecting us from our own bodies, and how mindfulness can help us rebuild trust and awareness.

This episode isn’t just for breast cancer survivors—it’s for everyone who wants to live a more connected, healthy, and intentional life.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why people wait until illness to seek help (and what it’s costing them)
• How chronic stress numbs our ability to recognize body signals
• The psychology of behavior change and why we resist it
• Why your “normal” symptoms might actually be warning signs
• How to shift from blaming your body to supporting it with compassion

💬 Memorable Quote:

“Let’s drop the idea that our body betrays us—and start asking it what it’s trying to say.”

🧠 Scientific Research Cited:

1. Chronic Stress Reduces Interoceptive Awareness:
   “Stress and Interoception: An Overview and Research Agenda”
   Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2016
   📖 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00569/full
2. Stages of Change and Behavior Change Readiness:
   “Stages and Processes of Self-Change of Smoking: Toward An Integrative Model of Change”
   Prochaska & DiClemente, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1983
   📖 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7077052/
3. Cancer Diagnosis Delays Due to Symptom Normalization:
   “Understanding delay in cancer diagnosis: a review of diagnostic pathways”
   Br J Cancer, 2009
   📖 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2946132/
4. Mindfulness and Interoception for Healing:
   “Mindfulness-Based Interventions and Interoception: A Neurobiological Perspective”
   NIH, 2016
   📖 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4824261/

🤝Work with Laura:

Subscribe, listen, and share to help other women embrace joy as their right and not just a reward.

💌 Join my email list for weekly wellness tips & podcast updates → The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

👩‍💻 Follow me on Instagram for daily inspiration → @thebreastcancerrecoverycoach

👩‍💻 Follow me on Facebook → The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

🎙 Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts → Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

🎥 Watch on YouTube → @BetterThanBeforeBreastCancer