How Hydrated are You? (and I'm not just talking about water)

Here's a question that landed during my meditation practice this week: Where am I still collapsing?

Spiritual Dehydration

Not the dramatic kind of collapse. The subtle kind. The kind where we make ourselves a little smaller, pull back a little more, shrink just enough that we don't even notice we're doing it.

You know what does the exact same thing? A dehydrated plant.

It doesn't just wilt—it literally pulls inward, makes itself smaller to survive. Our bodies do this too. And here's the thing most people miss: so do our spirits.

The Hydration Gap Nobody's Talking About

For ten years, I've started every morning with warm lemon water before coffee. Last year, I added clean electrolytes to that ritual—the kind without hidden MSG masquerading as "natural flavors."

The shift was profound. My dysautonomia symptoms (blood pooling that required daily compression socks) eased significantly. My nervous system regulated. Brain fog lifted. I felt more grounded, more present, more myself.

But here's what sent me down a research rabbit hole: When was the last time proper hydration was prescribed as part of a mental health plan?

The research is stunning:

• People drinking fewer than 2 glasses of water daily have double the risk of depression

• Just 2% dehydration impairs cognitive performance by 20%

• Dehydration increases cortisol by over 50% during stress

• Brain fog, irritability, poor memory? Often just dehydration

  
  

We obsess over supplements and clean eating but forget the most fundamental element: water + the electrolytes that help us actually absorb it.

What I Use (And Why It Matters)

I use LyteShow electrolyte drops every morning. I chose them intentionally because they contain zero "natural flavors"—a term that often hides excitotoxins like MSG and free glutamates.

For those of us with sensitive nervous systems, dysautonomia, chronic pain, or neurological conditions, avoiding hidden triggers matters. Their formula is simple: ionic electrolytes from sea minerals (magnesium, potassium, sodium, chloride, and zinc) that support regulation without overstimulation.

The Spiritual Parallel

Just as our cells collapse without proper hydration, our spirits collapse when we fail to drink from sources that truly nourish us.

When we say yes to things that deplete us.When we make ourselves small so others feel comfortable.When we accept situations that don't honor our essence.

Water teaches us that true hydration isn't just about filling up—it's about distilling to our purest essence and refusing to dilute ourselves for others' comfort.

Where Stress Really Lives

Through my work as a holistic health coach and meditation teacher, I've seen how stress management isn't just about mindfulness techniques—it's about addressing the physical foundation first. When clients come to me struggling with anxiety, burnout, or brain fog, we start with the basics: Are you actually hydrated?

It sounds almost too simple. But behavior change happens when your nervous system has what it needs to function. No amount of workplace mindfulness training or meditation practice can fully compensate for a dehydrated, depleted system.

Your Turn

Drink some water. The good kind, with minerals your body can actually use.

Then ask yourself: Where am I still making myself smaller? Where am I collapsing inward when I'm meant to expand?

Ready to stop playing small? The Take 5 Membership is where we practice this kind of nourishment—physical, mental, and spiritual—week after week. Short practices (1-5 minutes) that support stress management and burnout prevention when it matters most. Join us here.

Need more personalized support? If you're dealing with anxiety, brain fog, or nervous system dysregulation, my one-on-one hypnosis and coaching sessions address exactly these patterns. Learn more about private sessions.

Your full form is needed in this world. Let's make sure you're hydrated enough—in every sense—to show up as it.