Holistic Trauma Healing with Lindsey Lockett Episode 132: Overfunctioning Is a Nervous System State — I Have the Labs to Prove It
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Lindsey pulls back the curtain on two sets of her bloodwork (June 2024 → December 2025) to show how healing the nervous system — and lowering the total life load — changes measurable physiology. She explains why over-functioning isn’t a personality trait; it’s a survival physiology that drives inflammation, insulin, thyroid conservation, liver burden, and stress-lipid patterns. She walks through each lab marker in plain language, contrasts meds/supplements alone with nervous-system and lifestyle change, and shares the supportive protocol she used alongside big shifts in emotional, domestic, and relational load. She closes with how the BRILLIANT workshop and CRUCIBLE practice space fit into this work.
Show notes
Big ideas
- Over-functioning is physiology, not personality; your body keeps the score.
- You can’t out-supplement or medicate chronic over-functioning; support helps, and change lands when load drops and safety increases.
- Low-threat, well-nourished, well-rested physiology shows up clearly in labs: inflammation, insulin, thyroid conversion, lipids, and liver enzymes all move toward safety.
Lab highlights (June 2024 → December 2025)
- CRP (inflammation): 3.0 → 0.9 (≈ 66% drop; low-inflammation range)
- Fasting insulin: 17.7 (insulin-resistant) → 6 (insulin-sensitive)
- Thyroid: TSH 3.22 → 1.23; Free T4 0.81 → 1.15; Free T3 2.88 → 3.2 (robust conversion)
- Liver enzyme (ALT): 33 → 15 (burden eased)
- Triglycerides: 105 → 68
- LDL-C: 126 → 97
- DHEA: 58 → 48 (healthy downshift within the improved overall pattern)
What changed besides the numbers
- Load reduction: less emotional labor, less domestic/relational over-functioning, fewer sensory demands, more boundaries.
- Inputs: consistent eating (enough), deeper sleep, real rest, improved circulation/movement without overdrive.
- Result: cortisol normalized — inflammation down, insulin normalized, thyroid conversion improved, liver less burdened, hair loss reversed, energy steadier.
Supportive protocol (alongside the lifestyle shift)
- NP Thyroid (desiccated), bioidentical progesterone (vaginal delivery), low-dose naltrexone 4.5 mg.
- Magnesium (glycinate + l-threonate), glycine (~ 3 g/day), vitamin D3 + K2.
- GLP-1 experience: brief full-dose trial (too suppressive) → discontinued; later micro-dosed retatrutide after nutrition and rest were restored.
Who this episode helps
- Over-functioners who “look fine” but see inflammation, insulin resistance, sluggish thyroid conversion, stressed liver enzymes, or stress-lipids.
- Under-functioner/over-functioner couples wanting physiology-and-practice-based next steps.
Mentioned resources & links
- Previous episode for backstory — Episode 131: Listen on Spotify
- Lindsey’s ebooks:
- Supplements Lindsey uses/loves:
Free Video Series:
Notes & gentle disclaimer
This episode shares one person’s labs, context, and protocol decisions. Work with a trusted clinician for your own evaluation and dosing — and use these insights to track the impact of real rest, nourishment, and load reduction over time.