Overheated, Overstimulated, and Crying Happy Tears
And a pic of my yogurt bowl. 6/24/2025
Good afternoon everyone.
I’m sure the burning question on everyone’s mind is, “How does she fuel herself while putting together these fabulously informative newsletters every week?” While literally no one has asked, I’m going to tell you anyway so I can show off my happy bowl! We’re big into the bowls around here: yogurt bowls, smoothie bowls, buddha bowls. Not only are they healthy, they are YUM! This one’s packed with yogurt, chia seeds, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, almond butter, honey, fruit, and vanilla almond cereal. If you want the full how-to, hit me up in the comments.
(Image credit: Me!)
Maybe it’s the heat…or the chia seeds…but writing this week’s newsletter was extra fun. I hope you enjoy it.
Some highlights:
🌡️ Heatwaves are spiking youth depression and anxiety
😤 Why we get mean when overstimulated
😬 Could your mouth bacteria be making you depressed?
😭 Crying happy tears? That’s your brain hitting the reset button
🦠 Gut bacteria’s role in OCD and bipolar
🕊️ Hope may be the key to finding purpose
🥦 Fiber is trending on TikTok
Plus, what we know about heavy metals and ADHD, how moderation matters with psychedelics, and Kraft Heinz says goodbye to artificial dyes.
Let’s go…
Mental Health Roundup
😩 Just another manic Monday. Science says that Mondays are out to get us. Turns out that Monday anxiety can crank up your stress hormones for months, whether you’re hustling at work or retired – not great for heart health.
🌡️ The extreme heat takes its toll on our physical and mental health. Teens, especially boys and those in rural areas report stronger symptoms of depression and anxiety during intense heatwaves (currently being experienced now across the U.S.). A reminder to pay extra attention to your kids during these summer months, and find ways to cool off. Kiddie pools aren’t just for the littles.
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
⚡ Exposure to heavy metals is associated with higher likelihood of ADHD diagnosis. Exposure to heavy metals (copper and cadmium, not Metallica) increases the odds of being diagnosed with ADHD, according to this Spanish study.
😤 Why you're mean when you're overstimulated. When our senses are overloaded, our body’s stress response kicks in (AKA fight-or-flight) and the last straw – getting stopped by a train, or someone’s offhand comment – could set you off. #$@! Well, you’re not alone. This tweet went viral with over 50k retweets. Breathe.
😬 Your mouth may be making you depressed. I’ve written before about the oral-brain axis – how the bacteria on our mouths affects our health. Now, scientists are digging into how the oral microbiome contributes to depression. It’s a chicken-and-egg thing – does a less diverse mouth microbiome contribute to depression, or does depression change your oral bacteria? Either way, don’t forget to floss!
🍄 Awe and psychedelics. The awe experienced during ayahuasca retreats doesn’t always translate to better wellbeing. Too much of a good thing could be overwhelming and even destabilizing. Finding the “sweet spot” with low to moderate doses gave the most positive, lasting effects. A little goes a long way.
😭 Why do we cry when we’re happy? It’s our limbic system’s way of hitting the reset button. When we’re overwhelmed – from joy, pain, relief, or a mix of feelings – the brain triggers tears to bring us back to balance.
🦠 Two new studies spotlight the gut-brain connection in mental health, showing how certain gut bacteria may influence OCD risk, while a healthy gut microbiome may help people with bipolar disorder respond better to psychotropics.
🕊️ Hope is everything. More than wishful thinking – hope is the key to help us find purpose. Hope is essential in our search for the meaning of life. Start by noticing the little things every day. If you’ve ever read Victor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, you’d know that hope was vital to his surviving the Holocaust. A good read – highly recommend it!
📋 When it comes to politics and healthcare policy, according to Becker’s, these are the 5 top behavioral health stories of 2025 so far.
Youth/Adolescence
📵 No phones in schools? Some say go further. Ban laptops and tablets too? States like California and New York are banning phones in schools, but some say they need to take it further for the sake of kids’ mental health. Other contributing factors – the decline in family structure and religion, a bleak world view, and weed.
Addiction/Substance Use
🔁 No big developments this week – mostly repeats of previously covered news and trends.
Wellness
🥦 This TikTok trend is backed by real science. Fibremaxxing – loading up on fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds – is all over social media. Most people know that fiber aids in digestion and regulating blood sugar, but it also helps us feel full longer, and is good for a healthy gut microbiome. I guess I’m trendy!
🧃 Kraft Heinz to ditch synthetic dyes by 2027. Say goodbye to your bright colored Kool-Aid (who cares if it’s a little less vivid). The company also said they won’t use synthetic colors in any new products from this point. Yay!
✍️ Journaling
A few prompts that focus on hope, stress, and resilience this week:
🔹 What gives me hope right now, even something small?
🔹 How does my body respond when I feel overstimulated? What helps me reset?
🔹 When was the last time I cried happy tears? What triggered them?
🔹 What’s in my bowl that’s fueling me this summer?
🎧 Good Mood Tunes
A song to cool us off during these hazy, hot summer days…
Sometimes all I think about is you
Late nights in the middle of June
That’s it for this week, peeps! Have a good week, and stay curious!
I hope you enjoyed this mental health roundup! Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below or share with a friend! ❤️