Stressed Out? Here's How to (Actually) Fix It, and What Your Stress Personality Says About You

# Discover Your Stress Personality & Herbal Healing Solutions
### Dr. Erin Stokes, ND — The Everygirl Podcast with Josie Santi

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## WishGarden Herbs *(Opening Sponsor)*

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## Episode Introduction

**Josie Santi:**
Welcome back to the Everygirl Podcast. Today I am joined by Erin Stokes, who is a naturopathic doctor and the Medical Director at WishGarden Herbs. We have never had a naturopathic doctor on the podcast before, so I was really excited about this conversation.

My goal is to help you live your very best life — and you obviously need to feel as amazing as possible in your body in order to do that. There are so many different methods and practices from around the world that a lot of us may not have been exposed to. I want to use this podcast to bring you ideologies and practices that might be the missing piece to your health, or that just might change your life.

I love naturopathic medicine. I think it is fascinating. If you're unfamiliar: some core pillars of naturopathic medicine are that it treats the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — that it aims to heal the root cause of an illness rather than just stop the symptoms, and that it traditionally uses natural remedies to help the body heal itself, through things like herbs, massage, acupuncture, and lifestyle changes like exercise and nutrition.

I think this is the most innate form of medicine. Obviously, I love conventional medicine, and there is absolutely a much-needed time and place for it. We are so lucky to have the modern advancements we've made, and it is 100% critical — life or death — to invest in research and science. I feel like that is important for me to make clear in 2025. But naturopathic medicine is what has been considered just straight-up medicine for hundreds of thousands of years: healing our bodies through what nature can offer us.

The difference to me is health care versus sick care. One is meant to treat you when you're sick — which is critical — and one is meant to help you stay healthy. They are both equally important, and I don't think it should be one or the other. We should be using multiple forms of medicine and practice together to live our healthiest lives.

As someone who grew up with only conventional medicine, and was given an antibiotic or prescription for every symptom, I now use herbs and food as my first go-to. I know the power that comes with these practices. I also share in this episode how I used both conventional and naturopathic medicine when dealing with panic attacks and anxiety.

Erin is really cool. She's relatable, down to earth, and she just gets it. She explains everything in a tangible and easy-to-understand way. She talks about how the biggest thing we misunderstand about our bodies is the effect that stress has on us physically. So this episode is for my stressed-out, burnt-out, exhausted, overthinking girlies — which I'm going to guess is probably everyone listening in this day and age.

Erin and I chat about how stress affects everything from hormones to weight. She talks about stress personalities and why it's important to know yours. We also get into sleep — and she shares some great tips for better quality sleep that are not the typical ones you hear, like mouth taping and avoiding screens. She gives tangible tips to lower your stress levels physiologically. Everything from foods to mindset shifts to powerful herbs that can help ease stress immediately.

If you're interested in the herbs Erin shares today, WishGarden Herbs is offering Everygirl Podcast listeners a discount — use code **EVERYGIRL20** for 20% off your order. Erin was nice enough to send me some, and she was right. I really felt the immediate effects. I am hooked.

Enjoy this fascinating deep dive into stress — it will give you all the tangible tools to lower stress levels both at the root cause long-term, and immediately, like by the end of today.

Welcome, Erin Stokes, to the Everygirl Podcast.

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## What Is Most Misunderstood About Health and Our Bodies

**Josie:**
What do you think is most conventionally misunderstood about health and our bodies?

**Dr. Erin Stokes:**
That's a great question. I think what is really conventionally misunderstood is the interplay between our nervous system and how it impacts so many different systems in our bodies. We almost run through life without recognizing how our nervous system and how we're living affects everything — from our menstrual cycles as women, to cardiovascular health, to sleep. So much of it starts with how we are living and, honestly, how we are treating ourselves. I know that might sound basic, but it's so powerful — because from the endocrine system to the nervous system to the immune system, it's all connected.

**Josie:**
I love that you brought up the nervous system. What I find so fascinating is that we live in a modern culture where we're all like, "I'm stressed out, I'm burnt out, everything feels stressful" — and yet we don't really acknowledge how it plays into our physical health.

I've shared this story before, but years ago I was having really bad period symptoms — breakthrough bleeding. This was way before I did any health training. I just intuitively felt like this was also the most stressful time of my life. So I went to my gynecologist and asked: could stress be causing the breakthrough bleeding? And she said, no — stress can't really play a part in your hormones. After learning what I know now, I'm like... stress is the *main* thing that plays into your hormones. It's interesting that we live in this world where we all acknowledge how stressed we are, and how sick many of us are, and yet we're not connecting the two.

**Dr. Erin:**
I agree. And in large part I think it's because it feels overwhelming. One of the most important things I do as a naturopathic doctor is try to make it less overwhelming — and more inspiring — so that people feel like: okay, I get it. Stress is playing this huge role. But what do I do now?

Here's the thing: our stress response is designed to protect us, and it does. Every one of us can think of a time when we were in a stressful situation, we needed to act quickly, and we did. The stress response isn't a bad thing — it's designed in our biology to protect us. What happens in modern times is that we have this stress cycle on repeat, and that leads to chronically high cortisol levels day to day over time. That's where the impacts happen — changes in your cycle, weight, sleep — because your body is essentially in a constant alarm phase, trying to protect you.

What I want to help us do is get back into what's called parasympathetic mode — rest, repair, and rest and digest. And there is so much we can do in our day-to-day lives through lifestyle and nutrition to get there. That's what gets me excited, because there's this metamorphosis we're all capable of when we have the tools and the inspiration to change our lives.

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## How Stress Actually Affects the Body

**Josie:**
Can you break down the mechanism? Because I know you mentioned it can affect hormones and weight — we all know stress takes a toll on mental health. But if it's a totally new concept that stress can affect physical health in such drastic ways, can you explain how that works?

**Dr. Erin:**
Absolutely. The stress response all begins in the brain. Perception is really reality — and I want to be clear, I'm not saying it's in your head. I could have a work deadline, and depending on how I perceive it — "This is a threat, I'm not prepared, I'm nervous" — it sends this whole cascade. Initially it's adrenaline: you feel a little sweaty, jittery, heart pounding. That's your body going into alarm mode.

What happens when it's more long-term is that your body can't keep that up. So we release cortisol. Cortisol is like the messenger — it affects your glucose metabolism, your fat storage. Your body is in stress mode. How does this impact your hormones? You're essentially telling your body: I don't have time or energy to digest, to reproduce, to do anything non-essential. Blood literally moves away from your digestive tract — that's why we say "butterflies in the stomach," because stress does impact your GI tract.

On the hormonal side, some women will experience cycle disruption or even stop bleeding entirely, because your body is going into a mode where there's no time or energy to expend in the reproductive realm. It's trying to protect you. And that's the key thing I want people to understand — your body is actually trying to protect you. We can just send it different signals.

Your OBGYN is right to say that hormones are exquisitely tuned to stress. And recognizing that is the first step to going: okay, what can I do to take care of myself? Also — I don't want this to be one more thing people beat themselves up about. I've worked with clients on reducing stress, and so often the response is, "Oh my god, I was so stressed out today" — and then the stress about being stressed makes it worse. We have so much healing to do.

**Josie:**
Yes. We live in a toxic productivity culture, and we are very used to stress. I would love to get into your tips on what we can actually do about it.

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## Diet, Lifestyle & Supplement Tips to Reduce Stress

**Josie:**
If someone is like, "Okay, I have a lot of these physical symptoms, I'm also highly stressed — this might be the cause. What's the protocol?" Where do we start?

**Dr. Erin:**
Let's do lifestyle, nutrition, then herbs. Okay — so with lifestyle, the most important thing, going back to the nervous system, is to **speak kindly to yourself.** That might surprise you — you might have expected me to say exercise or get outside. And those are true too. But I was thinking about this morning.

I love my work and there's a lot happening right now. I knew I was doing this podcast today, and I had yogurt and cashews ready to bring — because one of the first things alongside speaking kindly to yourself is having **protein at every meal.** Protein signals to your body: we're safe. It stabilizes your blood glucose. When you skip meals — cup of coffee, run out the door — your blood sugar crashes, and that sets off an alarm. You feel hangry, jittery.

So I'm doing my good thing and getting my protein. I drive here and I realize I left it all at home. Not the yogurt — it was this great Icelandic Skyr yogurt I love. I left it all at home. And I started to be like, "I can't believe I did that." That is not speaking kindly to yourself. A kinder thought: it's okay. I'm doing the best I can. I know this little café on the way — I'll grab one of those little egg bites. The ones you make in a muffin tin? Yes! With veggies or feta. So easy. Was I a little later than I wanted to be? Yes. But I didn't have a meeting, and I was just kind to myself. I got you, I said to myself.

The most important relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself. So: **speak kindly to yourself, and eat protein at every meal.** This is one of the single tips people say has made the biggest difference in their lives. You don't need to add a biological stressor to an already stressful life by not having enough protein to stabilize your blood glucose. If you don't have protein at dinner, your blood sugar can dip in the middle of the night — that's sometimes why people wake up at 3 a.m. Your body will always do what it needs to do to keep you going; we just need to support it.

So: speak kindly to yourself, eat protein at each meal. And then support yourself with herbs and supplements that are going to make your day better.

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## How Herbs Can Dramatically Lower Stress

**Dr. Erin:**
There's a whole category of herbs called **nervines** — herbs that support the nervous system. These are really different from, but very complementary to, adaptogens.

A lot of people know about adaptogens — simply put, adaptogens help your body adapt to stress over time. Nervines support your nervous system more in the moment.

I have a couple of tinctures right here — can I show one?

*(holds up Emotional Ally)*

This is WishGarden's **Emotional Ally**. It says "a big herbal hug" right on it. Emotional Ally is really good for when stress is manifesting in the emotional realm — sadness, overwhelm. I especially love this formula for times of transition: a breakup, a move, a new job. Transitions can sometimes be the best thing that's ever happened to you — the beginning of a new era — and they can still be stressful, because you're in new territory. Your nervous system is adjusting.

Nervine herbs include **skullcap** and one of my favorites in the world, **motherwort** — also known as the lion-hearted herb. It gives you that lion-hearted courage. It's deeply a women's ally herb. Both are in Emotional Ally, and they're grounding and centering. They soothe your nervous system in the moment.

And sometimes people don't realize: you can use herbs *in the moment*. I thought herbs were just for long-term support — and that's where adaptogens shine, as resilience builders over time. **Ashwagandha** or one of my favorite allies, **holy basil** — which is planted around temples in India because it is so widely revered. These herbs have an amazing way of working with your body. They're body-friendly. And liquid tinctures are a really traditional, effective form of extraction — you get the best of the plant.

For something like Emotional Ally, you want it in the moment. I carry it in my work bag, because life happens. Of course, if you're taking medications or have specific conditions, always talk with your practitioner first. But these are body-friendly plants that humans have evolved alongside for thousands of years — in Native American traditions, Ayurvedic medicine, Chinese medicine, European herbalism. Herbs like lemon balm and linden have been used in Europe for centuries.

**Josie:**
There's so much wisdom from history, from other cultures. And being in the wellness space in the US, I unfortunately run into people who feel like herbs and plants are "witch doctor stuff" that doesn't really work. It drives me nuts — because not only is there impressive conventional research behind things like holy basil and ashwagandha, but also... who cares? There are centuries of cultures that have used these plants effectively.

I actually just came back from Africa, and one of the coolest things for me was learning about the herbs. Our guide pointed out a plant that's been used for thousands of years and is still used today for postpartum depression. I asked, "Is this something women take preventatively?" And he said, "No — if they start feeling depression, they take it for one week and they're better." In our country, I think there's such a gap in this knowledge. I love that naturopathic medicine is bringing it to people who haven't had access to it before.

**Dr. Erin:**
Thank you. It is so real. And the way I counter skepticism is: I come from a medical family. Generations of medicine — my grandfather was an orthopedic surgeon, my dad is a retired orthopedic surgeon, my brother is an anesthesiologist. I took the road less traveled becoming a naturopathic doctor. But plant medicine has existed in traditional cultures forever — and what I say is that these are traditional plant remedies that are being validated by modern science.

Take turmeric — there are over 600 published studies on PubMed around curcumin, the active constituent of turmeric. We're validating with modern tools what was already established through generations of practice. Without microscopes and mass spectrometry, these cultures understood — through a much closer relationship with nature and through trial and error — what these plants can do.

At the end of the day, you're not going to change a skeptic's mind through argument. But most people will accept plant power from the perspective of nutrition. We all know an orange is high in vitamin C, that blueberries have anthocyanins. We know fruits and vegetables should be the cornerstone of any diet. Herbs are plants too. Food is medicine.

**Josie:**
Can you explain the mechanism for how something like holy basil or ashwagandha actually works in the body to ease stress?

**Dr. Erin:**
Absolutely. Plants have their own unique chemistry — analogous to the way we talk about the nutritional constituents of fruits and vegetables. Every plant has its own compounds. In ashwagandha, for example, there's a compound called a **withanolide** — "withanolide" is just the chemistry name for what's in the plant. These constituents have specific actions in the body.

Studies on ashwagandha have shown both subjective and objective changes in stress. Subjective: standardized questionnaires where people self-report their stress symptoms. Objective: measurements showing it helps balance cortisol levels. And cortisol is the culprit behind so many of the downstream issues — including sleep problems. Interestingly, ashwagandha's botanical name is *Withania somnifera* — and *somnifera* is a nod to "somnolence," meaning sleep. Supporting healthy sleep cycles is one of ashwagandha's key uses.

Some herbs work by supporting **GABA** — a neurotransmitter in the body involved in calming. The term **GABAergic** means the plant appears to support GABA activity in the body. That's a real, measurable biological effect.

I also always want to acknowledge: there's a lot we know about these plants, and there's still a lot we don't know. That's why I'm a proponent of using the whole plant rather than an isolated extract. When we use whole holy basil, we honor the complexity of the plant. Just like we're complex beings. That's why all the tinctures we use at WishGarden use the whole plant or the whole relevant part of the plant — sometimes leaves, sometimes the root.

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## Josie's Experience Using Herbs for Anxiety

**Josie:**
To give some context for how I've personally used herbal medicine — I was talking earlier about going to my gynecologist. I was going through probably the most stressful time of my life, right around when I left college, moved, and started my first full-time job. That transition sparked a panic attack disorder and anxiety disorder for me. And so I looked at it like: I have different tools in my stress toolbox.

I have therapy — super helpful from one angle. With my therapist, I decided it was the right choice in the moment to also go on an SSRI. I looked at that like a band-aid: I'm suffering day-to-day, I need relief now. And then I took adaptogens, a lot of ashwagandha, as more of the root-cause work — healing my stress response at a functional level over time. The SSRI was: I need relief right now. The herbs and the lifestyle practices were: I need to help my body heal and be more resilient long term.

Everyone should have their own stress-relief toolbox built with their doctor or therapist. But that's how I looked at it — meditation, therapy, herbs — these are all pieces of your mental health toolbox.

**Dr. Erin:**
Josie, that is such a beautiful story, and thank you for sharing it. For sharing it bravely. Your story is going to be inspirational for others. And it reflects a truly integrative approach — being willing to go with what works, in partnership with your healthcare professionals, and being kind to yourself through it. Full circle to what we said at the beginning: speaking kindly to yourself, and just honoring what you need in the moment. Those are huge transitions you were navigating.

---

## How Life Changes (And Being in Your 20s) Impact Stress

**Dr. Erin:**
You were finishing college, starting a new job, and moving to a new city — all at once. I was just listening to a podcast about this time in your 20s as being one of the most stressful and transformative periods in the entire arc of a life. And I think that it's really important to honor that. A kind of mistake people make is saying things like, "The world is your oyster! You're so young and fortunate!" And while that might be true in some ways, at that time you're also being launched into the world — often separated from your cohort, your people, your tribe, as everyone scatters into relationships and jobs and cities. I think we need more cultural recognition of what the 20s actually represent.

**Josie:**
Totally. My generation got a lot of "find your passion, the world is your oyster" — which came from a good place, as a corrective to the previous generation being told: "Get a job, support your family, that's it." So it's a great thing we were encouraged to find meaning. But then there's all this pressure of: *wait, everybody else seems to be succeeding more than I am. What's wrong with me?*

And then you're also told your 20s are supposed to be the best time of your life — so you're simultaneously floundering, feeling like you have no money or close friends, and thinking, if this is supposed to be so amazing, what is wrong with me?

So going back to stress relief — this topic may not be as sexy as weight loss or gut health, but especially for women in their 20s and 30s, now is the time to be focused on setting our bodies up. Getting into that rest-and-digest mode. Setting ourselves up so we can actually enjoy our lives.

**Dr. Erin:**
Absolutely. It's both a short-term and long-term play. When you find that place of feeling more centered — and we're always going to have stress, but you're managing it, you feel resilient through it — it increases your vibrancy, your vitality, your energy, your digestion. You feel better today and all the days to come.

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## Tips You Don't Know to Get Better Sleep

**Josie:**
We know sleep is essential. And there's this trend right now called "sleep maxxing" — mouth tape, supplements, hot-cold baths, meditation apps — doing the absolute most, and I think it's overwhelming. What are some things people may not know to actually get a good night's sleep?

**Dr. Erin:**
I love this question. And I love the "may not know" framing, because I'm not going to lean into standard sleep hygiene — we know no screens, we've heard it all.

Here's what I want to say: **your journey to your best night's sleep begins from the moment you wake up.**

Get outside in the morning. It can be five minutes sitting in the sun, or a ten-minute walk around the block. Getting light into your eyes in the morning tells your body it's daytime, sets your circadian rhythm, and that brings your melatonin down during the day — because you want melatonin up at night and down during the day. There are studies showing that five minutes outside can tangibly boost your mood. If you think you don't have time — you have five minutes.

**Protein at every meal, including dinner.** If you don't have protein at dinner, your blood sugar can drop in the middle of the night and spike your cortisol. The last thing you need when you're stressed is more cortisol spikes at 3 a.m.

**Caffeine cutoff.** I love my matcha, but try to cut caffeine by 2:00 p.m. ideally.

**Alcohol** is a sneaky one. I'm not saying don't drink — do what's right for you. But just have awareness: alcohol impacts your sleep. You might think, "A glass of wine helped me fall asleep." That may be true — but what is undoubtedly also true is that you don't get into the deeper levels of REM sleep when you drink alcohol. That's well-established, and it's a fact people don't talk about enough.

I know there's a growing trend toward mocktails and drinking less, and I want to mention a really amazing herbal blend for exactly that context: **Liquid Bliss.** This formula is especially suited for the stress personality of someone who's feeling disconnected. It has heart-centering herbs like **hawthorn**, which is really supportive for the heart, and **damiana** — a feel-good, connection herb that's been used as a "love herb" in traditional medicine. It doesn't make you sleepy, but it gives you that warm, heart-centered feeling. It's wonderful in a mocktail if you're going to a social gathering and choosing not to drink. We've had so many people say it's been genuinely helpful when they're feeling that low, withdrawn, grumpy kind of disconnected state.

**Josie:**
I'm going to dump that in my fiancé's coffee. *(laughs)* Like, what a good idea to use herbs to elevate your mood.

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## *(Mid-Episode Sponsor Note)*

*In this episode, you hear Erin talk about using herbs as medicine and why herbal tinctures are such a critical part of her health routine. Being the wellness guinea pig that I am, I wanted to try too. So I got some tinctures from WishGarden Herbs — and I am obsessed.*

*I love **Liquid Bliss**. I've been making a mocktail with sparkling water and adding Liquid Bliss, which contains herbs that support your body's feel-good hormones, helping to lift your mood and increase your sense of connection. I've been loving this as an alternative to alcohol, or just to boost my mood when I'm with friends or connecting with my fiancé.*

*I've also been taking **Emotional Ally** on a regular basis for mood support. Where was this tincture during COVID? I really could have used it. It's meant to support your body if you're going through sadness, stress, or just need daily mood support. Those are my two favorites — but there are so many herbal tincture options for whatever your goals. I am blown away by these products.*

*Discover the natural power of WishGarden's legendary fast-acting herbal blends using code **EVERYGIRL20** for 20% off your order. Crafted for rapid absorption, WishGarden's remedies provide potent benefits you'll feel in minutes. With no fillers, gums, binders, or sugars, they harness the full strength of botanicals in their purest and most effective form. It is the number one selling liquid herbal brand in the US — and I can see why. Simply add your formula to a few ounces of your favorite drink. Own your health. Drink your herbs. Go to **wishgardenherbs.com** and use code **EVERYGIRL20** for 20% off.*

---

## The Stress Personalities

**Josie:**
The stress personalities — can you talk about this? I've never heard of this concept.

**Dr. Erin:**
So, there's this universal stress response — the adrenaline, the cortisol — that we talked about. That part is universal. But how you manifest stress and how I manifest stress is going to be unique.

Some people manifest stress primarily in the **physical** realm. They're powering through, insisting they're fine — but there's massive tension in their neck and shoulders. They get home and they cannot unwind. They're storing stress in that physical, muscular-tension space.

Then there's the **mental** stress personality — the mental loop, the rumination, the worry.

The **emotional** type is more like an emotional roller coaster — moods that fluctuate more than usual.

And there's the **disconnected** type — someone who, when stressed, just pulls back and goes inward. As a protective mechanism, they want to be alone. Which, as I said, JOMO — joy of missing out — I'm a supporter. But I'm talking about the person who is *really* withdrawn, and you're like, "They won't even talk to me, and I'm their closest friend."

Why do we identify these? Because herbal allies can meet you where you are. We have a tincture called **Serious Relaxer** — it has musculoskeletal nervine herbs that are specifically suited for that physical-tension stress person. Very different from the herbs in Liquid Bliss.

And I'll be honest — I recently told my co-workers that I'm just not really the physical-tension stress person. That's not how I manifest stress. And then within the week, I developed the most insane jaw tension. I was like... okay, the joke's on me. I ended up taking extra magnesium and Serious Relaxer for a while, and it was exactly right for that moment. Our stress personalities evolve. We're dynamic.

**Josie:**
That makes so much sense. And I love that you brought up relationships, because it's so helpful to know your own stress mechanism *and* understand the people around you. Like, when I'm stressed, I need to talk about it immediately — I'll call my mom after something small happens at work. My fiancé is the complete opposite: "Nothing's wrong, everything's fine," and then if things pile up, he turns completely inward. It took me a long time to stop being hurt by that and realize: that's just his stress response. Understanding each other's stress personalities makes your relationships so much better.

**Dr. Erin:**
Absolutely. Starting with understanding ourselves, and then from there, radiating outward — understanding the people we care about. How can I support them given how they process? It's just that way of supporting ourselves and the people around us. It can only make your health journey and your relationships better.

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## If You're New to Herbs & Adaptogens for Stress Relief, Here's Where to Start

**Josie:**
For people who have never tried adaptogens before — if that feels overwhelming, where would you recommend starting?

**Dr. Erin:**
I would start with **Deep Stress** — which we haven't even talked about yet, and it's such a good one.

Deep Stress has the combination of nervines — for in-the-moment nervous system calm — *and* adaptogens. It has ashwagandha, it has holy basil, and it has this really interesting addition: **thyme**. One of the stories I love to share is that thyme was used traditionally in the Ireland and Scotland region to inspire courage among warriors. I always think about thyme as inspiring courage. I even use it culinarily — I'll quietly whisper "courage" while I add it to a soup. *(laughs)*

But this formula is such a beautiful combination of adaptogens and nervines — and that thyme inclusion makes it really unique. You can take it for two to three months and see how it's working for building your stress resilience. If you're feeling like you might be all of the stress personalities — this is where to start.

**Josie:**
Is it true for all adaptogens and nervines that you can take them both in the moment and over time?

**Dr. Erin:**
Great question — it's different for each category. Deep Stress you'd want to take daily, because that's how adaptogens build resilience. Nervines are more in-the-moment, though you can take them regularly if it's just a stressful season and you need daily support — like Emotional Ally on a daily basis for a difficult month.

Think of adaptogens like the roots of a tree — a lot of them literally *are* roots. Roots develop slowly but create deep, lasting stability. Nervines are like the leaves: responsive, present, supportive right now, while the roots are building underneath.

If someone takes ashwagandha for three days and says, "Why don't I feel better?" — that's not really enough time. Adaptogens build the foundation over time so that busy doesn't have to feel super stressful, so the little things that come up are easier to handle. Your baseline for stress resilience rises.

Nervines are for: I have a fear of flying and I'm about to board a plane. I have a scary presentation. I just got in a fight with someone I care about and I feel really vulnerable. They're for those moments — grief, sadness, overwhelm. That said: if you're already taking medication for something like fear of flying, please don't combine those without talking to your healthcare practitioner first. Having a multi-layered toolkit is great — but do it in coordination with your doctor.

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## Rapid Fire Questions & Final Thoughts

**Josie:**
Erin, we're going to wrap up with some rapid fire questions. Your go-to coffee order?

**Dr. Erin:**
Matcha latte. With coconut milk usually, but sometimes whole milk — I like to mix it up. I am a matcha girl. I think matcha is extraordinary. I do extra hot. And in the summer, I'll do strawberry matcha iced drinks — there's a local coffee shop that uses a really good strawberry purée. So good.

**Josie:**
Fill in the blank: if everyone had this one habit, it would change their life.

**Dr. Erin:**
I was going to say speaking kindly to yourself, but we covered that. So in that same realm: **mindset**. Starting each morning with: where's my head at? What's my mindset? Because your mindset is the lens through which you see the world. We can change our lives when we change our mindset.

**Josie:**
Best piece of advice you've ever received?

**Dr. Erin:**
*Look for opportunities to tell the truth.* And that means telling your own truth — looking inward and asking, what is really true for me? As women, our culture has often trained us not to do that. So: find those opportunities to tell the truth.

**Josie:**
I love that. Never heard that one on the podcast before. Last question: a book that changed your life?

**Dr. Erin:**
*You Are a Badass* by Jen Sincero. I've met Jen in person — she came to Boulder and I went to her talk. That book is over ten years old and I still read it. I have it on my phone. I'll turn to a random chapter when I'm traveling and just read it. It's one of those books that just keeps giving. How to stop doubting your greatness and start living an awesome life. We all are badasses. It's just reminding ourselves and supporting each other in being that person out in the world.

**Josie:**
We have never gotten that recommendation on the podcast, and it is so good. Erin, where can everybody find you and shop WishGarden?

**Dr. Erin:**
**wishgardenherbs.com** — really good blog and education there, plus all the tinctures we talked about. We're also on Instagram: **@WishGardenHerbs**. And I'm on Instagram at **@ErinStokesND**.

As for taking patients — I'm not currently, although stay tuned, because I may be starting to do some telehealth sessions. People have been asking more and more, so not now, but maybe in the future.

**Josie:**
I love a little tease. Erin, thank you so much. I so enjoyed this conversation — it was so enlightening. Thank you for joining me.

**Dr. Erin:**
Thank you. I hope I can come back again — it was so fun to talk with you, Josie. You are an amazing host. You're just born to do this. I'd love to do a part two.

**Josie:**
That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. Thank you so much. Let's absolutely do a part two.

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