The Tea Time Podcast

Are you running on adrenaline and forcing yourself through chronic fatigue, stress, or an autoimmune flare-up? In Episode 82 of the Tea Time Podcast, host Sharissa Bradley breaks down what really happens in your body when you push past your physical limits.

Drawing from her raw experience during an 8-day cross-country move to Maine while managing Celiac disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Sharissa explains how relying on cortisol and adrenaline steals energy from your future self, taxes the endocrine system, and triggers deep physical crashes. Learn the essential planning questions to ask before big life events—like moves, weddings, or major career projects—so you can plan for proper recovery and honor your body's healing timeline.

Timestamped Timeline:

• 00:00 – Welcome to the Tea Time Podcast: Recovering with Autoimmune Disease

• 00:13 – Why immunocompromised bodies need exponentially more recovery time

• 01:00 – The Celiac road trip dilemma: 16+ hours without food and 3 hours of sleep

• 02:00 – Wanting to give up on Day 2 & managing burnout during a 3,000-mile move

• 03:00 – Calorie restriction vs. food reactions: The reality of navigating Celiac on the road

• 03:30 – Adrenaline vs. Caloric Energy: How cortisol taxes Hashimoto's & the endocrine system

• 04:30 – Adrenal fatigue, nighttime insomnia, and brain fog

• 05:30 – Stealing energy from your future self: The illusion of the "superhero mindset"

• 06:45 – The 2 core questions to ask before big life events

• 09:00 – The reality of a 5-week autoimmune crash: Night terrors, nausea, and grief

• 11:45 – Is the cost worth it? Granting yourself radical grace and planning recovery

Watch this on youtube: https://youtu.be/07f0NH0GRf8

ABOUT TEA TIME

Tea Time with Sharissa Bradley is a space for honest conversations about healing, personal growth, writing, and the lived experiences that shape us. New episodes are released weekly.

These conversations are shared for reflection and connection and are not medical advice.

CONTINUE WITH TEA TIME

Sharissa's website:

https://www.sharissabradley.com

Journey Back to Health:

https://www.sharissabradley.com/book

Free workbook:

https://www.sharissabradley.com/extras

Join the Tea Time community:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2034745363989749/

Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/4EU9xhabv2CNfVRyFiKWA6

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tea-time-podcast/id1419780510

Follow Sharissa on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/sharissabradley.author

Are you struggling with an autoimmune flare-up, chronic fatigue, or burnout after a major life event? In this episode of the Tea Time Podcast, host Sharissa Bradley gets candid about the physical and mental aftermath of pushing her body to extreme limits during a 3,000-mile cross-country drive.

After being symptom-free for ten years, Sharissa faced a sudden relapse of insomnia, severe brain fog, fevers, migraines, and digestion issues. She shares the crucial lesson she learned when her planned "one-day recovery" turned into five weeks of healing: recovery has no deadline, and your body sets the timeline.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why high-stress events trigger a resurgence of dormant autoimmune symptoms.
• How to navigate the psychological fear that you will "never get better".
• The difference between rest and laziness—and why laying down is productive healing.
• Practical steps to support autoimmune recovery: nutrient density, circadian alignment, hydration, and radical scheduling cuts.

Timestamped Timeline:

• 00:00 – Welcome to the Tea Time Podcast & Introduction to Autoimmune Recovery.
• 00:13 – Why your body—not your calendar—must set the recovery timeline.
• 01:15 – The 3,000-mile road trip: 16-hour driving days and severe sleep deprivation.
• 02:00 – Relapse: When 10-year healed symptoms (insomnia, fevers, nausea) return.
• 03:00 – Grief, panic, and the terrifying fear of permanent illness.
• 04:00 – Waking up in middle-of-the-night panic & trying to rebuild sleep routines.
• 06:45 – Brain fog, dyslexia, and the mental health toll on work and public speaking.
• 09:00 – Overcoming shame & guilt: Why recovery is NOT laziness.
• 11:45 – Actionable healing tools: Ramping up nutrients, sunlight, and radical boundaries.

Connect More:

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2034745363989749/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4EU9xhabv2CNfVRyFiKWA6

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tea-time-podcast/id1419780510

YT JBTH series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvNF2YYAhvtPUrPCeIyNIqyMTv6dF96r9

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@sharissabradley/featured

Podcast website: https://sites.libsyn.com/127349/site

IG: @sharissabradley_author

Watch this on youtube: https://youtu.be/1mFWQVhRoRo

After ten years of living almost entirely free of autoimmune symptoms, host Sharissa Bradley experienced a massive, unexpected setback. In this raw introductory episode of her brand-new miniseries, Sharissa shares the aftermath of an intense 8-day, 3,000-mile cross-country trip that triggered a severe physical and mental relapse.

Driving from Nevada to Maine through 19 states with a child and four animals in her car, the physical toll of 14-hour driving days was compounded by a sudden personal loss immediately upon her return. If you've ever felt like your healing journey took a giant step backward, this episode will remind you that you are not alone, and that recovery is always possible.

Timestamped Timeline:

• 00:00 – Welcome back to the Tea Time Podcast with Sharissa Bradley.
• 00:45 – Sharissa's history: Diagnosed with four autoimmune diseases at age 27.
• 01:30 – The cross-country adventure: Helping friends move 3,000 miles from Nevada to Maine.
• 02:00 – The schedule: 6 days in the car, 14 hours of driving a day, and a flight home.
• 03:00 – The aftermath: Waking up in excruciating pain and a 3-week symptom relapse.
• 04:15 – The mental battle: Overcoming the fear that "things are never going to get better".
• 05:00 – Grief and physical stress: Losing her grandmother just two days after returning.
• 05:55 – The road to recovery: Stepping back, sleeping, and using her own book's advice to heal.
• 06:45 – Looking ahead to the next 11 episodes and how to plan buffers for your own travels.

Connect More:

Website: sharissabradley.com

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2034745363989749/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4EU9xhabv2CNfVRyFiKWA6

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tea-time-podcast/id1419780510

YT JBTH series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvNF2YYAhvtPUrPCeIyNIqyMTv6dF96r9

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@sharissabradley/featured

Podcast website: https://sites.libsyn.com/127349/site

IG: @sharissabradley_author

We have officially reached the end of the Journey Back to Health series! In this concluding episode, host Sharissa Bradley reflects on the past 17 weeks of transformation, shares her personal gratitude for your support, and provides a final toolkit of resources to keep your momentum going.

Whether you've mastered your sleep routine, started living seasonally, or finally adopted the "Let Them" mindset, this episode is a celebration of your commitment to longevity, happiness, and bliss.

In this episode, we cover:

• A recap of the foundational pillars: Sleep, movement, and mindset.
• The importance of the "Journey Back to Health" workbook in your daily routine.
• How to handle the reality that your journey may take you places your friends and family won't go.
• Resources for deeper dives, including Dr. Sarah Ballantyne and the Miracle Morning.

Timestamped Timeline:

• 00:00 – Welcome to the series finale of Journey Back to Health.
• 01:00 – Reflecting on the tools: Heritage meals, seasonal living, and movement.
• 02:00 – The emotional side of the journey: Finding the courage to go alone.
• 03:00 – Accountability: Why Sharissa almost didn't finish this series.
• 04:00 – Where to find the book (audio, digital, and print) and extra support.
• 04:30 – A final thank you and a look toward the next series.

Watch this on youtube: https://youtu.be/JhkfJf9Wc_o

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2034745363989749/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4EU9xhabv2CNfVRyFiKWA6

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tea-time-podcast/id1419780510

YT JBTH series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvNF2YYAhvtPUrPCeIyNIqyMTv6dF96r9

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@sharissabradley/featured

Podcast website: https://sites.libsyn.com/127349/site

IG: @sharissabradley_author

Are you ready to move from surviving to thriving? In this episode, host Sharissa Bradley dives into Chapter 18 of "Journey Back to Health," laying out the actionable strategy needed to reclaim your energy, strength, and joy.

Healing isn't an overnight event—it's a process of rebuilding your team, experimenting with what works for your unique body, and committing to the long-term work of repair. Sharissa shares the six specific steps she used to dig out of the "horrible hole" of chronic illness and brain fog to find a life of bliss again.

Timestamped Timeline:

• 00:00 – Welcome to the 6 Steps to Getting Your Life Back.
• 01:00 – Step 1: Finding a doctor who actually hears you.
• 02:50 – Step 2: Becoming your own guinea pig through experimentation.
• 03:30 – Step 3: The reality of healing and "Hering's Law of the Cure."
• 04:30 – Steps 4 & 5: The "Hard H" work of repairing and rebuilding habits.
• 05:15 – Step 6: Getting back to the things you love (hiking, joy, and bliss).
• 05:30 – How to use the FREE "Journey Back to Health" workbook.
• 07:30 – Personal reflections on overcoming severe brain fog.
• 08:45 – Taking full accountability for your wellness journey.

Watch this on youtube: https://youtu.be/d5v_YnsIpwo

Connect more:

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2034745363989749/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4EU9xhabv2CNfVRyFiKWA6

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tea-time-podcast/id1419780510

YT JBTH series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvNF2YYAhvtPUrPCeIyNIqyMTv6dF96r9

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@sharissabradley/featured

Podcast website: https://sites.libsyn.com/127349/site

IG: @sharissabradley_author

As you make major lifestyle changes, the people around you often have the most to say. In this episode, host Sharissa Bradley discusses Chapter 17 of "Journey Back to Health," focusing on the reality of peer pressure.

From being told your condition "isn't real" to feeling excluded from social events, Sharissa shares her personal experience with Celiac disease and provides practical tools to help you stand firm in your health goals. Learn how to transition from "trying a diet" to becoming a person who leads by example.

Timestamped Timeline:

• 00:00 – Welcome to Episode 77: Wrapping up the Journey Back to Health series.
• 01:00 – Dealing with opinions: When people call your health journey "delusional".
• 01:53 – Why social activities centered around food and drink are the hardest.
• 02:45 – The internal struggle: Realizing you can't change others until they are ready.
• 03:15 – Tool #1: Why you need a "buddy" in your corner.
• 04:15 – Tool #2: Giving your brain cues for identity change.
• 05:30 – Tool #3: Celebrating the small wins in the kitchen.
• 07:00 – The "Let Them" strategy and the power of leading by example.
• 08:30 – When the naysayers start asking for your secrets.

Connect More:

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2034745363989749/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4EU9xhabv2CNfVRyFiKWA6

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tea-time-podcast/id1419780510

YT JBTH series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvNF2YYAhvtPUrPCeIyNIqyMTv6dF96r9

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@sharissabradley/featured

Podcast website: https://sites.libsyn.com/127349/site

IG: @sharissabradley_author

Watch on youtube: https://youtu.be/NTLb3gkiIiI

Are you "pushing through" the pain to get your workout in? In this episode, host Sharissa Bradley explores Chapter 16 of "Journey Back to Health," focusing on the critical role of movement in the healing process.

For those with autoimmune conditions, traditional exercise advice can often do more harm than good. Sharissa discusses the importance of finding safe, comfortable ways to move that support your body's detoxification and lymphatic systems without triggering a flare. Learn how to transition from a sedentary lifestyle to a life of gentle, restorative movement.

Timestamped Timeline:

• 00:00 – Welcome to the Tea Time Podcast and the "Journey Back to Health" series.
• 00:53 – The influence of Hal Elrod's The Miracle Morning on daily self-care.
• 01:15 – Why some movement is necessary every single day.
• 01:45 – The danger of HIIT and CrossFit for autoimmune bodies.
• 02:15 – Creative movement ideas for those with limited mobility.
• 03:40 – Sharissa's personal journey: When walking was too much.
• 04:10 – The power of foam rolling for building foundational strength.
• 04:50 – How movement supports lymphatic drainage and detoxification.
• 05:45 – The risks of jumping in too fast: Avoiding setbacks and injury.
• 07:00 – Finding the movement that feels right for you today.

Connect More:

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2034745363989749/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4EU9xhabv2CNfVRyFiKWA6

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tea-time-podcast/id1419780510

YT JBTH series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvNF2YYAhvtPUrPCeIyNIqyMTv6dF96r9

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@sharissabradley/featured

Podcast website: https://sites.libsyn.com/127349/site

IG: @sharissabradley_author

Watch on youtube: https://youtu.be/aikqYwoXndU

Do you feel like sleep is something completely outside of your control? In this episode, host Sharissa Bradley explores Chapter 15 of "Journey Back to Health," focusing on the foundational pillar of all healing: Sleep.

Sharissa shares her personal journey of struggling with insomnia from the age of five and the "impossible" advice she received from an integrative medicine doctor while she was a busy professor and mother of two. Learn why sleep is not just "rest," but the active process your body uses to repair tissues, alleviate inflammation, and recover from adrenal fatigue.

Timestamped Timeline:

• 00:00 – Welcome to the Tea Time Podcast
• 01:00 – Why we can't heal without sleep
• 01:53 – The "impossible" doctor's appointment: Two kids and a full-time job
• 02:45 – "Then you won't heal": The hard truth about recovery
• 03:15 – Discovering Dr. Sarah Ballantyne: Sleep as a learned behavior
• 04:15 – Treating yourself like a toddler: The power of a bedtime routine
• 05:30 – The physical cost of 25 years of poor sleep
• 06:15 – Practical changes: Screens, light, and caffeine
• 07:30 – Changing the "story" of your bedroom to beat insomnia
• 08:30 – Your 10-day challenge: Tracking and routine building

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2034745363989749/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4EU9xhabv2CNfVRyFiKWA6

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tea-time-podcast/id1419780510

YT JBTH series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvNF2YYAhvtPUrPCeIyNIqyMTv6dF96r9

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@sharissabradley/featured

Podcast website: https://sites.libsyn.com/127349/site

IG: @sharissabradley_author

In this vulnerable episode, host Sharissa Bradley dives into Chapter 14 of "Journey Back to Health" to discuss the reality of stress. Ironically, the very stress she writes about forced her to take a hiatus from recording to practice what she preaches.

Sharissa explores the "U-shaped curve" of stress, explaining why too little stress leaves us unmotivated, while too much leads to physical and mental breakdown. If you've been feeling the weight of burnout, brain fog, or chronic fatigue, this episode offers a roadmap for recovery through radical rest, dietary shifts, and the power of saying "no".

In this episode, we cover:

• Why "walking the walk" meant canceling everything for weeks.
• The physical dangers of running on an adrenaline model.
• How to find your optimal stress median for motivation.
• Practical steps to protect your body when external stressors are out of your control.

Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/h6_S3HX9814

In this episode of the Tea Time Podcast, Sharissa Bradley continues the *Journey Back to Health* series with **Chapter 13: Detox**.

Detox is often viewed as something that should make us feel instantly better — more energy, clearer thinking, and improved stamina. But Sharissa explains that detox doesn't always feel good in the beginning. In fact, it can feel uncomfortable and discouraging because the body is releasing stored toxins that were previously held inside cells.

Sharissa shares how the body naturally detoxifies through sweat, breathing, bowel movements, and urination. She cautions against fast cleanses that overwhelm the system and instead encourages a slow, supportive approach that removes offending foods and reduces toxin exposure.

This episode also introduces **Herring's Law of the Cure**, explaining how healing may involve temporarily re-experiencing symptoms before improvement occurs. Sharissa offers powerful reflection prompts designed to help listeners stay motivated when detox feels difficult.

This episode reflects lived experience and personal research, not medical advice.

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⏱ Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:13 Chapter 13: Detox

01:00 Why detox can feel worse first

02:00 How toxins leave cells

03:00 Natural detox pathways

04:00 Risks of fast cleanses

05:00 Supporting the body naturally

06:00 Herring's Law of the Cure

07:00 Healing in reverse

08:00 Action step: Write your "why" lists

10:00 Staying motivated through discomfort

11:30 Encouragement to keep going

12:23 Closing

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🔗 Resources

Free *Journey Back to Health* Workbook

https://sharissabradley.com/extras

Tea Time Podcast Community

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2034745363989749/