Ep 905: Cortisol, Co-Dependency & Chronic Fatigue with Elizabeth Gaines

In this episode of The Sisterhood of Sweat, we sit down with Elizabeth Gaines, Director of Education at Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN), to talk about burnout, stress physiology, and how unresolved emotional patterns can quietly drive chronic illness. Elizabeth's path into functional medicine began in survival mode. For more than a decade, she worked in nonprofit trauma recovery, supporting victims of domestic minor sex trafficking. The emotional intensity and chronic stress eventually led to severe burnout and declining health. When conventional medicine dismissed her symptoms as psychological, she knew there had to be a deeper explanation. That search led her to Functional Diagnostic Nutrition®, where she learned how to identify hidden stressors through advanced lab testing and personalized healing protocols. By addressing hormone imbalance, gut dysfunction, immune stress, and nervous system dysregulation, she was able to restore her own energy, clarity, and resilience. Today, Elizabeth leads curriculum development, live practitioner training, and mentor education for one of the world's most respected functional health certification programs. She now helps others break free from cycles of fatigue, co-dependency, chronic stress, and frustration. In This Episode, We Discuss: • Why burnout is biochemical — not just emotional • How chronic stress disrupts hormones, digestion, immunity, and sleep • The link between trauma, co-dependency, and physical dysfunction • What functional lab testing can reveal that standard labs often miss • Why "it's all in your head" is one of the most damaging messages in healthcare • How rewriting your personal narrative supports sustainable healing • Building resilient, healthy communities that foster long-term wellbeing Elizabeth blends lived experience with science-based insight, showing how stress physiology and personal story are deeply intertwined — and how healing becomes sustainable when both are addressed. We have got free exclusive access to their "FDN Methodology in Action" case study series at https://fdntraining.com/sisterhood26 Connect with Elizabeth Gaines 🌿 Learn more about Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® https://www.fdntraining.com 🌿 Explore Practitioner Training & Certification https://www.fdntraining.com/certification-course 🌿 FDN on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fdntraining 🌿 FDN on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fdntraining 🌿 FDN on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@FDNTraining