We’re Not Just Living With It. We’re Changing It: The Hidden Cost of Normalizing Stress

Because suffering in silence isn’t an option anymore.

How many times have you said, “I’m just tired”?

How often have you ignored the headaches, the weight gain, the brain fog, telling yourself it’s just life, it’s just aging, or worse, it runs in the family?

We get it. We’ve done it too.

Black women have been taught to push through everything. To show up. To handle it. To survive. But survival isn’t the goal anymore.

Health is.

Peace is.

Thriving is.

The Lies We’ve Been Told Are Making Us Sick

You’ve heard it before:

“High blood pressure just runs in our family.”
“Black women are strong. We can handle it.”
“This is just how it is during menopause.”

But here’s the truth no one tells us:

Genetics may load the gun but it’s our habits that pull the trigger.

Chronic illness isn’t always inevitable. It’s often a reflection of chronic stress, poor nutrition, sleep deprivation, and lack of support; things we’ve been taught to normalize. We’re told to accept the pain instead of questioning it.

Burnout Is Not Normal. It’s a Warning Sign.

If you’re tired all the time, it’s not just “life.” That deep, dragging fatigue? That’s burnout.

Not laziness.

Not weakness.

Not a lack of discipline.

Your body is struggling. And it’s waving a red flag you keep ignoring.

Same goes for the weight gain that seemed to come out of nowhere… especially during menopause. It’s not just aging. It’s hormonal imbalance. It’s cortisol. It’s insulin resistance. It’s stress. It’s what happens when your body’s trying to protect you from a system that’s constantly asking too much and giving too little.

Stress Doesn’t Just Hurt Your Mind. It Wrecks Your Body

We talk about mental health, but not enough about how stress becomes physical:

Higher blood pressure
Increased belly fat
Sleep disruption
Slower metabolism
Weakened immunity

If you don’t manage it, your body will. And not in the way you want. That tension you feel in your shoulders? The emotional eating? The constant headaches?

That’s unprocessed stress leaking into your health.

The Good News? If Small Habits Got You Here, Small Habits Can Get You Out

We’re not here to blame you. We’re here to empower you. Because healing doesn’t require an overhaul. It requires small, intentional shifts—done consistently. BetterChoices is built on one powerful belief: Small things make a big difference.

So what does that look like?

Drinking enough water before the headache starts
Moving your body daily—even if it’s just 10 minutes
Saying “no” without guilt
Swapping processed snacks for protein + fiber
Logging off to protect your peace

You Don’t Need Perfection. You Need Power.

In 2025, we’re not normalizing illness, we’re reversing it. We’re not waiting on permission. We’re taking control. Because when Black women stop “living with it,” we start changing everything.

You ready? What’s one symptom you’ve been normalizing for too long?

Comment below or hit reply to this week’s newsletter. Let’s talk about it.

Then, let’s do something about it—together.

Ready to take the next step? Schedule your initial consultation and let’s chart a path toward your healthiest, happiest year yet!