Part Three in a Series of Transformational Wellness Stories: Holly’s Journey from Illness to Vitality
At Wellness Insights, Dr. Katie founded our practice on four pillars of integrative care: rest, joyful movement, food as medicine, and nourishing the spirit. These pillars support a holistic view of health: one that honors the full human experience, not just physical symptoms.
As part of our commitment to sharing meaningful transformation, we recently interviewed three long-time patients who’ve worked with multiple providers on our team. Their stories are powerful reminders that healing happens when we address the whole person: body, mind, and spirit.
This month, we’re honored to share the third and final of these stories: Holly tells her inspiring story of discovering ways to heal, feel like herself again, and reengage with her life and the people in it. Her journey with Wellness Insights exemplifies the life-changing power of working closely with an integrated health team to create a successful, sustainable collaborative care plan.
Unanswered and Debilitating Health Issues: Holly’s Declining Health
When Holly moved from bustling New York City to the peaceful town of New Canaan, she brought with her unresolved health symptoms that had been quietly building.
Her doctor in NYC had not given her a clear diagnosis, and the treatment plans suggested were not effective. Sleepless nights, intense anxiety, irritability, constant food noise, and a sense of deep disconnection from herself. She felt haunted and built a wall between the person she knew herself to be and the woman who was struggling to get through each day.
Her primary care doctor in NYC had dismissed it all as “just anxiety,” prescribing anti-anxiety medication that didn’t prevent her symptoms from worsening even with an increase in dosage. Her mental health declined, and eventually her physical health followed. After gaining 45 pounds in nine months and suffering a relapse of bulimia, she could barely bring herself to leave the house. She remembers thinking, “Who is this person yelling at my kids?” She was exhausted, anxious, depressed. She didn’t recognize herself anymore.
A New Direction
The turning point came after coming across an Instagram reel about perimenopause that listed the very symptoms she was experiencing: memory loss, insomnia, anxiety, and even incontinence. It was the first time she saw a potential explanation that felt real.
A friend referred her to Dr. Katie, and soon she found answers and a pathway for her healing. Through thoughtful testing and a truly integrative approach, Dr. Katie discovered that Holly’s issues were not “just anxiety” after all. A diagnosis of hereditary hypercholesterolemia and insulin resistance explained the weight gain, the mental fog, and the insatiable hunger.
Holly started menopausal hormone therapy first, and then added a GLP-1+GIP. First she started an estradiol patch. Even though she had a progestin IUD for birth control (which provided her endometrial protection from the effects of estrogen), she added oral progesterone at night which restored her sleep and helped with anxious feelings.
When she added Zepbound, she improved her insulin resistance and decreased the food noise. She worked to balance fiber, fat and protein in her meal choices and got back to moving her physical body through the day, despite having a traditionally sedentary job. All of these tools helped bring back her clarity, energy, and peace of mind.
The Body/Mind Connection
Holly began receiving acupuncture from Dr. Katie and physical therapy from Dr. Becky, and she realized how much she had been holding in her body. Both modalities helped release the physical and mental tension that medication alone couldn’t resolve.
Adding these holistic treatments along with cognitive behavioral therapy sessions with Meg, Holly began to feel her body, mind, and spirit come back into alignment.
Holly also works closely with her primary doctor, nutritionist, and psychiatrist, and - most importantly - each of her providers communicates with each other about her care, sharing insights and supporting Holly’s complete picture of health.
The Power of Collaborative Healing
As a result of her multi-provider care, Holly feels more focused, energized, and happy to be back in her strengthening body. She feels grateful to be in the care of a truly integrated medical team where each aspect of her health plan is carefully considered, and protocols are designed based on shared data and communicated goals.
Today, Holly is not only functioning, she is flourishing.
She credits her transformation to her determination to find an integrated health team that could assist her in healing and strengthening in a sustainable way.
Her story is a powerful reminder: You are not your symptoms. And when the right people come together with a thoughtful collaborative approach, healing becomes possible.
