TRAUMA
Your Brain Isn’t Broken, It’s Burned Out: What a Harvard Psychiatrist Gets Right About Healing
This man isn’t a wellness influencer. He’s not pushing supplements. He’s not even on TikTok. He’s a Harvard psychiatrist, and after 25 years inside the system, he’s setting fire to the whole thing. His name is Dr. Christopher Palmer, and his theory? Depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD … he claims that they don’t start in your head. They start in your cells. Specifically, in your mitochondria, those tiny “powerhouses” inside every cell in your body.
But Palmer says mitochondria are so much more than power plants. They are the regulators of brain energy, the link between physical health and mental well-being. Forget trauma. Forget chemical imbalances. Those might be symptoms, not root causes.
The Broken Energy Model
According to Palmer, damaged mitochondria = broken brain energy = mental illness. Sound radical? Maybe. But the data supports the urgency of a new approach:
1 in 5 adults in the U.S. have a diagnosed mental illness
ADHD meds have doubled in the last 15 years
Depression is at record highs
Adderall? Shortage.
We’re spending billions on pills. But most people don’t actually get better. So Palmer asks: What if mental illness isn’t psychological? What if it’s metabolic?
The Metabolic Mind
Palmer isn’t just a theorist. He lived it. He suffered from depression and OCD. In med school, he was diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes, weight gain, low energy. He tried the standard route: antidepressants, therapy, prescriptions. They didn’t help. Then he experimented with a low-carb diet, the old-school Atkins approach. His body changed. But more importantly, his brain changed.
From there, he developed what he now calls The Metabolic Mind, a theory that links mental illness directly to how well (or poorly) your cells produce and use energy. What’s Wrecking Our Mitochondria? Palmer points to the modern lifestyle, a perfect storm of mitochondrial sabotage:
Poor sleep
Chronic stress
Processed food
Alcohol and tobacco
Inactivity
Gut dysfunction
Nutrient deficiencies
Trauma
Loneliness
Basically? The way most of us live is frying our brains at the cellular level. I see this every day, not in theory, but in practice. Athletes hitting a wall. People in recovery feeling “off.” The burnout. The brain fog. The struggle to focus, feel, or find peace. It’s not weakness. It’s energy. And that energy starts deep, beneath your mindset, beneath your motivation, down at the mitochondrial level.
So What Actually Works? (Palmer’s 6 Pillars) Palmer doesn’t offer a miracle — just a blueprint. It’s not flashy. It’s not easy. But it works.
1. Whole Foods, Low Sugar - Real food fuels real healing. Processed food? Brain poison.
2. Avoid Substances - Alcohol, tobacco, and even overused medications mess with your cellular clarity.
3. Prioritize Sleep - Rest isn’t passive, it’s metabolic maintenance.
4. Move Every Day - Exercise isn’t just for muscles. It builds better brain energy, too.
5. Reduce Stress - Your cells know when you’re not safe. Chronic stress = constant inflammation.
6. Find Purpose and Connection - Loneliness is a mitochondrial wound. We were built for love, belonging, and meaning.
Massage is the solution !
I have always believed the body holds the key. I’ve seen how a deep tissue release, a warm touch, or a cupping session can shift someone’s entire mood, not just because of the technique, but because it sparks energy. Recovery is real. Healing is possible. And I have been doing this long before it became cool to care about mitochondria. Whether you're a seasoned endurance athlete, someone rebuilding your life in recovery, or simply a human who’s tired of feeling tired, I am with you.
Final Takeaway
Most people are told they’re broken. That their brain is “wired wrong.” That they’ll be on meds forever. Palmer says otherwise. The brain can heal, but only if you give it what it really needs.
And that’s what I am all about. I don’t fix people. I fuel them. I hold space. I walk with them. I help to restore the spark.