Dr. Erin Ley ND, 4380 south service Road, Burlington, ON (2026)

02/09/2026

No, I will not be giving up my morning coffee because some influencer discovered cortisol last week 💃

My adrenal glands and I are on excellent terms, thank you.

02/04/2026

When the brain chemicals said “we’re taking our lunch break” and left you on read 😵‍💫

fun fact: in the luteal phase (aka PMS week), estrogen drops which means less serotonin AND dopamine able to do their thing. Your brain literally has fewer feel-good chemicals to work with. So that task you could do easily last week? Now it feels like pushing a boulder uphill in quicksand.

Executive function? She’s on vacation. Working memory? Never heard of her. The ability to start literally anything? Left the chat.

So if you’re staring at your to-do list like it’s written in ancient hieroglyphics, you’re not broken or lazy - you may be noticing the impact of menstrual cycle changes on your brain.

Survival tips: lower the bar, do 10% of the thing, be aggressively kind to yourself, remember this will pass in like 3-7 days, track your cycle, AND SEEK SUPPORT if the PMS window is affecting your quality of life 💕

02/03/2026

Welcome back to “why does my brain interpret ‘k’ as ‘everyone hates you and you should probably move to a different country’?”

If you missed Part 1, scroll back a few posts to catch up on what RSD actually is. Today we’re diving into the why- as in, why are ADHD brains basically rejection sensitivity magnets?

There are three major reasons your ADHD brain is more vulnerable to RSD:

1. DOPAMINE DEFICITS
Your brain doesn’t get the same rewarding dopamine hit from praise and social approval that neurotypical brains do. So you’re running on empty, making even mild criticism feel absolutely devastating.

2. IMPULSIVITY & EMOTIONAL DYSREGULATION
Research shows people with ADHD have significant impairment in emotional reactivity. When rejection hits, there’s no pause button- just an instant emotional explosion with zero ability to regulate it in the moment.

3. A LIFETIME OF CRITICISM
Some folks with ADHD have spent their entire lives being told they’re “too much” or “not enough.” This can build profound shame that gets reactivated every single time you face rejection as adults.

So RSD isn’t a character flaw- it’s dopamine + impulsivity + developmental trauma creating the perfect storm. And understanding that? Can be incredibly powerful.

Part 3 drops soon and covers how RSD actually shows up in your daily life and relationships. Stay tuned 💕

02/02/2026

Scroll past if you’re not ready for some truths … 💃

✨ 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲
Skipping meals because you’re busy, stressed, and exhausted (and calling it intermittent fasting 🤦‍♀️) isn’t helping. Many people feel more brain fog, headaches, low energy, under-eat protein, calcium, fruits, and veggies… then over-eat at night.

✨ 𝗡𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆
You can still choose to have a drink, but it’s not doing your body any favours.

✨ 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵
Even the fancy, expensive ones endorsed by celebrities and influencer doctors.

✨ 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗽
And for the record, Coke Zero is better than Diet Coke. I will not be taking questions about Diet Pepsi.

✨ 𝗘𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀
Please stop being afraid of fruit.

✨ 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁
It’s nourishing. It’s balanced. It’s not a metabolic failure.

✨ 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝟭 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁
Very high protein intakes aren’t magical (and they often crowd out fiber, fruit, veggies, and micronutrients).

✨ 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀, 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀
Mine often involve chicken fingers, fries, and baby carrots. I focus on breakfast and lunch (because that’s what I can control).

✨ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
Under-fueling causes more harm than most foods ever will.

✨ 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽
You’re not expected to know everything - especially with all the restriction-based misinformation online. Having guidance is not a failure.

I’d love to chat in my DMs if you’re curious about working together 💕

01/23/2026

Finding your people changes everything. My advice to new naturopathic grads? Surround yourself with strong, ambitious clinicians, and hold on tight.

I spent two days at Rise event in November with 40 incredible female practitioners, and it reminded me why community matters so much in this field. We shared our wins, our struggles, and our biggest goals. No competition, no comparison, just genuine support and growth.

Early in your career, it’s easy to feel like every other practitioner is competition. But the truth is, there’s enough room for all of us to thrive. When you find people who celebrate your success and challenge you to grow, everything shifts.

To the new grads: seek out these connections intentionally.

Your community will shape your practice and your confidence more than you know.

I’m the clinician I am today because of the people I surround myself with. and I’m looking at you 😍

01/22/2026

Does anyone else vividly remember the exact moment 12 years ago when someone said “okay” in a slightly weird tone and you’re STILL not over it? No? Just me?

If you have ADHD and minor social interactions have ever sent you into emotional freefall, you need to know about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD).

This isn’t you being “too sensitive” or “dramatic”, it’s an actual neurobiological thing. Research shows that kids, teens, and adults with ADHD experience significantly higher rejection sensitivity compared to people without ADHD, and brain imaging studies show real differences in how our brains process emotional pain.

RSD can look like:
• Taking neutral feedback as a personal attack
• Obsessing over someone’s facial expression for days
• Feeling completely worthless over small social blunders
• Emotional reactions that feel instant and overwhelming

The wild part? Your brain’s pain perception system may actually be overreacting to emotional hurt, making rejection feel physically unbearable. You’re not broken, your brain is wired differently.

This is part 1 of 3. Part 2 drops soon and covers WHY ADHD brains are more prone to RSD (spoiler: dopamine, impulsivity, and a lifetime of criticism). Part 3 is all about how RSD shows up in daily life and relationships.

If this resonates, drop a 💙. You’re not alone 🙌

01/20/2026

Curiosity is not the problem.
Misinformation is.

More information doesn’t equal more health.

Let’s start with a strategy, not panic, trends, or fear-based advice.

Who wants to share the wildest wellness advice they’ve heard recently?! 👇👇👇

01/08/2026

857 appointments. 298 incredible patients. One very full heart 🩵

To everyone who trusted me with their care this year, thank you. These numbers represent so much more than appointments to me. They’re conversations, breakthroughs, hard days, healing moments, and the privilege of walking alongside you in your wellness journey.

I’m especially proud of this milestone because I wasn’t at full capacity for half the year (shoutout to maternity leave and the beautiful chaos of motherhood). If we accomplished this much together while I was coming back from the trenches (I mean mat leave), I’m so excited about what we can do in 2026 now that I’m back full time.

To my current patients: thank you for your patience, your trust, and for showing up for yourselves. I don’t take it lightly that you choose me to support you.

And if you’re reading this thinking “I could use that kind of support…”, I’m accepting new patients for 2026! Whether you’re ready to prioritize your health, address that thing you’ve been putting off, or just need someone in your corner, I’d love to chat. DM me or visit the link in my bio to learn more.

Here’s to a year of growth, healing, and supporting even more of you. Let’s make 2026 our most aligned year yet✨

12/19/2025

Your menopause transition isn’t a warning sign, it’s a wake-up call. And there’s a difference.

Yes, cholesterol might shift. Body comp can change. BP can creep up. But here’s what the fear-mongers won’t tell you: this is your POWER WINDOW.

Many people who thrive through menopause aren’t lucky, they’re strategic. They know their numbers. They lift weights. They prioritize protein, sleep, and stress management.
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about paying attention and taking action.

Your body isn’t betraying you. It’s inviting you to level up.
Ready to stop fearing this transition and start owning it? Let’s build your cardiovascular game plan together💪

12/09/2025

We need to talk about the ADHD diet misinformation 🎙️

A certain celebrity influencer claimed 70% of kids with ADHD “improve” when artificial additives are removed from the diet. We asked for his source—he hasn’t provided it. Here’s what the research actually shows:

✅ ~8% (not 70%) of kids respond to artificial color elimination
✅ A healthy diet outperformed elimination diets in recent trials (51% vs 35% response rate)
✅ ADHD is highly genetic—and executive dysfunction makes restrictive diets incredibly hard for families already struggling

Children with ADHD don’t need “improving.” They need accurate information, support, and evidence-based care—not fear-mongering about groceries.

12/04/2025

🚨BREAKING NEWS: I’m breaking up with my fitness tracker. 🚨
It’s not you, it’s… wait, no. It is definitely is you.

Here’s what went down:

Every luteal phase, my HRV would drop (as it’s designed to do—thanks, progesterone).

My wearable would panic.

Then I would panic.

And suddenly I’m doing “gentle movement only” because a tiny glowing circle told me I wasn’t ready for life.

Meanwhile, the research is like:
“Hey, HRV drops are normal. Also, regular exercise improves PMS by 20–40%.”

So guess what was making my PMS worse?

Me avoiding workouts because my tracker freaked me out
🙃🙃🙃

Wearables are tools, not oracles. And if yours is lowering your self-efficacy or convincing you you’re fragile, consider this your sign to take a step back.

Have you taken a break from your wearable? Let me know! 👇

Dr. Erin Ley ND

02/09/2026

02/04/2026

02/03/2026

02/02/2026

01/23/2026

01/22/2026

01/20/2026

01/08/2026

12/19/2025

12/09/2025

12/04/2025

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share

Category