Dr. Riley Smith LAc, DACM

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San Diego, CA
Dr. Riley Smith LAc, DACM

Guiding patients on a model of self-care so they can feel like themselves again and thrive.

11/17/2025

I realized my fear of emotions was bigger than the emotions themselves.

For years, I suffered from mysterious digestive issues that seemed unrelated to food. Every elimination diet, supplement, and gut protocol provided temporary relief, but the problems always returned.

The missing piece was understanding that my gut was storing decades of unexpressed emotions. Every time I swallowed my words, stuffed down my feelings, or absorbed others' emotional weight without processing it, my digestive system bore the load.

When you spend your days holding space for others' pain, there's rarely time or space to express your own emotional responses. Your gut becomes the storage unit for experiences that were never yours to carry in the first place.

That burning sensation when you need to speak up but can't. The nausea in situations that violate your values. The constipation when you struggle to let go of difficult experiences. Your digestive system is speaking the emotional language your voice cannot.

Unexpressed emotions don't just disappear - they create inflammation, disrupt gut bacteria, and interfere with normal digestive function. Your body pays the price for every feeling you swallow instead of process.

Learning to express my authentic emotions in safe spaces was the key to healing my digestive system. When I stopped using my gut as emotional storage, my whole relationship with food and digestion transformed.

I’m so glad you’re here.
-Dr. Riley

11/16/2025

I learned to recognize when past wounds were triggered in present situations.

Sunday evenings used to bring a familiar knot in my stomach that I dismissed as just "the blues." I didn't realize my gut bacteria were literally responding to stress hormones triggered by anticipating Monday's emotional demands.

Your microbiome is incredibly sensitive to your cortisol levels. When you spend Sunday dreading the emotional labor ahead - the difficult conversations, crisis situations, and absorbing others' pain - your gut bacteria shift into survival mode before Monday even arrives.

That digestive distress you feel thinking about your week isn't separate from your anxiety - it's your gut-brain axis in full communication. Your second brain processes the anticipated stress as if it's happening now, triggering inflammatory responses that disrupt your microbiome balance.

If your work involves holding space for others' deepest struggles, your nervous system treats Sunday night like preparation for battle. Your body floods with stress hormones, beneficial bacteria die off, and your digestive system becomes hostile territory for healing.

The Sunday scaries aren't just emotional - they're biochemical. Your gut bacteria are keeping score of not just current stress but anticipated future challenges.

Learning to regulate my nervous system on Sunday evenings transformed both my sleep and my Monday morning capacity. When I stopped letting anticipatory anxiety hijack my weekend recovery time, my gut health improved dramatically.

I’m so glad you’re here.
-Dr. Riley

11/15/2025

If weight gain feels random or resistant… it’s probably not just about calories.

Hormones like cortisol, estrogen, thyroid, and insulin all impact how your body stores fat, burns energy, and regulates hunger cues.

From belly weight that won’t budge → to lower body puffiness → to full-body sluggish gain…
📊 This post breaks down the 4 most common hormone patterns I see in practice and how to know which one fits your symptoms.

Because you don’t need more restriction.

You need a roadmap.

🧠 Save this for later.

📍 And if your symptoms match what I described, it might be time to run the right labs.
Ever feel like weight gain doesn’t follow the “calories in, calories out” rule? Comment “YES” if this post hit home.

I’m so glad you’re here.
-Dr. Riley

11/14/2025

I found the courage to feel emotions I'd been avoiding for decades.

When I learned that my gut contained more nerve cells than my spinal cord, everything clicked. Those "gut feelings" weren't just metaphorical - my second brain was processing emotions my conscious mind hadn't acknowledged.

Your enteric nervous system operates like a sophisticated computer, analyzing environmental cues and emotional information before your thinking brain catches up. When you spend your days absorbing others' emotional weight, your gut becomes the processing center for experiences that aren't even yours.

That knot in your stomach during difficult conversations isn't just anxiety. It's your second brain responding to emotional intensity with physical symptoms. The bloating after stressful interactions reflects your digestive system's attempt to process absorbed emotional energy.

When we constantly swallow our words, stuff down our feelings, or take on others' emotional burdens, our gut bears the metabolic load. Your digestive issues might be less about food and more about the emotions you've been digesting instead of expressing.

Your gut feelings are your second brain's wisdom trying to guide you toward decisions that honor your authentic needs. That stomach discomfort when someone crosses your boundaries is valuable information, not just inconvenient symptoms.

Learning to trust and respond to your gut's emotional intelligence has been key to both my digestive healing and my personal authenticity.

I’m so glad you’re here.
-Dr. Riley

11/13/2025

My emotional healing began when I validated my own experiences.

The advice I'd give a stressed friend came so naturally: rest when you're exhausted, honor your feelings, set boundaries, seek support. Yet somehow I couldn't apply those same loving guidelines to my own life.

I realized I was living a double standard that was destroying my nervous system. The compassion I freely offered others felt selfish and indulgent when directed toward myself.

If someone you cared about was experiencing chronic digestive issues, sleep problems, and anxiety, you'd immediately recognize these as stress-related symptoms requiring attention. You'd encourage them to regulate their nervous system, process their emotions, and create better boundaries.

Your body is sending you the same signals you'd instantly recognize in others. The difference is your professional training has taught you to override your own needs while being exquisitely attuned to everyone else's.

The gentle voice you use to encourage others' healing - your nervous system needs to hear that same tone. The boundaries you'd insist others maintain for their wellbeing apply to your energy reserves too.

Closing the compassion gap isn't just about your personal health. When you model the self-care you recommend, you give others permission to prioritize their own wellbeing without guilt.

I’m so glad you’re here.
-Dr. Riley

11/12/2025

Easy ways to get the body moving:

🚶‍♀️ 10-minute walk after meals
🧘 Gentle yoga between Zoom calls
🧍 Stretching between tasks
🎧 Dancing during your favorite song

These micro-movements:

Boost circulation ✔️
Support blood sugar balance ✔️
Stimulate mitochondrial function ✔️
And improve mood and mental clarity ✔️

I’m all for a gym session or a long walk when time allows…

But most of us can’t live in workout clothes all day.

These short movement breaks keep your energy up naturally.

What’s your favorite way to sneak in movement during the day?

Drop it in the comments! 👇

I’m so glad you’re here.
-Dr. Riley

11/11/2025

You can easily spot these exact warning signs from a mile away when you see them in others, but somehow...

I became an expert at reading stress in everyone else's face while remaining completely oblivious to the signals my own nervous system was sending. The irony was staggering - I could identify burnout symptoms in others instantly while missing them in myself.

Your body is constantly communicating its needs through tension patterns, energy levels, digestive responses, and sleep quality. When you spend your days attuned to others' emotional states, it's easy to lose touch with your own internal compass.

That jaw tension during difficult conversations, the digestive upset after emotionally intense work, the fatigue that doesn't improve with rest - these are your nervous system's way of saying it needs attention.

Professional training teaches us to focus outward while minimizing our own experiences. We learn to power through our body's signals in service of others, not realizing we're creating the very patterns we help others heal.

Your sensitivity to others' stress signals is the same intelligence that can guide your own healing. The question is: are you listening to your body with the same attention you give to others?

When we honor our nervous system's communication, we model the self-awareness and boundaries we encourage in those we serve.

I’m so glad you’re here.
-Dr. Riley

11/10/2025

You probably encourage others to prioritize their self-care, knowing how essential it is. Yet when it comes to yourself...

I spent years giving advice I wasn't taking. I could clearly see what others needed to heal while remaining completely blind to my own patterns of self-abandonment.

The irony wasn't lost on me - I was helping people recognize their stress signals while ignoring my own body's desperate pleas for rest. I was teaching nervous system regulation while my own system lived in chronic fight-or-flight.

You wouldn't tell someone you care about to ignore their exhaustion, dismiss their feelings, or power through chronic pain. Yet how often do you do exactly that to yourself?

The same wisdom you offer others - about boundaries, rest, processing emotions, seeking support - your nervous system is waiting to receive. Your gut health depends on the same stress management techniques you recommend.

When you spend your days holding space for others' deepest struggles, it's easy to forget that you deserve the same compassion and care you so freely give.

The most revolutionary act might be treating yourself with the same kindness you show everyone else. Your healing isn't separate from your ability to help others - it's the foundation that makes authentic service possible.

I’m so glad you’re here.
-Dr. Riley

11/08/2025

My inner child carried wounds my adult self finally learned to heal.

I spent years wondering why my digestive issues never fully resolved despite trying every supplement and elimination diet. The missing piece was understanding that my gut was storing decades of unprocessed emotions.

Your digestive system isn't just about food - it's your second brain, processing feelings your mind hasn't dealt with yet. When you spend your days absorbing others' emotional weight, your gut becomes the storage unit for experiences that were never yours to carry.

That knot in your stomach during difficult conversations isn't just anxiety. It's your enteric nervous system responding to emotional intensity with physical symptoms.

When we constantly swallow our words, stuff down our feelings, or take on others' emotional burdens without processing them, our digestive system bears the load.

The bloating, food sensitivities, and mysterious gut issues often clear up when we clear up the emotions we've been avoiding.

Your gut feelings are literally your second brain communicating what your conscious mind hasn't acknowledged. The acid reflux when you need to speak up, the constipation when you can't let go, the IBS when you're absorbing too much stress.

Healing my relationship with emotions healed my relationship with food and digestion. When I finally processed the grief, anger, and overwhelm I'd been carrying, my gut finally found peace.

I’m so glad you’re here.
-Dr. Riley

11/07/2025

Functional labs to determine the root cause of low energy are listed below, but first

If you are constantly tired, there’s a reason.

Do not accept that you are just busy or stressed or getting older ❎

Here are some labs we can run to make sense of what’s happening.

☀️ Nutrient Testing
B12, iron, folate, magnesium, and vitamin D are all essential for energy production and can be tested through labs.

☀️ Thyroid Panel
Routine bloodwork will check TSH, but we do a full panel because optimal thyroid function is critical for metabolism and mental clarity.

☀️ Cortisol Pattern
Healthy cortisol levels follow a daily rhythm. We can test this to see how stress and burnout may be affecting your system.

☀️ Blood Sugar Markers
Even slight imbalances in insulin or glucose can cause brain fog, mood dips, and afternoon crashes.

☀️ Gut Health Testing
Yes, your gut can influence your energy! Inflammation, dysbiosis, or poor nutrient absorption might be playing a role.

Not everyone needs all of these tests.

We can prioritize what makes the most sense for you.

Once we have the information, we connect the dots to create a plan.

That’s how we do things around here.

If you want a root-cause approach and sustainable energy, comment YES PLEASE.

I’ll send you your next steps.

I’m so glad you’re here.
-Dr. Riley

11/06/2025

I discovered my perfectionism was protecting me from potential rejection.

When I finally understood that my chronic stress was literally destroying my gut bacteria, everything changed. Years of absorbing everyone else's emotional weight had created a war zone in my digestive system.

Your microbiome is incredibly sensitive to your stress levels. When you're constantly managing other people's emotions and crises, your cortisol stays elevated, decimating the beneficial bacteria your body needs to function properly.

That bloating after meals, the food sensitivities that seem to appear out of nowhere, the digestive issues that no amount of probiotics seem to fix - these are often symptoms of a stress-damaged microbiome.

Gratitude isn't just a nice mental practice. It's medicine for your gut. When you genuinely appreciate something, your vagus nerve activates, shifting your nervous system from fight-or-flight to rest-and-digest.

Three minutes of morning gratitude before eating literally prepares your digestive system to receive nourishment. Your stomach acid production increases, digestive enzymes activate, and inflammation decreases.

Your gut bacteria thrive in the peaceful internal environment that gratitude creates. This isn't about forced positivity - it's about giving your microbiome the conditions it needs to heal.

I’m so glad you’re here.
-Dr. Riley

11/05/2025

I learned my sensitivity was a strength, not a weakness.

For years, I thought my ability to deeply feel others' emotions was just part of being empathetic. I didn't realize that constantly absorbing everyone's emotional weight was creating measurable changes in my biochemistry.

Your body doesn't distinguish between your trauma and theirs. When you witness someone's pain, your mirror neurons fire creating identical stress responses in your system.

If you spend your days holding space for others' deepest struggles, your cortisol levels never get a chance to normalize. Your gut bacteria are literally keeping score of every difficult story you've absorbed.

That bone-deep exhaustion you feel isn't just from being busy - it's from your nervous system processing others' trauma as if you experienced it directly. The digestive issues, sleep problems, and unexplained anxiety are your body's way of saying it's overwhelmed by secondary stress.

Your sensitivity isn't the problem - it's sophisticated intelligence. The issue is that we're never taught how to protect our biochemistry while still caring deeply.

When we understand that emotional labor has real metabolic costs, we can create boundaries that honor both our gifts and our biology.

I’m so glad you’re here.
-Dr. Riley

Address

San Diego, CA
92102

Website

https://www.doctorrileysmith.com/

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Welcome! You have a lot of choices when it comes to healthcare and I thank you for seeking me out. It is a privilege to work with my patients and it’s a sacred bond that I value deeply. I am indebted to thousands of trusting patients I have had the honor of treating over the years in my multi-year award winning practice. But most importantly, I want to congratulate YOU on taking a step towards health, wellness and getting the most out of your life.

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