Category: Right Brain - COURTNEY SNYDER MD - HOLISTIC CHILD & ADULT PSYCHIATRIST

Stop Chasing “Anti-Aging.” Focus on Reducing Oxidative Stress Instead

3/11/2026

In this brief episode, I explore the connection between aging and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress plays a major role in accelerating the aging process, contributing to chronic illnesses, including conditions that affect the brain, and draining our energy, mental clarity, and overall quality of life.

Our left brain often tries to manage and control the body and the natural processes of life. Meanwhile, the right brain encourages us to stay present and connected to our embodied, finite time on this planet. Rather than obsessing over the idea of "anti-aging," it may be more helpful to think about how we can reduce oxidative stress-and to do so without creating additional pressure or tension.

In this episode, I reflect on:

The modern double bind around aging
A simple explanation of what oxidative stress actually is
Common signs and health conditions linked to oxidative stress
Why some people are more vulnerable to oxidative stress than others
Key causes that contribute to oxidative stress
General approaches that may help lower oxidative stress (with deeper discussion in future episodes)
Why it is important to reduce oxidative stress in a calm and sustainable way-so the effort itself does not create more stress and worsen the problem

In upcoming episodes, I will go deeper into ways to limit harmful exposures and support the body's antioxidant and detoxification systems.

As always, I welcome your thoughts and questions.

Until next time,
Courtney

Making Room For the Soul

1/16/2026

In this episode, I wanted to turn us back to more of the humanity and heart of our healing and thriving and step away from the science and left-brain information that I'm often sharing.

In the last couple of days, I've been writing something for myself, but I thought it might be beneficial to someone out there. It's called Reclaiming Our Messy Selves with Bernie Taupin, Thomas Merton, and Sara Bareilles.

As this new year gets rolling, I've been trying to make room for what I call the soul. To me, this means being more receptive to those mysterious synchronicities, insights, feelings so easily missed when I keep myself busy and distracted. Sometimes this energy comes from within, and sometimes it's a postcard from God, as Walt Whitman would say.

Strengthening the Right Brain in Left Brain Times

2/28/2025

“May Peace Be Upon Us” - Paper and acrylic on 36 x 48" canvas - Courtney Snyder

The "left hemisphere" isn't bad; it's just not an effective place from which to make important decisions.

We live in a world that often feels increasingly “left-brained.” While both hemispheres are always working together, they each have distinct traits, values, and ways of engaging with the world. In this podcast episode, I explore:

The unique characteristics of the left and right hemispheres
How to recognize which hemisphere is leading in a given moment
The benefits of allowing the right brain to take the lead
How neuroplasticity enables us to strengthen the right hemisphere through enjoyable activities
The additional advantages of doing this within a community

On a related note, I’ll soon be sharing details about an upcoming discussion group: "Strengthening the Right Brain in Left Brain Times."

How & Why I Became a Holistic Psychiatrist

1/14/2025

Attachment, Microbiome, Undermethylation, Low Zinc, Oxidative Stress, Mold Toxicity, Mast Cell Activation, RCCX Theory, Upper Cervical Instability, Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity, Left & Right Brain

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
― Lao Tzu

In this episode, I share my personal journey through illness and healing and how it has influenced my approach as a holistic psychiatrist.

My hope for everyone listening is that your pursuit of health, happiness, or whatever it is you’re seeking brings you to a place of peace—and inspires a desire to support others on their own journeys.

When the Left Brain & Undermethylation Meet Beauty Filters

1/7/2025

The Body Horror Movie "The Substance," Left & Right Brain Perspectives on Appearance, Undermethylation, NMDA receptor, Research on the Impact of Beauty Filters & Mental Health , Beyond the Nightmare

In this newsletter, using the story from the movie, ¨The Substance¨ I discuss likely factors contributing to the main character´s and our culture´s obsession with beauty and youth.

I´ll discuss the role of:

The left brain
Undermethylation
The NMDA receptor
Beauty filter and the research into selfies, beauty filters, and mental health issues, including body dysmorphia.

Lastly, I discuss what I would hope to see in a sequel of this movie.

Read the full article on Substack

Beyond Gratitude - Aspirational & Radical Gratitude

11/26/2024

Engaging in gratitude allows us to rewire our minds to perceive our days, surroundings, and lives through a transformed lens.

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘thank you,’ that would suffice. - Meister Eckhart

In recent years, the mental health benefits of gratitude practices have gained significant attention. But, there are also a couple lesser known forms of gratitude that I’d like to share with you.

In this article, I’ll cover:

Why gratitude is more vital than ever
Practical examples of gratitude exercises
The psychological and emotional benefits of gratitude
Teaching children gratitude
Aspirational gratitude
Radical gratitude
Recognizing and avoiding spiritual bypassing

Read the full article on Substack

Creativity & Healing - A Booster

10/21/2024

Art teaches us to trust the process, roll with uncertainty, know that the answers will present themselves when we’re not looking so hard.

This past weekend, someone asked if I’d read Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert. With my life feeling a bit stagnant, I took it as a sign from the universe.

As I dive into the book, I’m reminded how crucial creativity was in my own healing journey. Exploring the creative process awakened my then dormant right brain, providing both the spark and the fuel when I felt depleted. Through collage and writing, creativity connected me to life's mystery and taught me not only to navigate uncertainty but to embrace it. Like any mental process, if we don't use it—and its neuronal pathways—we lose it.

This post, shared from a year ago, is for anyone, like me, who might need a creative nudge or boost…

Read the full article on Substack

Placing Our Trust in the Rhythm of Life

8/4/2024

Whirling Dervishes - paper, ink Courtney Snyder

By Courtney Snyder, MD

Woman Plans the Universe Laughs.

Usually, the universe knows best.

While editing a podcast conversation on EMF exposure (specifically Smart Meters) to share with you, a thought crossed my mind: "It’s been a very left-brain few weeks, filled with discussions on high blood sugar, cognitive decline, Alzheimer's, and the Walsh nutrient protocols. Shouldn't I balance it out with a right-brain topic?"

Despite this realization, I pushed forward—until the universe intervened and prevented my computer from uploading the video. So, in the spirit of balance, I’m sharing a poem instead—from my right brain to yours.

Read the full article on Substack

Addressing the Roots of Brain Symptoms With Functional Medicine Psychiatry

4/28/2024

The many underlying and overlapping factors are considered in functional medicine.

By Courtney Snyder, MD

The Benefits, Risks, and How to Improve Functional Medicine.

What is Functional Medicine?

Functional Medicine is an integrative, biology-based approach that promotes healing and wellness by focusing on the biochemically unique aspects of each patient, utilizing individually tailored interventions to restore balance. This approach seeks to understand the fundamental physiological processes, environmental factors, and genetic predispositions that affect health and disease, addressing the root causes.

In Functional Medicine Psychiatry, these interventions aim to promote healing and wellness for individuals experiencing brain-related symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, mood swings, fatigue, brain fog, hyperactivity, cognitive impairment, social communication deficits, and psychosis.

In this Newsletter, I’ll explore:

The pros and cons of mainstream medicine
Common characteristics of those who seek functional medicine
The benefits of functional medicine
The risks associated with functional medicine
How both functional medicine physicians and patients can mitigate these risks

Read the full article on Substack

Meditation’s Gifts & How to Begin

4/14/2024

By Courtney Snyder, MD

If you’re like I was, you might feel both drawn to and resistant to starting a meditation practice. My many attempts to begin and then stop were less about meditation itself and more about not prioritizing self-care.

For many of us, learning to sit still in silence—and often in solitude—can be challenging. Our minds may chatter nonstop about things we’d rather not confront: the to-do lists, worries, ruminations, irritations, regrets, "should haves" and "shouldn't haves," "what ifs," things we said or did, things others said or did, judgments, and even judgments about those judgments. Our attachment to how we believe things should be is a significant part of our suffering.

All forms of meditation aim to guide our minds (and bodies) away from day-to-day thoughts and into the present moment. Since the sights and sounds around us often distract our minds, most meditation practices involve removing these stimuli by sitting in a quiet place with our eyes closed.

Even in a quiet setting, the mind will wander, especially in the beginning. This is why many meditation practices encourage us to focus on something—like our breath, a phrase, or an image. The goal is to gently bring our attention back to this anchor whenever we notice the mind drifting.

If you’re interested in starting a meditation practice, don’t let the variety of options make you think there is a "best" or "right" way to meditate. The best meditation practice is the one that makes you think, “Okay, I could see myself doing that.” The right way is simply to begin.

The common thread in all meditation practices is learning to be present. To do this, we use something to anchor us in the moment. What differentiates various types of meditation is simply the anchor that is chosen.

Read the full article on Substack

Why & How to Befriend Uncertainty

2/24/2024

cut paper, ink - Courtney Snyder

By Courtney Snyder, MD

While rarely discussed in psychiatry, our ability to accept the inevitable uncertainty of life is crucial to our overall well-being.

In this newsletter, I will explore:

The effects of clinging to certainty
Why individuals differ in their natural capacity to handle the unexpected
How to leverage neuroplasticity to rewire our relationship with the future (and the past)
Why embracing uncertainty is a proactive skill, not a passive one

Read the full article on Substack

Shifting into Our Right Brain By Simplifying Our Spaces

1/28/2024

The Shakers' philosophy revolved around three concepts: Honesty. Functionality. Simplicity. I took these photos at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, here in Kentucky.

By Courtney Snyder, MD

“Our lives are frittered away by detail…Simplify. Simplify.” - Henry David Thoreau.

This quote, with its sense of urgency, serves as a powerful reminder of our mortality. It is one of my favorite quotes because it also brings a sense of comfort, a sigh of relief, and the permission to prioritize what truly matters in life.

There are many ways to simplify our lives, and one effective approach is by reassessing the items in our spaces. In this post, I'll explore how making changes to our external environment can lead to internal transformations, particularly when we feel lost, stressed, anxious, down, or stuck. A "space" could be anything—a drawer, the top of our desk, our car, our closet, or even a box we've stored away. This isn't about minimalism or neatness; it's about shifting from a left-brain mindset driven by accumulation and consumption to a right-brain perspective focused on the bigger picture of our lives.

Having pondered this topic for the past 15 years, I'm sharing 10 insights from both past and present.

Read the full article on Substack

Left & Right Brain - Knowing Which Needs Strengthening

12/16/2023

By Courtney Snyder, MD

Although both brain hemispheres are always working together in complex ways, certain attributes are more strongly associated with each side. We engage our left brain when we focus on details—like reaching for a berry. The right brain, on the other hand, scans the bigger picture, helping us spot those berries, notice the nuts nearby, and detect potential dangers in the distance.

This distinction matters because many of us can get stuck grasping for berries—whether through addictions, obsessions, or focusing too much on details. We forget to "look up" and see the broader view. Conversely, some get lost in the big picture—overwhelmed by endless possibilities or potential threats—while neglecting the details needed to move forward.

What I love about the left brain vs. right brain model is that it helps us recognize when we need to call on the other half of our brain. Like muscles, if we don't exercise large groups of neurons, they won't be available when we need them. But just like muscles, we can strengthen the neural networks we've been neglecting. Understanding the traits of the left and right brain can highlight where our weaknesses lie.

Each week, I aim to alternate between left and right brain topics to balance things for both my mind and yours. Today, I thought it would be helpful to offer a refresher (or introduction) to this model.

Much of what I discuss comes from the insightful book “The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World” by Dr. Iain McGilchrist, a Scottish psychiatrist. It’s a valuable resource for understanding how our brain’s hemispheres shape our experience and behavior.

Read the full article on Substack

Undermethylation & Strengthening the Right Brain in a Left Brain World

7/30/2019

“Mary Poppins Goes To the Beach” -Made by combining pieces from 3 collages in my Impermanent Art Series.

By Courtney Snyder, MD

Half of my work day is spent honing in on details. For each person I evaluate and treat, I’m considering multiple symptoms, lab data, contributing factors, and treatment interventions. Left unchecked, this amount of detail hurts my brain - figuratively and literally. This type of work might be considered “left brain“ and appealing to someone who is “undermethylated,” which I am.

The other half of my work day is involved with addressing how, from a spiritual perspective, we:

lower our stress by learning to let go and stop grasping for outcomes
learn to feel at home in our body
learn to connect with others
find peace in this world
find purpose and meaning in this life
live in the present
feel part of something larger than ourselves

By spiritual, I mean our inner life. My writing and teaching about the intersection between neuroplasticity and spirituality is essentially about how we exercise those parts of the brain that relate to that inner work. Instead of honing in on details, this is about pulling back and looking at the bigger picture of our lives and our humanity. This right brain work feels good.