Dr. Nicole DeYonge, Naturopathic Doctor

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Toronto, ON
Dr. Nicole DeYonge, Naturopathic Doctor

Discover your path to better health - with more energy, less pain, and balanced moods.

06/02/2026

One of the most overlooked drivers of anxiety is dysregulated blood sugar.

When blood sugar drops too low, the body perceives it as a stress signal.

To compensate, the brain activates your sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight) and releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.

That can create symptoms like:

• shakiness
• racing thoughts
• irritability
• feeling overwhelmed
• sudden anxiety
• and physical symptoms like palpitations, trembling, and/or sweating.

Many women notice this when they skip meals, rely heavily on caffeine in the morning, or go through an energy-demanding morning without balanced fuelling.

In midlife, your body can become more sensitive to blood sugar changes, and insulin resistance increases (aka your ability to handle blood sugar decreases) - which means these swings feel more intense than they used to.

This is why consistent nourishment becomes so important.

Regular meals.
Balancing carbs with protein, fats, and fibre.
Not relying on caffeine alone to get through the morning.

Small shifts in how you fuel your body can have a powerful effect on how your brain and nervous system feel.

05/28/2026

When women experience anxiety, irritability, or low mood in their 40s, the first assumption is often: "It must be my hormones.”

Hormones absolutely may play a role.

But mood changes are usually influenced by multiple factors.

>>> Things I often assess with patients that aren't reproductive hormones:

Blood sugar balance
Sleep quality
Nutrients - like Iron, Vitamin D, B vitamins
Thyroid function
Gut health
Inflammation

Even small imbalances in these areas can significantly affect moods and more.

For example:
🩸Low iron can cause fatigue, brain fog, low mood, low motivation, and/or anxiety symptoms.
🍬Blood sugar dips can trigger anxiety, overwhelm, energy crashes, sleep disruption, and more.
💤Poor sleep makes emotional resilience and stress tolerance so much harder to manage the next day.

Hormones may open the door to mood changes.
But these other factors often determine how strongly they show up.

>>> Which is why a full picture approach matters.

If you're ready to stop guessing and get clarity, find my booking link in my bio.

05/25/2026

One of the earliest mood changes I hear from so many people in perimenopause is worsening PMS.

Maybe you notice:
• more irritability
• stronger emotional sensitivity
• increased anxiety before your period
• mood swings that feel harder to manage

In your 20s and early 30s, hormones usually follow a predictable monthly rhythm.

But in perimenopause, estrogen and progesterone start fluctuating more dramatically.

And if you were even slightly sensitive to those changes before, you may notice a significant worsening that feels unpredictable and unmanageable.

For some women this starts in their mid-late 30s.
For others it shows up in their 40s.

The important thing to know is that worsening PMS in midlife isn’t random.
For many people, it's one of the early signs that cycles are beginning to change.

And when we understand that, we can start supporting the body in ways that actually help now, while also preparing you for the changes that may come later.

05/21/2026

You’re not imagining it.
Mood changes in midlife are incredibly common.

But they’re often misunderstood.

One of the most common things women say in clinic is:

“I just don’t feel like myself anymore.”

They might feel more anxious than usual.
More overwhelmed.
More reactive.
Or they feel flat, tired, and disconnected from things they used to enjoy.

And many women assume something is wrong with them.

But often, what’s happening is a midlife mood shift.

During perimenopause, estrogen and progesterone stop following the predictable rhythm they had for years. Instead of steady rises and falls, hormones become more erratic.

These hormones influence brain chemistry. They interact with neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which help regulate mood, motivation, and emotional resilience.

So when hormones shift, moods can shift too.

But hormones are only part of the story.

Sleep changes.
Blood sugar becomes more sensitive.
Nutrients need more focus.
Life stress often increases.
And women are often carrying more responsibility than ever before.

Mood changes in midlife are not a personal failure.

They are feedback from the body that something needs support. Something needs to change.

And when we understand what’s happening, we can start to work with the body instead of feeling like we’re fighting it.

If you're looking to cut through the noise and get real, actionable support in midlife >>> find my booking link in bio.

09/11/2024

Want to take your postpartum experience to the next level?

Your body, mind, and baby are going through so much right now, and finding the right support can make all the difference.

Our Fourth Trimester Support Circle is designed to provide you with the support you need to truly thrive in this period.

📅 We start early November, and spots will fill up fast! Don’t miss your chance to connect, grow, and thrive with us.

👉 Click the link in our bio to sign up today!

07/18/2024

I haven't been on here very much lately, mostly soaking up the sun, fun, and love during our final months as a family of 3 🥰.

I will be going on MATERNITY LEAVE as of August 16th, and am only seeing current/returning patients until then. My availability is very limited over the next three weeks - so if you are hoping to get clear on your health goals & plan before I'm off, book asap!

I will be happy to see new & returning patients in March 2025! Appointments will be by video/phone to start and in person availability eventually.

I'm also working on something special for expecting mom's - stay tuned 😉 or send me a DM if you're due this fall!

04/22/2024

I've been quiet on here lately, focusing on family time & growing our baby girl coming later this summer 💕🤰

01/01/2024

Wishing you a Happy New Year, filled with love, joy & resilient health.

2023 started with an amazing adventure for our little family, and was followed by a difficult but rewarding first half of the year with pushing myself out of my comfort zone professionally. Our year ended with a big slow down, somewhat forced but also intentional so we could focus on our health and maintain relatively smooth sailing into 2024.

I'm super excited to see & share what adventures this new year brings for our little family and professionally....

BUT instead of focusing on the big & exciting --- my intention for 2023 is to stay focused and consistent with simple, nourishing actions that are most supportive of my goals and happiness.

What are your 2024 intentions?

09/28/2023

The waitlist for the next Tranquil Minds Collective is officially LIVE!

We'll be starting this fall - so don't miss your chance to join this cohort of people taking action to find freedom from anxiety.

Join the waitlist today! Link in bio.

[www.nicoledeyongend.com/tranquil-minds-collective]

09/26/2023

Managing anxiety isn't just about "calming down", "just breath"-ing, or "thinking happy thoughts"

It's about compassion, understanding, and support.

If you live with anxiety, it can be helpful to recognize your triggers & symptoms and ALSO empower yourself to communicate your needs with others.

Many people have no idea what to say when you're feeling anxious, and sometimes you might not even be sure what you need (ESPECIALLY when you're IN IT).

So send this to people who want to help & support you when you're feeling anxious and overwhelmed, and let them know more specifically what you might need in those difficult times.

Here's an incomplete list of things you might find helpful to hear from others:

“Are you OK?”

“I’m here for you with whatever you need right now.”

“What can I do to help?”

“I’m sorry you are struggling with this.”

“It sounds like you’re having a hard time. I’m here if you want to talk, or I’ll just sit with you.”

“It’s OK to feel this way.”

“Just don’t give up.”

“That’s seems really tough.”

“What do you need?”

"Tell me about how you're feeling"

"What does anxiety feel like for you?"

"It must be really hard to live with anxiety"

Stay tuned for my next post on some things you may need when you're feeling anxious.

Address

Toronto, ON

Website

http://www.nicoledeyongend.com/

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