Flourish and Grow

A Monthly Newsletter for Inspiration, Information, and Wellness by Katie Beecher, LPC, Medical & Spiritual Intuitive

A note from Katie

Welcome to this month’s newsletter, I’m so glad you’re here.

As we move into March, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to come back to ourselves: listening to our bodies, trusting our intuition, and choosing what truly nourishes us (not just what we’ve learned to tolerate). I hope something you read today feels supportive, validating, and gently empowering.

Thank you for being part of this community. If any part of this newsletter resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you, and if you’re feeling called to go deeper, you can explore Heal from Within or reach out about working together.

With love,
Katie

Why You’re Backed Up (And It’s Not Just Fiber)

Your body is always communicating and sometimes constipation is a clue, not a character flaw. Before you overhaul your diet or start another supplement, it’s worth taking a quick look at what you’re taking regularly. Certain medications and even “normal” over-the-counter products can silently reduce intestinal movement and make elimination harder than it should be.

1. Pain medications: A very common cause

  • Opioids: morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, fentanyl
  • Tramadol
  • NSAID like ibuprofen

Why: They slow intestinal movement dramatically.

2. Antidepressants, Especially those with anticholinergic effects

  • Amitriptyline
  • Nortriptyline
  • Paroxetine
  • Some SSRIs (less common, but possible)

3. Anticholinergic medications: These dry secretions and slow gut movement

  • Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • Hydroxyzine
  • Certain bladder medications (oxybutynin)
  • Some psychiatric medications

4. Iron supplements, One of the most common causes of supplements

  • Ferrous sulfate
  • Ferrous gluconate
  • Prenatal vitamins with iron

5. Calcium supplements

Especially:

  • Calcium carbonate (most constipating form)

Less constipating:

  • Calcium citrate

6. Antacids containing aluminum or calcium

  • Aluminum hydroxide
  • Calcium carbonate (Tums)

7. Blood pressure medications, some types affect gut motility

  • Calcium channel blockers (verapamil is a major one)
  • Clonidine

8. Antihistamines

  • Diphenhydramine
  • Cetirizine (less common)
  • Loratadine (rare, but possible)

9. Parkinson’s medications

  • Levodopa combinations
  • Anticholinergic Parkinson’s drugs

10. Anti-nausea medications

  • Ondansetron (Zofran) — very common cause
  • Also, Pepto Bismol, overuse of laxatives and collagen in some people!

Constipation (and other symptoms) is often a signal, not the whole story. In my intuitive consultations, we look at the physical, emotional, and spiritual root causes together — so you can support true healing, not just manage symptoms.

Teaching Kids “Gut Feelings” Is a Safety Skill

Children are born intuitive — we have to protect that gift. When we teach kids to notice body signals, ask questions, and challenge authority when something doesn’t feel right, we give them lifelong tools for safety. Here are simple ways to build that foundation at home:

  • Teach children about gut feelings and intuition from a young age and the signs to watch for if a person or situation is unsafe, like a stomach ache or headache
  • Teach children that you can respect authority figures without believing or doing everything they say.
  • Allow and encourage questions about adult behavior, even if it means questioning yours. Parents make mistakes too and it’s not bad for our kids to call us out.
  • Teach kids that it’s not okay if adults ask them to keep secrets, especially from their parents.
  • Let them know that it’s important to tell someone if they see another child being treated badly or inappropriately
  • Teach kids to watch for potentially inappropriate words and behaviors (see my previous post)
  • Tell them to say no, yell, run away, etc do whatever they need to if anyone touches their body or acts in any other way that makes them uncomfortable
  • Encourage children, especially girls, to express their feelings and opinions, to love and accept their bodies, and to understand that they are in no way less powerful or important than boys or men. They are not subservient.
  • If you are a man, always treat women with respect. If you are a woman and not being treated with respect, change your situation. In both cases, your children are watching you and will do what they see. Break dysfunctional generational cycles so they don’t have to.

Want to keep your children safe? Teach them to question authority, even if it’s yours.

Peptides for Support: What I’m Exploring & Why

Peptides have been getting a lot of attention lately, and I’ve had quite a few questions about them — especially for gut support, recovery, inflammation, and overall resilience.

Two I’m currently exploring are synthetic peptides derived from proteins naturally found in gastric juices, bpc-157 and tb 500. I use a liposomal, sublingual (non-injectable) product from a trusted company via Fullscript, and I can set up a personalised Fullscript account for you so you receive 20% off retail and Amazon pricing.

Benefits of this peptide combination, as shown in studies, primarily on animals, with a great deal of anecdotal accounts also.  I have personally experienced the majority of these benefits after using the peptides for approximately three weeks.

  •  Tendon & ligament healing
  •  Muscle repair
  •  Gut lining support (ulcers, inflammation)
  • Possible neuroprotective effects
  • Accelerated wound healing
  • Reduced inflammation
  • Improvement in IBS symptoms
  • Muscle and exercise recovery
  • Wound healing
  • Possible cardiac tissue repair support
  • Strengthened immune support
  • Reduced appetite and food noise
  • Improved sleep
  • More energy
  • Easier weight loss and maintenance
  • Increased growth hormone and stem cell production
  • Hormone support
  • Reduction of symptoms associated with chronic illnesses like Ehlers Danlos, autoimmune diseases and more.
  • Reduction of side effects of GLP drugs

This is not a complete list, and these are not FDA-approved supplements. Personally, the only side effect I’ve had is constipation and bloating, which were greatly reduced by decreasing the dose. One know risk appears to be potential cancer cell growth because of the cell rejuvenation effects.

I encourage people to learn more about peptides and how they might be of benefit. If this resonates, let’s talk it through together — including safety, contraindications, and whether it makes sense alongside what you’re already taking. I can also create your Fullscript account so you can access the same product at a discount!

Here to Support You: Individually, in Relationships, and at Work

In addition to my medical and emotional intuitive readings, I’m also a Licensed Professional Counselor and offer counselling support for individuals, couples, and organisations.

My work includes corporate employee counselling and conflict resolution, teen support (including neurodivergent teens), eating disorders and other addictions, LGBTQ+ related concerns, and couples counselling.

If you’d like support — personally, as a couple, or within your workplace — you’re welcome to reach out to learn more or schedule a session.

The Often-Overlooked Emotional Symptoms of Cancer

We talk a lot about physical symptoms of cancer, but not enough about the emotional ones. These are some common emotional symptoms associated with cancer — and if you recognise yourself here, it doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human.

1. Anxiety

  • Fear about symptoms, test results, recurrence, or treatment
  • Physical sensations like chest tightness, racing thoughts, or irritability
  • “Scanxiety” before imaging or follow-ups

2. Depression

  • Persistent sadness, heaviness, or numbness
  • Loss of interest in activities or relationships
  • Changes in sleep and appetite
  • Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

3. Shock or Disbelief

  • Feeling detached from reality
  • Trouble processing the diagnosis (“This can’t be happening”)

4. Anger or Irritability

  • Anger at the situation, body, medical system, or even loved ones
  • Low tolerance for stress

5. Guilt

  • “Did I miss something?”
  • “Am I a burden?”
  • “Did I do something to cause this?”

6. Loss of Control

  • Feeling powerless as medical events move quickly
  • Fear of the unknown

7. Grief

  • Grieving health, identity shifts, or lifestyle changes
  • Grieving changes in appearance or physical ability

8. Social Withdrawal

  • Pulling away from friends or family
  • Feeling misunderstood or isolated

9. Body Image Distress

  • Especially with surgeries (mastectomy, colostomy), hair loss, and weight changes

10. Trauma Responses/Cancer is a traumatic event for many. Emotional reactions can include:

  • Hypervigilance
  • Flashbacks of diagnosis or treatment scenes
  • Startle responses
  • Avoidance of reminders (hospitals, doctors’ offices)

11. Hope Fatigue

  • Feeling tired from trying to “stay positive”
  • Emotional exhaustion from long-term treatment

12. Post-Treatment Crash / After treatment ends, many expect to feel “better,” but instead feel:

  • Lost
  • Fearful without constant monitoring
  • Emotionally depleted

If this list feels familiar, you’re not alone. I support clients through the emotional side of cancer as a Licensed Professional Counselor and medical/emotional intuitive — including anxiety, grief, trauma responses, and the post-treatment “crash.”

If you’d like support, please reach out to schedule a session or consultation.

A Doctor-Approved Guide to Healing From Within

When an integrative physician calls a book “one to return to again and again,” that matters.

Heal from Within was written to help you understand the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual root causes behind chronic patterns — and to give you practical tools for lasting change.

Are you settling for emotional breadcrumbs?

Watch this short Video to learn what I mean and how this pattern can quietly keep you stuck in relationships that don’t truly meet your needs.

If this resonates, I support people in understanding the emotional root causes behind these patterns and learning how to choose differently.

You’re welcome to reach out to work with me.