The Balanced Homies

You have dysautonomia… but has anyone actually checked your neck? 👀 I kept noticing a pattern in the clinic: some patients with dizziness, concussion, chronic pain, and dysautonomia would have changes in more than just their neck pain when we addressed the cervical spine. So naturally, my neuro-PT brain went: WHY? In Episode 9 of The Balanced Homies, I’m connecting the dots between your neck, ves...

I was helping other people heal while quietly struggling with my own mental health. In this episode, I get vulnerable about experiencing suicidal thoughts while dealing with severe dysautonomia, the fear and stigma that kept me from wanting to seek help, and the people who helped me find my way back. I also talk about something we don't discuss enough: patients aren't the only ones struggling in h...

You slept 8 hours…so why are you still exhausted? In this episode, I sit down with my homie, Dr. Jason Karstens, neurologic physical therapist, professor, researcher, and Director of the Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency at A.T. Still University. We connect the dots between sleep, your nervous system, and recovery, including the difference between sleep quantity and quality, deep sleep vs. REM...

In Part 2, we’re digging deeper into specialized testing, labs, and other clues that can help uncover what’s going on with your autonomic nervous system. Because “normal” results don’t always explain why you still feel off. Let’s keep connecting the dots, homies.

In this episode, we break down how dysautonomia is tested. From tracking your symptoms and vitals to the 10-minute stand test, tilt table test, and more. We’ll also talk about signs your body may already be showing you (i.e. pretzel sign) and why a “normal” test doesn’t always mean nothing is wrong. Learn your patterns, connect the dots, and advocate for yourself, homie.

Feeling exhausted no matter how much you rest? This episode explores ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) , one of the most misunderstood chronic illnesses. We'll connect the dots between fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and nervous system dysfunction. You'll learn ways to reduce your risk of medical gaslighting, better understand your body, and advocate for yourself. We'll...

Have you ever been told, "Everything looks normal," but deep down you knew something still wasn't right? If you've been living with dizziness, chronic fatigue, brain fog, pelvic pain, ADHD, neurodivergence, dysautonomia, EDS, concussion symptoms, chronic pain, or another invisible illness, this episode is for you. In this episode of The Balanced Homies , I share my journey through medical gaslight...

Ever feel like your body has a mind of its own? Maybe you've been dizzy, exhausted, shaky, or just know something doesn't feel right. In this episode, we're connecting the dots by exploring what dysautonomia is, how your autonomic nervous system works, the difference between your fight-or-flight and rest-and-recover systems, common symptoms, and how your senses influence the way your body responds...

The Story Behind The Balanced Homies In this first episode, I'm sharing the story that changed the direction of my life and career. As a neurologic physical therapist, I almost fainted while helping one of my patients walk. That moment forced me to stop ignoring the symptoms I had been experiencing for years. Like so many others, I was told my tests looked normal. I was told everything was okay. B...

Welcome to The Balanced Homies! Where science meets humanity, & healing meets community. I'm Dr. Celeste Santillan, a neurologic-pelvic floor physical therapist sharing the science behind dysautonomia, ADHD, neurodivergence, concussion, EDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, pelvic health, and medical gaslighting; along with my own journey navigating dysautonomia & learning to advocate for myself....