When You Feel Foggy, Fatigued or Frustrated: How Your Liver Reflects Your Emotional and Physical Health
Book Personalised Nutritionist Services with Claire Russell Reg. Nutritionist Limerick Cork & Dublin
Struggling with fatigue, restless sleep, brain fog, bloating or emotional overwhelm? You are not alone. These symptoms often reflect deeper body-mind strain.
Book a consultation with
Claire Russell MSc. BSc. DipNT. Cl.Hyp. MNTOI. MICIP GHR
Registered Nutritionist, Clinical Medical Hypnotherapist, Psychotherapist, Counselling, RTT and Advanced RTT Therapist with more than 20 years of clinical practice with health problems
Nutritionist Available ONLINE or in person in:
Adare, Newcastle West, Limerick, Abbeyfeale, Charleville, Kanturk, Midleton, Youghal, Cork, Dublin or Dungarvan.
Perfect for emotional stress, Addictions, Mental Health, metabolic health, PTSD, Complex PTSD, trauma recovery, weight loss, weight issues, hormonal issues, hormonal support, fertility support, fertility issues male and female, menopause, perimenopause, Liver issues, Fatty liver, NAFLD, GUT & digestive issues, diverticulitis, IBS, binge-related habits, eating disorders, anxiety, OCD, overwhelm, stress and burnout support.
Summary
You might start noticing small changes like waking at 2 a.m., feeling hot after wine, irritability that is new to you, or stubborn weight under the ribs. Maybe bloating after food, itchy skin or feeling flat emotionally or mentally challenged
These can be signs your liver is working harder than it should. Many people link them only to gut problems, hormones, or stress. In truth, they are often connected.
This article explores how your liver supports emotional health, hormones, metabolism, weight balance, detoxification and mood. You will learn how stress and emotion impact the liver, what symptoms to watch for, and how our nutritionist services with counselling, RTT or Clinical Hypnotherapy can restore balance.
How Your Liver Affects How You Feel and Think!
The liver quietly filters every drop of blood. It transforms toxins, balances hormones and supports digestion and metabolism. When the liver becomes overwhelmed, subtle changes appear in mood, mental health and energy.
You may notice:
- Short temper or frustration that surprises you
- Bloating after meals or feeling “heavy”
- Overheating at night or waking up sweating
- Brain fog, flat emotions, morning grogginess
- Feeling low, irritable or burnt out
- Weight gain around the midsection
- PMS or hormonal acne
- Trouble waking refreshed or staying asleep
The liver is not only a metabolic organ. It participates in a sensitive neurochemical cycle that connects the gut, hormones, blood sugar and mental wellbeing.
Supporting your liver supports your whole nervous system, as well as your mental health
Three Phases of Detoxification Explained
Detoxification is not a juice cleanse. It is a daily liver-led process driven by nutrients, rest and digestion.
- Phase One
Toxins such as alcohol, medication residues, estrogens or industrial chemicals begin being broken down. Requires vitamins B6, B12, folate, iron and antioxidants. - Phase Two
The liver joins these compounds with amino acids or sulphur to make them water soluble. Needs protein, sulphur-rich foods (such as eggs, garlic, onion, cauliflower and broccoli) to function. - Phase Three
Processed waste is excreted via bile and bowel movements. If digestion is slow, these compounds can be reabsorbed.
If any phase is slowed down, you experience symptoms. You feel it emotionally and physically.
Signs Your Liver May Be Struggling
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Fat tissue building under the breast line or chest
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Itchy skin or flushed cheeks
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Feeling irritable and snapping easily
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Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
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Eyes feel gritty or vision floaters (with iron levels confirmed normal)
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Waking hot or soaked in sweat around 2 to 3 a.m.
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PMS or worsening perimenopause symptoms
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Low tolerance for alcohol, worse sleep if you drink
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No appetite until after coffee
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Raised cholesterol or blood sugar
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Retaining water, feeling puffy or bloated
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Heavy periods or emotional swings
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Daily alcohol intake or medication load
Even if your blood work appears normal, your liver may need nutritional or emotional support long before disease shows up.
How Stress and Liver Health Connect
It is not just food and alcohol that impact liver function. Stress drives enormous metabolic change. When the nervous system is in overdrive, cortisol and adrenaline force the liver to metabolise harder.
Emotional suppression, trauma, chronic anxiety and burnout also show up somatically through the liver.
That is why Nutrition with Counselling, Clinical Hypnotherapy and RTT can make a major difference. These interventions help lower stress hormones, stabilise mood and calm the autonomic nervous system.
People often report calmer gut function and fewer cravings once emotional stress is addressed.
What to Eat and What to Avoid for Liver Balance to help you Feel Great!
Increase:
- Leafy greens (spinach, rocket, kale)
- Brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts)
- Eggs, poultry, beans, legumes for amino acids
- Onion, garlic, shallots for sulphur
- Bitter foods (dandelion greens, radish, fermented veg)
- Lemon water and herbal teas
- Protein at every meal to support detox enzymes
Reduce:
- Alcohol, particularly wine or spirits
- Trans fats and processed snacks
- Artificial sweeteners
- Long-term painkillers or unnecessary medication
- Pesticide-heavy fruits (choose organic where possible)
If your gallbladder has been removed, your liver is now working extra hard. Smaller meals with healthy fats help digestion and bile flow.
Some Case Vignettes from our Clients in Ireland
Kate, 52, Midleton, Cork
Came with exhaustion, irritability and weight gain after menopause. After three months of weekly counselling and a tailored nutrition plan, her energy returned, nighttime hot flushes reduced and she reported “feeling like myself again.”
Michael, 44, Adare, Limerick
Felt foggy, had bloating and kept waking around 3 a.m. Drank four beers daily. After RTT for habit change and nutrition sessions, he reduced drinking to weekends, lost belly weight and reported “calm energy I never had before.”
Sarah, 31, Dublin (online Nutritionist Services)
Struggled with anxiety, PMS and sugar cravings. RTT helped address past childhood triggers, and nutrition support helped regulate hormones, and fears. She no longer feels ruled by food and no longer wakes in the night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is liver detox good for weight loss?
Yes, when performed naturally through food and great support. A sluggish liver may hold onto fat and hormones.
Why am I always waking at 2 a.m.?
This time corresponds with liver metabolic activity. A sign of emotional overload, unstable blood sugar or liver congestion.
Can counselling or hypnotherapy help liver symptoms?
Yes. The emotional stress response affects liver function. Counselling with Clinical Hypnotherapy and RTT often shorten recovery time for liver-related fatigue, sugar cravings and food cravings.
Do I need supplements to detox?
Only if nutrient deficiencies are found. Whole foods do most of the work.
Is hypnotherapy safe?
Yes. Clinical Hypnotherapy is a regulated and studied therapeutic technique supported by neuroscience. Studies confirm its safety and effectiveness for anxiety, chronic pain, addictions and habit change.
Can I work with a Nutritionist online in Ireland?
Yes. Tele-health Nutrition sessions are available nationwide. Claire works with people across Ireland and in-person in Cork, Dungarvan, Limerick and more.
Is fatty liver reversible?
In most cases, yes. Reduction of alcohol, increased movement and Mediterranean-style eating leads to regeneration and reversal within months.
Can stress cause fatty liver?
Yes. Stress hormones overload the metabolic process, increasing inflammation and fat storage.
How quickly do symptoms change if I support my liver?
Most feel a difference within 3 to 8 weeks. It depends on consistency and emotional support.
Can RTT really help addictions or emotional eating?
Yes. RTT is solution-focused and evidence-informed. It combines hypnotherapy and cognitive work to shift emotional triggers in one to three sessions.
Book a Consultation with Claire Russell
To rebuild your energy, calm emotional strain and re-balance metabolism, book a consultation today.
Contact Claire Russell MSc. BSc. DipNT. Cl.Hyp. MNTOI. MICIP
Registered Nutritionist, Psychotherapist, Counselling, Clinical Medical Hypnotherapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, RTT and Advanced RTT Practitioner.
Book your Nutritionist, RTT, Hypnotherapy or Counselling session now.
Appointments in:
Adare, Newcastle West, Limerick, Abbeyfeale, Charleville, Kanturk, Midleton, Youghal, Cork, Dublin, Dungarvan, Waterford
Or ONLINE from anywhere in Ireland.
Start feeling like yourself again.
References:
- European Association for the Study of the Liver. Liver disease prevention. https://easl.eu/publication/liver-disease-prevention-facts
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Fatty Liver. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/nafld-nash
- British Liver Trust: Fatty Liver and Diet Support. https://britishlivertrust.org.uk
- Harvard Medical School. Stress and Digestion. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection
- Journal of Hepatology: Sleep and liver function study. https://www.journal-of-hepatology.eu/article/S0168-8278(20)30603-7
- Mayo Clinic: Liver detox clarification. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers
- British Medical Journal. The Gut-Liver Axis: a review. https://gut.bmj.com/content/early/2021
- American Psychological Association: Stress and Inflammation. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2018/07-08/cover-health
- PubMed: Hypnosis for emotional regulation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35050306/
- Gut: Microbiome and liver function. https://gut.bmj.com/content/69/11/2192
- Psychology Today. RTT overview. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/rapid-transformational-therapy
- Liver International: Estrogen metabolism and liver detox. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/liv.14987
- ScienceDirect: Sulphur and detoxification. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214764X20303038
- New England Journal of Medicine: Alcohol metabolism and liver. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra0901212
- British Journal of Nutrition: Weight gain and liver enzymes. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition
- Lancet: Gallbladder removal and liver implications. https://www.thelancet.com
- Clinical Nutrition Journal: Liver and mood disorders. https://www.clinicalnutritionjournal.com
- Cochrane Review: Hypnotherapy for IBS and gut symptoms. https://www.cochranelibrary.com
- Irish Journal of Medical Science: impact of stress on Irish adults. https://link.springer.com
- WHO: Non-communicable disease and liver risk. https://www.who.int
- Nature Reviews: Circadian rhythm and liver detox. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41575-022-00634-0
- Gastroenterology: Stress impacts on gut permeability. https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(17)36462-4/fulltext
Contact Claire Russell MSc, BSc, DipNT. MNTOI MICIP GHR Nutritionist Limerick Cork Dublin and Dungarven
