It hit me on an ordinary Tuesday. I was sitting at my desk, staring at my screen, yet nothing seemed to register. Emails blurred into one another, my to-do list felt like an endless scroll, and despite having worked non-stop, I felt like I’d achieved nothing.
Emotionally drained, constantly overwhelmed, and detached from everything that once brought me joy—that’s when I realised I wasn’t myself anymore.
Hello, I’m Nicolas, and this is the story of how I reclaimed my balance, one step at a time.
How my habits were setting me up for failure
For months, I had been running on autopilot. Pushing through exhaustion, skipping meals, glued to tasks without ever feeling like I had the right to pause. I love my job, but somewhere along the way, I forgot to prioritise me.
Privately, I felt like a ghost—irritable, emotionally numb, and distant from my family. My sleep was a mess, my focus shattered, and even simple conversations felt like a chore.
That was my wake-up call!
I decided it was time to take my health seriously—not just the physical symptoms, but the emotional weight I’d been carrying. I realised that stress isn’t just “in your head.”
It silently weaves its way into your body, disrupting your sleep, hijacking your hormones, and accelerating how fast you age.
How my health started deteriorating
Stress crept in quietly, blurring the line between mind and body. What started as emotional burnout turned into physical symptoms.
Signs of stress:
- Difficulty focusing
- Emotional overwhelm
- Irritability
- Dissatisfaction
- Poor sleep & appetite
- Chronic fatigue
- Loss of motivation to exercise
The mind-body connection was undeniable. The longer I ignored it, the deeper I sank into stress-related fatigue. As a scientist and nutritionist, I decided to take control and test my stress levels.
Reduce your stress levels
- Lowers inflammation, enhances relaxation
- Restores gut balance, calms mind
- Removes aged (zombie) cells
- Promotes faster recovery, boosts vitality
- 90-day money-back guarantee
What my stress test results revealed
I took a comprehensive stress assessment through the MVZ Labor Ravensburg, in collaboration with YourPrevention. It included both urine and saliva diagnostics to measure various biomarkers associated with stress and neurotransmitter activity.
Urine Diagnostics:
- Creatinine: A baseline measurement to standardise other urinary analytes.
Neurotransmitter Analysis (Urine/Creatinine Ratio):
- pH Level: Assessed to understand the urinary environment.
- Serotonin, Adrenaline, Noradrenaline, Dopamine: Quantified to evaluate neurotransmitter balance, which can be indicative of stress response and overall neurological function.
Saliva Diagnostics (Cortisol Levels):
- Cortisol Measurements at 8:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 8:00 PM: These time-specific assessments help in understanding the diurnal variation of cortisol, a key hormone involved in stress response.
- Cortisol Area Under Curve (AUC): Provides an integrated measure of cortisol exposure over the day.
- Cortisol Slope: Indicates the rate of change in cortisol levels throughout the day, reflecting the body’s ability to regulate stress.
The results hit harder than I expected. Seeing these data made everything I’d been feeling painfully real.
My serotonin levels were at the lowest end of the reference range (49 µg/gKrea), while cortisol levels were significantly elevated throughout the day, peaking at 29 nmol/l in the morning, well above the normal range (10-17 nmol/l).
This explained my chronic fatigue, inability to relax, and constant feeling of always being unsatisfied.
My stress recovery plan
I had to get back to being myself. And for that, I’m utterly grateful to the 1 hour coaching session I received from Florian Wolf, the founder of yourPrevention. The goal was to kickstart my recovery plan as soon as possible.
I was recommended to start a supplement routine designed to support my neurotransmitters and help rebuild resilience.
Supplements that changed the game
- Rhodiola Rosea (230 mg, 6 times a day): Known for its adaptogenic properties, it helped me manage stress and improve mental clarity.
- 5-HTP (100 mg, once or twice daily): A precursor to serotonin, crucial for mood regulation and emotional stability.
- Copper Complex: High stress depletes copper, which is vital for neurotransmitter synthesis.
- Vitamin C (1g/day, then 3x/week): To support my adrenal health and immune function, especially under chronic stress.
- B-Complex Forte (daily for 2 weeks, then 3x/week): Essential for energy production and nervous system health.
These weren’t just random choices. Each supplement targeted specific stress-related deficiencies, helping to restore balance where my body needed it most.
AVEA supplements that made it easier to manage my stress
- NMN: Increases cellular energy by increasing NAD+ levels, improves mitochondrial function, endurance and recovery.
- Booster: With Resveratrol and Ubiquinol, it combats oxidative stress and supports energy metabolism for sustained aerobic performance.
- Collagen Activator: The active ingredient Calcium AKG helps to reduce inflammation and promote regeneration after training.
- Essentials: Rich in Omega-3, Vitamin D3 and Magnesium, it optimises muscle function, cardiovascular health and energy production.
- Biomind: Contains probiotics, Panax Ginseng, and Vitamin B6 & B12 to positively impact mood and relieve anxiety through the gut-brain connection.
- Cell Primer: With Spermidine and PQQ, it enhances cognitive function and prevent potential neurodegeneration caused by oxidative stress.
How I feel now
It didn’t take long to notice a shift. Within two weeks, I felt lighter—not in a dramatic, overnight transformation, but in subtle ways that mattered. I started feeling less overwhelmed, stress perception decreased, and I could improve my resilience at work and in daily tasks.
Slowly, I started developing emotional balance with fewer mood swings and a greater sense of calm. I had clearer thinking as my mental fog lifted, making it easier to focus.
Lifestyle changes I had to implement
While supplements were a game-changer, they weren’t the whole solution. I had to adjust my lifestyle to create lasting change.
- Setting boundaries: Learning to say “no” to protect my time and energy.
- Reducing screen time: Cutting down on social media to avoid mental clutter.
- Reconnecting: Making time for friends and family, which helped me feel grounded.
- Mindfulness practices: Incorporating yoga, stretching, and meditation to wind down.
- Mental coaching & psychological support: Seeking an objective perspective to identify deep-seated patterns from my past and develop healthier ways to navigate them.
Supplements may support your body, but the real work happens in your mindset and daily habits. While they helped me build resilience, I had to change how I responded to stress. I had to accept that stress isn’t something you eliminate—it’s something you learn to accept and manage.
What I wish I knew before
When your nervous system is burnt out, habits alone can’t fix it. You need to support your brain’s biology first. So one advice I’d give to you all is to start tracking your stress biomarkers early. Don’t wait until burnout forces you to pay attention.
As a token from AVEA, we are offering a discount code on the test I did. Use the code AVEAIST10 to receive a 10% discount to measure your stress levels.
Last but not least
After 3 months of supplementation, I am currently going through the behavioural adaptation plan. Once done, I will have my follow up call with Florian to see where I stand and figure out the next steps to take it from there. Stay tuned for more!
‘’Stress doesn’t just speed up ageing—it keeps you from being your best self’’–Nicolas Ting.
Reduce your stress levels
- Lowers inflammation, enhances relaxation
- Restores gut balance, calms mind
- Removes aged (zombie) cells
- Promotes faster recovery, boosts vitality
- 90-day money-back guarantee
