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5 Signs Your Spiritual Health Is Destroying Your Physical Health | Stasi Eldredge

The Dr. Josh Axe Show

Hosted by Josh Axe

50m
Transcript

Original podcast

Summary

Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.

In this episode, host Josh Axe is joined by author Stasi Eldredge to explore the profound connection between spiritual health, emotional wounds, and physical well-being. They discuss how unresolved childhood trauma, shame, and false beliefs about love manifest as physical stress and illness, arguing that true healing requires addressing the soul alongside diet and exercise. Eldredge explains her framework from the book The Ladder of Love, detailing how moving through stages of intimacy with God helps dismantle self-protective strategies and release stress. Listeners will learn actionable processes for unearthing past trauma, receiving divine love, and cultivating a deeper spiritual connection through community and writing.

  • Write down your personal story to give your mind and body the physical space to process past trauma. 0:29
  • Shift your daily focus away from trying to love God and instead marinate in how much He loves you. 7:33
  • Engage in community and consult trusted counselors or spiritual mentors to avoid the dangers of isolation. 27:25
  • Spend consistent quiet time sinking into your heart and asking the Holy Spirit to make His presence known. 47:06

Chapters

  1. 0:00
    Introduction and Health Institute Overview

    Josh Axe introduces his health institute, explains the cellular blood work process, and sets the stage for discussing spiritual health’s impact on physical well‑being.

  2. 0:54
    Stasi Eldredge’s Arrival and Book Highlights

    Josh welcomes Stasi Eldredge, noting her books Captivating and The Ladder of Love, and previews their discussion on emotional and spiritual breakthroughs for healing.

  3. 3:24
    Personal Journey with Spiritual Healing

    Josh shares his own experience giving spiritual resources in his practice, the impact of identity work, and how understanding God’s design can prevent illness and loneliness.

  4. 11:03
    The Ladder of Love Explained

    Stasi outlines the ladder metaphor, describing each rung—from clay to bride—and how ascending this ladder deepens intimacy with God and fosters emotional healing.

  5. 35:57
    Practical Tools for Spiritual Breakthroughs

    Josh and Stasi discuss actionable practices: daily identity statements, prayer, quiet listening, and seeking trusted counselors to support ongoing healing and spiritual growth.

  6. 46:00
    Identity, Shame, and Healing Process

    The conversation turns to how wounded identities and shame block spiritual connection, and the steps—willingness, writing, community—to confront and heal these wounds.

  7. 47:46
    Closing Reflections and Call to Action

    The episode concludes with final thoughts on embracing God’s love, practical next steps for listeners, and a reminder of the transformative potential of spiritual healing.

  8. 48:39
    Podcast Introduction and Guest Welcome

    Josh Axe welcomes Stasi Eldredge, expressing gratitude and setting the stage for the episode.

  9. 49:27
    Resources and Online Presence

    Stasi shares where listeners can find her ministry’s resources, including the website, podcasts, and the pause app.

Highlights

  • 7:33

    Start By Receiving Loveinsight

    Trying hard to love God can be difficult, whereas starting by simply accepting His immeasurable love for you naturally shifts your heart and behavior.

  • 11:03

    The Ladder of Love Metaphorstrategy

    The ladder metaphor represents an ascension in intimacy with God, starting with being clay in the potter's hands and moving upward through roles like sheep, servant, child, sibling, friend, and bride.

  • 21:01

    Unresolved Trauma and Physical Illnessinsight

    Unresolved childhood trauma and spiritual barriers often block physical healing from conditions like autoimmune disease and cancer, even after improving diet and lifestyle.

  • 22:40

    The Lifespan of Emotionsinsight

    Many people avoid dealing with deep pain out of fear that crying or feeling the emotion will bury them, but even intense emotions have a natural lifespan.

  • 29:56

    Rage As A Symptom Of Unseen Painstory

    Unrecognized and unaddressed childhood pain can manifest as rage and cause unintended damage to children and close family relationships.

  • 40:04

    Identity Statements Practicestrategy

    Reading a daily sheet of identity statements and God's promises morning and night for a year can radically transform a person's life and internal state.

  • 44:03

    Knowing About God Versus Experiencing Himinsight

    Knowing facts about God is very different from experiencing Him firsthand, just as knowing a celebrity differs from the deep, experiential knowledge of a spouse.

Quotes

  • “Focus on how much God loves you.”
    Josh Axe · 7:38
  • “The more we shift our identity into who we truly are, then the freer we are, the healthier we are in every facet of our being.”
    Unnamed speaker · 7:00
  • “If you can get up to a whole day, just try believing that you are loved.”
    Unnamed speaker · 8:33
  • “The book is called The Ladder of Love. And it's all about experiencing more intimacy with God.”
    Josh Axe · 48:45
  • “Remember every week we're diving deep into how to heal.”
    Josh Axe · 49:51
  • “Do me a favor, share this with that person.”
    Josh Axe · 50:29
  • mybloodwork.com 1:05–1:45
  • healyourselves.com 36:02–36:37
  • wildathart.org 49:18–49:26
  • subscribe 50:11–50:16

About this episode

Stasi Eldredge thought she’d had an ideal childhood—until her husband, John, told her, “You're raging and it's hurting our children.” His honesty sparked a journey toward healing the wounds she hadn’t recognized. Dr. Josh Axe sits down with Stasi, co-author of Captivating and author of The Ladder of Love, to explore how emotional healing and spiritual breakthroughs connect to physical health—and how reexamining our stories can reshape our understanding of God and ourselves.

Transcript

0:00
50:40

9,371 words · 2 speakers

Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

Topics

  • The Ladder of Love
  • Captivating
  • The Bondage Breaker
  • Wild at Heart
  • Heal Yourself
  • Heal Yourself.com
  • New York Times
  • pause app

Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated