Dr. Anjali Yawning to signify exhaustion

Why “Normal” Labs Don’t Explain Your Exhaustion (and What to Do Instead)

August 21, 20253 min read

If you’ve ever been told your labs are “normal” but you’re still dragging through the day, wired at night, and running on fumes—this is for you. Normal doesn’t always mean optimal, especially when it comes to energy, sleep, and your nervous system.

Let’s talk about why your labs might look fine on paper while your body is waving red flags, and what you can do to reset your rhythm—for yourself and your family.

Why Normal Labs Can Still Mean Exhaustion

So many women show up with normal labs and still feel absolutely exhausted. You’re eating well, exercising, drinking water, and yet you can’t shake the fatigue. Your doctor calls with your bloodwork results and says everything is “fine,” but you know deep down something’s off.
Here’s the problem: most lab ranges are built to detect disease, not dysfunction. That means big issues like anemia or hypothyroidism may show up, but the subtle signs of chronic stress, hormone shifts, or nutrient depletion often get missed.

How Lab Ranges Are Really Determined

In the U.S., lab ranges are based on a bell curve of whoever got tested the year before—whether they were healthy, sick, stressed, or dealing with chronic illness. That means your “normal” might actually be compared against a population that isn’t thriving.
Even more confusing, stress itself can skew your labs. Elevated cortisol, dropping progesterone, and disrupted sleep cycles don’t always show up as “out of range,” but they’re still impacting how you feel day to day.

Why Functional Testing Looks Beyond “In Range”

A functional medicine approach looks at more than single numbers. Instead of chasing symptoms or prescribing based on one value, we ask: how do these results fit together?
For example—if your Vitamin D is low and your iron is borderline, we want to know why that’s happening, not just give you a supplement and send you on your way. It’s about asking what your body is telling us when we connect the dots.

When Your Nervous System and Your Kids’ Sleep Collide

Here’s something most providers never tell you: your nervous system rhythm directly impacts your kids. When you’re wired and exhausted, your kids often co-regulate with you. That’s why their bedtime can feel like chaos—they’re reflecting the stress your body is holding.
This isn’t about blaming yourself—it’s about seeing the power of shared rhythms. If your body doesn’t feel safe, theirs doesn’t either. Which means one of the best ways to support their sleep is by regulating your own.

Simple Tools to Reset Your Rhythm

Instead of chasing the latest sleep app or supplement, start with simple regulation tools:

  • Try humming breaths before bed. Humming lowers cortisol for both you and your child, and you can even turn it into a song.

  • Create morning and evening rhythms. Kids thrive on predictability. Lower the lights, play calming sounds, or do story time as anchors before sleep.

  • Use visual or audio cues. A bedtime song, stretching, or picture-based chart can signal transitions without battles.
    These small rituals help create safety and consistency—your nervous system starts to relax, and so does your child’s.

The Next Step: From Stress to Strength

If you’ve been stuck in the “normal but not fine” cycle, it’s time to look deeper. Your body deserves support that goes beyond cookie-cutter advice.
Grab my free Stress to Strength Guide—it includes:

  • A family nervous system rhythm chart

  • Breath + movement tools

  • A functional labs checklist

  • A reflection prompt to help you reconnect with your body

And if you’re ready for personalized support, book a clarity call so we can walk through your rhythms, your labs, and your family’s next steps together. Because you don’t just deserve to be told you’re “fine”—you deserve to feel rested, clear, and supported.

Dr. Anjali Agrawal's ultimate purpose for growing and expanding her online wellness business and chiropractic practice is deeply rooted in her family, comprising her husband and two young daughters.

-DR. ANJALI AGRAWAL

Dr. Anjali Agrawal's ultimate purpose for growing and expanding her online wellness business and chiropractic practice is deeply rooted in her family, comprising her husband and two young daughters.

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Dr. Anjali offers a holistic approach to wellness through chiropractic and nutrition. With expertise in gentle chiropractic techniques, physiotherapy, holistic lifestyle advice, and so much more, she's on a mission to help people Move Well, Eat Well, and Live Well.

We are based in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA but you can often find Dr. Anjali traveling all across the states teaching and empowering others to get BACK IN BALANCE.

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