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Depression often reflects shifts in stress hormones, inflammation, and immune balance. Blood testing grounds symptoms in biology. At Superpower, we test cortisol, hs-CRP, and NLR to profile these systems. We offer in-clinic and at-home testing; home collection is currently available in selected states. (See FAQs below for more info).
Blood testing helps reveal chronic stress’s impact on your neuroendocrine and immune systems. At Superpower, we measure cortisol, DHEAS, and hs-CRP to map HPA-axis activity and inflammation. We offer in-clinic and at-home testing; home kits are currently available in selected states. (See FAQs below for more info).
Blood testing helps map the physiology of CFS/ME—stress signaling, inflammation, nutrient status, and protein balance. At Superpower, we test cortisol, hs-CRP, vitamin D, and albumin. We offer in-clinic and at-home blood testing; home collection for CFS/ME is currently available in selected states. (See FAQs below for more info).
Blood testing clarifies how anorexia nervosa affects hydration, electrolytes, and stress physiology. At Superpower, we test albumin, sodium, potassium, chloride, and cortisol to track systemic stability. We offer in-clinic and at-home blood testing. At-home testing for anorexia nervosa is currently available in selected states. (See FAQs below for more info).
Blood testing can illuminate brain and vascular pathways linked to Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline. At Superpower, we measure homocysteine, B12, folate, and lipids to assess neurovascular risk. We offer in-clinic and at-home testing; home kits are currently available in selected states. (See FAQs below for more info).
Blood testing for alcohol use disorder matters because it reveals liver strain and red blood cell changes. Superpower offers GGT, AST/ALT, and MCV testing to detect physiologic impact. We provide in-clinic and at-home blood testing; home collection is currently available in selected states. (See FAQs below for more info).
Acute stress disrupts neuroendocrine and metabolic balance. Blood testing clarifies your body’s stress response by measuring cortisol and glucose. Superpower offers both in-clinic and at-home testing, with home collection available in selected states. (See FAQs below for more info), delivering timely insights into hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal activity and glycemic dynamics.
A guide to the biological causes of brain fog and the biomarkers most likely to identify what is driving it.
A guide to rumination covering what it is, why the brain defaults to repetitive negative thought cycles, the neuroscience of the default mode network, how rumination drives anxiety and depression, and the evidence-based strategies including cognitive defusion and behavioral activation that interrupt it.
An evidence review of nature exposure and mental health covering the research on green space and stress reduction, the proposed mechanisms including cortisol reduction and attention restoration theory, dose-response findings on how much time in nature is needed, and accessible ways to apply the evidence.
A guide to measuring stress objectively covering the key biomarkers used in research and clinical practice including salivary and blood cortisol, DHEA-S ratio, hs-CRP, and HRV, what each one reflects about the stress response, and how to interpret results in context.
An evidence review of ashwagandha for stress and anxiety covering the human clinical trial data, the proposed mechanisms including cortisol reduction and HPA axis modulation, effective doses and forms, known side effects, and an honest assessment of where the evidence is strong versus limited.
A guide to box breathing covering the technique itself, the physiological mechanisms by which slow paced breathing reduces anxiety through vagal activation and HRV changes, the research evidence for its effects, and how it compares to other breathing protocols.
A guide to the gut-brain axis and stress covering how chronic psychological stress alters microbiome composition, the bidirectional signaling between gut bacteria and the brain, the effects of dysbiosis on anxiety and mood, and dietary strategies that support both gut and mental health.
A guide to psychological safety covering Amy Edmondson's original research, what it means in practice at the team and individual level, how it relates to stress and burnout, and the evidence linking it to performance, wellbeing, and resilience.
A practical guide to burnout prevention covering the early biological and behavioral warning signs of burnout, the evidence-based habits that protect against it including recovery practices, boundary-setting, and workload management, and how to build sustainable performance.
A plain-English guide to emotional regulation covering what it means to regulate emotions, the key strategies including reappraisal, acceptance, and suppression, what emotional dysregulation looks like, and evidence-based ways to build better regulation skills.
A guide to the relationship between chronic stress and inflammation covering how sustained cortisol exposure leads to glucocorticoid resistance, elevated cytokines, and systemic inflammation, and what this means for the risk of cardiovascular disease, autoimmunity, and accelerated aging.
An evidence-based review of exercise and mental health covering the strength of evidence for aerobic and resistance training on anxiety, depression, and stress, the mechanisms including BDNF and cortisol, and the dose and frequency that produce the largest effects.
A guide to the bidirectional relationship between stress and sleep covering how elevated cortisol disrupts sleep architecture, how poor sleep sensitizes the stress response, the specific stages of sleep most affected by anxiety, and evidence-based strategies for breaking the cycle.
A science-grounded guide to the vagus nerve and stress covering polyvagal theory, what vagal tone means for emotional and physiological regulation, and the specific techniques with the best evidence for activating the parasympathetic system including breathing, cold exposure, and humming.
A guide to differentiating burnout from depression covering shared symptoms, distinct biological mechanisms, why burnout can progress into clinical depression, the diagnostic criteria for each, and how treatment approaches differ between the two.
A guide to cognitive reappraisal covering how reinterpreting the meaning of a stressor reduces its emotional impact, the neuroscience behind it, how it compares to suppression and other emotion regulation strategies, and practical techniques for applying it.
A guide to using heart rate variability as a window into stress and mental wellbeing covering what HRV measures, why low HRV correlates with chronic stress and anxiety, how lifestyle interventions move the needle, and how to interpret your wearable data.
A clear guide distinguishing anxiety from stress covering the physiological differences in how each activates the nervous system, the key diagnostic distinctions, when stress tips into an anxiety disorder, and what that distinction means for how you address it.
An evidence-based review of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) covering the original 8-week program, what the research shows about its effects on anxiety, depression, and cortisol, the neurobiological changes it produces, and who it is most likely to benefit.
An evidence review of breathwork for stress and anxiety covering the physiological mechanisms including vagal activation and HRV changes, which specific techniques have the strongest trial data, and how breathwork compares to other stress interventions.
A plain-English explainer on the HPA axis covering how the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands coordinate the stress response, what happens when this system becomes dysregulated under chronic stress, and why it matters for both mental and physical health.
A guide to the cortisol awakening response covering what it measures, why morning cortisol follows a predictable rise-and-fall pattern, what abnormal CAR patterns indicate about HPA axis health, and how it is tested at home or in a clinical setting.
An honest evidence review of adaptogens for stress covering the compounds with the strongest human trial data including ashwagandha and rhodiola rosea, the mechanisms proposed, what the research does and does not support, and dosing considerations.
A science-grounded guide to nervous system regulation covering the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches, what dysregulation looks like, how vagal tone relates to stress resilience, and the evidence-based practices that shift the body into a regulated state.
An evidence-tiered guide to stress management covering the interventions with the strongest human trial data including CBT, MBSR, aerobic exercise, breathwork, and social connection, alongside an honest assessment of lower-evidence popular approaches.
A guide to allostatic load covering how the cumulative biological cost of chronic stress is measured, which biomarkers reflect it including cortisol, CRP, blood pressure, and HbA1c, and what elevated allostatic load predicts for long-term health.
An evidence-based guide to building psychological resilience covering stress inoculation theory, cognitive reappraisal, the role of social support, and the specific practices shown in research to increase stress tolerance over time.
An explainer on the difference between acute and chronic stress covering their distinct physiological mechanisms, the health consequences of each, why the body adapts poorly to sustained stress, and how to identify which type you are experiencing.
A guide to cortisol covering its role in the stress response, how chronic elevation harms the immune system, metabolic health, and brain function, and the evidence-based lifestyle interventions that lower it most effectively.
An evidence-based guide to recovering from burnout covering why rest alone is insufficient, the biological recovery process, and a practical protocol including sleep restoration, graded activity, social reconnection, and stress inoculation.
A plain-English guide to burnout covering its WHO definition, the biological mechanisms behind it including HPA axis dysregulation and cortisol, how it progresses from stress to exhaustion, and how to recognize it in yourself.