The Hidden Layers Behind Chronic Illness in Children
Chronic illness in children rarely begins with one clear cause. It builds quietly over time through layers of stress, exposure, and imbalance that often go unnoticed until symptoms become too loud to ignore. In this episode, Dr. Somer DelSignore joins Susan Robbins to explore what is really driving the rise in immune and neurological challenges in kids today.
Instead of focusing on a single symptom or diagnosis, this conversation highlights the importance of stepping back and asking a deeper question: what led the body here in the first place? From prenatal exposures to daily habits, every layer matters.
It Is Not One Thing. It Is Everything Adding Up
Children are not developing chronic symptoms overnight. It is the result of ongoing pressure from poor nutrition, disrupted sleep, environmental toxins, and unresolved infections. These stressors slowly overwhelm the body’s ability to regulate, repair, and detoxify.
When the immune system loses resilience, small cracks begin to form. Over time, those cracks widen and show up as fatigue, behavioral changes, learning challenges, or chronic illness. The symptom is only the surface. The pattern underneath tells the real story.
The Role of Stress, Sleep, and Modern Life
Today’s kids are living in a constant state of stimulation. Screens, irregular sleep schedules, and high stress environments keep their nervous systems activated far more than previous generations. When the body stays in that heightened state, it shifts out of growth and repair mode and into survival mode.
This has real consequences. The brain does not detox properly. The immune system struggles to recalibrate. Energy production slows down. Over time, this can lead to inflammation, mood changes, and difficulty with focus and regulation.
Hidden Infections and Missed Connections
Many children are dealing with low level infections that are never fully addressed. Viruses, bacteria, and tick borne illnesses can remain in the body and quietly drive inflammation. These are often overlooked because they do not present as obvious acute illness.
Instead, they show up as vague symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, irritability, or difficulty concentrating. In many cases, these children are labeled with diagnoses like ADHD without looking at the underlying cause.
Small Shifts That Change Everything
This episode brings the focus back to what truly matters. Real food. Consistent sleep. Reducing toxin exposure. Supporting the nervous system. These are not complicated strategies, but they are powerful when done consistently.
When parents begin to shift these foundational habits, the ripple effect is undeniable. Kids start to regulate, focus improves, energy returns, and the body begins to do what it was designed to do. Heal, adapt, and thrive.
Learn more about our guest Dr. Somer DelSignore
Dr. Somer DelSignore Bio
Dr. Somer DelSignore is a pediatric board-certified provider who blends integrative pediatric care with evidence-based medicine to address the root causes of immune and neurological dysfunction. Trained at the University of Pennsylvania and SUNY Upstate and further mentored in integrative medicine, Lyme, and PANS, she is known for highly personalized, research-driven treatment plans for children. Dr. DelSignore is an ILADS Member, a MAPS Fellow, and holds a Fellowship with the American Academy of Ozone Therapy. Her holistic 10-key approach emphasizes nutrition, environmental factors, and mental health, reflecting her commitment to whole-child care. She is the founder of Hudson Valley Integrative Health, where she helps families find clarity, hope, and a better quality of life.
RESOURCES:
Connect with Dr. Somer DelSignore:
Website: https://hudsonvalleyintegrativehealth.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nylymesandpans/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nylymesandpans/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/somerdelsignorekidslyme/
https://healthyawakening.co/2026/05/04/episode122
Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/
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Connect with Susan:
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Learn More about Susan Robbins:
Susan is a retired law enforcement officer and an accomplished Certified Epigenetic Human Performance Coach with a diverse and extensive background in wellness. She began her wellness career in 2015 as a holistic health and stress management coach. Her passion for helping others led her to expand her expertise into epigenetics in 2019, where she discovered the missing piece of the health optimization puzzle: Personalized health.
As a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Certified Level 2 Apeiron Zoh Epigenetic Human Performance Coach (DNA), and Certified PH360 Coach through Precision Health Alliance, Susan has developed a unique approach to health and wellness through completely personalized health. She is the proud recipient of the 2023 Precision Health Alliance Coach of the Year award. Susan works with clients to elevate their health and overall quality of life by understanding their unique needs based on their genetic makeup, taking out the guesswork, and getting results.
