Trauma Rewired

We often think of gut health as a matter of diet. What we eat, how we digest, and how we eliminate. But what if your digestive issues, bloating, or IBS symptoms aren't just physical? What if your gut is holding onto unprocessed emotional trauma, stress, and nervous system dysregulation? In this episode of Trauma Rewired, we're joined by Christy Nault, a root cause health practitioner and founder o...

We often think of trauma as a deeply personal experience, shaped by our childhood, relationships, and emotional wounds. But what if some of our deepest pain didn't start with us? What if trauma is embedded in the very systems we're born into - our medical institutions, cultural ideologies, and societal norms? In today's episode, we're joined by Dr. Tayla Shanaye, somatic therapist, scholar, and ex...

We often think of healing as an individual journey—going inward to process unresolved trauma, grief, and pain from our past. But what about collective trauma, grief, and pain? We rarely consider the healing that must take place beyond ourselves, addressing the unprocessed wounds we carry as a community. True healing requires creating safety both within and around us, allowing us to move beyond our...

What happens when your body feels more than your mind can make sense of? In this deeply grounding episode of Trauma Rewired, Elisabeth and Jennifer open up a necessary and often overlooked conversation about peak somatic experiences—powerful moments of healing that happen in the body, not the mind. Whether you're drawn to psychedelics, breathwork, or trauma release exercises, this episode unpacks...

"Integration" is a word that gets thrown around in the healing world, but what does it really mean? In this powerful episode of Trauma Rewired, Elisabeth and Jennifer unravel the true meaning of integration, not as a final step, but as the heart of sustained transformation. Without integration, even the most profound somatic release, emotional breakthrough, or psychedelic insight can quickly fade...

Society has long framed addiction as a character flaw—but at Trauma Rewired, we know that couldn't be further from the truth. Addiction isn't about who we are at our core; it's about how we've learned to survive in chaotic, neglectful, or unsupported environments. As humans, we're always seeking homeostasis. When we don't have the tools—or the environment—to support that, we adapt in the ways we k...

Our brain and nervous systems are incredibly protective—they can shield us from overwhelming stimuli by shutting out sensations. This mechanism plays a central role in depersonalization and derealization (DPDR), causing you to feel detached and like you are observing yourself from a distance. While these dissociative states can offer short-term protection, chronic experiences can lead to further d...

Did you know that Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) wasn't "discovered" but actually created? A group of male psychiatrists voted to define it as a diagnosis, and women, in particular, are disproportionately labeled with it, and it's often weaponized against them. What if we told you that BPD isn't a disorder at all, but rather a logical and rational response to repressed emotions and shame ca...

OCD is often reduced to intrusive thoughts and ritualistic behaviors, but let's be real—it's so much more than that. These are just the surface-level symptoms of a much deeper survival mechanism rooted in childhood brain development and trauma stored in the nervous system. This limited view is part of what keeps so many stuck in the cycle of OCD, struggling to find true relief. But here's the trut...

Join us for a special re-release of a profound conversation with Kate Northrup, renowned author of "Do Less," an expert in creating easeful financial business strategies, and a NSI coach. This episode remains one of our most beloved, resonating deeply with many who grapple with the concept of rest in a culture that glorifies constant productivity as the path to success and abundance. In this re-re...

In today's episode, we're bringing you something truly transformative. Our host, Elisabeth Kristoff, recently joined Kate Northrup on her podcast, Plenty, for a raw and eye-opening conversation that dives deep into the intricate relationship between the nervous system and financial success. The insights were so powerful, we knew we had to share this rich discussion with the Trauma Rewired audience...

Why is it that financial abundance comes easier for some, while others struggle? What if we told you it's not about how hard you work for money, but about how your nervous system is patterned? Money is a tricky subject, because it is the foundation for our survival and security. So we can unconsciously create unhealthy relationships with money that are formed from what we have been taught about mo...

The statistics on early childhood sexual abuse are heartbreaking. One in four girls and one in thirteen boys have experienced some form of childhood sexual trauma—at least the cases that get reported. It's hard to wrap your head around how something so dark can be happening so often. This is why talking about childhood sexual trauma is so difficult and often carries so much shame—it feels so unima...

When unresolved trauma lingers in our bodies, it often manifests as chronic health issues or diseases, such as cancer. The medical community is just beginning to uncover the powerful link between trauma, ACE scores, and cancer. With trauma-informed care now being integrated into medical practices, we're seeing a shift towards more holistic approaches to healing—something the healing community has...

Did you know that women are twice as likely to experience depression, yet less than 40 percent of research includes them? This statistic is staggering, highlighting society's inadequate attention to women's mental health and the complexities of their nervous systems. Often overlooked in scientific studies, women's experiences, particularly regarding menstrual cycles, create significant gaps in und...

Receiving a diagnosis can be a life-altering experience, especially when it triggers feelings of shame. Shame can create a whirlwind of emotions—unworthiness, failure, guilt, and loss—which compounds the stress of dealing with a diagnosis. These emotions form a toxic cycle that exacerbates the condition, leading to significant nervous system dysregulation. Often, it's difficult to pinpoint this dy...

In this episode of Trauma Rewired, hosts Elisabeth Kristof and Jennifer Wallace, along with guest Matt Bush, delve into the complex relationship between metabolic health and nervous system health. They explore how issues like chronic stress, inflammation, and blood sugar dysregulation can significantly impact both physical and mental health, especially in individuals with a history of trauma. Meta...

Did you know that nearly half of all Americans will experience at least one traumatic brain injury (TBI) in their lifetime? Shockingly, many of these cases go unnoticed or undiagnosed. The symptoms can initially be subtle and easily mistaken for other chronic conditions like CPTS. Without proper diagnosis, individuals can face immense confusion, wondering why treatments aren't working as expected....

Have you ever wondered why some individuals bounce back from trauma while others develop PTSD? The answer might be tied to how our brains encode and process fear memories. According to recent research, resilience isn't just psychological—it's closely tied to the brain's ability to adapt to stress and process trauma. On today's episode, Elisabeth and Jennifer are joined by Matt Bush, founder of Nex...

We often think of healing as an individual journey—going inward to process unresolved trauma, grief, and pain from our past. But what about collective trauma, grief, and pain? We rarely consider the healing that must take place beyond ourselves, addressing the unprocessed wounds we carry as a community. True healing requires creating safety both within and around us, allowing us to move beyond our...

When a child is forced to carry the emotional or practical burdens of their caregivers, it can result in lasting trauma that often manifests in adulthood as emotional repression, perfectionism, and various mental health challenges. Parentified children are deprived of their natural developmental experiences—play, exploration, and carefree living—which are essential for discovering themselves and t...

In a world obsessed with being competent and perfect, it's no wonder so many of us slip into the role of a perfectionist. Some of us even wear it like a badge of honor. Sure, it's helped us in some ways—but let's be real: at what cost? Perfectionism isn't the same as striving for excellence. It's often born out of survival, a way to suppress tough emotions like shame. And the truth? It wreaks havo...

A significant portion of the population lives with chronic pain, yet its origins and effective treatments remain some of the least understood aspects of healthcare. Pain is inherently subjective—unique to every individual—and rarely attributable to a single cause. It is a multifaceted experience shaped by a combination of physical, emotional, and neurological factors. When we peel back the layers...

It's that time of year again when society collectively decides it's time to level up and make meaningful changes in our lives. Whether the goal is to get in shape, eat healthier, limit doom-scrolling, improve finances, or simply be kinder to ourselves, it all boils down to rethinking and reshaping our daily habits. But completing another trip around the sun isn't enough to magically transform us i...

The four trauma responses are the brain's way of protecting us from threat, real or perceived. They are noncognitive, reflexive outputs that are deeply ingrained in those that have experienced trauma, which makes them incredibly difficult responses to rewire. In this episode, we explore the most dangerous F: fawn and sexual fawn response. To help us dive deeper into fawn response, we're joined by...