Trauma Rewired

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...

Depression is one of the most researched mood disorders, but if we look a bit deeper into how depression is able to develop, it is more nuanced than we think. This means, treating depression isn't a one size fits all solution. It is agreed upon that depression is a chemical imbalance and can be treated with SSRIs or SNRIs, etc., which can work for some, but this doesn't always work for everyone. U...

The holidays can be a magical time full of celebrations and connection, but they can also evoke feelings of loneliness and overwhelm — especially for those with a history of trauma. This duality of emotions can be hard to navigate, so this episode of Trauma Rewired explores the complex emotions that many experience during this time and strategies to manage them without falling back to harmful beha...

In this episode of "Trauma Rewired," hosts Elisabeth Kristof and Jennifer Wallace delve into the intricate relationship between memory, trauma, and the nervous system. Originally this conversation was recorded and released in two parts and what you are listening to is a combination of them. The discussion underscores the multidimensional nature of memory, including how the superior and inferior hi...

Believe it or not, empaths and narcissists have foundational similarities. Not only does the brain chemistry look the same, but empaths and narcissists both struggle with nervous system regulation and look to others to help them regulate their emotions. But whereas the narcissist avoids the emotions of others, empaths are deeply affected and have a physiological experience to the emotions of other...

What happens in the brain when a stress response is activated ? How does developmental trauma shapes our nervous system and subconscious reactions as adults?   Today, we're answering those questions and diving deeper into how the brain develops through social interactions, why social connection is a survival need, and what happens in the body when we experience connection with other people.   Matt...

In this episode of Trauma Rewired, hosts Elisabeth Kristof, Jennifer Wallace, and Matt Bush delve into the intricate relations between complex trauma, neurodivergence, and brain function dysregulation. The conversation highlights how gradual exposure to non-threatening stimuli can help manage threat responses, and the importance of achieving balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerv...

Trauma isn't just a single event—it's the ongoing experience that unfolds afterward. Our access to resources, support, tools, and coping mechanisms greatly influences how our brain and nervous system are patterned in response to trauma, which in turn shapes our emotions and behaviors. By understanding these patterns as protective adaptations rather than flaws, we open the door to repatterning our...

As we unpack the impact of childhood neglect and discuss the ways emotional dysregulation can stem from early experiences, this episode sheds light on the importance of building a relationship with our emotions. The journey of emotional healing starts right where you are, and even the smallest steps—like becoming curious about your emotional responses—can lead to profound change. In today's episod...

In this episode, we delve into the profound connection between trauma, attachment wounds, and insomnia. We begin by discussing how secure attachments, particularly with family members like grandparents, can mitigate stress but their loss can trigger insomnia and other physical symptoms. Both hosts share personal anecdotes to highlight the pervasive impact of family disruptions and relational stres...

Autoimmune diseases are often labeled as "illnesses of the unknown." The medical field has yet to identify the root cause of these conditions, which are frequently considered incurable. However, a significant aspect might be overlooked: the role of trauma. Histories of abuse, trauma, and even early relational trauma during infancy are crucial factors in understanding the complex environment where...

The amount of time and patience it takes to heal the body cannot be understated. Pushing our own personal boundaries to create a larger capacity to be witnessed and seen, can feel counterintuitive at times. However, if we can dig deep to understand how the nervous system attempts to protect us, even when it doesn't feel like it, we can come to a place of deep compassion for ourselves and others to...

Our emotional and nervous systems are intricately connected. Our emotional states provide clues about the state of our nervous system, and vice versa. Conditions such as autoimmune diseases, gut health issues, pain, eczema, and psoriasis often trace back to complex trauma and nervous system dysregulation. These physical symptoms are our body's protective responses. Viewing overall health from this...

For highly sensitive people (HSPs), the intensity of the world often feels magnified. Their heightened sensitivity makes them highly empathetic and deeply attuned to others' emotions. This allows them to form meaningful, compassionate connections. However, it can also lead to overwhelm. Everyday stimuli—like sounds, touch, smells, textures, and colors—can be particularly dysregulating for HSPs. Th...