Practical Ways to Overcome Trauma, Grief, and Chronic Stress with Jolyn Armstrong Part 1

🎙️ Welcome to Healthy Happy Wise Wealthy (HHWW)! In this powerful and insightful episode, host Mary Meyer sits down with trauma and grief recovery specialist Jolyn Armstrong. With an impressive background in DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), polyvagal theory, somatic practices, and breathwork facilitation, Jolyn walks us through the practical ways to heal from deep personal loss and navigate life’s toughest chapters—including experiences related to incarceration, grief, and high stress. Discover how healing the nervous system can transform your emotions and reclaim your power, whether you’re facing sudden loss, chronic anxiety, or emotionally manipulative environments.

🌟 Topics Covered:

• What is DBT, and how does it differ from CBT?
• Reframing self-talk and empowering new perspectives
• Introduction to polyvagal theory and the vagus nerve
• Practical tools for nervous system regulation
• Understanding and applying somatic exercises
• Trauma vs. grief: How to identify and address both

Key Takeaways:

• Trauma and grief are nervous system injuries, not just mental states—true recovery comes from regulating your body, not just your thoughts.
• DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) introduces mindfulness and reframing, helping you hold multiple truths and empowering change.
• Polyvagal theory offers insight into why your body reacts the way it does and provides immediate grounding tools to restore calm.
• Many somatic and breathwork exercises can be practiced anywhere, helping you respond to stress in the moment.
• Emotional trauma is NOT a sign of weakness or intelligence—it can happen to anyone and deserves compassion, not shame.
• There’s a difference between a hard event and trauma: trauma overwhelms the nervous system, takes away your control, and disrupts your identity.
• Radical acceptance and reframing “I can’t” to “I choose not to right now” can dramatically shift your sense of power and agency.

Some Questions I Ask:

• What’s the difference between CBT and DBT? Why does “reframing” matter?
• Can you walk us through the polyvagal theory and how it applies to stress?
• How can someone know if what they’re experiencing is trauma versus just a hard life event?
• What are simple somatic exercises or breathwork techniques people can use in public or at home?

Learn More About Our Guest:

• Website: grapevineinnerwellness.com
• Podcast: “The Grapevine Wellness Show” (featuring Reno-Tahoe wellness community)
• Book: “Trauma Recovery” workbook available on Amazon or through her website

(Mary mentions Jolyn sends personalized copies to her clients! Contact via website for info.)

Mary Meyer is the host of the Healthy Happy Wise Wealthy podcast. Mary is a media consultant who helps businesses expand their reach through video, audio and digital storytelling. Media training can grow your brand visibility, and we are here to help.
This is a video and audio podcast; the audio portion can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.

🌟 Connect on Instagram and Facebook @HealthyHappyWiseWealthy

Resources List:

• Grapevine Inner Wellness
• Book: “Trauma Recovery” (Jolyn Armstrong) – available on Amazon
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
• Polyvagal theory resources (intro guides, books by Stephen Porges)
• Jolyn’s “The Grapevine Wellness Show” Podcast
• Bad Vegan documentary (referenced regarding coercive manipulation)
• DBT, CBT, and Somatic Practices – mental health education resources

YouTube Chapters: 

00:00 Introduction & Jolyn’s Credentials 

04:28 Cognitive vs. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (CBT vs. DBT) 

10:30 Polyvagal Theory Explained + Grounding Exercises 

15:30 Somatic Practices & Releasing Trauma from the Body 

22:40 Reframing, Radical Acceptance & Real-World Applications 

29:00 Breathwork for Stress—Easy At-Home Techniques 

33:55 Trauma, Grief, and When to Seek Help 

#TraumaRecovery #NervousSystemHealing #HealthyHappyWiseWealthy #MindfulnessTools #GriefSupport #PolyvagalTheory #SomaticHealing #BreathworkPractice

Whether you’re navigating grief, anxiety, or the shadow of a difficult relationship, this episode is packed with real tools to support your healing—plus the reminder that compassion and self-acceptance are always within reach. Subscribe for more wisdom on living a Healthy, Happy, Wise, Wealthy life! 🌱