Practical Ways to Overcome Trauma, Grief, and Chronic Stress with Jolyn Armstrong Part 2

🎙️ 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:

• Trauma vs. grief: How to identify and address both
• Coercive control, cults, and emotional manipulation
• Supporting families affected by incarceration
• Breathwork techniques for stress and anxiety
• Radical acceptance and building resilience
• Jolyn’s workbook for trauma recovery and daily practice

Key Takeaways:

• 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:

• How can families support loved ones in prison, and what are the most common emotions they struggle with?
• How do you define coercive control or cult environments, and what warning signs should people look for?
• When should someone seek help for their nervous system or emotional well-being?
• What’s the story and intention behind your trauma recovery workbook?

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: 

Trauma, Grief, and When to Seek Help 

Navigating Manipulation: Coercive Control, Cults, & Shame 

Supporting Families of Incarcerated Loved Ones 

Jolyn’s Workbook: Daily Practices for Healing

#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! 🌱