How Trauma Lives in the Body and Why Heal Your Nervous System

What if your constant stress, emotional triggers, and exhaustion aren’t a mindset problem, but a sign your nervous system is stuck in survival mode? 

In this episode of Trauma Rewired, we explore the science of nervous system reset, nervous system regulation, and how to restore the nervous system after chronic stress and trauma. Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof unpack how the autonomic nervous system governs your reactions, why trauma is stored as patterns in the body, and how to begin the process of nervous system recovery without forcing or overwhelming yourself.

You’ll learn how the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) branches work together, why dysregulation is not a personal failure, and how practices like movement, breathwork, and interoception can help you regulate more effectively. This conversation also covers the difference between “big T” and “small T” trauma, why nervous system healing requires both individual and collective approaches, and how to build resilience so you can meet life’s challenges without staying stuck in survival mode.

This episode is both a science-backed education and a compassionate guide for anyone ready to experience a genuine nervous system reset.

Timestamps

00:00 – Triggers and the Nervous System
02:15 – The Nervous System as the Body’s Operating System
05:35 – Autonomic Nervous System and Stress Responses
08:30 – Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic States
12:05 – Nervous System States and Emotional Patterns
16:50 – Triggers as Nervous System Reset Opportunities
18:05 – The Stress Response and Survival Mode
23:25 – Trauma and Nervous System Dysregulation
28:40 – Chronic and Complex Trauma Effects
36:10 – Emotional Processing for Nervous System Healing

Topics discussed in this episode:

• How to restore the nervous system after chronic stress and trauma

• How nervous system regulation improves emotional resilience and physical health

• How the autonomic nervous system works (sympathetic vs. parasympathetic explained)

• How trauma imprints on the nervous system and keeps you in survival mode

• How to use nervous system healing practices like breathwork, movement, and interoception

• How to exit fight or flight safely when the danger has passed

• How nervous system reset supports emotional processing and better decision-making

• How to use interoception to sense, interpret, and respond to internal body signals

• How to regulate the nervous system daily with small, consistent practices

• How dysregulation impacts health and the steps to build lasting nervous system resilience

🔗Resources mentioned:

 

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Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop li