This episode examines something that happened to me (Shannon Eastman) earlier today. I bombed my podcast and inside that experience I got to see something that feels helpful to share with you. I mention my daily practice in this episode. You'll find that here >
When someone taps into an old, unresolved emotional wound — especially one rooted in childhood dysregulation — the nervous system doesn’t recognize it as the past. It often responds as though the threat is happening now.
Here’s what typically happens in the body and nervous system:
The nervous system is non-verbal and non-linear.
When triggered, it reactivates the physiological and emotional patterns from the original moment, not the current reality. This is often referred to as "implicit memory" — felt, but not consciously recalled.
Depending on how the nervous system coped back then, a person may automatically enter:
Fight – agitation, blame, control
Flight – panic, overthinking, urge to escape
Freeze – numbness, disconnection, inability to act
Fawn – people-pleasing, appeasement, self-erasure
This is not a choice — it’s the nervous system’s best attempt to protect the system with what it learned during developmental years
The part of the brain responsible for logic, executive function, and perspective (prefrontal cortex) goes offline. The limbic system and brainstem take over, prioritizing survival.
This is why:
Rationalizing doesn't help
Coaching feels frustrating
“Calm down” is ineffective
Common physical symptoms include:
United States of Kennedy
United States of Kennedy is a podcast about our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty. Every week, hosts Lyra Smith and George Civeris go into one aspect of the Kennedy story.
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