“Why do I hurt, even though nothing is wrong?”- The link between Adverse Childhood Experiences and chronic pain
Enduring a tough childhood can seem like a double whammy of unfairness- having to go through the original trauma of abuse/ neglect/ unmet needs, and then also having to deal with the repercussions in later life. However, understanding how your early experiences have created the conditions for your present suffering can be illuminating and empowering, and the good news is that your body and brain have a remarkable capacity to heal, given the right inputs.
Lets explore the links and shed some light on how your difficult childhood may have influenced you on a cellular level- and what you can do about it.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are sadly incredibly common, and are endured by all types of children, regardless of race, education and economic background. They have been classified as a list of 10 experiences, characterised by abuse, neglect and dysfunction, ranging from having a parent in prison (less common) to parental separation (most common) and the more ACEs you have, the higher the likelihood of mental and physical health problems, including addiction, personality disorders, PTSD and chronic pain. (If you’d like to discover how many ACEs you have, please head to the ‘resources’ section on my website, where you will find the definitive list of them there.)
There are several distinct biological responses to ACEs- I’ll break them down into sections here.
HPA Axis Dysregulation
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is the body’s main stress-response system. Childhood trauma can lead to hyper- or hypo-reactivity of the HPA axis (too much or too little activation)
This is characterised by:
Altered cortisol rhythms (blunted morning peaks or chronic elevation of this stress hormone)
Heightened sensitivity to stress
- Which leads to persistent low-grade inflammation, immune activation, and greater sensitivity to pain signals.
Central Sensitization
Central sensitization is a state where the central nervous system (CNS) becomes hypersensitive to pain. Trauma primes the brain and spinal cord to:
Overreact to pain (hyperalgesia)
Misinterpret non-painful input as pain (allodynia)
Keep firing pain signals even without injury
- This means you experience chronic widespread pain, fatigue, or "mystery symptoms" — often without a clear medical cause.
Gut-Brain Axis and Dysbiosis
The microbiome plays a key role in mood, immunity, and inflammation. ACEs can alter gut flora and intestinal integrity, causing:
Leaky gut (increased intestinal permeability)
Chronic inflammation and neuroinflammation (inflammation in the brain and spinal cord)
Greater risk of IBS, fibromyalgia, fatigue, and depression
Overactivation of immune cells and inflammatory cytokines
These cytokines sensitize nerves and reduce tolerance to pain
Gut microbes also regulate calming neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA, effecting pain modulation
- Resulting in a feedback loop between gut inflammation and heightened pain perception.
Epigenetics & Nervous System Imprinting
ACEs can alter gene expression through methylation—especially genes linked to stress, inflammation, and immune function
Trauma “imprints” a pattern of heightened vigilance and dysregulation into the autonomic nervous system
- This results in a nervous system that misreads safety cues and overreacts to minor triggers, creating a negative feedback loop of '‘pain- stress- more pain- more stress’
The Cell Danger Response (CDR)
The CDR model explains how cells under threat (from toxins, trauma, infection) shift into a defensive, energy-conserving state.
This state disrupts mitochondrial function, impairs cellular healing, and sustains inflammation.
Trauma in early life may lock the body into a chronic CDR, impairing tissue repair and keeping the body in "threat mode."
- Which can lead to exhaustion, chemical sensitivity, slow recovery, and persistent pain.
Emotional Suppression and Alexithymia
Many people with ACEs develop emotional numbness or difficulty identifying feelings- this is called Alexithymia
This dissociation from internal states can manifest somatically—as pain
- Then pain becomes a proxy for unexpressed or unprocessed emotions- if you can’t feel it emotionally, you will feel it physically instead.
Impaired Vagal Tone
Trauma decreases vagal tone, impairing the ability to shift into rest-and-digest- the natural state for healing and growth
This hinders digestion, repair, immune function, and pain resolution
- Meaning you are more likely to stay in sympathetic overdrive (fight, flight, freeze, fawn) or dorsal vagal shutdown (collapse, exhaustion, burnout)
Neuroplasticity and “Wired for Survival” Patterns
Childhood trauma shapes brain development.
The brain becomes hypervigilant, wiring neural pathways for threat detection and pain.
Without intervention, this wiring reinforces suffering and can maintain a chronic pain state even when original injuries have healed.
- Leading to your brain picking up on alarm signals more easily, which gets translated into pain.
As well as these biological responses, enduring childhood trauma also leads to several unconscious defences- beliefs and behaviour that once kept you safe, but are now keeping you suffering.
These are things such as-
Not feeling able to ask for help
If you asked for support when you were younger, and got ignored, ridiculed, shamed or otherwise punished for it, you will have learnt not to bother- internalising the message that ‘I’m safest when I rely only on myself’.
But now, not asking for help- being hyperindependent- can mean you don’t reach out when you need support. This keeps the body in an alarm state and can lead to overwhelm or burnout.
Not meeting your own needs = self-abandonment & exhaustion
When basic needs (comfort, safety, soothing) were ignored or shamed, you internalise the following belief-
“My needs are too much. To be loved, I must ignore them.”
This can result in chronic overgiving and depletion, disconnection from hunger, fatigue, or pain signals, and pushing through pain - causing alarm in the body, worsening symptoms and leading to burnout.
Not trusting your intuition = anxiety, shame & disconnection
If caregivers gaslit or ignored your reality, you will have learned:
“My instincts are wrong. I must defer to others.”
The impact of this is second-guessing bodily sensations, distrusting your own inner guidance, and relying on others to validate your experience- which limits your self agency to heal.
Ignoring body signals = disembodiment, dissociation & pain escalation
In unsafe environments, it may have felt necessary to “leave the body” to survive.
This can lead to the internalised belief that “It’s safer not to feel” and a tendency to dissociate.
The consequences can be a disconnection from subtle warning signs (tightness, fatigue, inflammation) which leads to pushing past thresholds until pain becomes severe, which increases stress and anxiety, further ruling the body’s internal sense of alarm- which leads to physical pain.
Perfectionism & people-pleasing = chronic stress & muscle guarding
Origin: If love or safety were conditional when you were younger, you likely grew up with the belief
“If I’m perfect or useful, I’ll be safe.”
This tends to lead to an inability to relax, and an inability to let your guard down- causing chronic bracing, muscle tension, jaw clenching and habitual shallow breathing. It can also be the root cause of overworking, and putting everyone else’s needs before your own. Chronic tension is exhausting, because your muscles don’t fully relax, leading to tiredness, hypoxia (low cellular oxygen levels, poor blood flow) and pain flares.
Toxic inner critic = low self-worth & nervous system dysregulation
If you were regularly criticised by your caregivers, their voice becomes your default, leading to a harsh and toxic inner critic. Maybe the following beliefs ring true for you?
“I’m not enough. I’m weak if I rest. I need to be productive to be worthy. I don’t deserve it. I need to keep small. I must do more”
This inner pressure maintains a chronic stress state, and shaming yourself for being in pain or needing to rest will increase your sympathetic activation- the fight/ flight/ fawn/ freeze response. Self-criticism is the equivalent to being constantly chased by a tiger- except the threat is inside your own head- this activates pain centres in the brain.
Fear of vulnerability = emotional suppression & somatic pain
If it was unsafe for you to express your vulnerability as a child, this can lead to the belief that “If I’m seen or feel too much, I’ll get hurt.”
The outcome of this is that emotional pain gets stored somatically. When you are unable to express and process your emotions, they can increase the levels of inflammation in your body. And the things you need to do the most- crying, connection with others, and tuning into your emotions to feel them, are resisted.
The Pain-Protection Loop
These psychological patterns maintain a loop of chronic pain:
Early trauma sensitizes the nervous system.
Subconscious rules lead to self-neglect and overextension.
Pain flares when needs are ignored or body is pushed too far.
Shame, mistrust, and emotional suppression block healing.
The cycle repeats—until new patterns are built.
So lets talk about the new patterns! Because your past does not have to define you. The following practices are evidence based ways that can help you overcome past trauma, step away from chronic pain, and start to thrive.
I use them all regularly with my clients, with great success-
Changing your inner critic with Cognitive Hypnotherapy, using inner child work and parts work, to soothe, soften and release the voices that are making you feel unsafe.
Embodiment practices such as TRE, breath work, progressive muscle relaxation and other healthy movement patterns to rebuild trust and communication with your body’s signals.
Nervous system regulation to shift you out of survival mode and into a state of safety, balance and flexibility.
Compassionately witnessing your suffering, to work through, release, and come out the other side of your emotions, and meet your own needs without shame.
Rewiring attachment wounds with building safe and trusting relationships.
Psychoeducation around the nervous system, subconscious survival tactics, and chronic pain, to expand your understanding, reduce fear and shame, and leave you feeling empowered with knowledge.
Learning how to recognise shifting emotional states with observing your thoughts and physical cues, and working with them to consciously create new, happier and more positive thoughts and emotions- leading to greater comfort and ease.
Visualising your desired outcome with clarity, to create a roadmap for your subconscious to work towards- a future full of health, hope, connection and purpose.
I hope you have found this blog to be helpful, either for yourself or perhaps someone you know. Finding out the links between the past and your present reality can be overwhelming as well as illuminating- but you don’t have to solve it all on your own. If you need support, reach out- I’m here to help you navigate through difficult life experiences, and come out the other side- into the most healthy, happy and healed version of you.
Why ‘thinking positive’ may not be so helpful
We’ve all heard the advice: “Just think positive!”
It’s plastered all over social media, sold in self-help books, and well-meaning friends love to dish it out when you’re struggling. Maybe you have tried to ‘think positive’ when feeling stressed, anxious or in pain. And its true that for everyday stress, shifting your mindset can help. But when you’ve experienced trauma, when your nervous system is stuck in survival mode, “thinking positive” doesn’t just not work—it can actually make things worse.
Why? Because trauma lives in the body, not the mind
If you’ve experienced trauma—whether it’s childhood wounds, ongoing stress, or a single overwhelming event—you’re not just dealing with difficult memories. Trauma changes your brain and body. It rewires your nervous system to stay on high alert, keeping you stuck in survival states like fight, flight, freeze, or fawn.
And when your nervous system is dysregulated, simply “thinking positive” won’t flip the switch back to calm and safety. Here’s why:
Your limbic brain hijacks your prefrontal cortex
Your brain is wired for survival. The limbic system, which includes the amygdala (your fear centre), the hippocampus (your memory processor), and the hypothalamus (your stress-response manager), is in charge of detecting danger and keeping you alive.
When it senses a threat—real or perceived—it hijacks the rational part of your brain, the prefrontal cortex. That’s why, in moments of stress, it can feel impossible to “just think rationally” or “choose happy thoughts.” Your brain is prioritising survival, not logic.
And here’s the thing: Trauma can cause your limbic system to become overactive, meaning it’s more likely to sound the alarm, even when you’re actually safe. That’s why you might feel anxious in situations that don’t seem logically threatening, or why you can’t “just move on” from the past. Your body and brain are still stuck in a loop of protection.
Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn: How trauma shapes your reactions
If you’re stuck in a trauma response, your nervous system is running the show. And no amount of positive thinking will override it until you address what’s happening in your body. Here’s how these responses show up:
Fight: You feel irritable, angry, or on edge. You might lash out, get defensive, or feel like you have to control everything.
Flight: You feel anxious, restless, and overwhelmed. You stay busy to avoid feeling your emotions, or you always feel the need to escape.
Freeze: You feel numb, disconnected, or shut down. You might struggle to make decisions, feel stuck, or find it hard to take action.
Fawn: You people-please, avoid conflict, and struggle with boundaries. You prioritise others’ needs over your own, often at your own expense.
These responses aren’t conscious choices—they’re automatic survival strategies your nervous system has learned to keep you safe.
Why “positive thinking” can backfire
When someone tells you to “just think positive” while you’re stuck in survival mode, it can actually make you feel worse. Here’s why:
1. It creates more shame
If you try to force yourself to think positive but your body is still stuck in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn, you might end up feeling like there’s something wrong with you. “Why can’t I just be grateful? Why do I still feel anxious/depressed/stuck?”
The truth is, your nervous system isn’t broken—it’s doing exactly what it learned to do to keep you safe. But forcing positivity can make you feel like a failure when you don’t “snap out of it.”
2. It ignores the body’s role in healing
Trauma isn’t just a collection of bad thoughts—it’s stored in your body. If your nervous system is dysregulated, simply changing your thoughts won’t be enough. You need to work with your body to create a felt sense of safety first.
3. It can trigger a trauma response
If your body is still holding onto past fear, forcing yourself to “just think happy” can feel like gaslighting yourself. It’s like putting a fresh coat of paint over a cracked foundation—it doesn’t fix the underlying issue, and eventually, the cracks will show through.
So, what actually works?
Instead of trying to force positive thinking, focus on regulating your nervous system and creating real, embodied safety. Here’s what you can do instead:
1. Validate your feelings
Instead of pushing away your emotions with positivity, acknowledge them. Try saying:
“I will give myself understanding and compassion”
“My nervous system is responding to past experiences.”
“I don’t have to rush my healing.”
Self-compassion is key here. Your responses are not flaws—they’re adaptations to what you’ve been through.
2. Engage in body-based practices
Since trauma lives in the body, healing has to involve the body too. Try:
TRE (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises): Helps release stored stress and tension.
Breathwork: Slow, deep breathing signals safety to your nervous system.
Grounding exercises: Bring yourself back to the present moment using present moment sensory awareness.
Yoga or movement: Helps reconnect you to your body and process stored emotions.
3. Focus on safety, not positivity
Before your brain can access logical thinking or positive perspectives, your body needs to feel safe. Ask yourself:
“What would make me feel just a little safer right now?”
“How can I bring comfort to my body?”
It might be wrapping yourself in a blanket, sitting in a quiet room, or pressing your feet into the floor. Small moments of safety add up over time.
4. Work with your nervous system, not against it
Understanding Polyvagal Theory can help here. Your vagus nerve plays a huge role in regulating your nervous system, shifting you from survival mode into a state of calm and connection. Practices like:
Humming or singing
Gentle rocking or swaying
Cold water on your face
These simple actions can stimulate the vagus nerve and help bring your system back to a regulated state.
5. Seek trauma informed support
Healing doesn’t happen in isolation. Finding a therapist, coach, or guide who understands nervous system regulation can make all the difference. Cognitive Hypnotherapy, TRE, and other somatic approaches can help you move out of survival mode and into a state where positive thinking actually becomes possible—because your body feels safe enough to believe it.
Working in a way that supports your nervous system
If you’ve ever felt like “thinking positive” just isn’t working for you, you’re not alone. Trauma isn’t something you can think your way out of. But by working with your nervous system, building a sense of safety in your body, and finding tools that actually support your healing, you can move toward genuine peace and resilience—without forcing fake positivity along the way.
If you’re ready to explore how to heal in a way that actually works for your nervous system, why not book a free call? We can chat about where you are and what support might be helpful for you. Because real healing isn’t about pretending to be happy—it’s about feeling truly safe, connected, and at home in yourself.
What’s the big deal about self care, anyway?
Everyone knows that self care is important, right? In certain wellness circles, it seems to be talked about as the answer to all life’s woes. But maybe it feels like you don’t have the incentive, the time or the money to invest more in yourself, or you don’t know where to start, or why, or maybe you have a deeper limiting belief such as ‘I don’t deserve it’ or ‘its selfish to focus on myself’
So I’d like to offer perhaps a differing perspective on self care, why its such a big deal, and how you can introduce more of it into your daily life- and it all comes down to your Nervous System.
Our Central Nervous System (CNS) is comprised of our brain stem and our spinal cord, and its constantly hard at work to keep you safe, under the level of conscious awareness. Without realising it, or even having to think about it, all day every day, your CNS is always making the assessment- “am I safe? Am I in danger?” This spidey sense is called Neuroception and is very helpful when its correctly calibrated (having a ‘gut feeling’ about something is an example of this)
But sometimes it can get stuck in a hyper alert, hyper sensitive setting- and then it starts doing its job too well. This is due to your vagus nerve being out of whack. (Technically, its a result of having low vagal tone) When this happens, it can perceive danger where there is none- which can lead to things like IBS, (as your vagus nerve is also responsible for digestion), feeling on edge, jumpy, unable to sleep, in pain, symptomatic, overthinking, hypervigilance, feeling tired but wired- and then we can get stuck like this- sometimes for years.
This is a perfectly understandable response to a CNS that has been overtaxed- perhaps through high stress levels, chronic illness, grief, trauma, or otherwise difficult life experiences and circumstances. And after a while, you may come to identify with this overprotective setting, and include it as part of your personality- “ I’m just an anxious person” ‘or “thats just how life is” could be a story that you tell yourself.
But that doesn’t mean you are stuck like this! Because our brains and bodies have the ability to change at any time, when we soothe our CNS, this hypersensitivity can be dialled down, and can stay down.
Think about it like this- if you have a dog, and the dog feels that its job is to protect you, then without the right input, (training, and soothing, to feel safe and calm) your guard dog will become overprotective, and this could lead to big trouble. What happens to the postman when he tries to post your letters? Your guard dog bites them on the hand. It was just trying to help, but has made things worse.
Your CNS is your internal guard dog. Without the right sort of messaging, it can make your life worse by being constantly triggered by things that it shouldn’t need to react to.
This is where self care comes in.
When we proactively meet our own needs, it soothes our internal guard dog, and helps us feel safe. This internal sense of safety dials down our reaction to perceived threat, and helps us clearly assess our internal and external environments.
Certain part of your brain that are responsible for translating that internal alarm into cues to feel pain, also overlap with parts of your brain that are responsible for intuiting unmet needs (hunger, thirst, tiredness, the need to pee, the need to move/ socialise/ have a hug/ be alone) so when you don’t meet these needs, those parts of your brain are activated in a way that makes your perception of pain and symptoms worse.
The answer to this is to meet your own needs, which creates an internal sense of safety, soothes your guard dog, resets your threat response, and dials down pain/ symptoms.
So first of all, try asking yourself- am I hungry? Am I thirsty? Do I need a nap? Do I need a hug? Or time to be alone? And then meeting those essential needs, every day, is the first important step. And it may sound obvious, but its very easy to be too busy and outwardly focused then overlook those basic cues- and wind up feeling worse for it.
The second step to calm your alarm system is to gift yourself soothing experiences to add into your sense of wellbeing and safety. These don’t need to cost any money, or take up much time- even 5 minutes a day can make a difference.
Here are 8 ideas for free 5 minute microbreaks that you can include into your day-
1- BREATH AWARENESS AND SLOW BREATHING
Noticing how you breathe, and then choosing to slow your breath down to a pace that you find comfortable, and maintain that slow, steady and comfortable pace for 5- 10 minutes is one of the best ways you can soothe your internal alarm. Your CNS places the highest importance on the state of your breath, as its such an important function.
Yet it can go completely overlooked, and end up fueling anxiety, fear, panic, alarm- all of which gets translated into pain by your brain. Box breathing (in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4) or Coherent breathing (In for 4, out for 6) are 2 simple ways you can use your breath to bring you into a calm and safe nervous system state.
2- SHAKING, BOUNCING, PATTING AND STROKING
Patting your body from head to toe, gentle strokes (can be done over clothes), bouncing on your heels, and shaking your body are all ways to encourage interception (internal awareness) and to move out of a stressed physical state into a place of calm and relaxation. We hold stress in our bodies as well as our minds, and these simple practices all help to complete the stress cycle, discharge stress hormones, and convey care and attention to your body.
3- DANCING AND SINGING
For all the reasons as above, except to your favourite tune. Moving your body in a way that feels good and enjoyable conveys safety and helps to release stored tension. Singing directly tones your vagus nerve, helping it- and therefore you- come back to balance.
4- REACHING OUT
Lets face it- staying in contact with our friends and loved ones is hard isn't it? You blink, and 6 months has gone by. Why not send a text to someone you haven’t connected with for a while? Feeling close to people is one of the best and easiest ways to feel safe, but it doesn’t have to be only the deepest and closest friendships that you cultivate- although obviously they are important.
Studies show that even just interacting with people in shops fosters a sense of belonging and connection. So touching base with, and sending a quick hello to someone you have been meaning to message, and keeping your friendships going- even if its just on the phone or via text-is an easy way to feel secure, connected and loved.
5- NOTICING AND CATCHING FEAR BASED THOUGHTS
Once you step back and observe your thoughts, you will realise how many of them are repetitive, fear based, and possibly not even based on facts. Being able to catch yourself when you are prone to catastrophisation, rumination or faulty thinking (such as black and white thinking or overgeneralisation) gives you the chance to take a step back in your mind, not buy into the thought, and observe your mind.
Because you are not your thoughts- you are the thinker of your thoughts. This gives you the space to create new, up to date, accurate and helpful thoughts instead.
6- LONG DISTANCE GAZING
There is a reason people throughout history have tended to live on the top of hills- because when you can see far into the distanced, you activate your peripheral vision in a way that can detect threat, and in the absence of threat, your brain finds it easier to stay calm.
So simply by gazing into the distance, you can tap into this ability to feel safe. You could also combine this with breath awareness, noticing and catching your thoughts, or shaking and bouncing for extra self soothing effects.
7- JOURNALLING
Dumping out your thoughts onto paper helps them stop circulating round your head- it also helps you to organise your thinking, reflect on any patterns and progress, and become more self aware. Journalling regularly is a fantastic way of calming and clearing the mind. If you aren’t sure where to start, writing down your worries, how you feel in your body, your hopes, dreams and plans, and what you are grateful for is a great place to start.
8- MAKING A GRATITUDE LIST
Its soooo easy to focus on whats negative in our lives! And this isn’t a personal flaw- in fact, its an inbuilt survival mechanism which has evolved alongside humans to keep us safe. After all, it wasn’t the early humans who were sitting around the fire without a care in the world who didn’t get eaten by predators or attacked by another tribe- it was the humans scanning for danger on the horizon, alert to possible threat.
We evolved from those survivors, and we inherited their tendencies. But this mechanism now works against us, and the threat is that argument on Facebook, job instability, turning on the news, or even our own thoughts- but our bodies react in the same predicable way- stress hormones, tightness and tension, fast and shallow breathing. The way out of this is by noticing and focusing on the things around you that make you feel safe, happy, fulfilled. These are your Glimmers. They are the opposite of Triggers.
Writing them down is the best way of starting to habitually pay attention to the good in your life. This exercise rewires your brain away from the negativity bias and towards joy and all the benefits that it brings. It could be as simple and small as a flower in your garden, a cup of tea or coffee, a feeling of comfort somewhere in your body. Start with 3 things. But once you start noticing, you won’t stop- because in spite of the stress and anxiety of day to day life, once you start paying attention to the little things that bring you joy, you won’t be able to stop at just 3.
When we create time to invest in these simple, easy, free and effective practices regularly, we are giving ourselves support that pays off big time for our nervous systems.
So why not start incorporating them into your day to day life?
Why practice TRE?
TRE (Tension and Trauma Release Exercises) is a practice designed to reset your nervous system through the activation of neurogenic tremors. ‘Neurogenic’ means arising from the nervous system. They are completely different from pathological tremors, as seen in Parkinson’s, dystonia etc.
These tremors, when experienced in an environment of safety, reset your stress cycle and provide a corrective experience to your nervous system, allowing a sense of balance and ease. Being able to come back to rest, digest, growth and repair more easily each time you practice.
TRE is taught as a self- help tool- meaning once you have had tuition by a qualified and experienced teacher such as myself, you can safely and effectively practice by yourself. This means it’s a very sustainable skill to acquire. Regularly practiced, you can use TRE for anxiety, pain, trauma and stress relief. It will release tight muscles, especially parasitic tension caused by stress and trauma..
The practice is divided into 3 parts- the first part is the 7 simple warm up exercises that create the conditions for the tremors, the second part is the tremors themselves, and the third part is the integration period afterwards. The tremors aren’t under voluntary control- they do come from your brain, but not the neocortex- they come from the brain stem, the same part of your brain responsible for other involuntary actions such as your heart beating and your digestion.
You can however control when you start and stop them, and you can choose to stop at any time.
Practicing TRE regularly will dial down any overactivation in your nervous system, meaning you can come back to the healing state of parasympathetic dominance. This state is where the magic happens. Because your nervous system is a bit like a see-saw- you can only have one side active at a time. Spending too much time in fight/ flight/ freeze/ fawn is damaging and promotes disease.
Fight/ flight is really useful in the face of an acute stressor- nobody wants to be calm and relaxed when running away from a tiger. When activated this way, our muscles tighten, our digestion turns off, and we become hypersensitive to threat- all useful if in actual danger. But nowadays, there are no tigers chasing us- instead, we deal with chronic, daily stressors such as deadlines, money worries, the news, social media, and demands of work- but our bodies react in the same way.
This, especially when combined with trauma stored in our bodies from difficult childhood experiences, causes our stress activation to remain stuck on ‘on’. Which means it’s harder to sleep, digest food, feel relaxed, or recover from illness. Being in low grade fight/ flight can cause shallow breathing, anxiety, restlessness and hypervigilance, and can exacerbate autoimmune disease , as there is a close link between the immune system and the nervous system.
The thing is- the aim isn’t to be calm and relaxed all the time. The aim is to keep that see-saw well oiled and fine tuned, meaning we respond in an appropriate way and can easily switch sides as needed. So regularly doing TRE for anxiety, stress, tension and trauma is a brilliant way of healing the body and bringing the whole self back to a state of natural balance.
If can also have some unexpected and welcome effects too- below is a recent update from a former client-
‘I thought you might appreciate an update on my TRE practice at home, for your own interest or in case it's of use to anyone else. I have been continuing to do the practices twice a week where I can - a minimum is once a week.
When I came to you this time last year, I was also experiencing menstrual issues, possibly associated with perimenopause, and probably also associated with my severe fibroids. I was having quite heavy mid-cycle bleeding, my periods were extremely heavy and painful and I was having hot flushes and night sweats.
I wanted to report that it is the TRE that has made the biggest difference and shows that clearly the trauma held in my body has most certainly affected my hormonal balance. By the start of the summer, all of the above symptoms had stopped. All of them. No more mid-cycle bleeding at all - not even light spotting. Hot flushes and night sweats stopped. Completely. By the end of the year, all cramping had stopped. This year, my periods are lighter.
During the summer, when I eased off the frequency of the TRE practices, the spotting and hot flushes returned for a couple of months - this was motivation enough to get right back into the TRE twice weekly again, and it has all stopped again.
I have been amazed by the effect - and very grateful! And very fascinated by it all. It wasn't a consequence I expected or even hoped for - I had no expectations really; I just appreciated the theory behind it and wanted to see how it would work for me. Just thought you might be interested to hear a follow up on the effects of the practice.’
How interesting is that? I hadn’t anticipated TRE being able to eradicate menopausal symptoms! Who knows what other benefits await? In just 2 lessons yu could have this self help tool at your fingertips. And the other good news is, learning TRE online is just as good as learning it in person- if you are interested to try this innovative practice, why not get in touch?