Resources
Trauma
Trauma lives in the body, not just the mind: You might feel “stuck” not because you’re broken, but because your nervous system is still trying to protect you—even long after the danger has passed.
Healing starts with awareness, not force: You don’t have to relive everything to heal. Gently reconnecting with your body helps rebuild a sense of safety and trust within yourself.
Your symptoms are survival strategies: Anxiety, numbness, or overreacting aren’t character flaws—they’re your body’s way of coping with overwhelm. Healing means learning new ways to feel safe again.
You can rewire for resilience: Through supportive practices like breathwork, grounding, movement, or mindfulness, you can teach your nervous system how to calm, connect, and heal—one step at a time.
Healing Trauma: A Body/Mind Approach
If you’ve ever felt like you “should be over it by now” but still find yourself anxious, shut down, or triggered in everyday life, you’re not alone—and you’re not broken. Trauma doesn’t just live in your memories. It lives in your body, shaping how you respond to stress, relationships, and even joy. A body/mind approach to healing recognizes that true recovery isn’t just about talking it out—it’s about gently helping your nervous system feel safe again.
Often, people think healing requires digging through painful memories or pushing through symptoms with willpower. But healing actually starts with awareness, not force. When you learn to notice your body’s signals—tight shoulders, a racing heart, or the urge to shut down—you can begin to respond with curiosity instead of fear. Practices like grounding, breathwork, gentle movement, and mindful attention offer ways to reconnect with your body and create a sense of safety from the inside out.
And here’s something that can shift everything: many of the symptoms you struggle with aren’t signs of weakness—they’re signs of survival. Anxiety, people-pleasing, hyper-independence, or zoning out are all ways your body has tried to protect you. These patterns don’t have to define you. With time and support, your nervous system can learn new rhythms. You can rewire for calm, connection, and resilience—not by fixing yourself, but by finally supporting yourself in the way you’ve always needed.
The 5 Fs of Trauma: How Your Body Tries to Protect You
When your nervous system senses danger—real or perceived—it doesn’t ask for your permission. It acts fast to keep you safe. These survival responses aren’t flaws or personality quirks—they’re your body’s ancient way of saying, “I’ve got you.” Here's a breakdown of the 5 Fs you might notice in yourself:
Fight – "I’ll take this head-on."
You feel angry, reactive, or on edge. Maybe you argue, push back, or try to control a situation. This response is about self-protection through power—a way to fight off the threat.
Flight – "I’ve got to get out of here."
You feel anxious, restless, or like you need to do something—anything—to escape. This response shows up as busyness, overworking, or avoidance, all in the name of safety.
Freeze – "I can’t move."
You feel stuck, numb, or shut down. You might have trouble thinking, speaking, or acting. Freeze is the body’s “pause button”—a way to go silent when fighting or fleeing won’t work.
Fawn – "If I keep everyone happy, I’ll be safe."
You people-please, over-accommodate, or lose track of your own needs. Fawning is a self-protective strategy to avoid conflict by blending in or staying agreeable.
Flop – "I give up completely."
You collapse, dissociate, or feel like your body has gone limp. This lesser-known response is about total shutdown, often rooted in helplessness after prolonged stress or trauma.
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Book: The Body Keeps the Score
Bessel van der Kolk
A foundational trauma resource that explores how trauma reshapes the brain and body—and offers paths to healing through therapies like EMDR, yoga, and neurofeedback. -
Book: What Happened to You?
Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey
This compassionate conversation between a renowned psychiatrist and Oprah reframes trauma not as “What’s wrong with you?” but “What happened to you?”, offering insights into healing through connection and understanding.
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Book: The Myth of Normal
Daniel and Gabor Maté
This eye-opening book challenges our assumptions about health in modern society, revealing how trauma, stress, and disconnection contribute to illness—and how we can reclaim wholeness. -
Book: Trauma Stewardship
Laura van Dernoot Lipsky
A must-read for caregivers, helpers, and healers, this book explores the cumulative toll of witnessing trauma and provides mindful strategies for sustainable, ethical service.
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Book: Waking the Tiger
Peter Levine
A foundational somatic trauma text, Levine introduces his Somatic Experiencing approach, showing how trauma lives in the body and can be released through restoring natural self-regulation.
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Trauma Informed Yoga
This YouTube channel has free recorded yoga practices using a trauma-informed approach.
Podcast Links
