You've done the breathing exercises. The app with the woman who's never once been late to anything. The "just relax," said by someone who has clearly never had their body stage a full mutiny in a parking lot. None of it worked. Turns out that's not a willpower problem. That's nervous system dysregulation, and it doesn't care about your five star meditation app rating.

This episode breaks down why fight-or-flight doesn't switch off just because you asked nicely, how chronic stress quietly compounds into allostatic load (think: your body running a subscription service you never agreed to, auto-renewing every time you say "I'm fine"), and why relaxation techniques keep failing people stuck in high-functioning burnout. Spoiler: your smoke alarm isn't broken. Nobody's put out the fire.

You hit the goal. The promotion, the milestone, the thing you worked years for. And you felt... nothing. This episode is about what it means to build a life on top of an unhealed wound, why high achievers mistake burning out for thriving, and what it actually looks like to heal instead of perform healing. A conversation about nervous system regulation, achievement addiction, and coming home to yourself, from someone still figuring it out in real time.

Check out my Substack "The Honest Healer" - https://thehonesthealer.substack.com/

If you want to keep up with me: www.christiequarton.com

Episode 1: I Will Not Perform Wellness While I'm Busy Needing It

Be Gentle With Me is back.

And if you're new here — welcome. You found this at exactly the right time.

This revival episode is the honest answer to a question I've been asked more than once: where did you go?

The short answer: life got loud. Work escalated. I relocated. My nervous system had a very reasonable, very inconvenient response to carrying too much for too long — and I made a decision I don't regret.

I refused to perform wellness while I was in the middle of needing it.

This episode is about that. About what burnout actually looks like when it doesn't announce itself dramatically. About what happens when a high-achieving woman finally stops outrunning herself. And about what becomes possible when you come back — not to who you were before, but to someone quieter, steadier, and entirely more herself.

In this episode:

— Why I went quiet and what the silence actually taught me— The difference between performing wellness and actually receiving it — What nervous system regulation looks like in real life — messy, imperfect, and nothing like the highlight reel — Why coming home to yourself isn't a destination — it's a Tuesday — A gentle somatic moment to close — no experience required

This episode is for you if:

— You're a high-achieving woman who is exhausted in a way that rest doesn't fix — You've been going through the motions of self-care without feeling any better — You've been performing "fine" for so long you've forgotten what actually okay feels like — You suspect your nervous system might be running the show — and you want to understand what to do about it — You need someone to talk to you honestly about burnout, chronic stress and somatic healing without the wellness gloss

• Want to delve deeper? Check out My Substack: The Honest Healer

Keywords: nervous system regulation for women, burnout recovery podcast, somatic healing, chronic stress, high-achieving women burnout, how to regulate your nervous system, somatic practices, women's wellness, coming home to yourself, dysregulation, parasympathetic nervous system, burnout signs, nervous system dysregulation, healing burnout naturally

Hey there, beautiful souls!

Ever feel like you're wearing an 'I'm not enough' t-shirt that only you can see? Spoiler alert: it's not because of your high school bully or that time you tripped in front of your crush. We're diving into the sneaky world of childhood emotional neglect and how it's been messing with your self-worth since your SpongeBob pajama days.

In this episode of 'Be Gentle With Me,' we're solving for X, where X = Your Inherent Awesomeness.

Here's what we're unpacking:

• The 'Not Enough' Epidemic: More common than the common cold, less fun than a root canal
• Childhood Emotional Neglect: It's like growing up in an emotional desert when you needed an oasis
• Types of Childhood Trauma: A crash course in 'what type of trauma do I have?' (Spoiler: You're not crazy, you're coping!)
• The Lasting Impact: How your inner critic became an overzealous bodyguard
• Breaking the Cycle: Because 'how do adults heal from childhood trauma?' is the new 'what's the meaning of life?'

Whether you're a perfectionist, a people-pleaser, or just feeling a bit lost in the adult world, this episode is your emotional GPS. We'll navigate the twists and turns of self-worth, toss that 'not enough' t-shirt in the donation bin, and start your journey to healing from childhood trauma.

Plus, download our free 'Practical Steps to Start Your Healing' workbook. It's like a personal trainer for your emotions, minus the intimidating muscles and protein shakes. You can get it at the link --> www.thewildswithin.com/free-guide

Remember, you're not broken, you're not a failure, and you're definitely not alone. You're just working with an emotional toolkit that's missing a few key tools. But don't worry - we're about to go shopping at the Home Depot of healing.

Welcome, beautiful souls, to "Be Gentle With Me"—your cozy corner for exploring healing, self-care, and personal growth. I'm Christie, and in this first episode, I'm inviting you to curl up with your favorite bevy as we dive into my journey with trauma-informed healing.

In this heart-to-heart, we'll explore:

• My experience navigating multiple mental health crises

• The twists and turns of therapy and how I found trauma-informed approaches

• The game-changing moment I embraced self-compassion

• The inspiration behind "The Wilds Within"

• Real, practical self-care strategies that made a difference for me

We'll also practice a gentle self-compassion exercise - consider it a warm hug for your soul.

Some resources to explore:

- Your free "Practical Steps To Start Your Healing" guide: https://thewildswithin.com/free-guide/

- Submit your questions for our fireside Q&A episodes: https://thewildswithin.com/ask-your-question/

Remember, your healing journey is uniquely yours. Let's explore it together, with gentleness and care.

Feeling chatty? Connect with me on Instagram or Threads @TheWildsWithin. I'd love to hear what hit home for you from this episode.

Discover "Be Gentle With Me," your Sunday self-care treat!

Join Christie weekly for:

• Down-to-earth chats on healing from tough times

• Innovative self-care tips & tools

• Real stories from people who bounced back

• No-nonsense advice from experts

• Tricks to tame your inner critic (with a smile!)

Tune in every Sunday for a cozy, judgment-free zone where healing meets humor. It's like a warm hug for your heart – no luxury spa needed!

#SundaySelfCare #HealingJourney #RealTalk #InnerPeace

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