Feel stuck in survival mode even though you "know" what you should do? Overthinking every choice but never feeling safe enough to act? This episode helps you understand overthinking as a trauma response (not a character flaw)—so you can stop performing healing and start coming home to yourself.

Therapist and educator Janice Holland (The Trauma Teacher) joins Nikki P to unpack what trauma really is ("what happens inside us"), how fight/flight/freeze/fawn create overthinking and anxiety patterns, and how to build safety in your body without overwhelming your nervous system. We talk people-pleasing, boundaries, and emotional regulation for real-life healing.

In this episode, we cover:

- Overthinking as disconnection—and healing as reconnection

- Fight/flight/freeze/fawn and how they map to anxiety, overworking, numbness, and people-pleasing

- How to build capacity slowly (desire, micro-choices, safe people)

- Holiday boundaries: simple scripts + the reframe that makes them possible

- Signals of real progress: sleep, digestion, ease, laughter, and less guilt

- Self-compassion practices for when you're stuck in your head

If this helped, follow the show for weekly conversations on navigating transitions, overthinking, anxiety, and personal growth—and share it with a friend who needs language for what they're living.

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