Have you ever felt like you have done everything "right" and you still hit a stress ceiling? You have gone to therapy, set boundaries, practiced self-care, learned regulation, and yet you still find yourself snapping, shutting down, or running on empty. This episode explores what it can look like to move beyond coping and into true emotional capacity. Not a life without stress, but a wider internal ability to meet life as it is, without collapsing into burnout or disconnection.

In this episode of Trauma Rewired, co-hosts Elisabeth Kristof (founder of BrainBased.com and the Neurosomatic Intelligence Coaching Certification) and Jennifer Wallace (Neurosomatic Psychedelic Preparation and Integration Guide, founder of Sacred Synapse) are joined by RaQuel Hopkins, a therapist and certified coach known for her work on capacity and adult development. Together, they unpack the difference between resilience, distress tolerance, and capacity, why "regulation" can sometimes become suppression, and how relating to emotions as data can create more choice. They also explore boundaries through the lens of self-trust, and why honoring "I do not want to" can be a meaningful step toward recovery and growth.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Why "doing everything right" can still feel like a ceiling

• 06:30 – What capacity means (and why it is about who you become)

• 14:30 – Resilience vs distress tolerance vs capacity

• 23:30 – Emotional strength, fragility, and the regulation misconception

• 34:30 – Boundaries, self-trust, and choice vs depletion

• 46:30 – Protective emotions, curiosity, and integration

• 56:30 – Corporate environments, pressure, and being human at work

• 1:03:00 – Closing reflections and where to find RaQuel

• 1:05:30 – Listener invitation and next steps (trial + workshop)

Key Takeaways:

• Capacity is not just "holding more." It can be about meeting life as it is and adapting without losing yourself.

• Regulation is not the same thing as calm. It is about modulation and appropriate responsiveness.

• Emotional strength includes feeling emotions without being defined by them. Emotions can be information, not directives.

• A "hard no" can sometimes be a signal of depletion, not clarity. Self-trust can reduce the need to announce boundaries.

• Protective patterns once helped you survive. Growth can start with curiosity rather than judgment.

Resources Mentioned:

• Free live 90-minute workshop: Neurosomatic.com/Integration

• NSI Community: Neurosomatic.com

• BrainBased: BrainBased.com

• Sacred Synapse: an educational YouTube channel founded by Jennifer Wallace that explores nervous system regulation, applied neuroscience, consciousness, and psychedelic preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

• Wayfinder Journal: Track nervous system patterns and support preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

• FREE 1 Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs from Athletic Greens when you use my exclusive offer: https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired

Call to Action:

Subscribe on your favorite audio platform or join us on YouTube!

👉 For a deeper understanding of integration, join our free live 90-minute Integration Workshop on February 11, 2026, at 12 PM CT. This experiential training covers how the nervous system processes change and how to integrate it effectively. https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/integration/

👉 You can also continue learning tools for nervous system regulation and post-traumatic growth at rewiretrial.com

Disclaimer:

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization. We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional. The BrainBased.com site and RewireTrial.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

All rights in our content are reserved.

What if the places we have been hurt most, our relationships, can also become the places where we grow? In this episode, we explore relational healing as a powerful driver of post-traumatic growth. Together, we unpack why safe connection can feel threatening after complex trauma, how protective patterns like fight, freeze, and fawn are intelligent adaptations (not personal failures), and why "capacity" is less about willpower and more about what your nervous system can hold in real time. You will hear how micro-moments of self attunement can reduce hypervigilance, build trust from the inside out, and turn insight into embodied change.

In this episode of Trauma Rewired, co-hosts Elisabeth Kristof (founder of BrainBased.com and the Neurosomatic Intelligence Coaching Certification) and Jennifer Wallace (Neurosomatic Psychedelic Preparation and Integration Guide) are joined by Piper Rose, a Neurosomatic Relationship Coach, founder of Shadowplay Coaching, and Director of Operations and Continuing Education at NSI. Piper shares an honest, grounded look at how co-regulation, repair, and "the burden of love" can become a training ground for deeper intimacy, resilience, and self compassion.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Intro: Why healing is relational, not just individual

• 03:30 Meet Piper Rose and what "Neurosomatic Relationship Coaching" means

• 08:20 Trauma, attachment wounding, and protective F responses in relationships

• 16:10 Reframing patterns as adaptations, not defects, and finding the "gifts" inside them

• 22:40 Neuroscience of connection: co-regulation, threat prediction, and updating the model

• 31:30 Why safe relationships can trigger fear, emotional flashbacks, and vulnerability

• 41:10 Self attunement, needs, and practicing repair in micro-moments

• 49:20 Community, nature, and animals as lower-risk pathways to relational practice

• 56:30 Closing reflections: building trust, capacity, and support beyond one relationship

Key Takeaways:

• Relational patterns like fight, freeze, and fawn are often strategic survival adaptations, not signs you are "broken."

• Safe connection can feel dangerous when your nervous system is trained to predict harm in intimacy.

• "Capacity" is not just skill or knowledge. It is whether your body can access those skills under pressure.

• Self attunement, like responding to thirst, overwhelm, or startle, builds a foundation for secure internal attachment and clearer boundaries.

• You do not have to do relational healing alone. Support teams, community, nature, and animals can provide safe enough co-regulation while you build trust.

Resources Mentioned:

• Free live 90-minute workshop: Neurosomatic.com/Integration

• NSI Community: Neurosomatic.com

• BrainBased: BrainBased.com

• Sacred Synapse: an educational YouTube channel founded by Jennifer Wallace that explores nervous system regulation, applied neuroscience, consciousness, and psychedelic preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

• Wayfinder Journal: Track nervous system patterns and support preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

• FREE 1 Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs from Athletic Greens when you use my exclusive offer: https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired

• Cozolino, L. J. (2014). The Neuroscience of Human Relationships: Attachment and the Developing Social Brain (2nd ed.). W. W. Norton & Company

Call to Action:

Subscribe on your favorite audio platform or join us on YouTube!

👉 For a deeper understanding of integration, join our free live 90-minute Integration Workshop on February 11, 2026, at 12 PM CT. This experiential training covers how the nervous system processes change and how to integrate it effectively. https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/integration/

👉 You can also continue learning tools for nervous system regulation and post-traumatic growth at rewiretrial.com

Disclaimer:

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization. We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional. The BrainBased.com site and RewireTrial.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

All rights in our content are reserved.

Post-traumatic growth gets talked about like a mindset shift, but real change often starts somewhere else: the nervous system. In this episode, we explore why being around happy people can feel threatening, why "find the silver lining" pressure can lead to bypassing, and why growth is not the same as rushing to meaning. We also unpack the other trap: getting stuck in a healing loop that keeps re-entering the pain without creating new patterns. If you have ever felt ashamed for not "moving on" fast enough, this conversation offers a different map.

In this episode of Trauma Rewired, co-hosts Elisabeth Kristof (founder of BrainBased.com) and Jennifer Wallace (Neurosomatic Psychedelic Preparation and Integration Guide) are joined by Matt Bush (Next Level Neuro, lead educator at NSI). Together, they break down what post-traumatic growth is (and is not), why connection and co-regulation are essential to healing, and how safety, repetition, and nervous system capacity create the conditions for authentic transformation.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Why "silver lining" pressure can trigger bypassing, and why happy environments can feel unsafe

• 06:30 What post-traumatic growth is (and what it is not), including the "toxic positivity" trap

• 14:30 Why trauma isolates, and why relational healing and co-regulation matter for recovery

• 23:30 Social bonding as a survival strategy: oxytocin, group rhythms, and threat reduction

• 34:30 Discernment in community: how to titrate connection and track nervous system outputs

• 45:00 Neuroplasticity and integration: why insight alone rarely rewires survival patterns

• 56:00 Practical integration for practitioners: frameworks, tools, and daily repetition for change

Key Takeaways:

• Post-traumatic growth is not about forcing gratitude or meaning. It often emerges after safety and capacity return to the body.

• Trauma can make connection feel dangerous, even when connection is what the nervous system needs to heal.

• "Good advice" can still be harmful when it is delivered before the nervous system is ready, especially around forgiveness and resilience.

• Healing can get stuck in two loops: performative "I am fine" masking, or compulsive re-processing that repeats intensity without building new patterns.

• Tracking outputs (sleep, digestion, pain, mood stability, compulsions) can reveal whether a practice is supporting regulation or creating more dysregulation.

Resources Mentioned:

• RewireTrial.com: Free two-week access to live neurosomatic intelligence classes and an on-demand library of nervous system practices

• BrainBased.com: Elisabeth's online community for applied neurology and somatic tools for behavior change, resilience, and stress processing

• NSI Certification: https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/nsi-certification/

• Sacred Synapse: an educational YouTube channel founded by Jennifer Wallace that explores nervous system regulation, applied neuroscience, consciousness, and psychedelic preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

• FREE 1 Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs from Athletic Greens when you use my exclusive offer: https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired

• Wayfinder Journal: Track nervous system patterns and support preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

Subscribe on your favorite audio platform or join us on YouTube!

👉 For a deeper understanding of integration, join our free live 90-minute Integration Workshop on February 11, 2026, at 12 PM CT. This experiential training covers how the nervous system processes change and how to integrate it effectively. https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/integration/

👉 You can also continue learning tools for nervous system regulation and post-traumatic growth at rewiretrial.com

Articles cited:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10941275/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10402056/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9953771/

https://taylorlab.psych.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/10/2000_Biobehavioral-responses-to-stress-in-females_tend-and-befriend.pdf

https://www.self.com/story/tend-and-befriend-response

Disclaimer:

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization. We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional. The BrainBased.com site and RewireTrial.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

All rights in our content are reserved.

You can have the most mind-blowing healing experience of your life and still find yourself right back in familiar patterns. Why? Because the nervous system defaults to what it knows. In this episode of Trauma Rewired, we explore why insight alone does not create lasting change and why the most intense healing experiences do not start in the mind, they start in the body.

Co-hosts Elisabeth Kristof, founder of BrainBased.com and the Neurosomatic Intelligence Coaching Certification, and Jennifer Wallace, Neurosomatic Psychedelic Preparation and Integration Guide, unpack peak somatic experiences through a trauma-informed lens. Together, they examine how experiences like breathwork, somatic practices, and psychedelics interact with neuroplasticity, interoception, and complex trauma. They also name an often-missing piece of the conversation: these experiences are not inherently healing without preparation, capacity, and integration.

This episode offers a grounded, nuanced discussion of why peak somatic experiences can be both transformative and destabilizing, especially for nervous systems shaped by chronic stress, dissociation, or developmental trauma. Rather than promoting quick fixes or heroic doses, Elisabeth and Jennifer emphasize nervous system safety, minimum effective dose, and relational support as essential ingredients for real, embodied change.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Why insight alone does not create change

• 05:40 – What peak somatic experiences are and are not

• 14:20 – Neuroplasticity, psychedelics, and the default mode network

• 28:10 – Somatic memory, dissociation, and complex trauma

• 44:30 – Why preparation and integration matter more than the experience itself

• 58:45 – Risks, discernment, and trauma-informed support

• 1:12:30 – Capacity building and minimum effective dose

• 1:24:00 – Integration, regulation, and long-term nervous system change

Key Takeaways:

• Peak somatic experiences amplify existing nervous system patterns rather than replacing them.

• Neuroplasticity is neutral and requires direction, support, and integration.

• Somatic memory often surfaces without narrative recall, especially in complex trauma.

• Preparation and capacity determine whether an experience is healing or destabilizing.

• Lasting change happens through consistent, embodied integration, not one-time breakthroughs.

Resources Mentioned:

• RewireTrial.com: Free two-week access to live neurosomatic intelligence classes and an on-demand library of nervous system practices

• BrainBased.com: Elisabeth's online community for applied neurology and somatic tools for behavior change, resilience, and stress processing

• Sacred Synapse: an educational YouTube channel founded by Jennifer Wallace that explores nervous system regulation, applied neuroscience, consciousness, and psychedelic preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

• Wayfinder Journal : helps you see the patterns shaping your inner world — and guides you through preparation, integration, and nervous system regulation using Neurosomatic Intelligence principles. → Find your way inward.

  https://stan.store/illuminated

• NSI Certification: https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/nsi-certification/

Call to Action:

Subscribe on your favorite audio platform or join us on YouTube!

👉 Ready to deepen your preparation and integration work? Explore the Wayfinder Journal, a guided neurosomatic journal designed to help you notice, name, and navigate your patterns through peak somatic experiences and everyday life. LINK

👉 You can also continue learning tools for nervous system regulation and post-traumatic growth at rewiretrial.com

Disclaimer:

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization. We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional. The BrainBased.com site and RewireTrial.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

All rights in our content are reserved.

Integration is often treated as something that happens after a breakthrough — once insight, therapy, or a peak somatic or psychedelic experience is complete. But what if integration is actually the skill that determines whether healing lasts at all?

In this episode of Trauma Rewired, co-hosts Elisabeth Kristof and Jennifer Wallace explore integration as a nervous system process, not a mindset shift. Drawing from Neurosomatic Intelligence (NSI), lived experience, and years of trauma and integration work, they unpack why powerful insights so often fade — and why the body, not the mind, decides what sticks.

The conversation examines nervous system capacity, preparation, and neuroplasticity, explaining how survival patterns can override even profound experiences when the body isn't resourced to receive them. They discuss emotional and somatic breakthroughs, dissociation, the overlooked role of the body in psychedelic research, and why the "space after" healing experiences can feel disorienting without support.

Rather than chasing peak moments, this episode reframes healing as an embodied practice — one built through repetition, regulation, intuition, and daily nervous system support so new ways of being can truly take root.

Timestamps:

00:00 Integration as a buzzword — and why it's misunderstood 05:30 Integration as a nervous system skill, not a mindset 12:40 Why breakthroughs fade and survival patterns take over 20:15 Capacity, preparation, and why insight can overwhelm the body 28:50 Neuroplasticity, repetition, and what you get better at 38:10 Emotional breakthroughs, dissociation, and somatic journeys 48:30 Psychedelic experiences, embodiment, and what research misses 58:45 The "space after" healing — identity shifts and disorientation 1:07:30 Worthiness, intuition, and integrating truth into daily life 1:18:00 Why healing takes time — and what it means to give time space 1:25:00 Closing reflections on integration as a way of being

Key Takeaways:

• Integration is not a cognitive process — it is how the nervous system learns to embody insight through repetition, regulation, and safety.

• Capacity determines whether an experience lands, overwhelms, or gets overridden by survival patterns.

• Preparation is essential for psychedelic and peak somatic experiences; without it, neuroplasticity can reinforce old patterns instead of creating change.

• Emotional and somatic breakthroughs require nervous system skill, especially for those with dissociation or long-standing protective responses.

• Healing often creates space before clarity — integration is choosing what fills that space next.

• Lasting change happens slowly, through daily practice, nervous system support, and honoring intuition rather than chasing intensity.

Resources Mentioned:

• RewireTrial.com: Free two-week access to live neurosomatic intelligence classes and an on-demand library of nervous system practices

• BrainBased.com: Elisabeth's online community for applied neurology and somatic tools for behavior change, resilience, and stress processing

• Sacred Synapse: an educational YouTube channel founded by Jennifer Wallace that explores nervous system regulation, applied neuroscience, consciousness, and psychedelic preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.
• Wayfinder Journal: Track nervous system patterns and support preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.

Call to Action:

Subscribe on your favorite audio platform or join us on YouTube!

👉 You can also continue learning tools for nervous system regulation and post-traumatic growth at RewireTrial.com.

Disclaimer:

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization. We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or

medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional. The BrainBased.com site and RewireTrial.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

All rights in our content are reserved.

When Jennifer was asked how she felt getting her cancer diagnosis, her first word was not "scared," it was "shame." If you have ever felt like your emotions are too much, or you started processing feelings only to end up in pain, fatigue, or shutdown, this second part of our emotional expression series is for you.

In part two of this essential two-part series on emotional health and post-traumatic growth, Co-hosts Elisabeth Kristof (founder of BrainBased.com) and Jennifer Wallace (Neurosomatic Psychedelic Preparation and Integration Guide) are joined again by Applied Neurology Expert and NSI Educator, Matt Bush of Next Level Neuro. Building on Part 1's conversation about anger, they explore how grief, shame, and positive emotions show up in the nervous system. You will hear real client stories where simple drills or balance work brought repressed emotions to the surface, why grief can feel like "phantom limb pain" for the brain, and how shame is intertwined with freeze responses and the inner critic. The trio shares minimum-effective-dose practices for grief, anger, and even joy, so emotional expression becomes regulating instead of destabilizing and opens the door to genuine post-traumatic growth.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 — Diagnosis, shame and "too much" emotion

• 06:40 — When drills and bodywork unexpectedly unleash rage or tears

• 16:20 — Emotional expression that leads to pain, migraines or shutdown

• 24:45 — Grief as "phantom limb pain" and how loss impacts the body

• 35:10 — Chronic pain, bracing patterns and emotional repression

• 44:30 — Shame, freeze and the inner critic's "always and forever" story

• 58:00 — Minimum-effective-dose grief work and nature as co-regulator

• 1:09:30 — Making joy, pleasure and intimacy safe for the nervous system

• 1:19:30 — Daily neurosomatic practice, post-traumatic growth and closing reflections

Key Takeaways:

• Emotional expression can bring on protective outputs like pain, fatigue, inflammation or shutdown when the body does not yet feel safe.

• Grief often functions like phantom limb pain: the brain must remap after a loss, which can show up in mood, immunity and body sensations.

• Shame and freeze are tightly linked; the inner critic's absolute "I am / I'll never" language reflects threat perception, not truth.

• Minimum-effective-dose practices for anger and grief, wrapped in front- and back-end regulation tools, help the nervous system learn that expression is safe.

• Positive emotions such as joy, pleasure and intimacy can also feel threatening and benefit from being approached in small, titrated doses that build capacity.

Resources Mentioned:

• Rewire Trial – two-week trial of guided neurosomatic classes: RewireTrial.com

• NSI Foundations Bundle for practitioners: NeurosomaticIntelligence.com/Foundations

• BrainBased.com – Elisabeth's applied neurology and somatics community

• Related Trauma Rewired episodes:

• Emotional Repression vs Healthy Expression, Anger (Part 1 of this series)

Call to Action:

Subscribe on your favorite audio platform or join us on YouTube! 👉 Ready to ground your work in neuroscience and somatics? Start with the NSI Foundations Bundle — 3 self-paced workshops blending applied neuroscience, somatics, and trauma-informed tools: www.neurosomaticintelligence.com/foundations 👉 For deeper support this season, explore Boundary Rewire —a 5-module neurosomatic course designed to help you repattern stress responses and create boundaries that feel safe, natural, and grounded in authenticity. It's just $27 through the end of the year. boundaryrewire.com

Disclaimer:

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization. We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional. The BrainBased.com site and RewireTrial.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

All rights in our content are reserved.

Have you ever found yourself immediately reaching for a coping behavior like scrolling or stress eating, without even realizing what emotion triggered it? That could be a sign of emotional repression—a survival mechanism that protects you, but at a huge cost to your health and boundaries.

In part one of this essential two-part series on emotional health and post-traumatic growth, co-hosts Elisabeth Kristof (founder of BrainBased.com) and Jennifer Wallace (Neurosomatic Psychedelic Preparation and Integration Guide) dive into the powerful energy of anger. They are joined by their friend and lead educator, Matt Bush, an international applied neurology expert and founder of Next Level Neuro.

This conversation explores how a lifetime of suppressed anger, tied to the fight response and complex trauma, creates a toxic internal environment, linking chronic stress to diagnoses like Stage 3 cancer. You will learn the crucial difference between conscious suppression and unconscious repression, how this shifts your entire neurological perception of the world, and what safe, structured steps you can take to begin discharging this vital energy from your body.

This episode is for anyone who struggles with quick reactivity, feeling disconnected from what they feel, or understanding the deep mind-body connection of stored emotion.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Introduction: anger, fight response, and health diagnosis.

• 01:37 Emotional expression & its vitality for nervous system health and reducing stress.

• 07:06 Perceived vs. real threat and the roots of repression in childhood.

• 16:45 Defining suppression versus repression as protective mechanisms.

• 23:42 The neurological and physiological consequences of repression.

• 35:34 Anger as a natural response to a boundary violation and safe release practices.

• 42:47 The link between repressed anger, boundaries, and immune system dysfunction.

• 48:28 Rewiring for a new homeostasis and the role of epigenetics.

Key Takeaways:

• Emotional repression—the unconscious blocking of emotions—is a trauma-informed survival strategy that traps the nervous system in a constant state of threat response, leading to the buildup of toxic stress hormones.

• Repression is often tied to complex post-traumatic stress, where a child's nervous system was unable to process big emotions and lacked co-regulation from caregivers, learning that emotional expression was unsafe or threatening.

• When repressed, anger (the natural response to a boundary violation) becomes internalized, resulting in behaviors like overworking, people-pleasing, and, ultimately, immune system dysregulation (e.g., autoimmune conditions).

• Chronic repression can alter your entire perception of the world, making everyday situations feel threatening (non-cognitive), and driving unconscious avoidance or numbing behaviors (e.g., binging, workaholism, mindless scrolling).

• Healing involves creating a safe and structured environment (alone or with a trusted person/coach) to gradually access and discharge emotional energy, using neurosomatic intelligence tools to repattern the nervous system.

Resources Mentioned:

• NSI Foundations Bundle (Self-Paced Program): NeurosomaticIntelligence.com/Foundations

• Boundary Rewire (4-Module Neurosomatic Journey): BoundaryRewire.com

• Book: When the Body Says No: Understanding the Stress-Disease Connection by Gabor Maté

Subscribe on your favorite audio platform or join us on YouTube so you don't miss Part 2 next week, where we dive deeper into shame, grief, and joy!

👉 Ready to ground your work in neuroscience and somatics? Start with the NSI Foundations Bundle — 3 self-paced workshops blending applied neuroscience, somatics, and trauma-informed tools: www.neurosomaticintelligence.com/foundations 👉 For deeper support this season, explore Boundary Rewire —a 5-module neurosomatic course designed to help you repattern stress responses and create boundaries that feel safe, natural, and grounded in authenticity. It's just $27 through the end of the year. boundaryrewire.com

Disclaimer:

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization. We talk about general

neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional. The BrainBased.com site and RewireTrial.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

All rights in our content are reserved.

What if "nothing happened" in your childhood, yet you still feel numb, flooded, or stuck in people pleasing or hyper-independence? This episode explores childhood emotional neglect, an often overlooked Adverse Childhood Experience that can wire the nervous system away from felt safety, expression, and connection. We look at how a lack of attunement can shape brain function, stress responses, and adult relationships, and why naming the pattern opens a path to repair.

In this conversation, co-hosts Elisabeth Kristof and Jennifer Wallace map out how emotional neglect shows up across attachment patterns, boundaries, and health outputs. They share trauma-informed context, lived reflections, and practical neurosomatic tools to rebuild capacity for feeling, processing, and connection without blame.

You will learn how repression becomes protection, why hyper-independence can feel "safer" than asking for help, and where to begin with gentle, minimum-effective-dose practices to increase interoceptive awareness and co-regulation in daily life.

This episode is for anyone who grew up in a "pretty good" home yet struggles with shutdown or overwhelm, for cycle-breaking parents, and for practitioners supporting clients with complex stress patterns. You will leave with language for your experience and first steps to begin rewiring.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Why emotional neglect is an overlooked ACE

• 05:00 Defining emotional neglect and attunement needs in development

• 11:00 Repression as protection and links to adult health outputs

• 18:00 Attachment patterns, people pleasing, and hyper-independence

• 25:00 Practicing self-compassion while breaking cycles

• 32:00 Parenting notes: modeling emotions and co-regulation

• 39:00 Neurosomatic tools and first steps for repair

Key Takeaways:

• Emotional neglect can be subtle yet impactful, shaping nervous system patterns, attachment, and long-term health without assigning blame.

• Repression often begins when big emotions are not met with co-regulation; later, it can appear as numbness, pain, inflammation, or compulsive coping.

• Hyper-independence can be a protective strategy that avoids the vulnerability of asking for support.

• Gentle, consistent practices that build interoceptive awareness and capacity help contribute to feeling safe again.

• Modeling emotional expression and staying present are powerful ways caregivers support nervous system development.

Resources Mentioned:

• Attachment Theory research (John Bowlby and colleagues)

• Neurosomatic Intelligence Coaching Certification (NSI)

• Sacred Synapse on YouTube (psychedelics, neuroscience, NSI education) https://www.youtube.comhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0_Bz9OvfHN0nvQos4kfi9Q

• Explore working with Jennifer www.illuminatedwithjennifer.com

• Boundary Rewire Course: boundaryrewire.com – Repattern your nervous system for safer, more authentic boundaries.

If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe to Trauma Rewired wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review to help more people discover trauma-informed education grounded in neuroscience.

👉 For deeper support this season, explore Boundary Rewire —a 5-module neurosomatic course designed to help you repattern stress responses and create boundaries that feel safe, natural, and grounded in authenticity. It's just $27 through the end of the year. boundaryrewire.com

👉 You can also continue learning tools for nervous system regulation and post-traumatic growth at rewiretrial.com

Disclaimer:

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization. We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is

not a replacement for working with a professional. The BrainBased.com site and RewireTrial.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

All rights in our content are reserved.

What if those sudden waves of fear, shame, or despair are not "too much," but your nervous system remembering something your mind cannot see yet?

In this episode, co-hosts Elisabeth Kristof, founder of the Neurosomatic Intelligence framework and the NSI Coaching Certification, and Jennifer Wallace, NSI educator and founder of Sacred Synapse, return to one of Trauma Rewired's most downloaded episodes: emotional flashbacks in complex trauma.

Through personal stories, they explore how emotional flashbacks can shift perception, body sensations, and behavior in real time, and how NSI helps map these experiences as neurotags in the brain and body.

You will learn how to recognize emotional and somatic flashbacks, why tiny cues can create giant waves of activation, and how these states connect with emotional neglect, toxic shame, boundary struggles, and other patterns of complex trauma. Elisabeth and Jennifer share how building daily capacity and emotional processing skills has changed the frequency and intensity of their own flashbacks over time.

This episode offers a grounded, neuroscience-informed look at emotional flashbacks and post-traumatic growth. You will walk away with language to name your experience, a deeper understanding of how "state creates story," and hopeful frameworks for working with your nervous system more gently.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Personal Story of an Emotional Flashback

• 00:39 – Who This Episode Is For

• 03:08 – What an Emotional Flashback Is (NSI Definition)

• 08:53 – The Greenbelt Experiment & Perception Shift

• 16:22 – Somatic Flashbacks & CPTS Patterns

• 22:18 – Holidays, Medicine Work & Intense Emotional Activation

• 33:05 – State Creates Story

• 45:15 – Repression, Completion & Daily Practice

• 50:21 – Post-Traumatic Growth

Key Takeaways:

• Emotional flashbacks are often somatic flashbacks, with intense body sensations and state shifts even when there is no clear narrative memory.

• From an NSI perspective, a flashback is a neurotag activation that changes how the brain filters sensory input, which can make familiar places or people suddenly feel unsafe.

• Emotional flashbacks in complex trauma are intertwined with toxic shame, harsh inner critics, emotional neglect, attachment wounds, and boundary struggles.

• Behaviors like binge eating, drinking, overworking, shutdown, or chronic pain and inflammation can be protective outputs and important clues that a survival pattern has been activated.

• Consistent neurosomatic practice, emotional processing, rest, and supportive relationships can reduce the frequency and intensity of emotional flashbacks and support long-term post-traumatic growth.

Resources Mentioned:

• Boundary Rewire Course: boundaryrewire.com – Repattern your nervous system for safer, more authentic boundaries.

• Rewire Trial: rewiretrial.com – Learn neurosomatic tools to regulate and rewire your system.

• BrainBased.com – Explore applied neurology and somatic tools for behavior change and resilience.

• Neurosomatic Intelligence Coaching Certification – neurosomaticintelligence.com

• Sacred Synapse on Youtube www.youtube.com/sacredsynapse-23

Call to Action:

If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe to Trauma Rewired wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review to help more people discover trauma-informed education grounded in neuroscience.

For deeper support this season, explore Boundary Rewire—a 5-module neurosomatic course designed to help you repattern stress responses and create boundaries that feel safe, natural, and grounded in authenticity. It's just $27 through the end of the year.

Disclaimer:

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests

do not necessarily represent the views of our organization. We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional. The BrainBased.com site and RewireTrial.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

All rights in our content are reserved.

What if your holiday stress wasn't about what's happening now—but about what your nervous system remembers?

In this episode, co-hosts Elisabeth Kristof and Jennifer Wallace unpack the neuroscience of the holidays, exploring how sensory cues like songs, smells, or family dynamics can reactivate old emotional patterns stored in the body. Together, they explain how neurotags—the networks of neurons linking memory, emotion, and physical response—shape our experience of the season and why this time of year can trigger emotional flashbacks or overwhelm.

You'll learn how to recognize when the past is replaying through your nervous system, how cycles like circadian and seasonal rhythms affect capacity, and why rest is a biological need—not a luxury. The conversation moves from emotional regulation and boundaries to post-traumatic growth, exploring how slowing down and honoring natural rhythms can transform holiday survival into healing and integration.

This episode offers neuroscience-backed practices to help you reclaim presence, build new associations with safety, and rewrite your nervous system's holiday story.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 – Seasonal mismatch & why holidays strain the nervous system

• 2:43 – What are neurotags and how they shape holiday reactions

• 6:39 – Emotional flashbacks: the body's real-time state shifts

• 10:20 – Orientation and regulation tools for holiday triggers

• 12:26 – Boundaries as nervous system protection

• 18:19 – Honoring natural cycles: seasonal, menstrual, and circadian rhythms

• 27:30 – Post-traumatic growth through rest, reflection, and integration

Key Takeaways:

• Neurotags explain why certain holiday cues can trigger powerful emotional and physical responses.

• Emotional flashbacks are not regressions—they're real-time nervous system shifts that can be regulated through awareness and sensory grounding.

• Setting boundaries is a form of nervous system protection, not disconnection.

• Seasonal, menstrual, and circadian rhythms all affect capacity—rest is a biological requirement for resilience.

• Post-traumatic growth happens in the pauses—through rest, orientation, and compassionate self-boundaries.

Resources Mentioned:

• Boundary Rewire Course: boundaryrewire.com – Repattern your nervous system for safer, more authentic boundaries.

• Rewire Trial: rewiretrial.com – Learn neurosomatic tools to regulate and rewire your system.

• BrainBased.com – Explore applied neurology and somatic tools for behavior change and resilience.

• Neurosomatic Intelligence Coaching Certification – neurosomaticintelligence.com

• Sacred Synapse https://www.youtube.com/@sacredsynapse-23

If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe to Trauma Rewired wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review to help more people discover trauma-informed education grounded in neuroscience.

For deeper support this season, explore Boundary Rewire—a 5-module neurosomatic course designed to help you repattern stress responses and create boundaries that feel safe, natural, and grounded in authenticity. It's just $27 through the end of the year.

Disclaimer:

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative

impact on your health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.

We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.

We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization. We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional. The BrainBased.com site and RewireTrial.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.

Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.

We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

All rights in our content are reserved.