Be gentle with your protective patterns. They developed at a time when they were needed. Anger can be damaging — and it can be protective. Avoidance can hold you back — and it can be protective. Overthinking can be frustrating …
Category: Trauma
The Pain in My Hips Wouldn’t Go Away — Until I Stopped Trying to Fix My Body
It started back in Australia. I thought, “I’m just sitting too much.” So I walked every day. Did hip-opening yoga. Tried to fix it physically. But when I got to India… it got worse. Yesterday, I couldn’t get comfortable at …
Why Trauma Makes You Feel Like You Have to Understand Everything to Stay Safe
When you grow up or live through experiences where things felt unpredictable or unsafe, your nervous system learns a very specific survival strategy. It teaches you that understanding everything is the only way to stay safe. Trauma doesn’t just change …
The Real Challenges of Being a Cycle Breaker
Things That Are Challenging for Cycle Breakers — Nedra Tawwab Being a cycle breaker is powerful work, but it’s not easy. You’re not just healing yourself — you’re rewriting patterns that have existed for generations. You’re teaching yourself how to …
They Were Just Broken — But That Doesn’t Make It Okay
Me, to my therapist:“But they weren’t evil. They were just broken. They had their own trauma.” My therapist:“And that’s valid. But let me ask you something… did their trauma give them the right to create new trauma inside you?” And …
Can I Widen My Window of Tolerance?
The simple answer is yes. With time and focus, you can widen your Window of Tolerance. Why does this matter? Because the wider your window, the more resilient you become. Your prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain that …
Simple Grounding Techniques to Help You Come Back Into Your Body During Hypoarousal
When we are in hypoarousal, our system begins to shut down. We might feel numb, disconnected, or start to dissociate. One of the best ways to support yourself in this state is to gently stimulate your senses and bring awareness …
Signs of Hypoarousal: Understanding Your Body’s Shutdown Response
Hypoarousal Hypoarousal is another defence mechanism. It can feel like exhaustion, numbness, disconnection from everything and everyone, or like you’re moving through a dream. You may want to sleep a lot, eat very little, and feel shut down or dissociated. …