Letting Your Nervous System Know It's Safe to Heal
Your body doesn't know it's over.
There's a version of you that never left that moment. That feeling of being completely powerless.
This is what trauma does—it makes your nervous system believe the threat is permanent. So it stays ready. Hypervigilant.
But the same system that learned to survive can also learn to heal.
Trauma-informed coaching is about building a bridge between the part of you that survived and the part of you that wants to live.
The Body’s Alert System
When trauma hits, the autonomic nervous system does exactly what it's designed to do.
Fight. Flight. Freeze. It becomes the default setting.
Sometimes that setting gets stuck.
And the result is a body that feels wired but worn out. Alert, yet emotionally numb.
The signs aren’t always loud. Sometimes, they’re just there—every day:
Sleep that doesn’t feel like rest.
Shoulders perpetually tense.
Startling at small sounds.
An inner sense of “something’s wrong”.
A body that never quite lets go.
Creating Safety from the Ground Up
Healing sometimes starts with the smallest acknowledgment:
Observe but don’t fix. It is that feeling in your chest, that clenching of the jaw in some conversations. They're information. Your body is speaking. Listen first.
Breathe. Not the forced deep breathing. Just the kind that occurs when you finally slump into a comfortable chair. Exhale longer than you inhale.
Move the way you moved as a child. Stretch like a cat. Shake out your hands. Dance to one song you like. Movement is like a conversation with your body.
Create micro-sanctuaries. A corner of your room that feels yours. A playlist that grounds you. A morning ritual that doesn’t get interrupted. These matter more than you think.
How a Trauma-Informed Coach Can Help
Some healing happens in solitude, but the deepest shifts often need to be held in connection.
At Defying the Odds Now, Dr. Aunastasia is a survivor, social worker, PhD, and trauma-informed coach.
Years deep into social work and therapy, coupled with lived experience of childhood sexual abuse, give her a grounded lens on healing.
Her approach:
Creates safe containers so your system can downshift.
Connects root patterns—feelings, money, relationships—to trauma habits.
Honors your pace, not a one‑size‑fits‑all plan.
Weaves a holistic thread through life: money, body, spirit, relationships—all interlaced.
This isn’t surface-level mindset work.
It’s nervous system repair, guided by someone who’s done it.
Learn more about her approach.
Signs Your System Is Softening
Healing isn't always obvious. It shows up in moments you might not even notice:
Sleep changes. Maybe you wake up less frequently, or when you do wake up, you can actually fall back asleep.
Physical sensations. You notice your feet on the ground, the temperature of your tea or coffee, and your heart beating steadily instead of racing.
Emotional range. Feelings come and go without leaving you stranded in them for days.
Presence. You find yourself listening in conversations instead of planning your response or scanning for danger.
Choice. You start saying no to things that drain you and yes to things that nourish you, without guilt eating you alive.
They're signs that your system is learning to trust again.
The Slow Work of Coming Home
Your nervous system has been your constant companion through everything. It deserves your gentleness, not your frustration. It deserves your curiosity.
Healing happens in layers. Some days you'll feel strong and capable. Other days, you'll feel like you're starting over. Both are part of the process. Both are okay.
The goal is to develop a relationship with your nervous system where you can recognize what's happening and respond with compassion instead of panic.
Work with Dr. Aunastasia
Coaching. Retreats. Community healing spaces.
All centered on sustainable nervous system repair.
Schedule a 15‑minute discovery call and invite safety home.
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FAQ
How do I know if my nervous system needs healing?
This is an indication that it likely does. Signs include:
Chronic anxiety
Sleeping problems
Disconnection from your body
Inability to relax
What if I don't have time for healing work?
The nervous system does not take hours to heal. Some mindful breathing, feeling the ground beneath your feet, turning your neck around, each micro-moment counts.
Can trauma that happened a long time ago be cured?
Your nervous system remains adaptable throughout your life. The same plasticity that helped you survive can support your healing now.
