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Dec 2024
43m 45s

Complexities of The Holidays And Trauma

Jennifer Wallace & Elisabeth Kristof
About this episode

The holidays can be a magical time full of celebrations and connection, but they can also evoke feelings of loneliness and overwhelm — especially for those with a history of trauma. This duality of emotions can be hard to navigate, so this episode of Trauma Rewired explores the complex emotions that many experience during this time and strategies to manage them without falling back to harmful behaviors.

The conversation begins by revisiting the concept of neurotags to illustrate how simple sensory inputs like sounds or smells can trigger emotional and physical responses linked to past traumas. Then, we delve into the impact of family dynamics, societal pressures, internal and external expectations, highlighting the importance of self-care and boundary setting.

Hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth also share their personal experiences with holiday-related trauma and reflect on their coping mechanisms that have evolved from maladaptive to healthy over time. As you listen to their insights, you’ll learn tools and strategies to regulate your nervous system, honor your body, and manage expectations amidst the festive chaos.

Tune in to learn what small actions you can take to overcome the holiday blues!

Topics discussed in this episode:

 

  • The concept of neurotags and the holidays

  • Emotional complexities of the holiday season and trauma

  • Triggers and maladaptive behavior

  • Expectations versus capacity

  • Self-care and setting boundaries

  • The holiday season’s impact on our health

  • Healthy coping strategies for the holidays

  • What to expect next season on Trauma Rewired

 

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This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

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 Rewiretrail.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 traumarewired@gmail.com 

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