logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
51m 42s

The Female Nervous System

Jennifer Wallace & Elisabeth Kristof
About this episode

Did you know that women are twice as likely to experience depression, yet less than 40 percent of research includes them? This statistic is staggering, highlighting society's inadequate attention to women's mental health and the complexities of their nervous systems. Often overlooked in scientific studies, women's experiences, particularly regarding menstrual cycles, create significant gaps in understanding their physiological, emotional, and hormonal health. This omission, influenced by societal conditioning and patriarchal suppression, leads to misdiagnosis, unanswered questions, and pervasive shame.However, there's a growing shift towards understanding the female nervous system. In today's episode, Elisabeth and Jennifer are joined by Veronica Rottman, founder of Soma School and an expert in somatics and the female nervous system, to explore how the female nervous system is uniquely structured and the challenges women face because of it. Their conversation dives deep into the complex science of hormones and societal influences, uncovering how these factors contribute to shame and perfectionism among women. They also examine the male-centric approach of mental health and medical systems, which often overlook—and even demonize—the female experience.

From an early age, women are conditioned to feel shame about their bodies and emotions. However, a growing awareness is challenging these outdated norms. This shift is essential for uncovering the root causes of many mental and physical health issues that are unique to the female nervous system.

If this resonates with you and you'd like to learn more, tune in! Topics discussed in this episode:

  • Veronica’s journey to healing her own nervous system through somatic practices

  • The history and evolution of women’s health

  • Understanding the multilayered and complex nature of the female nervous system

  • The differences between oxytocin and dopamine

  • An exploration of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

  • The role of a dysregulated oxytocin system in attachment

  • Why women’s mental health spaces often overlook the impact of the menstrual cycle

  • How the patriarchy has historically suppressed women’s emotional expression

  • The pathology of women’s emotions and societal perceptions

  • Why women experience higher levels of toxic shame

  • The connection between shame, perfectionism, and the development of borderline personality disorder later in life

 

To connect with Veronica Rottman, head to her Instagram page here: https://www.instagram.com/wakingwomb

 

To check out Veronica Rottman’s work, head to her website here: https://waking-womb.com/

  Learn more about the Neuro-Somatic Intelligence Coaching program and sign up for the next cohort now! https://www.neurosomaticintelligence.com

 

Get started training your nervous system with our FREE 2-week offer on the Brain Based Membership site: https://www.rewiretrial.com

 

Connect with us on social media: @trauma.rewired

 

Join the Trauma Rewired Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/761101225132846

 

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

 

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 

All rights in our content are reserved

 

Up next
Oct 6
Trauma Isn't Just In Your Head (It's In Your Cells)
Trauma is not a single moment. It is an ongoing dialogue between your brain, body, and environment. In this conversation, Dr. Mbemba Jabbi explains how neuroplasticity and affective neuroscience help us understand protective patterns like hypervigilance, shutdown, and dissociatio ... Show More
1h 4m
Sep 29
The Emotional Block That No One Talks About
Have you ever drawn a blank when asked how you're feeling? Or maybe you experience constant inner buzzing, numbness, or anxiety without any words to describe it. You’re not broken—and you’re not alone. In this deeply informative and compassionately nuanced episode, Jennifer, Eliz ... Show More
39m 34s
Sep 22
The Duality of Emotions: Why Ambivalence Isn't Confusion
Ambivalence isn’t confusion or weakness, it’s your nervous system doing its job. Feeling both joy and grief, relief and loss, fear and excitement, is not dysfunction but survival wisdom. In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Elisabeth Kristof and Jennifer Wallace unpack ambivalence ... Show More
51m 13s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2025
Treating Nervous System Dysregulation: Somatic Healing for CPTSD w/ Irene Lyon
Explore how a lifetime of chronic stress and fear can lead to nervous system dysregulation, and how somatic healing can help rewire our responses to trauma. Dive into this episode to uncover the transformative power of understanding and healing our deepest unseen wounds.Irene Lyo ... Show More
1h 13m
Sep 11
#992 - Dr Sarah Hill - The Period Brain: How Hormones Change Women’s Behaviour
Dr Sarah Hill is a professor at TCU, a research psychologist, expert in women’s hormones and brain science, and an author. Each month, women experience hormonal changes that go far beyond the clichés of PMS. These shifts can influence mood, stress response, and even how women rel ... Show More
1h 39m
Apr 2025
The C’s
We share from How It Works.“We didn’t cause it.  We can’t control it.  We can’t cure it.”  But we can contribute compassion.The website is HERE.You can join the Community HERE.  Remember that you will not be able to see much until joining groups.  Message us if we can help!You ca ... Show More
21m 2s
Mar 2025
Has The Medical System Betrayed Women? How To Take Back Control of Your Health
I'm going on tour! Come see The School of Greatness LIVE in person!Get my new book Make Money Easy here!The medical system has systematically failed women for decades, creating unique health challenges that impact everything from heart disease to mental wellness. In this eye-open ... Show More
1h 21m
Sep 9
The Truth About Hormones: Why Every Woman Should Consider Menopause Therapy
Want ad-free episodes, exclusives and access to community Q&As? Subscribe to Forever Strong Insider: https://foreverstrong.supercast.comIn this episode, I sit down with nutritional physiologist and friend Nick Barringer, PhD, to tackle a crucial, yet often misunderstood, topic: w ... Show More
45m 50s
Apr 2020
Book: Trauma and Recovery, Part Two
Dr. E shares about a book she discovered through a class with the ISSTD.  She explores what she has learned about Charcot, Janet, and Freud.  She gives the historical context of their rivalry, and how that later connected to research with veterans who had endured combat.  She tel ... Show More
55m 24s
Jan 2025
#105 - Regulating Your Nervous System by Slowing and Softening w/ Alena Winter
In today’s episode, I sat down with Alena Winter, a clinical Naturopath and Nutritionist in New Zealand who is passionate about helping people understand true foundations of health and the things we need in place to be well. The good news? Many of these pillars of health are simp ... Show More
52m 2s
Sep 5
How To Regulate Your Nervous System For Stress, Anxiety, And Trauma | Peter Levine
The creator of somatic experiencing shows Dan how to heal trauma through the body. Peter A. Levine, Ph.D., has spent the past 50 years developing Somatic Experiencing. He holds a doctorate in Biophysics from UC Berkeley and a doctorate in Psychology from International University. ... Show More
1h 10m
Jan 2025
Imposter Syndrome & Comparison Culture: Ditch Self Doubt and Boost Confidence with Deborah Conquest
Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of Ask Dr. Jodi! Tonight, I have the privilege of sitting down with my dear friend and vocal coach extraordinaire, Deborah Conquest, to unpack the topic of imposter syndrome. If you’ve ever felt like a fraud, doubted your abilities, or ... Show More
38m 39s
Oct 2024
Resolving Trauma to Step Into the Life Meant for You
In this episode, Sarah explains how trauma is something we all experience to varying degrees and the impact it has on our lives. When we have yet to resolve past trauma, it actually gets stuck and stored in our bodies, meaning our system essentially thinks it is still happening o ... Show More
1h 12m