Why Trauma Changes the Brain: Complex Trauma, Inflammation & Neuroplasticity

More from Trauma Rewired

1. 

   S5 · E60 · 28 Sep 2026 · 55 min

   Why Safety Matters More Than Intensity in Psychedelic Healing

   Peak somatic experiences can create profound shifts in awareness, emotion, and perception—but intensity alone does not create healing. In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof explore why preparation, nervous system capacity, and integration matter far more than the intensity of any psychedelic or peak somatic experience. Through the lens of Neurosomatic Intelligence (NSI), they explain how psychedelics influence neuroplasticity, emotional processing, interoception, and implicit memory while also addressing the often-overlooked risks for individuals living…

2. 

   S5 · E60 · 21 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 1 min

   Why Post-Traumatic Growth Requires Nervous System Reorganization

   *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-68a73dcf-4c38-8326-821b-000c1c4d216f-2" data-turn-id-container= "request-68a73dcf-4c38-8326-821b-000c1c4d216f-2" data-testid= "conversation-turn-30" data-turn="assistant"> Post-traumatic growth is often described as finding meaning after adversity, but insight alone does not reorganize a nervous system that is still predicting threat. In this episode,…

3. 

   S5 · E59 · 14 Sep 2026 · 53 min

   How Trauma Creates High Achievers: Fight Response, Perfectionism & Burnout

   Success can become a survival strategy when the nervous system learns that achievement equals safety. In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof are joined by entrepreneur and Brain Based partner Margy Feldhun to explore how unresolved trauma can drive perfectionism, relentless productivity, emotional repression, and eventual burnout. Together, they unpack why so many high achievers feel successful on the outside while feeling disconnected, numb, or chronically stressed on the inside. You'll learn how the fight response can masquerade as ambition, why emotional…

4. 

   S5 · E57 · 31 Aug 2026 · 49 min

   Undiagnosed TBI: Why Brain Injuries Are Often Missed and Misunderstood

   Traumatic brain injuries are incredibly common, yet many mild TBIs and concussions go unrecognized. And when the symptoms of a brain injury overlap with the effects of complex trauma, it can become difficult to understand what is actually driving changes in cognition, emotional regulation, behavior, energy, and capacity. In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof are joined by Amanda Smith, certified brain injury specialist, applied neurology pain and performance coach, NSI educator, and founder of Amanda's Way, to explore the intersection of traumatic brain…

5. 

   S5 · E56 · 24 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 3 min

   The Science of Feeling Safe in Your Body: Emotional Regulation and Trauma

   Episode Summary Why do you know you're safe logically, but your body still reacts as though you're in danger? Emotional regulation isn't about staying calm, avoiding difficult emotions, or suppressing how you feel. It's about your brain and nervous system working together to accurately interpret what's happening inside and around you so you can respond with flexibility instead of survival. In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof are joined by NSI educator Matt Bush to explore the neuroscience of emotional regulation through the lens of brain integration,…

6. 

   S5 · E55 · 17 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 1 min

   Boundaries, Attachment, and the Fear of Losing Connection

   Most people think boundaries are about saying "no," protecting themselves, or keeping others at a distance. But from a nervous system perspective, boundaries are something much deeper. They are not walls that separate us from connection—they are the foundation that makes authentic connection possible. In this episode, Jennifer Wallace, Elisabeth Kristof, and returning guest Margie Faltin explore boundaries through the lens of neuroscience, attachment, co-regulation, and post-traumatic growth. Together they examine why boundaries can feel so threatening after trauma, why receiving someone…

7. 

   S5 · E304 · 4 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 4 min

   We Are Shaping Each Other: The Science of Co-Regulation

   Co-regulation has become almost synonymous with calm: the steady voice, the safe person, the nervous system that helps another nervous system settle. But what if that definition is far too small? We are always co-regulating. The question is: what are we organizing around? In the Season 6 premiere of Trauma Rewired , Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof welcome back applied neurology expert Matt Bush to explore what actually happens when nervous systems interact. Eye contact can prime neural networks involved in learning. The presence of someone we trust can change the brain's response to…

8. 

   S5 · E54 · 10 Aug 2026 · 58 min

   Sexual Fawning: When Survival Gets Mistaken for Intimacy

   Why do so many trauma survivors say "yes" when every part of their body is saying "no"? In this deeply compassionate episode of Trauma Rewired , Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof are joined by somatic educator Luis Mojica to explore one of the least understood trauma adaptations: sexual fawning . While many people recognize fawning as people-pleasing, sexual fawning often remains hidden beneath shame, confusion, and self-blame. Together, they unpack how the nervous system can mistake compliance for safety, why intimacy can become intertwined with survival, and how early developmental…

9. 

   S5 · E53 · 3 Aug 2026 · 55 min

   The Fawn Response Explained

   The fawn response is one of the most common—and most misunderstood—trauma adaptations. While many people recognize it as people-pleasing, saying yes too often, or avoiding conflict, fawning is far more than a personality trait. It is a deeply wired survival response designed to preserve attachment, reduce threat, and maintain connection when the nervous system believes belonging is at risk. In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof explore the neuroscience of the fawn response, explaining why so many people learn to abandon themselves in order to maintain…

10. 

    S5 · E52 · 27 Jul 2026 · 45 min

    Why Being Yourself Can Feel Dangerous After Trauma

    What if authenticity isn't a personality trait—but a sign of nervous system capacity? Many people believe they struggle to be themselves because they lack confidence, boundaries, or self-awareness. But after trauma, authenticity can feel physiologically dangerous. When the nervous system has learned that honesty risks rejection, conflict, or abandonment, masking, performing, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and emotional editing become intelligent survival strategies. In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof explore why authenticity is one of the clearest…

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