Episode

Feeling Again: The Nervous System Science of Grief, Shame, and Joy

Podcast
Trauma Rewired
Published
Dec 15, 2025
Duration seconds
4197
Processing state
not_requested
Canonical source
https://www.rewiretrial.com
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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/illuminatedwithjennifer/S5E20_Rel_December_15_-_Feeling_emotions_like_Joy_and_Connection_can_be_as_scary_as_grief_and_shame_-__AUDIO.mp3?dest-id=2428643
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Markdown
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Summary

When Jennifer was asked how she felt getting her cancer diagnosis, her first word was not "scared," it was "shame." If you have ever felt like your emotions are too much, or you started processing feelings only to end up in pain, fatigue, or shutdown, this second part of our emotional expression series is for you. In part two of this essential two-part series on emotional health and post-traumatic growth, Co-hosts Elisabeth Kristof (founder of BrainBased.com) and Jennifer Wallace (Neurosomatic Psychedelic Preparation and Integration Guide) are joined again by Applied Neurology Expert and NSI Educator, Matt Bush of Next Level Neuro. Building on Part 1's conversation about anger, they explore how grief, shame, and positive emotions show up in the nervous system. You will hear real client stories where simple drills or balance work brought repressed emotions to the surface, why grief can feel like "phantom limb pain" for the brain, and how shame is intertwined with freeze responses and the inner critic. The trio shares minimum-effective-dose practices for grief, anger, and even joy, so emotional expression becomes regulating instead of destabilizing and opens the door to genuine post-traumatic growth. Timestamps: 00:00 — Diagnosis, shame and "too much" emotion 06:40 — When drills and bodywork unexpectedly unleash rage or tears 16:20 — Emotional expression that leads to pain, migraines or shutdown 24:45 — Grief as "phantom limb pain" and how loss impacts the body 35:10 — Chronic pain, bracing patterns and emotional repression 44:30 — Shame, freeze and the inner critic's "always and forever" story 58:00 — Minimum-effective-dose grief work and nature as co-regulator 1:09:30 — Making joy, pleasure and intimacy safe for the nervous system 1:19:30 — Daily neurosomatic practice,…