Understanding the Nervous System and Stored Trauma
Sometimes it’s not one dramatic moment that overwhelms someone. It’s the quiet buildup—the small shocks, the emotional letdowns, the stress carried through each day. Over time, those experiences settle into the body like layers of dust on a shelf. At first, they may go unnoticed; eventually, they can show up as tension, fatigue, clouded thinking, or a gentle but persistent sense of alertness even when there is no immediate threat.
The body remembers. Long after the moment has passed, the imprint of stress or trauma can linger, subtly shaping how someone thinks, feels, and responds. Yet there is room for hope: the brain and body can change.
Gentle, steady practices that engage breath, movement, sound, and awareness help create new pathways that support healing and ease. Healing doesn’t always mean doing more; sometimes it means doing less with intention. When the nervous system receives small, repeated signals of safety, a person’s inner calm can begin to return.
Structure and Signal Overview
The nervous system works like a communication network and memory keeper, recording every sensation, reaction, and pattern of movement. It has two main parts: the central division, made up of the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral division, which includes every nerve beyond the central system. Signals travel along neurons through electrical impulses and chemical messengers in milliseconds. This rapid exchange underlies every thought, feeling, and action we experience.
Trauma and the Nervous System
When someone experiences a stressful or traumatic event, the brain’s alarm center—known as the amygdala—can strengthen connections that tie certain sights, sounds, or memories to a state of alertness. Over time, those pathways reinforce a heightened sensitivity.
Trauma often stays hidden in implicit memory, stored as physical sensations rather than clear recollections. A sudden noise or familiar scent might cause the heart to race or the muscles to tighten without conscious awareness of why. Learning about how these automatic responses form can help explain why someone may feel stuck in the past until they learn ways to shift out of defense mode and back toward safety.
How Eva Carlston Supports Trauma Healing
Eva Carlston’s program weaves nervous system education and regulation exercises into everyday life. Students learn to notice subtle signals—like changes in heart rate or muscle tension—and to practice co-regulation techniques. Our clinicians pair simple breathing practices with creative activities such as drawing or gentle movement. Over time, students map how past experiences live in their bodies and build tools that help them shift from a state of alertness to one of calm.
Supporting a Healthy Nervous System
Maintaining balance in the nervous system involves both daily habits and intentional regulation practices. Simple choices can strengthen nerve connections and improve resilience:
Prioritize consistent sleep schedules to allow the brain and body to recover and reorganize nerve pathways
Eat a diet rich in whole foods, healthy fats and lean proteins to supply essential nutrients for nerve function
Move regularly with activities that raise heart rate and support blood flow, such as brisk walking or cycling
Practice brief self‑regulation exercises, for example guided breathing or mindful body scans, to calm stress‑response circuits
A consistent blend of education on the nervous system, creative regulation work and these daily habits builds adaptability and calm. When practiced often, these strategies support a sense of inner balance and ease. Over time, individuals become more attuned to bodily signals and feel ready to embrace life’s changes with confidence.
References
Linehan, Marsha M. DBT Skills Training Manual, 2nd ed. Guilford Press, 2021.
Wright, J.H., & Basco, M.R. Getting Your Life Back: The Complete Guide to Recovery from Depression, 2021.
