Are you sick and tired of feeling sick and tired?

Do you feel like you have tried, "all the right things," to lose weight and get your health back without getting any results? What if I told you it is not your fault? What if I told you that you might just be missing a piece of the puzzle?

Most people who are struggling with issues like chronic disease, fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, low libido, and/or struggle to lose weight, do not realize that past trauma and stress are a big part of the root cause of it all.

Did you know that chronic stress and past traumas can significantly impact your physical health?

*Studies have shown that individuals with a history of trauma have a 46% higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

*Chronic stress is also linked to a higher risk of heart disease and stroke, increasing your risk by up to 27%.

*A 2018 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that individuals with a history of trauma were at an increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases.

*The study, which included over 106,000 patients, revealed that trauma-exposed individuals had a 46% higher risk of developing autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease compared to those without such a history .

*The American Heart Association has highlighted that chronic stress can lead to cardiovascular diseases.

*Chronic stress increases inflammation in the body, which can result in high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. A significant study published in The Lancet showed that individuals with high-stress levels had a 27% higher risk of developing coronary heart disease and a 23% higher risk of having a stroke .

*The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, one of the largest investigations of childhood abuse and neglect and later-life health and well-being, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente, found that individuals with high ACE scores are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and chronic lung disease. Specifically, those with an ACE score of 4 or more were twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart disease compared to those with an ACE score of 0. A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) explored the relationship between stress, inflammation, and chronic illness. Researchers found that individuals experiencing chronic stress had higher levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). These inflammatory markers are associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease .

Physical, sexual, spiritual, and societal traumas, or being in a state of chronic stress can all contribute to these multiple chronic disease manifestations. There is something a scientist termed, "the polyvagal theory." This talks about the four states we can go into under traumatic circumstances. These states are called the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn modes.

1. Fight Response

The fight response is characterized by aggression and confrontation. It prepares the body to face and combat the threat head-on.

Signs:

Increased heart rate and blood pressure

Muscle tension

Feelings of anger or irritability

Impulsivity and aggressive behavior

2.Flight Response

The flight response prepares the body to escape from danger. It involves an intense urge to flee or avoid the threat.

Signs:

Restlessness and hyperactivity

Panic or anxiety

Feeling trapped or unable to stay still

Excessive worry or fear

3.Freeze Response

The freeze response occurs when the threat is perceived as too overwhelming to fight or flee from, resulting in a state of immobility or dissociation.

Signs:

Feeling stuck or unable to move

Numbness or dissociation

Decreased heart rate

Lack of motivation or energy

4.Fawn Response

The fawn response involves pleasing and appeasing others to avoid conflict and ensure safety. It often develops in response to interpersonal trauma.

Signs:

People-pleasing behaviors

Difficulty setting boundaries

Suppressing own needs and desires

Low self-esteem

These are natural responses to stress and trauma, but when we're stuck in these states, it can negatively impact our health and well-being. When our bodies perceive a threat, it triggers its defense mechanism, activating our sympathetic nervous system and releasing our stress hormones. Cortisol and epinephrine are the two main hormones involved in the fight-or-flight response. Cortisol increases glucose in the bloodstream. So in other words, it raises insulin levels. Cortisol if released for a prolonged period of time can also lower your immune system. Which then makes you more prone to infection and disease. Chronic stress can cause anxiety, and depression which can lead to sleep disturbances as well. Stress also causes digestive problems like irritable bowel disease, stomach pain, and acid reflux. Oh, let's not forget high blood pressure, heart disease, and risk of stroke.

Being stuck in these states can cause, "cellular inflammation." In this process, the membranes of your cells get hardened and the good things like the nutritious foods you are trying to eat to feel better, or supplements you may be taking, cannot get into the cell. On top of that, the harmful things that have gotten into cells like toxins from our environment and in the food we eat and toxic chemicals we use on our skin or to clean with, cannot get out of the cell to be disposed of. This is where the cascade of issues begins. We have learned through epigenetics that our genes are not necessarily our death sentence, however when cellular inflammation occurs, this is when genes that are, "not ideal" have the opportunity to rear their ugly head and take over. But, don't worry there is good news. I can help!