Welcome to my blog where we will explore mental, emotional and physical wellness. My aim is to empower you with insights, tips and resources for your personal journey of growth. Thank you for being a part of my community. Your wellbeing matters and I am so glad you are here!
The other day, I was chatting with someone who said, "I don't know what's wrong with me. I just snapped at my partner for no reason. I wasn't even that mad." And I said, "Maybe it wasn't about now. Maybe something older got touched."
It landed.
Because so often, the emotions we think are "the problem" - anger, fear, overwhelm - are really just messengers. They're like flares from the body saying, "Hey, something in here still hurts."
But instead of being taught to listen, we've been taught to control. To deep breathe it away. To be rational. To not be "too emotional."
But emotions aren't bad. They're a compass.
In Root Cause Therapy, we work with the body and the unconscious mind to gently trace emotions back to their origin point. And we often find that underneath a clients anger...is hurt.
Underneath their fear...is abandonment.
Underneath their overwhelm...is a younger part of them who was never taught how to feel safe while feeling big things.
Anger, for example, is rarely "just anger." It often protects softer parts - like disappointment, powerlessness, rejection. It rises to defend us when our boundaries have been crossed (sometimes decades ago). It flares up when we feel like we don't have a voice - when no one is listening.
And fear? It's cleaver. It stores memories in our nervous system, not just in our mind. So when something feels similar, even slightly, the body can go into "unsafe" mode - even when we're not actually in danger.
Here's what I want you to know:
You're not overreacting.
Your emotions aren't broken.
You're not weak for feeling deeply.
You're responding from a place that hasn't been fully heard yet.
And that's what Root Cause Therapy helps with.
We don't try to force positivity.
We meet what's really there.
We uncover the first time your body felt this - and we process it, safely, without reliving it.
When you do the work, things shift.
Clients often say things like:
"I had no idea I was still holding that."
"It's not as loud anymore."
"I feel more like me again."
And it's not because the emotion magically disappears. It's because it's finally resolved. The loop is closed. The body doesn't have to keep sounding the alarm.
If you're feeling big things lately - maybe that's your turning point.
Maybe this isn't a breakdown moment, but a breakthrough waiting to happen.
And if you want someone to walk with you through that...I'm here.
This work has changed my life. And I've seen it change so many others.
If that speaks to something in you, feel free to reach out.
Let's gently go to the root, together.
With warmth,
Janet
#rootcausetherapy #rootcausetherapypractitioner #emotionalhealing #traumainformedhealing #feeltoheal #HealingattheRoot #safetofeel #EmotionalAwareness #somatichealing #InnerChildHealing #NervousSystemSupport
For years I did what most people do when they're hurting-I went to therapy. I sat in quiet offices, answered questions and explored my past. I talked through the pain. I did hours upon hours of traditional talk therapy. And respectfully, it helped-but only up to a point.
What I had lived through wasn't something I could simply reframe.
What I had lived through was trauma.
Eventually I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress. It made sense. The flashbacks, the hypervigilance, the constant bracing in my nervous system...and the night terrors-those were the worst.
I'd wake up in the middle of the night, frozen, drenched in sweat, unable to move or breathe, feeling like I was back there. Back in it. And no amount of insight could reach that part of me.
Because the truth is-trauma doesn't live in our thoughts. It lives in our bodies.
I tried to "think differently." To challenge my beliefs. To stay positive. But what I've come to understand-both personally and professionally-is that the beliefs we form in trauma aren't just "thought errors." They are protective, primal, and often unconscious.
Beliefs like:
It's not safe to trust
I have to be strong all of the time
It was my fault
If I let go, everything with fall apart
They live deep in our nervous system and in our subconscious mind, like old roots tangled in the soil of our being. And to truly heal, I had to go there-to the root.
That's where Root Cause Therapy came in. It was the first approach that helped me reconnect with my body in a way that felt safe. Not just intellectually exploring the past, but gently visiting the exact memories, the stuck emotions, the survival responses that had kept me locked.
This wasn't about forcing change. This was about creating space-softening into those old frozen places with compassion, awareness and guidance.
I didn't just understand what had happened to me. I started to feel it leave my body.
And amazingly...the night terrors went away.
I stopped waking up in paralysis.
The flashbacks stopped hijacking my days.
My nervous system found space to breathe.
If talk therapy hasn't brought the relief you hoped for, you're not alone.
You're not broken.
And you don't have to keep pushing through.
There are other ways.
Gentler ways.
More embodied ways.
I offer Root Cause Therapy sessions for those who are ready to feel whole-not just in your mind, but in your body and soul.
When you're ready, I'm here.
With deep respect for where you've been.
And hope for where you're going.
With warmth,
Janet Rhodes
Root Cause Therapy Practitioner
Equine Wellbeing Coach
#rootcausetherapy #traumahealing #mentalhealthawareness #traumarecoveryjourney #notjusttalktherapy #bodybasedhealing #safetoheal #emotionalhealingjourney #cominghometoyou
My heart was pounding all morning. My legs felt weak and my head was swimming. As I felt myself moving into a panic attack I realized I was having a trauma response.
My daughter was on her way back to the city where I ended my abusive marriage. She was with my husband, her step father, so I knew she was physically safe but my nervous system did not. This was the place where the abuse was at it's worst. This city was where I thought he was going to end my life. My nervous system remembered that. It was a lot.
Our nervous system doesn't understand time and space. It reacts to our memories, our surroundings and the responses that are happening in our body. For my nervous system my child was in an unsafe place hence the racing heart, weakness in my legs and the swimminess in my brain. I was reacting to the threats my nervous system remembered.
There are four states your nervous system can move into when it feels threatened; fight (prepare to fight the threat), flight (flee the threat), freeze (freeze in place feeling there is no way to escape) and fawn (appease the threat). If you have experienced any of these responses there are ways to bring your nervous system back to homeostasis and feel peace and safety again.
When your response is fight mode you might feel your jaw is clenching, you are balling your fists and/or having angry outbursts. Your core need is to know there isn't an emergency. You can achieve this by telling yourself out loud that you are safe, lay on your back or sit comfortably and breathe deeply. Take a breath in through your nose, deep down into your belly and slowly exhale out of your mouth. Do this at least three times.
When your response is flight mode you can feel anxiety in your chest, have shallow breathing, and/or a desire to run from the room and/or intense restlessness. Your core need is to feel grounded and anchored. What you can try is playing Gratitude as an "I spy" game. Look around you, be in the present moment and name the items around you that you are grateful for.
When your response is freeze mode you will show signs of shutting down which can involve flat, blank stares, a dampened sense of excitement and isolating from activities and people. You may also have a distorted sense of time. Your core need is to be shown warmth and nurturing. You can try washing your face with cool water, ice dives, drink a warm drink and/or tightly hug yourself.
When your response is fawn mode you can find yourself pacifying others for safety, please those around you, develop co dependency and lack boundaries. Your core need is to feel nutured and avoid conflict. You can try increasing awareness of your emotions, validate yourself and your needs and be self-compassionate (journal during tough times, practice self-care by getting out into nature, exercise or nap).
The feeling of overwhelm is so prevalent in our society. So many of us live under the constant pressure to produce, and to be on the go because we have bills to pay, and neighbours to keep up with, and those devices we carry add to that pressure with their constant notifications. This overwhelming feeling can profoundly affect our nervous system and our overall health. Here is a more detailed exploration:
Sympathetic Nervous System Activation: The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for our fight-or-flight response. When we become overwhelmed we experience acute stress. Our body releases adrenaline and cortisol. This increases our heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration and prepares the body to deal with immediate threats. While beneficial in short bursts, chronic activation can lead to various health issues. Prolonged exposure to stress hormones can contribute to cardiovascular problems, immune system suppression, and metabolic disturbances.
Parasympathetic Nervous System Inhibition: The parasympathetic nervous system helps the body to rest and digest. When a person is in chronic overwhelm their parasympathetic nervous system can become suppressed making it difficult for the body to relax and recover. This can lead to sleep disturbances and digestive issues, as the body remains in a heightened state of alertness. Without adequate activation of the parasympathetic system, the body struggles to repair and rejuvenate, which can exacerbate fatigue and decrease resilience to stress.
Cognitive and Emotional Effects: Overwhelm can significantly impact a person's mental processes. The prefrontal cortex in the brain, which is responsible for critical thinking and decision making can become overwhelmed. This leads to difficulty concentrating, impaired memory, and poor decision-making. Increased stress levels can also amplify emotions such as anxiety, irritability, and depression making emotional regulation more challenging.
Physical Symptoms: The physical manifestations of overwhelm can be widespread. Stress often results in tension, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and back. This can lead to chronic pain and increase the risk of headaches and migraines. The constant activation of stress responses can lead to physical and mental exhaustion, reducing overall energy and vitality.
Behavioural Responses: Behavioural changes often accompany chronic overwhelm. Individuals may withdraw from social interactions or avoid responsibilities which can worsen feelings of isolation and stress. Some people resort to coping strategies such as substance use, over or undereating to numb the stress but this only leads to further health issues.
Holistic Interventions: A holistic approach to managing overwhelm involves multiple strategies. Techniques like meditation, deep breathing, and yoga can activate the parasympathetic nervous system promoting relaxation and balance. Regular exercise helps reduce stress hormone levels, improves mood, and enhances cognitive function. Activities like walking, swimming, or dancing can be beneficial. A healthy diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins can support brain health and mood regulation. Reducing caffeine and sugar intake can also stabilize energy levels. Social support is important to creating a healthier lifestyle. Connecting with friends, family or support groups can provide emotional relief and reduce feelings of isolation. Therapeutic Interventions like Root Cause Therapy can help reduce a person's overwhelm by going back to root events and securely processing unprocessed emotions to release stress and gain emotional regulation and well-being. Spending time in nature and with animals can also be extremely therapeutic. Nature is a natural equalizer for our nervous system. Time with my horse herd stabilizes my nervous system and activates my parasympathetic nervous system bringing a feeling of rest and relaxation. The horses also offer a supportive space where I can release and process any emotions that are coming up. There are also exercises that a person can do to help regulate their nervous system in times of stress. One is called the Vagus Nerve Reset. This exercise can help activate your Parasympathetic Nervous System helping you achieve a more rested state. You can find a video of this exercise here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cChE-Lea2eo&t=25s
In conclusion, understanding the impact of overwhelm on the nervous system is crucial for developing effective strategies to manage it. By addressing both the physical and psychological components of stress a person can restore balance, improve their resilience, and enhance their overall well-being. By integrating mindfulness, exercise, nutrition, social support, and therapies a person can learn to manage their feelings of overwhelm and be able to live a healthier life.
Wishing you well,
Janet Rhodes BA, NLPP, Rc.t, EWC, IPHM
If you would like to chat further about this blog or the services I offer I invite you to book a free 30-minute Connection Call with me. No pressure, just a casual chat.
