Stay ConnectedFormerly Trauma Informed Growth. Life after Complex-PTSD, and just beyond those first stages of recovery, is a lot like having someone turn the lights on after years navigating in the dark.
On this side of it, I reckon a lot more can be done to improve the sign posts that mark the way out. This podcast exists to discuss life in the dark, compare notes on mapping the way out, and explore what life is like with the lights on.
Get instant access to the wee book here: Successful Outside, Struggling Inside >
We are back with the 2nd of our mini series discussing the wee book - Successful Outside, Struggling Inside, pages 16-25. This episode focuses exlusively on the nervous system, tabling distinctions between dysregulated and depleted, nervous sytem states as our baseline vs the places our nervous system moves in and through, before taking a much closer look at each of the 4 states, and why state specifc recovery matters. For example, if you're stuck in survival mode - the red zone, and trying to help yourself with tools and resources from the peak performance or thriving zones, (blue & green) - it's not going to work.
Understanding where you are on the nervous system ladder will give you a higher probability of success finding your way out, as you engage the tools, timing and pace that your nervous system state benefits from most. Who knew?
I mention the Daily Practice in this episode. Get a copy of my practice - How to care that stringy piece of anatomy called your nervous system, here >
______________________________________________________________________
Shannon Eastman
Shannon Eastman is a business growth strategist fluent in both boardroom dynamics and nervous system regulation.
With 25 years of experience scaling businesses across tech, finance, and regulated industries worldwide, she brings a systems-thinking approach to performance, leadership, and wellbeing.
After five years studying the neurobiology of trauma, Jungian psychology, and polyvagal theory, Shannon now integrates nervous system intelligence into the way business gets done—through corporate pilots, strategic partnerships, and a global network of innovators driving this shift.
Her work bridges performance and wellbeing, laying the groundwork for a more human, sustainable way to lead.
______________________________________________________________________
NEW: Nervous System Economy™
You'll hear us refer to the Nervous System Economy™ — a industry level educaiton initiative committed to integrating Nervous System Intelligence into business and leadership. You'll find more about this over here: www.nervoussystemeconomy.com
_______________________________________________________________________
A Note on Safety
Your mental health, wellbeing, and sense of safety matter deeply. Working with a trauma-informed practitioner can make a significant difference.
While this podcast shares insights, reflections, and tools, it is not a substitute for professional support. If you're seeking a qualified practitioner, visit the Directory on our website.
Our community includes psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists who work through a trauma-informed lens — often with a special interest in supporting professionals aged 40+ or working within organisations.
_____________________________________________________________________
#WTTLO #WhoTurnedTheLightsOn #NervousSystemEconomy #CPTSD #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #40PlusProfessionals #Anxiety #TraumaRecovery #NervousSystemRegulation #WellbeingAtWork #Edutainment #NervousSystemBasics #NervousSystemInformedApproach
#recovery, #stress, #Anxiety, #CPTSD, #Nervous System, #Nervous System Economy, #WTTLO, #Nervous System Intelligence, #Nervous System LiteracyEpisode 12 marks the beginning of a micro series I am running based on the wee book (70 page free PDF) titled, "Successful Outside, Struggling Inside." I believe the contents of this PDF to be the minimum viable baseline of Nervous System Intelligence any of us should have access to, especially if you struggle with anxiety, mental health, self worth, and have a high stress childhood.
As such, I am narrating, discussing and sharing lived experience - as we move through this weebook together.
This episode focuses on pages 1-14.
You can freely access the wee book here: www.nervoussystemeconomy.com/nsi-book - drop in your email address, and it will land in your inbox within a few minutes.
Another resource mentioned in this episode is the Mind-Body Science Terrain. You will find this hi res PDF here - www.nervoussystemeconomy.com/nsi-guide
Roseanne Reilly, Hands of Time Healing was mentioned in relation to red tools, for nervous system's in the red zone.
______________________________________________________________________
Shannon Eastman
Shannon Eastman is a business growth strategist fluent in both boardroom dynamics and nervous system regulation.
With 25 years of experience scaling businesses across tech, finance, and regulated industries worldwide, she brings a systems-thinking approach to performance, leadership, and wellbeing.
After five years studying the neurobiology of trauma, Jungian psychology, and polyvagal theory, Shannon now integrates nervous system intelligence into the way business gets done—through corporate pilots, strategic partnerships, and a global network of innovators driving this shift.
Her work bridges performance and wellbeing, laying the groundwork for a more human, sustainable way to lead.
______________________________________________________________________
NEW: Nervous System Economy™
You'll hear us refer to the Nervous System Economy™ — a industry level educaiton initiative committed to integrating Nervous System Intelligence into business and leadership. You'll find more about this over here: www.nervoussystemeconomy.com
_______________________________________________________________________
A Note on Safety
Your mental health, wellbeing, and sense of safety matter deeply. Working with a trauma-informed practitioner can make a significant difference.
While this podcast shares insights, reflections, and tools, it is not a substitute for professional support. If you're seeking a qualified practitioner, visit the Directory on our website.
Our community includes psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists who work through a trauma-informed lens — often with a special interest in supporting professionals aged 40+ or working within organisations.
_____________________________________________________________________
#WTTLO #WhoTurnedTheLightsOn #NervousSystemEconomy #CPTSD #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #40PlusProfessionals #Anxiety #TraumaRecovery #NervousSystemRegulation #WellbeingAtWork #Edutainment #NervousSystemBasics #NervousSystemInformedApproach
#recovery, #stress, #Anxiety, #CPTSD, #Nervous System, #Nervous System Economy, #WTTLO, #Nervous System Intelligence, #Nervous System LiteracyWhat if your performance wasn't just about your mindset, but your mitochondria? What if quality of life came down to what's in—and around—your nervous system?
In this episode, Ruth Pearce and Shannon Eastman sit down to explore the lived experience of Nervous System Intelligence through the lens of environment—both visible and invisible. From the fluorescent lights we ignore to the subtle electromagnetic fields that shape our biology, this conversation opens up a rarely-discussed dimension of performance, presence, and recovery.
Together, they reflect on their personal 6-week journey using the SomaVedic device—what shifted, what didn't, and why it matters.
Expect insights on:– How quality of life is a nervous system conversation – What your environment is doing to you (whether you believe it or not) – SomaVedic as a tool for coherence, recovery, and performance – The role of terrain in regulating state, capacity, and signal clarity
This is a conversation for the curious, the skeptical, and those building a life with nervous system mastery at the center.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ruth Pearce, JD, PMP, ACC is a speaker, author, and coach who brings the science of character strengths into leadership, team dynamics, and project management. With a background in law and over 25 years leading complex projects in financial services, Ruth now empowers professionals to thrive through Positive Psychology. She's the author of Be A Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management and the founder of ALIVE, a methodology that helps individuals and teams flourish through Awareness, Learning, Inclusion, Validation, and Energy. Ruth is also a dedicated advocate for mental health, bringing a deeply human and heart-centered approach to professional development.
_____________________________________________________________________
Meet Shannon Eastman
Shannon Eastman is a business growth strategist fluent in both boardroom dynamics and nervous system intelligence.
With 25 years of experience scaling businesses across tech, finance, and regulated industries worldwide, she brings a systems-thinking approach to performance, leadership, and wellbeing.
After five years studying the neurobiology of trauma, Jungian psychology, and polyvagal theory, Shannon now integrates nervous system intelligence into the way business gets done—through corporate pilots, strategic partnerships, and a global network of innovators driving this shift.
Her work bridges performance and wellbeing, laying the groundwork for a more human, sustainable way to lead.
______________________________________________________________________
NEW: Nervous System Economy™
You'll hear us refer to the Nervous System Economy™ — a industry level educaiton initiative committed to integrating Nervous System Intelligence into business and leadership. You'll find more about this over here: www.nervoussystemeconomy.com
_______________________________________________________________________
A Note on Safety
Your mental health, wellbeing, and sense of safety matter deeply. Working with a trauma-informed practitioner can make a significant difference.
While this podcast shares insights, reflections, and tools, it is not a substitute for professional support. If you're seeking a qualified practitioner, visit the Directory on our website.
Our community includes psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists who work through a trauma-informed lens — often with a special interest in supporting professionals aged 40+ or working within organisations.
_____________________________________________________________________
#WTTLO #WhoTurnedTheLightsOn #NervousSystemEconomy #CPTSD #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #40PlusProfessionals #Anxiety #TraumaRecovery #NervousSystemRegulation #WellbeingAtWork #Edutainment #NervousSystemBasics #NervousSystemInformedApproach
#recovery, #stress, #anxiety, #CPTSD, #nervous system, #Nervous System Economy, #WTTLO, #Nervous System Intelligence, #Nervous System Literacy #Nervous System Economy, #Nervous System Intelligence, #Nervous System FacultyEpisode 10 will go down as one of my all time favourites. I appreciated the wisdom, insight and opportunity to learn from a business mind who prioritises consciousness as a tool to grow your business into the ultimate exit. There was no effort required in making the invisibile, visible in ways that land, and shift, and compel a new way of seeing.
We covered a lot of ground and each had their own pause for relfection - from what is consciousness, focus, perception, their application in business, along with the idea that "how-to", frameworks and methodologies, are needed far less, when one has a good idea of who they are, and how best to access their entire human.
An inspiring, rich exchange with much learning and material to ponder long after.
_____________________________________________________________________
Meet Townsend Wardlaw
Townsend helped generate over $1.5 billion in revenue and more than $500 million in personal wealth for founders—and he says the key to it all isn't strategy or hustle… it's consciousness.
He is a coach, advisor, and truth-teller to some of the world's most ambitious founders and top-performing coaches. After losing everything in his first business—his health, his marriage, and his net worth—he rebuilt from the inside out. And what he discovered is now at the heart of his work: that the exit you're chasing starts with how you see, how you lead, and how you show up.
Substack https://coachofbeing.substack.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/townsendwardlaw/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/townsendwardlaw The Coach's Operating System www.thecoachsos.com Free Training www.how2sellcoaching.com_____________________________________________________________________
Shannon Eastman
Shannon Eastman is a business growth strategist fluent in both boardroom dynamics and nervous system intelligence.
With 25 years of experience scaling businesses across tech, finance, and regulated industries worldwide, she brings a systems-thinking approach to performance, leadership, and wellbeing.
After five years studying the neurobiology of trauma, Jungian psychology, and polyvagal theory, Shannon now integrates nervous system intelligence into the way business gets done—through corporate pilots, strategic partnerships, and a global network of innovators driving this shift.
Her work bridges performance and wellbeing, laying the groundwork for a more human, sustainable way to lead.
______________________________________________________________________
NEW: Nervous System Economy™
You'll hear us refer to the Nervous System Economy™ — a industry level educaiton initiative committed to integrating Nervous System Intelligence into business and leadership. You'll find more about this over here: www.nervoussystemeconomy.com
_______________________________________________________________________
A Note on Safety
Your mental health, wellbeing, and sense of safety matter deeply. Working with a trauma-informed practitioner can make a significant difference.
While this podcast shares insights, reflections, and tools, it is not a substitute for professional support. If you're seeking a qualified practitioner, visit the Directory on our website.
Our community includes psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists who work through a trauma-informed lens — often with a special interest in supporting professionals aged 40+ or working within organisations.
_____________________________________________________________________
#WTTLO #WhoTurnedTheLightsOn #NervousSystemEconomy #CPTSD #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #40PlusProfessionals #Anxiety #TraumaRecovery #NervousSystemRegulation #WellbeingAtWork #Edutainment #NervousSystemBasics #NervousSystemInformedApproach
#recovery, #stress, #anxiety, #CPTSD, #nervous system, #Nervous System Economy, #WTTLO, #Nervous System Intelligence, #Nervous System Literacy #Nervous System Economy, #Nervous System Intelligence, #Nervous System FacultyItalian sports car. Corner office. Member of the judiciary, Solictor - On paper, Claire Payne had it all - and - Friday evening, 9pm in her office, with her little one at home, she has a moment.
In this candid and revealing episode, Claire shares the moment when she realised she was living entirely as a head on a stick with no awareness of a body until it felt like it was failing her.
The resignation went in on Monday only for an adventure to take shape in the months after.
Today, Claire leads a growing movement at the intersection of nervous system intelligence and business performance. Through immersive retreats, onsite culture change, and re-wilding with equine and wolf-based leadership programs, Claire helps leaders meet their whole self, and then learn how to use all available resources to create a life they never want to leave.
Inside:
The moment when success became unbearable—and what she did next
How nervous system regulation is now core to her executive work
Why traditional leadership models burn people out
What wolves, horses, and conflict teach us about trust, presence, and high performance
How Claire is reshaping leadership culture from the inside out
This episode is a permission slip for anyone who's ever wondered: What if there's more—and less—than all this?
_________________________________________________________________________________
Claire-Elaine Arthurs Payne MSc CMgr CEDR (Accred) is a qualified solicitor, leadership expert, Faculty at the Nervous System Economy, and founder of Orthelian—a consultancy at the intersection of nervous system intelligence, behavioural science, and business performance. With over 20 years' experience advising senior leaders and boards, Claire helps high-performing individuals and organisations move beyond survival-mode cultures toward sustainable, strategic success.
Known for her rare blend of legal expertise, behavioural insight, and practical leadership acumen, Claire integrates nature-based experiences—including retreats with wolves and horses—into her immersive programmes. In addition to leading transformation through Orthelian, she remains a Partner at Gunnercooke LLP, a sitting Judge in the First-tier Tribunal, and holds multiple Non-Executive roles.
Claire's work challenges outdated models of urgency, overwork, and control—inviting leaders to step into a more intelligent, instinct-led way of leading that's built to last.
Orthelian are hosting their next Wolf Retreat Sep 15 - 18, 2025, DM Claire 'WOLF RETREAT" for more details.
Claire Payne on LinkedIn >
_____________________________________________________________________
Shannon Eastman
Shannon Eastman is a business growth strategist fluent in both boardroom dynamics and nervous system intelligence.
With 25 years of experience scaling businesses across tech, finance, and regulated industries worldwide, she brings a systems-thinking approach to performance, leadership, and wellbeing.
After five years studying the neurobiology of trauma, Jungian psychology, and polyvagal theory, Shannon now integrates nervous system intelligence into the way business gets done—through corporate pilots, strategic partnerships, and a global network of innovators driving this shift.
Her work bridges performance and wellbeing, laying the groundwork for a more human, sustainable way to lead.
______________________________________________________________________
NEW: Nervous System Economy™
You'll hear us refer to the Nervous System Economy™ — a industry level educaiton initiative committed to integrating Nervous System Intelligence into business and leadership. You'll find more about this over here: www.nervoussystemeconomy.com
_______________________________________________________________________
A Note on Safety
Your mental health, wellbeing, and sense of safety matter deeply. Working with a trauma-informed practitioner can make a significant difference.
While this podcast shares insights, reflections, and tools, it is not a substitute for professional support. If you're seeking a qualified practitioner, visit the Directory on our website.
Our community includes psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists who work through a trauma-informed lens — often with a special interest in supporting professionals aged 40+ or working within organisations.
_____________________________________________________________________
#WTTLO #WhoTurnedTheLightsOn #NervousSystemEconomy #CPTSD #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #40PlusProfessionals #Anxiety #TraumaRecovery #NervousSystemRegulation #WellbeingAtWork #Edutainment #NervousSystemBasics #NervousSystemInformedApproach
#recovery, #stress, #anxiety, #CPTSD, #nervous system, #Nervous System Economy, #WTTLO, #Nervous System Intelligence, #Nervous System LiteracyDr. Joshua Rosenthal joins me for a game-changing conversation on EMFs, coherence, and the invisible field your nervous system is trying to regulate within—whether you're aware of it or not.
Most orf us would be forgiven for feeling tired, foggy, or fried. As a society, life is different than generations before - and - we can do some easy things to shift this a lot. I invited Dr. Rosenthal to help explain the invisible reasons as to why we're more fried, and why no amount of green smoothies or productivity hacks can fix a nervous system that's living inside constant, low-grade threat.
Dr. Rosenthal helps us understand what's really happening inside our environment—from EMFs and mitochondrial disruption to ATP loss and circadian dysregulation. Together, we map what this means for energy, focus, sleep, emotional steadiness, and long-term vitality.
What We Cover:What your nervous system is actually responding to in modern environments
The role of frequency, pressure, and pattern in cellular regulation
How electromagnetic environments disrupt ATP, communication, and coherence
The link between mitochondrial health and nervous system flexibility
Why creating a coherent field around you might be a life changer for you
Over the past 6 weeks, I've been using a device from SomaVedic—a passive technology that creates a coherent, supportive field in the spaces we live and work in. Dr. Rosenthal and I discuss why it has helped my partner and I. so much about half way through this episode.
The results?
💤 My sleep quality and quantity improved by over 65% by week 4. I'm not sure I ever really slept with quality, before this device. 💤 My partner, who began with a far more challenging relationship to sleep than myself, for over 10 years longer than my struggle, saw a solid 30% increase in quality and quantity of his sleep by week 6.
And we're still inside a 3-month cycle. We were both big fans of SomaVedic BEFORE this episode was recorded - after listening to Dr. Rosenthal for the first 30 minutes - my love and appreciation for this device has 10x'd. Leo and I agree, we would not live life without one now. This is them > > www.somavedic.com
_________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Joshua Rosenthal - Dr. Rosenthal is a pioneer in quantum health, sleep science, and nervous system regulation. With expertise spanning bioenergetics, mitochondrial recovery, and cellular resilience, his work sits at the intersection of physics, medicine, and human performance.
He helps individuals and organizations recalibrate their internal systems using light, sound, structured movement, and breath—supporting nervous system flexibility, emotional balance, and peak performance.
Dr. Rosenthal is dual board-certified in Sleep and Regenerative Medicine and Head and Neck Surgery. He's published on mitochondrial biology, longevity, and circadian optimization. He also brings a spiritual dimension to this work as an ordained interfaith minister.
Learn more: https://joshuarosenthalmd.com/about/ Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn >
__________________________________________________________________________
Shannon Eastman is a business growth strategist fluent in both boardroom dynamics and nervous system regulation.
With 25 years of experience scaling businesses across tech, finance, and regulated industries worldwide, she brings a systems-thinking approach to performance, leadership, and wellbeing.
After five years studying the neurobiology of trauma, Jungian psychology, and polyvagal theory, Shannon now integrates nervous system intelligence into the way business gets done—through corporate pilots, strategic partnerships, and a global network of innovators driving this shift.
www.shannoneastman.com Connect with Shannon on LinkedIn >
__________________________________________________________________________
Nervous System Economy
You'll hear us refer to the Nervous System Economy™—an industry-level education initiative committed to integrating Nervous System Intelligence into business and leadership. Learn more: www.nervoussystemeconomy.com/Landscape
__________________________________________________________________________
A Note on Safety This podcast shares insights and tools, but is not a substitute for professional care. For nervous system-informed support, visit the Nervous System Economy Who page to connect with nervous system-informed psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists—many of whom specialize in supporting 40+ professionals and those in high-responsibility roles.
—
#WTTLO #WhoTurnedTheLightsOn #NervousSystemEconomy #QuantumHealth #Mitochondria #SleepOptimization #Coherence #FrequencyMedicine #TraumaRecovery #EMF #Bioenergetics #40PlusProfessionals #NervousSystemRegulation #Somavedic #NervousSystemInformedBusiness
This is episode 7, Inspired by some great comments on a linkedin post I made earlier, over here. I got inspired to riff off the comments and speak to something in a bit more depth and specificity as we all get our heads around this nervous system stuff. When we do, this gets to become leverage creating major shifts in the quality of our life - around that entire wheel (as in the wheel of life).
______________________________________________________________________
Shannon Eastman
Shannon Eastman is a business growth strategist fluent in both boardroom dynamics and nervous system regulation.
With 25 years of experience scaling businesses across tech, finance, and regulated industries worldwide, she brings a systems-thinking approach to performance, leadership, and wellbeing.
After five years studying the neurobiology of trauma, Jungian psychology, and polyvagal theory, Shannon now integrates nervous system intelligence into the way business gets done—through corporate pilots, strategic partnerships, and a global network of innovators driving this shift.
Her work bridges performance and wellbeing, laying the groundwork for a more human, sustainable way to lead.
______________________________________________________________________
NEW: Nervous System Economy™
You'll hear us refer to the Nervous System Economy™ — a industry level educaiton initiative committed to integrating Nervous System Intelligence into business and leadership. You'll find more about this over here: www.nervoussystemeconomy.com
_______________________________________________________________________
A Note on Safety
Your mental health, wellbeing, and sense of safety matter deeply. Working with a trauma-informed practitioner can make a significant difference.
While this podcast shares insights, reflections, and tools, it is not a substitute for professional support. If you're seeking a qualified practitioner, visit the Directory on our website.
Our community includes psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists who work through a trauma-informed lens — often with a special interest in supporting professionals aged 40+ or working within organisations.
_____________________________________________________________________
#WTTLO #WhoTurnedTheLightsOn #NervousSystemEconomy #CPTSD #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #40PlusProfessionals #Anxiety #TraumaRecovery #NervousSystemRegulation #WellbeingAtWork #Edutainment #NervousSystemBasics #NervousSystemInformedApproach
#recovery, #stress, #Anxiety, #CPTSD, #Nervous System, #Nervous System Economy, #WTTLO, #Nervous System Intelligence, #Nervous System LiteracyI hit record 3x as I got all choked up at seeing the truth of this headline. The End of Survival Mode is attainable, accessible and I'm committed to sharing what I can with you to get your level of understanding on this high enough that you can see it too.
In this episode I start to talk inside the distinction of You, and Your Nervous System. A favourite quote I like to pull out now is that this is not about you. This is about your nervous system. It wants (needs) micro, slow, gentle done a few times a day, for a few months - to maximise the magic of things like neuroplasticity, bioplasticity - the very bits that change the program it is committed to executing.
A wee milestone episode for me asI feel all sorts evoked by the headline on this one. Because after 40 years running for my life, I am in the space beyond survival mode. And I never knew that this space even existed. I was more focused on "managing as best I can".
______________________________________________________________________
Shannon Eastman
Shannon Eastman is a business growth strategist fluent in both boardroom dynamics and nervous system regulation.
With 25 years of experience scaling businesses across tech, finance, and regulated industries worldwide, she brings a systems-thinking approach to performance, leadership, and wellbeing.
After five years studying the neurobiology of trauma, Jungian psychology, and polyvagal theory, Shannon now integrates nervous system intelligence into the way business gets done—through corporate pilots, strategic partnerships, and a global network of innovators driving this shift.
Her work bridges performance and wellbeing, laying the groundwork for a more human, sustainable way to lead.
______________________________________________________________________
NEW: Nervous System Economy™
You'll hear us refer to the Nervous System Economy™ — a industry level educaiton initiative committed to integrating Nervous System Intelligence into business and leadership. You'll find more about this over here: www.nervoussystemeconomy.com
_______________________________________________________________________
A Note on Safety
Your mental health, wellbeing, and sense of safety matter deeply. Working with a trauma-informed practitioner can make a significant difference.
While this podcast shares insights, reflections, and tools, it is not a substitute for professional support. If you're seeking a qualified practitioner, visit the Directory on our website.
Our community includes psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists who work through a trauma-informed lens — often with a special interest in supporting professionals aged 40+ or working within organisations.
_____________________________________________________________________
#WTTLO #WhoTurnedTheLightsOn #NervousSystemEconomy #CPTSD #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #40PlusProfessionals #Anxiety #TraumaRecovery #NervousSystemRegulation #WellbeingAtWork #Edutainment #NervousSystemBasics #NervousSystemInformedApproach
#recovery, #stress, #Anxiety, #CPTSD, #Nervous System, #Nervous System Economy, #WTTLO, #Nervous System Intelligence, #Nervous System LiteracyDr. Abrar Hussain is back to help us stand on some foundational concepts as it relates to all things #NervousSystemIntelligence. We cover the 3 nervous system states, why they matter, what creates them and how to navigate each one .I find myself asserting that our nervous system is 80% of the solution. That being stuck in a spin cycle of anxiety, tension, over analysis, scarcity and unhelpful behaviours is repairable. In my experience, long term, sustainable repair is found by working with, and through, your nervous system.
CAT Basics (Quick Recap)Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) explores relational patterns—especially how we relate to ourselves and others through learned roles. These patterns shape how we respond emotionally and physiologically.
1. Nervous System DysregulationWhat it is: Your system is overwhelmed—stuck in fight, flight, or freeze. Emotions are intense or shut down.
CAT lens: Often rooted in past roles like criticised, neglected, or abandoned. The nervous system learned to stay on alert due to early relationships.
Examples:
Overreacting to small things
Feeling numb or unsafe
Trapped in repeating emotional loops
What it is: Calming through connection. Another person's steady presence helps you feel safe.
CAT lens: Reflects roles like soothing to soothed. In therapy or healthy relationships, this helps rewrite old patterns of fear, rejection, or abandonment.
Examples:
Talking to someone who listens
Feeling calmer with a trusted person nearby
Therapist offering a regulated, grounding presence
What it is: You soothe your own system using awareness and tools. It's learned, not automatic.
CAT lens: A sign you've internalized healthier roles—like compassionate to comforted. You replace old self-critical voices with steadier, kinder ones.
Examples:
Deep breathing or grounding
Noticing a trigger and responding calmly
Self-talk that reassures instead of letting the inner voice judge and criticise
Dysregulation = old survival patterns in overdrive
Co-regulation = healing through connection
Self-regulation = internalised care and steadiness
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Abrar Hussain
Dr Abrar Hussain is a pioneering force in #NervousSystemIntelligence (#NSQ), redefining the way professionals understand #coregulation, #relationalhealing, #highperformance and #wellbeing.
As a consultant, psychiatrist, speaker and advisor, he specialises in guiding individuals and organisations toward deeper #nervoussystem awareness, helping them shift from #nervoussystemdysregulation to #resilience. With a lifetime of expertise in #CognitiveAnalyticTherapy (CAT) and innovative nervous system frameworks, Dr. Hussain empowers professionals to navigate complexity, foster nervous system safety, and optimise energy for long-term success.
Follow Dr. Abrar on LinkedIn >
______________________________________________________________________
Shannon Eastman
Shannon Eastman is a business growth strategist fluent in both boardroom dynamics and nervous system regulation.
With 25 years of experience scaling businesses across tech, finance, and regulated industries worldwide, she brings a systems-thinking approach to performance, leadership, and wellbeing.
After five years studying the neurobiology of trauma, Jungian psychology, and polyvagal theory, Shannon now integrates nervous system intelligence into the way business gets done—through corporate pilots, strategic partnerships, and a global network of innovators driving this shift.
Her work bridges performance and wellbeing, laying the groundwork for a more human, sustainable way to lead.
______________________________________________________________________
NEW: Nervous System Economy™
You'll hear us refer to the Nervous System Economy™ — a industry level educaiton initiative committed to integrating Nervous System Intelligence into business and leadership. You'll find more about this over here: www.nervoussystemeconomy.com
_______________________________________________________________________
A Note on Safety
Your mental health, wellbeing, and sense of safety matter deeply. Working with a trauma-informed practitioner can make a significant difference.
While this podcast shares insights, reflections, and tools, it is not a substitute for professional support. If you're seeking a qualified practitioner, visit the Directory on our website.
Our community includes psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists who work through a trauma-informed lens — often with a special interest in supporting professionals aged 40+ or working within organisations.
_____________________________________________________________________
#WTTLO #WhoTurnedTheLightsOn #NervousSystemEconomy #CPTSD #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #40PlusProfessionals #Anxiety #TraumaRecovery #NervousSystemRegulation #WellbeingAtWork #Edutainment #NervousSystemBasics #NervousSystemInformedApproach
This episode examines something that happened to me (Shannon Eastman) earlier today. I bombed my podcast and inside that experience I got to see something that feels helpful to share with you. I mention my daily practice in this episode. You'll find that here >
When someone taps into an old, unresolved emotional wound — especially one rooted in childhood dysregulation — the nervous system doesn't recognize it as the past. It often responds as though the threat is happening now.
Here's what typically happens in the body and nervous system:
1. Neurobiological Time TravelThe nervous system is non-verbal and non-linear. When triggered, it reactivates the physiological and emotional patterns from the original moment, not the current reality. This is often referred to as "implicit memory" — felt, but not consciously recalled.
2. Survival State Re-ActivationDepending on how the nervous system coped back then, a person may automatically enter:
Fight – agitation, blame, control
Flight – panic, overthinking, urge to escape
Freeze – numbness, disconnection, inability to act
Fawn – people-pleasing, appeasement, self-erasure
This is not a choice — it's the nervous system's best attempt to protect the system with what it learned during developmental years
3. Prefrontal ShutdownThe part of the brain responsible for logic, executive function, and perspective (prefrontal cortex) goes offline. The limbic system and brainstem take over, prioritizing survival.
This is why:
Rationalizing doesn't help
Coaching feels frustrating
"Calm down" is ineffective
Common physical symptoms include:
Tight chest
Shallow breath
Tunnel vision
Racing thoughts
Muscle tension
Digestive disruption
Feeling "out of body" or dissociated
The body is preparing for a threat that no longer exists — but it doesn't know that.
5. Emotional AmplificationSmall events feel massive
Feedback feels like rejection
Silence feels like abandonment
Boundaries feel like danger
All of this is the result of a nervous system remembering pain, not processing reality.
____________________________________________________________________
Shannon Eastman
Shannon Eastman is a business growth strategist fluent in both boardroom dynamics and nervous system regulation.
With 25 years of experience scaling businesses across tech, finance, and regulated industries worldwide, she brings a systems-thinking approach to performance, leadership, and wellbeing.
After five years studying the neurobiology of trauma, Jungian psychology, and polyvagal theory, Shannon now integrates nervous system intelligence into the way business gets done—through corporate pilots, strategic partnerships, and a global network of innovators driving this shift.
Her work bridges performance and wellbeing, laying the groundwork for a more human, sustainable way to lead.
______________________________________________________________________
NEW: Nervous System Economy™
You'll hear us refer to the Nervous System Economy™ — a industry level educaiton initiative committed to integrating Nervous System Intelligence into business and leadership. You'll find more about this over here: www.nervoussystemeconomy.com
_______________________________________________________________________
A Note on Safety
Your mental health, wellbeing, and sense of safety matter deeply. Working with a trauma-informed practitioner can make a significant difference.
While this podcast shares insights, reflections, and tools, it is not a substitute for professional support. If you're seeking a qualified practitioner, visit the Directory on our website.
Our community includes psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists who work through a trauma-informed lens — often with a special interest in supporting professionals aged 40+ or working within organisations.
_____________________________________________________________________
#WTTLO #WhoTurnedTheLightsOn #NervousSystemEconomy #CPTSD #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #40PlusProfessionals #Anxiety #TraumaRecovery #NervousSystemRegulation #WellbeingAtWork #Edutainment #NervousSystemBasics #NervousSystemInformedApproach
#CPTSD, #Nervous System, #Mental Wellbeing, #Nervous System Regulation, #Nervous System Basics, #Nervous System Economy #Anxiety, #Wellbeing, #CPTSD, #Mental Health, #Nervous System Regulation, #Nervous System Economy, #Nervous System Intelligence
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
