Nurturing Friendships While Honoring Your Nervous System

Have you ever felt a deep longing for connection, yet found yourself hesitating to reach out? For many of us who've experienced trauma, especially the kind that shatters trust, building new friendships can feel like navigating a minefield. Your heart yearns for meaningful relationships, but your body sends warning signals at the mere thought of letting someone in.

I've been there, friend. I know the internal struggle of craving closeness while simultaneously feeling guarded, anxious, or even suspicious when others try to get close. It's a lonely place to be, but I want you to know you're not alone in this experience.

In this raw and honest episode, I dive deep into the complexities of female friendship and community after trauma. We explore why your nervous system might resist connection and how to create safety in relationships gently. Most importantly, we discuss why finding the right community is essential for healing and how to discover it.

Understanding Your Nervous System's Resistance

If you've lived through trauma, especially relational trauma, your body may have learned that other people aren't safe. This isn't just an emotional response - it's biological. Your nervous system is doing its job, trying to protect you from perceived threats. But this protective mechanism can leave you:

• Feeling tense or guarded around new people
• Overthinking conversations and replaying them in your head
• Struggling to let others see the real you
• Feeling emotionally drained after social interactions

Recognizing these responses is the first step toward healing. Remember, this isn't a failure on your part - it's your body's way of trying to keep you safe.

Creating Safety When Connection Feels Dangerous

Healing happens in connection, but how do you create safety when your body is convinced that connection isn't safe? Here are some strategies to help you navigate this journey:

• Start with self-trust: Learn to listen to your gut and honor your boundaries.
• Regulate your nervous system: Use techniques like deep breathing or grounding exercises to bring your body back to a state of calm.
• Take small steps: You don't have to dive into deep vulnerability right away. Start with sharing small bits of yourself and pay attention to how your body feels.
• Find the right people: Seek out spaces where you feel seen, accepted, and supported as you are.

The Power of the Right Community

Not all communities are created equal. Healing happens in spaces where you feel truly seen and accepted, not where you have to perform to belong. When you're surrounded by people who hold space for you without judgment, your nervous system starts to recalibrate. It begins to learn that connection can be safe.

If you've been craving this kind of supportive environment, I invite you to explore the Mamahood After Trauma Inner Circle. It's a space where mamas like you can feel safe to share, heal, and grow without judgment.

Your Invitation to Healing Connection

Remember, mama, you deserve safe, supportive relationships. If you've struggled to find that, it's not because you're broken - you just haven't found the right space yet. You are capable of healing, and you don't have to figure it out alone.

Are you ready to take the first step towards creating meaningful connections in a safe, supportive environment? Your journey to healing and authentic friendships starts here. Listen now and discover how you can start building the community you've always longed for.

Join the Mamahood After Trauma Inner Circle: patreon.com/MamahoodAfterTrauma 

🎁 Ready to break free from the chaos and unlock peace in your motherhood journey?

Start with my free guide, Unlocking Peace, designed to help you take the first step toward calm and connection.

👉 Download it for free today: https://freebie.mamahoodaftertrauma.ca/guide

 

Want to be a guest on Mamahood After Trauma? Send Emily Cleghorn a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/riseandshinewithemilyc