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Trauma isn’t only about what happened—it’s about what happened inside your nervous system when an experience was too much, too fast, too soon, or too long, without enough support, choice, or protection. In this episode, we clarify what trauma is (and isn’t), using simple, polyvagal-informed language—so you can replace shame and confusion with understanding. You’ll also be guided through a short grounding practice you can use anytime.

In this episode, you’ll learn

• A clear, compassionate definition of trauma that goes beyond the “one big event” narrative
• Why two people can experience similar events and be impacted differently
• The difference between stress and trauma (and why that matters)
• Why trauma responses are adaptations, not character flaws
• How trauma can be remembered as sensations, triggers, and patterns—not just a story
• A simple polyvagal lens: safety & connection, mobilised protection (fight/flight), and shutdown protection
• A short, trauma-neutral grounding practice to support regulation

Gentle reminders

• Trauma is not a competition. You don’t need to justify your pain.
• If your body reacts while listening—tightness, racing thoughts, numbness—this is information, not failure.
• You’re invited to pause, skip ahead, or return later. Your pace matters.

Check the website for the free resources offered for both those affected by trauma and those supporting them.

Coming next: Small t, Big T—and the Missing Middle
We’ll explore why these terms can be helpful, where they can become misleading, and how to use them without comparison or shame.

Share this episode with someone who…

• Minimises their experience (“It wasn’t that bad…”)
• Feels confused by their reactions (“Why am I like this?”)
• Supports others and wants a clearer, kinder framework for understanding trauma

Support the show

💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it.

🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review.

Stay Connected

• 🌐 Visit nathaliehimmelrich.com
• 💌 Subscribe to the newsletter for resources and updates
• 🎧 Never miss an episode—follow the podcast!
• 💛 Socials Instagram Facebook

Find Support Resources

• 💜 For Grievers – Resources
  https://nathaliehimmelrich.com/grievers-support/
• 💜 For Supporters – Supporting someone https://nathaliehimmelrich.com/supporters-resources/
• 💜 Books – Explore books on grief and healing https://nathaliehimmelrich.com/books/
• 💜 Support – Offers - free and paid
  https://nathaliehimmelrich.com/free-resources/

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Welcome to the first episode of my new series “The Many Faces of Trauma.” In this opening episode, I share why I’m creating this series and how I’ll guide you through different trauma types in a way that’s clear, gentle, and not overwhelming. I introduce the “trauma map” I’ll be using across two seasons, explain what I mean by “trauma types” (as pathways, not labels), and offer a simple, polyvagal-informed way to understand what your nervous system may be doing.

In this episode, I cover

• Why I’m creating a trauma-types series—and how naming can reduce shame
• What I mean by “trauma type” (a pathway, not a box you live in)
• This series is structured across two seasons, so you can go at your own pace
• The five big pathways:
  1. Foundations
  2. Early imprint trauma
  3. Event-based trauma
  4. Society-shaped & environment-based trauma
  5. What trauma can become (including how trauma can affect the body)
• My simple, plain-language polyvagal map of nervous system states:
  • Safety & connection - ventral
  • Mobilised protection (fight/flight) - sympathetic
  • Shutdown protection (numb/freeze/collapse) - dorsal
• How to listen in a way that supports your system

Gentle content note

In this episode, I talk about trauma in general terms with no graphic detail. You’re always welcome to pause, step away, or come back later.

Grounding practice

I guide you through a brief practice that’s safe for most people, including:

• Orienting (noticing a few neutral objects around you)
• Longer-exhale breathing
• Contact + choice (feeling support in your body and naming one small next step)

How I recommend you use this series

• You don’t have to listen in order; start where you feel steady or curious
• You may relate to more than one episode (that’s common)
• This series is not a diagnosis tool; it’s a map for understanding and support

I invite you to check my website for the free resources offered for both those affected by trauma and those supporting them.

Coming next: When the Body

Support the show

💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it.

🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review.

Stay Connected

• 🌐 Visit nathaliehimmelrich.com
• 💌 Subscribe to the newsletter for resources and updates
• 🎧 Never miss an episode—follow the podcast!
• 💛 Socials Instagram Facebook

Find Support Resources

• 💜 For Grievers – Resources
  https://nathaliehimmelrich.com/grievers-support/
• 💜 For Supporters – Supporting someone https://nathaliehimmelrich.com/supporters-resources/
• 💜 Books – Explore books on grief and healing https://nathaliehimmelrich.com/books/
• 💜 Support – Offers - free and paid
  https://nathaliehimmelrich.com/free-resources/

Send us a text

Welcome again to the How to Deal With Grief and Trauma Podcast Season 16.

HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you!

For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.

Today is Monday, 19th January and for me a significant day: It is the 14th death-iversary of my Mother. With this in mind, I'm taking a moment to honour her and the body of work I've created with this podcast - even though I'm not one to applaud my own accomplishments easily.

For the coming season 16 and 17, I'm planing a whole set of episodes on the topic of trauma, starting with last week's episode on cultural grief following a traumatic event.

Before we begin, a gentle content note: we’ll be talking about trauma in general terms. There will be no graphic details. You don’t have to push through any of the episodes. If you notice your body tightening, your breath changing, or your mind drifting away, that’s not failure—that’s your nervous system doing its job. You’re allowed to pause, come back later, or choose a different episode.

The intent is to educate, to inform and to support - both those affected and those supporting those who are.

With that in mind, have a gentle day.

Let you nervous system guide you.

With Love, Nathalie

Support the show

💡 If today’s episode touched you, please share it with someone who might need it.

🤝 Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month & leave a review.

Stay Connected

• 🌐 Visit nathaliehimmelrich.com
• 💌 Subscribe to the newsletter for resources and updates
• 🎧 Never miss an episode—follow the podcast!
• 💛 Socials Instagram Facebook

Find Support Resources

• 💜 For Grievers – Resources
  https://nathaliehimmelrich.com/grievers-support/
• 💜 For Supporters – Supporting someone https://nathaliehimmelrich.com/supporters-resources/
• 💜 Books – Explore books on grief and healing https://nathaliehimmelrich.com/books/
• 💜 Support – Offers - free and paid
  https://nathaliehimmelrich.com/free-resources/