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In this deeply reflective episode of Growing Tall Poppies: Thrive After Trauma, Dr. Nat Green shares an unexpected insight sparked during a visit to Alcatraz in San Francisco after several weeks travelling through Canada, the Rockies and Alaska.

What began as a sightseeing experience quickly became a powerful metaphor for the invisible emotional prisons so many high-functioning women continue living inside long after trauma, chronic stress, adversity, burnout, betrayal, or emotional survival mode has ended.

Because sometimes the trauma ends…
…but the nervous system never gets told the danger has passed.

In this episode, Dr. Nat explores:

• Why high-functioning women often remain stuck in survival mode
• The hidden nervous system patterns behind over-functioning, perfectionism, hyper-independence, and emotional exhaustion
• How trauma and chronic stress shape identity and create what she calls “identity fractures”
• Why mindset work alone often isn’t enough for deep healing
• Why successful women can still feel emotionally trapped, disconnected, anxious, exhausted, or unable to fully relax
• The difference between surviving and truly living
• How awe, presence, nature, spaciousness, and nervous system safety can begin reshaping healing

Dr. Nat also shares reflections from her recent travels and how slowing down, spaciousness, connection, and awe can profoundly impact nervous system healing and emotional integration.

Because healing is not simply about insight.

It’s about finally feeling safe enough to stop bracing against life.

Resources & Links

✨ Learn more about Dr. Nat Green’s work around trauma, identity fractures, nervous system healing, and post-traumatic growth. Connect on Instagram or Facebook.

🎙 Subscribe to Growing Tall Poppies: Thrive After Trauma for weekly conversations helping high-functioning women move beyond survival and into true healing, embodiment, and freedom.

📲 Share this episode with someone who has been carrying the invisible weight of always being “the strong one.”

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Intro and Outro music: Inspired Ambient by Playsound.

Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be deemed or treated as psychological treatment or to replace the need for psychological treatment.