The Allender Center Podcast Trauma & Emotional Dysregulation
Nov 7, 2025
In this engaging discussion, emotional dysregulation is explored, shedding light on how trauma affects our nervous systems. Personal anecdotes and real-life experiences illustrate common triggers that lead to anxiety. The hosts delve into the roles of the amygdala and vagus nerve in managing stress responses. They advocate for compassion over shame, discussing practical tools like humming and somatic techniques for rapid regulation. Insights from Scripture connect spirituality with emotional care, making the conversation both relatable and enlightening.
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Ikea Errand Escalation
- Rachel Clinton Chen describes a minor errands-turned-crisis at Ikea that triggered intense nervous-system activation.
- She recounts being cut off from phone service and racing the clock to reach family and the podcast, showing how small events can spiral.
Trauma Alters Brain And Affect
- Dan Allender explains trauma's lasting impact on brain structures like the hippocampus and how early loss shapes affect regulation.
- He links childhood trauma to long-term fragmentation of emotion regulation, not to moral failure.
Hypervigilance From Childhood
- Rachel recounts lifelong hypervigilance: an overactive amygdala, anxiety, and physical symptoms like asthma.
- She ties these bodily responses to childhood experiences and coping strategies like long-distance running.
