In this enlightening discussion, Brittany Piper, an expert in trauma-informed care and author of 'Body-First Healing,' shares her insights on the challenges of modern life and its effects on our nervous systems, especially for those with ADHD. She dives into the cumulative nature of chronic stress and why typical self-care advice often falls short. Brittany emphasizes the importance of safety and genuine connection, while highlighting how stress manifests physically in our bodies. Listeners will discover practical techniques to manage stress and cultivate mindfulness amidst chaos.
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insights INSIGHT
Nervous System Needs Safety and Connection
Our nervous system thrives on safety and connection to function well. Modern life often undermines both, causing chronic stress and disconnection from self and others.
insights INSIGHT
Chronic Stress Is Like a Pressure Cooker
Chronic stress builds like a pressure cooker of unprocessed adrenaline and cortisol. Rest alone doesn’t release this stored tension, causing physical and emotional symptoms to emerge.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Burnout Felt in the Face
David experienced physical facial pain during burnout, possibly linked to elevated cortisol. This illustrates how stress symptoms can show in unexpected bodily areas.
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The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder
Gabor Maté
In this book, Dr. Gabor Maté argues that Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD) is not a genetic 'illness' but a response to environmental stress. He explains that the brain circuits responsible for emotional self-regulation and attention control fail to develop in infancy due to life experiences. The book provides insights for parents to understand their ADD children and for adults with ADD to gain insights into their emotions and behaviors. It presents a program to promote neurological development in both children and adults, emphasizing the role of social and emotional environments in both the cause and cure of the condition.
Overcoming Burnout
Overcoming Burnout
David Greenwood
The Myth of Normal
Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture
Gabor Maté
Daniel Maté
In this book, Gabor Maté and his son Daniel Maté challenge the prevailing understanding of 'normal' health, arguing that Western medicine often neglects the impact of trauma, stress, and modern-day living on our bodies and minds. They connect the dots between individual health issues and the broader societal problems, offering a compassionate guide for health and healing. The book is based on over four decades of clinical experience and is supported by extensive scientific research, patient stories, and personal disclosures.
Body-First Healing
Body-First Healing
Brittany Piper
Brittany Piper's "Body First Healing" offers a somatic roadmap to trauma recovery, applicable to various challenges beyond trauma. It emphasizes healing through body awareness, addressing how trauma manifests physically. The book integrates personal narratives with practical tools for managing stress and anxiety. It guides readers in understanding their body's language and developing resilience. Piper's expertise as a somatic experiencing practitioner informs the book's accessible and effective approach.
Overcoming distractions
David Greenwood
Are you a busy professional with ADHD feeling overwhelmed and burned out? You're not alone. This week, David welcomes Brittany Piper, author of Body-First Healing: Get Unstuck and Recover from Trauma with Somatic Healing, and an expert in trauma-informed care, to dig into the profound impact of our modern world on our nervous systems.
They discuss how the constant demands of technology, work, and life contribute to chronic stress and burnout, especially for those already navigating the challenges of ADHD.
Britt highlights that our nervous system fundamentally seeks safety and connection. Modern life often undermines both, leading to feelings of unsafety within our bodies and relationships, and a sense of "connected but disconnected" through technology. They explore the difference between stress and the cumulative "allostatic load" of chronic stress, emphasizing that simply resting isn't always enough to release built-up tension.
Key Discussion Points:
The Impact of Modern Life: How 24/7 connectivity and societal pressures overload our nervous systems.
Beyond Surface-Level Advice: Why typical burnout advice like "take breaks" often misses the deeper physiological roots of chronic stress.
The Body's Silent Signals: Britt explains how stress and trauma are stored in the body, manifesting in physical symptoms like digestive issues, chronic pain, and even changes in facial muscles and hearing.
The Role of Early Experiences: The crucial impact of secure attachment in early childhood on developing a resilient nervous system and the potential for "developmental trauma."
Unpacking the Past: Recognizing how past experiences, even without overt abuse, can prime our nervous system for survival mode and impact our stress response in adulthood.
The Autonomic Loop: Understanding how some high-achievers unknowingly use the energy of unprocessed stress (adrenaline and cortisol) to fuel their careers, leading to eventual crashes.
The Meaning of Presence: A glimpse into how to truly become present by engaging the sensory-motor system.
**Do you want to work with Dave one-on-one? Go to www.overcomingdistractions.com and book an introductory Zoom chat. Or go directly to Dave’s calendar; https://calendly.com/davidgreenwood1/15min
Overcoming Distractions-Thriving with ADHD, ADD 
