Life By Design Therapy

  Trauma doesn’t always show up in obvious ways. Sometimes, it quietly integrates into our lives everyday. You might not call it trauma. You might just say: 👉 “I’m always tired.” 👉 “I can’t sit still.” 👉 “I don’t know why I shut down in conversations.” But these everyday experiences are your body’s way of saying, “I don’t feel safe.” In this post, we’re unpacking some of the surprising ways unprocessed trauma can shape your routines, reactions, and relationships, often without you realizing it. The goal is to bring awareness to the symptoms or patterns you’re experiencing and to help you understand them. Somatic therapy can play a key role in healing because it brings your mind and body back together to find safety again. If you are ready to learn more about how Somatic therapy can support with healing unprocessed trauma, and nervous system regulation, click the link in our bio to book a call. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/trauma-therapy

  Did you know that not all trauma shows up as flashbacks or panic attacks? Sometimes, it lives quietly in your everyday experience, until you learn to recognize the signs. Here are 4 common (but often overlooked) signs of unprocessed trauma : 🌀 Chronic tension or pain – This one is so common it often flies under the radar. Maybe it’s your jaw, shoulders, stomach, or chest, but it’s always there. Sometimes, people don’t even realize how much tension they’re carrying until they feel what it’s like to soften. The body doesn’t hold that tightly without a reason…it’s protecting something. 💤 Fatigue that doesn’t go away – This is more than being sleepy. It’s a deep exhaustion, the kind that seeps into your bones. I often see this when someone’s system has been in survival mode for a long time, especially when in freeze mode. The body is conserving energy, but it’s not truly resting. ⚡ Restlessness or inability to slow down – Have you ever felt like the moment you stop moving, it’s ...

  Some symptoms don’t look like trauma at all. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t. Unprocessed trauma doesn’t always come with big, obvious signs. Sometimes, it’s the fatigue that sleep doesn’t fix. The jaw that never relaxes. The discomfort with stillness. The overthinking you can’t seem to turn off. These patterns are easy to miss, especially when they’ve become part of your everyday life. Maybe you’ve always been the strong one, the calm one, the one who never needs help. But underneath that… your nervous system might still be bracing. Still waiting for signs of safety. These signs aren’t weaknesses. They’re protection. They’re what your body did to get you through. And with the right support , they can shift. 💬 Have you ever noticed one of these patterns in yourself? https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/trauma-therapy

  For a long time, I thought routines were just about discipline and getting things done. But what I’ve come to learn is that the most supportive routines aren’t built for productivity, they’re built for regulation. My nervous system doesn’t thrive on structure alone. It needs grounding. It needs movement. It needs cues that say, you’re safe. Creating a body-based routine changed everything for me. It gave me a way to meet myself with compassion instead of pressure. To move through the day in ways that feel nourishing, not just efficient. If you’re craving more ease in your day, maybe it’s time to build a rhythm that starts with your body, not your to-do list. Your nervous system will thank you. 🌿 If you’re ready to shift from survival mode to a more supportive daily rhythm, I wrote a blog that breaks this down even more. Read the full blog , How to Build a Daily Routine to Support Overwhelm. It’s filled with practical ideas to help you create a routine that actually works with y...

  How to Build a Daily Routine to Support Overwhelm “In the world we’re living in, overwhelm feels like it has become a baseline for the average American.” For more on this, please check out the blog . https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/blog/how-to-build-a-daily-routine-to-support-overwhelm

  I used to move from one role to the next…parenting, work, cleaning, without ever pausing. Just go, go, go. And by the end of the day? I was fried. What I didn’t realize was how much my nervous system needed space between the “doing.” Now, I honor transitions. Not with anything fancy, but with little rituals that help my body exhale like: ⭐ Washing my hands to reset. ⭐ Changing into comfy clothes after work. ⭐ Taking five deep breaths before dinner. These aren’t chores. They’re nervous system resets. If you feel like you're carrying stress from one moment to the next, this is your reminder: You don’t need more hustle. You need space to shift. For more on this and other body-based habits, check out the blog : Somatic Tools to Build a Daily Routine to Support Overwhelm (link in bio)💛 https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/blog/how-to-build-a-daily-routine-to-support-overwhelm

  I used to think being overwhelmed meant I just needed to be more organized or push a little harder. But the truth is, my nervous system wasn’t overloaded because of a lack of planning, it was because I didn’t feel safe enough to slow down. Now, when I feel that familiar tension creeping in, I don’t reach for another productivity hack. I pause. I check in with my body. I ask what I actually need. And most importantly, I remind myself: I don’t need to push through. I need care, space, and compassion. If you’re feeling overwhelmed too, maybe it’s not a flaw or a failure. Maybe it’s a message. You don’t need to do more. You need to feel safe. 🌿 Save this as a gentle reminder for the days that feel like too much. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  I used to wonder why affirmations didn’t work for me. I’d try saying things like “I am enough”… and almost immediately feel this wave of resistance or doubt. For a long time, I thought I was doing something wrong. But I figured out, those words were brushing up against deeper wounds; old beliefs shaped by moments in childhood where I didn’t feel fully seen, loved, or accepted. So if affirmations feel uncomfortable, it’s not a failure. It’s a signal. A part of you is saying: “This doesn’t match what I learned about myself growing up.” ✨ Affirmations aren’t just mindset tools, they touch on our emotional history, too. ✨ When old wounds get stirred up, gentleness matters more than repetition. ✨ It’s okay to start with what feels possible, not what feels perfect. Try saying: 🌼 Every day, I’m growing into someone who believes in their worth. 🌼 I can hold boundaries and still be loved. 🌼 There’s strength in showing up as my whole self. You don’t have to force it. Go slow. Honor wha...

  There are days when my mind feels scattered and my body carries a weight I can’t quite name. That’s when I know it’s time to pause, not to escape, but to reconnect. I’ve learned that somatic breaks aren’t just about relaxation. They’re about regulation. They’re how I remind my nervous system that’s it’s safe. A gentle sway, a deep breath, a hand on my heart, these simple moments help me come back to myself. Not to be more productive, but to be more present. If today feels like too much, maybe you don’t need to push through. Maybe you just need a somatic break . 🌿 Save this as a reminder when your system needs support, not strategy. https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/therapy-phone-consultation

  Did you know that affirmations aren’t meant to be perfect or polished. They’re meant to be accessible . And when your nervous system is dysregulated or your self-worth feels shaky, softer words often feel more honest and more healing. Here are three affirmations that meet you where you are, not where you think you should be: 💬 It’s okay to go slow There’s no timeline for healing. Slowness is not a setback, it’s often your body’s way of staying safe. 💬 I’m doing the best I can This can be a powerful antidote to self-judgment. It invites compassion into moments where you might usually criticize yourself. 💬 I want to believe I’m worthy You don’t have to fully believe it yet. Wanting to believe is a meaningful step. It creates space for the truth to grow gently over time. Let affirmations be a bridge to healing and self-growth, not a performance. Which one resonates with you today? https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  Affirmations aren’t just about saying positive things, they’re about creating safety inside your body so those words can actually land. If you’ve ever said something like “I love who I am” and felt a wave of doubt or discomfort…I completely understand. When your nervous system is in protection mode, even kind words can feel uncomfortable or hard to take in. That’s why gentle affirmations, ones that meet you where you are, not where you think you should be, can be such a helpful place to start! Try these when you’re building self-worth and nervous system safety: 🌱 Every emotion I feel is a message guiding me toward growth and healing. 🌱 I can grow without needing to rush the process. 🌱 I’m learning to feel safe in my body. 🌱 I give myself permission to feel, express, and release my emotions in healthy ways. 🌱 I choose to believe in myself. Let these be gentle reminders, not pressure to perform. Healing isn’t about saying things perfectly, it’s about building a relationship...

  You’ve probably heard it before: “ Just say positive affirmations !” But have you ever repeated “I am enough” while secretly feeling like a fraud? Affirmations can be powerful, but only when your nervous system actually feels safe enough to believe them. If deep down you feel unsafe, unworthy, or stuck in survival mode, no amount of repeating nice words will fully land. So what can you do? Start with safety first. Regulate your nervous system, connect with your body, and explore what’s underneath the resistance. When you tend to the root, the words start to feel true. Swipe through to learn: 👉 Why affirmations can backfire 👉 What’s happening in your nervous system 👉 And how to make affirmations actually work for you Healing is more than mindset, it’s mind-body-soul work. You deserve truth that resonates, not just words that sound nice 💛 https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  I used to wonder why something as simple as saying kind words to myself felt so hard. Everyone made affirmations sound easy, just repeat them daily and watch your mindset shift. But for me (and so many clients I work with), the reality felt very different. Sometimes, saying things like “I am safe” or “I am worthy” brought up more tension than peace. And that’s when I realized…it wasn’t just a mindset issue. It was also a nervous system issue. If affirmations feel uncomfortable or even triggering, it’s not because you’re doing it wrong. It’s because a part of you might not feel safe enough yet to receive those words. 💬 That resistance isn’t failure, it’s feedback. 💬 It’s your body saying, “Let’s go slower.” 💬 It’s asking for safety before belief. Affirmations can absolutely support healing , but they land best when we start with nervous system care. So if the words don’t stick right away, try starting here: ✨ Breathe. ✨ Soften. ✨ Get curious about what your body needs to fee...