113. How Can Somatic Approaches Transform Your Healing Journey from Anxiety and Trauma?

Welcome back everyone! In this episode of Anxiety Rx Podcast, I sit down with the wonderful Britt Piper to dive into the fascinating world of somatic healing—aka, how to get out of your head and into your body to truly heal anxiety and trauma. We get into why your nervous system is running the show, how functional freeze can throw a wrench into your relationships, and why interoception (aka tuning into your body’s signals) is a total game-changer for emotional awareness. Britt also shares her journey of writing Body First Healing and the powerful lessons she’s learned along the way. We talk about choice, inner child work, and pendulation (don’t worry, I explain it!)—all essential tools for creating safety in your body. And ultimately, we explore how learning to live with pain (instead of constantly trying to escape it) is the key to finding your most authentic, unburdened self. Trust me, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss! Thank you for listening and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd PS. If you would like to join the MBRX family of 4500+ anxiety WARRIORS who are shifting from coping with their anxiety to actually HEALING it, click the link below: https://www.theanxietymd.com/MBRX To dive deeper into Britt’s work, here’s where you can find her: Her book: https://www.bodyfirsthealing.com/ Instagram @healwithbritt ______________________________ TIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction to Somatic Healing 01:04 The Journey of Writing 'Body First Healing' 02:57 Understanding the Nervous System and Trauma 05:44 The Impact of Anxiety on Relationships 09:55 Functional Freeze and Emotional Disconnection 12:32 Navigating the Nervous System Ladder 14:09 The Cycle of Anxiety and Overthinking 17:00 Building Capacity to Feel Emotions 20:38 Pendulation: Moving Through Emotions 23:03 Reparenting the Inner Child 26:31 Trusting the Body's Wisdom 30:21 Somatic Experiencing: A New Choice for Healing 33:31 Building a Foundation of Safety 36:53 The Journey of Nervous System Regulation 41:41 Navigating Trauma and Resilience 47:42 Learning to Live with Pain 55:20 Pendulation: Balancing Activation and Safety