Is focusing on your nervous system right now a way of opting out of collective reality, or a powerful way to meet it?
In this episode, Rachel sits down with Dr. Leslie Carr to explore an important question: does regulation simply mean "staying calm," or is it something far deeper? And when the world feels this urgent, is caring for your nervous system a distraction from what really matters – or exactly what this moment is asking of us?
Together, they unpack the difference between true regulation and simply calming down, the impact of doomscrolling and collective stress on the body, how to stay present during challenging times, and why caring for your nervous system is not disengagement – it may be one of the most powerful forms of participation.
In This Episode We Explore:
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What nervous system regulation actually means and why it's not equivalent to "being calm"
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How to stay engaged without burning out
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Doomscrolling, overwhelm, and the loss of self/other boundaries
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Presence, sensation, and practical tools for real life
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Why joy, pleasure, and wellbeing matter in difficult times
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How caring for yourself can help you better care for others
If this conversation resonates, be sure to follow the podcast and share this episode with someone someone feeling the weight of these times.
About Dr. Leslie Carr
Dr. Leslie Carr is a psychologist and an expert in how trauma, stress, culture, and technology impact the mind. She's been active in mental health advocacy and public psychoeducation for over fifteen years, and her work has been featured in The LA Times, ABC News, and Ask Dr. Drew, among many other places.
She hosts the podcast The Nature of Nurture, which explores the mental health challenges inherent to being human in the modern age. Despite the difficult subject matter, the show always endeavors to be uplifting, leaving listeners feeling grounded, informed, and empowered as they move through life in the twenty-first century.
Learn more at TheNatureofNurture.com
About Rachel Hardy
Rachel Hardy is a somatic coach and educator who specializes in deep nervous system regulation: the kind that doesn't just shift your state, but actually changes the underlying physiology. Drawing on decades of experience working with the body and the nervous system, training as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), and her studies in depth astrology and the Akashic Records, she works with brilliant, creative, spiritually attuned humans who've done the inner work and are ready for the kind of change that lives in the body.
She hosts the podcast Nervous System Alchemy and is the author of The Shape of Happiness.
Learn more at rachelhardy.com
Ready to build a whole new nervous system that responds to stress differently? Drop your email here to be notified about the next round of Nervous System Alchemy.
Music Credit
"Grace" written and recorded by Paul Briggs and used by permission.