Ask Dr. Katelyn: Why Do I Shut Down Emotionally Around Family During the Holidays?
If you notice yourself going quiet, flat, or strangely numb around family in December, you’re not alone. What many people call emotional shutdown isn’t a personal failure—it’s your nervous system doing exactly what it learned to do in the environments that shaped you. Especially if you live with high-functioning depression or old “mother wound” triggers, […]
How Holiday Noise, Crowds, and Sleep Disruptions Trigger Hidden PTSD Symptoms (And How to Stabilize Fast)
The holidays are supposed to feel warm, nostalgic, and joyful. But for many people living with post-traumatic stress—especially those with military experience—this season often lands differently. The noise, the crowds, the disrupted sleep schedules…what most people call “holiday chaos” can register in your system as something far more serious. This isn’t because you’re “overreacting.” It’s […]
Ask Dr. Katelyn: Why Do I Feel Wired but Exhausted?
(Even Though I’m Eating Clean, Training Hard, and Sleeping Well?) There’s a particular kind of fatigue that shows up for high performers around the holidays: the body feels heavy, the mind feels fast, and no amount of “doing everything right” seems to shift it. This wired-but-exhausted state isn’t a failure of discipline. It’s a reflection […]
Ask Dr. Katelyn: “I’m a veteran who can’t sleep through the night. Can Float Therapy really help with PTSD?”
You’ve probably been told a hundred times to “just relax.” But if you’ve lived through what can’t be unseen or undone, that advice can feel impossible — even insulting. When you’ve learned to survive by staying alert, sleep doesn’t feel safe. The body keeps watch long after the mission ends. And yet, somewhere deep inside, […]
Black Friday to Cyber Monday: How to Stop Emotional Spending and Shop Mindfully
Every November, inboxes overflow with “can’t-miss” deals, flash sales, and countdown timers designed to hijack your attention — and your nervous system. By the time Cyber Monday rolls around, many of us are left with more boxes than we need and a creeping sense of guilt or anxiety that follows the high of impulsive spending. […]
Ask Dr. Katelyn: “I love my family, but the holidays always leave me drained. How do I protect my peace when old family dynamics resurface?”
The holidays have a way of bringing out both the best and the most tender parts of us. Love, nostalgia, warmth — and, sometimes, the same old patterns that we thought we’d outgrown. It’s not that we don’t love our families; it’s that the nervous system remembers. And when old dynamics resurface, the body often […]
Holiday Stress Inoculation: Preparing Your Nervous System Before the Rush
For high performers, the holidays can feel less like a break and more like an endurance event. Between travel, social obligations, family expectations, and year-end deadlines, your nervous system is often running a marathon you didn’t consciously sign up for. But what if you could train your stress response—just like you train your body—to stay […]
Family Gathering Survival Guide: Coherence Tools for Difficult Conversations This Thanksgiving
The holidays can be a mixed bag — especially when you live with chronic pain. While everyone else seems to be sipping cider and swapping stories, you might be silently scanning the room for the nearest exit or bracing for the next emotionally charged comment. Between family expectations, travel fatigue, and the pressure to “be […]
Ask Dr. Katelyn: “I feel disconnected from everyone lately. How can I reconnect without forcing it?”
It’s a common confession — though rarely spoken aloud. “I just feel… nothing.” Not angry. Not sad. Not happy. Just numb. For many men, this quiet disconnection can feel like being trapped behind glass. You can see your life — your relationships, your family, your goals — but you can’t feel them. And in a […]
The Gratitude–Coherence Connection: The Science of Thankfulness and Nervous-System Balance
Gratitude is often spoken of as a virtue — something we “should” feel to become better people. But beneath the surface of that moral ideal lies a fascinating and measurable neurophysiological phenomenon: gratitude changes the body’s electromagnetic rhythm. It transforms the heart’s signal, synchronizes the nervous system, and restores coherence to mind and body alike. […]
