EPISODE · Mar 10, 2026 · 29 MIN
#75 When Trauma Lives in the Body, and What It's Doing to Your Nervous System, with Tracy Smaldino (Part 1)
from PCOS Unfiltered: Nourish, Heal, Thrive · host Tracy Smaldino
Connect with Tracy: on facebook on instagram on YouTube on TikTok by email Register for FREE for the "From Mindful to Mind-full Workshop" (Now known as Trust Your Hunger) happening on Sunday, March 15th In This Episode: Tracy’s devastating childhood car accident and long recovery Surviving burns over 70% of her body and years of surgeries The emotional trauma that went unaddressed for decades Survivor’s guilt and the hidden impact on the nervous system A sexual assault Tracy kept secret for over 40 years How suppressed trauma shaped anxiety, relationships, and life decisions The role meditation played in beginning her healing journey What MDMA-assisted therapy is and how it works The powerful realization that led Tracy to forgive herself Why trauma survivors often stay busy or seek chaotic environments Understanding how the nervous system influences behavior and choices Using journaling, hypnosis, and self-reflection as healing tools Why healing looks different for everyone The importance of regulating the nervous system for lasting change Key Takeaways: Trauma doesn’t disappear just because we suppress it. The nervous system holds onto experiences long after the event. Healing often begins when we are willing to face ourselves honestly. Self-forgiveness can be one of the most powerful steps in recovery. There are many healing modalities — the key is finding what works for you. If This Episode Resonated, Share this episode with someone who needs the reminder that healing is always possible — no matter how much time has passed. 📘 Healthy for a Reason: 12 Practical Guidelines to Feel Like Yourself AgainIf you're tired of starting over, trying harder, and wondering why nothing seems to work, Healthy for a Reason was written for you.For years, we've been told the answer is more willpower, more restriction, and more rules. But if you've struggled with cravings, fatigue, emotional eating, poor sleep, or stubborn weight despite doing everything "right," you know it's not that simple.What if those struggles weren't signs that you've failed?What if they were your body's way of asking for something different?In Healthy for a Reason, Lindsie combines nearly two decades of nursing experience with practical health coaching strategies to help you understand what your body has been trying to tell you all along. You'll learn how to calm your nervous system, recognize your body's signals, build sustainable habits, and create lasting health by working with your body instead of constantly fighting against it.This isn't another diet book or a collection of quick fixes. It's a practical, compassionate guide to helping you reconnect with your body, rebuild trust in yourself, and finally understand why you're healthy for a reason.✨ Available now in paperback and Kindle.👉 Grab your copy HERE, available in paperback or on kindle 📝 Free Download: The Food Timeline TrackerUnlock the clues your body is already giving you.This simple worksheet helps you connect your meals to your hunger, cravings, and energy—so you can start spotting patterns, identifying insulin resistance symptoms, and making empowered food choices (no calorie counting required). Use it for just 2-3 days and prepare to be amazed at what you discover!✅ What's included:Meal tracking prompts (before, during, after, and long after)Space to note physical, emotional, and energy changesBonus reflection questions to guide your next steps📥 Grab it HERE!
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What happens when trauma stays buried for decades? In this deeply raw and powerful conversation, Lindsie sits down with Tracy Smaldino, who shares her extraordinary story of survival, suppression, and ultimately healing. At just 12 years old, Tracy survived a catastrophic car accident that left her with burns over 70% of her body and took the lives of her two cousins. Only a few years later, she experienced another devastating trauma — a sexual assault she kept secret for more than 40 years. For decades, Tracy pushed forward, building a life and career while unknowingly carrying layers of unresolved trauma in her nervous system. Anxiety, hyper-vigilance, and instability quietly shaped her choices and relationships. Everything began to shift when Tracy discovered meditation, which opened the door to deeper healing. Her journey eventually led her to explore modalities like MDMA-assisted therapy, hypnosis, journaling, and nervous system work, allowing her to confront suppressed memories and find something she never expected — self-forgiveness. In this episode, we explore how trauma impacts the nervous system, why suppressed experiences can shape our lives in ways we don’t realize, and why healing often begins the moment we decide to face ourselves with compassion. Tracy’s story is proof that no matter how much time has passed, it is never too late to heal.
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#75 When Trauma Lives in the Body, and What It's Doing to Your Nervous System, with Tracy Smaldino (Part 1)
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