Episode 44: Grief, Fascia & the Nervous System: How Your Body Feels What You Don’t Say with Sue Hitzmann

Dr. Mary sits down with Sue Hitzmann—An internationally recognized educator in neurofascial science, manual therapist, exercise physiologist, and a New York Times Best Seller.They dive into how fascia is more than just “connective tissue”—it's a sensory and structural system that holds the impact of stress, trauma, and unprocessed emotions. They also talk about grief: Sue shares what she learned after the loss of her husband, and Dr. Mary opens up about navigating the recent death of her brother. Together, they speak honestly about how they've found ways to keep living—and even experiencing joy—through it all.In this episode, they discuss:The role of fascia in nervous system regulation, movement, and emotional processingHow emotions like grief, anger, and fear can physically show up in the bodyWhat “self-care” really meansThe difference between pain and suffering—and how mindset, movement, and awareness shape bothHow to support your clients (and yourself) when emotions surfaceWhether you're a healthcare provider, movement professional, or just someone trying to feel more at home in your body, this conversation blends science, story, and soul in a way that might just change how you approach pain, emotions, and healing.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview00:20 Meet Sue Hitzmann: Her Journey and the MELT Method01:21 Diving into Fascia: Understanding Its Importance03:33 Sue's Personal Story: From Pain to Discovery07:26 The Role of Fascia in Health and Longevity09:03 Challenges in Medical Understanding of Fascia12:56 The Nervous System and Its Impact on Health23:24 Managing Stress and Emotional Health32:08 The Broken Healthcare System and Insurance Issues34:27 Advocating for Her Mother’s Care35:13 Understanding the Healthcare System35:47 The Reality of Suffering and Grief36:20 Choosing Resilience Over Suffering37:56 Sharing Personal Stories About Grief39:17 Living in the Present Moment49:11 Managing Stress and the Nervous System52:31 Embracing Emotions and Healing01:02:38 The Importance of Self-Care01:03:38 Conclusion and Contact InformationYou can learn more about Sue and her work at: https://meltmethod.comWant support for perimenopause that goes beyond hormones?Whether you (or your clients) are taking HRT but still having symptoms, not ready for it, or can’t tolerate it...there’s more we can do.I’ll be sharing practical tools from a movement and rehab perspective, focusing on the nervous system, fascia, lymph, viscera, and musculoskeletal system.If you want updates on workshops, resources, and strategies to support this phase of life more fully, would love you to join my email list.Subscribe to my email list hereI’ll see you in 2 weeks!PS:If you are interested in being a guest on the show, please fill out the form here.