Eps 72. Healing Dysautonomia & Chronic Illness Through Nervous System Regulation | Elizabeth Stauder

In this episode of the Functionally Enlightened Podcast, Sharon Surita, PhD, BCFDNP sits down with Elizabeth Stauder, practitioner and founder of Body and Soul Sanctuary, to explore the role of nervous system regulation, somatic trauma reprocessing, and mind-body repatterning in chronic illness recovery.Elizabeth shares her deeply personal healing journey after developing dysautonomia following a vaccine injury, compounded by profound personal loss. When conventional approaches failed to provide answers, Elizabeth began integrating her training in somatic trauma work, neuroscience, and ancient healing practices to reclaim control over her nervous system and restore balance in her body.Together we explore how hypervigilance, trauma physiology, and nervous system dysregulation can perpetuate chronic illness, and how simple daily practices can begin shifting the body out of survival mode.This conversation is especially relevant for individuals navigating implant illness, dysautonomia, mast cell activation, Lyme disease, autoimmune conditions, and chronic inflammation, where nervous system resilience often becomes a critical piece of recovery.In This Episode We Discuss• Elizabeth’s personal story of dysautonomia and recovery• How trauma and medical PTSD can affect chronic illness• Understanding hypervigilance and functional freeze states• The importance of validating emotions during illness• Somatic practices to help regulate the nervous system• Journaling, breathwork, and visualization tools for daily healing• How nervous system coherence supports immune and inflammatory balance• Reclaiming agency in the healing process• The role of community and guided support in recoveryAbout Our GuestElizabeth Stauder specializes in somatic trauma reprocessing and mind-body repatterning. Her work integrates neuroscience, trauma physiology, and ancient healing practices to help individuals restore nervous system regulation and reclaim personal agency during chronic illness recovery.Following a life-altering health crisis involving dysautonomia, Elizabeth applied her training and lived experience to develop practical approaches for healing that combine emotional validation, somatic practices, and daily rhythms that support the nervous system.She currently leads the Body and Soul Sanctuary, a membership program focused on somatic healing and developmental trauma work.Resources & LinksElizabeth StauderWebsite: https://www.bodyandsoulsanctuary.comYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@elizabethenteringthestreamFacebook https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.stauder.5Free Community https://www.skool.com/body-soul-village-3993/aboutAbout the Functionally Enlightened PodcastThe Functionally Enlightened Podcast explores root-cause healing strategies for chronic illness, implant-related illness, autoimmune conditions, environmental toxicity, and metabolic dysfunction.Host Sharon Surita, PhD, BCFDNP interviews leading experts, practitioners, and individuals who have successfully navigated complex health challenges.Episodes are available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms.Chapters00:00 Introduction02:15 Elizabeth’s health crisis and dysautonomia journey06:20 When conventional medicine didn’t have answers10:40 Trauma, grief, and nervous system dysregulation15:10 Understanding hypervigilance in chronic illness19:30 Functional freeze and the body’s survival response24:45 Why emotional validation is critical to healing29:10 Somatic tools for nervous system regulation33:30 Breathwork, journaling, and visualization practices37:20 Reclaiming agency in the healing process40:00 Elizabeth’s Body & Soul Sanctuary community42:00 Final thoughts and resources