Is Trauma Destroying Your Body? What Narcissistic Abuse Does to Your Health

What if the chronic pain, the exhaustion, and the sleepless nights aren’t because of stress, or you’re getting older, but because your body keeping the score of narcissistic abuse? In this episode, Dr. Kerry sits down with somatic healing expert Liz Tenuto, as known The Workout Witch, to explored one of the most overlooked truths: abuse doesn't just impact your mind; it affects your body. Learn why survivors get trapped in a constant state of fight-or-flight and the surprising reason that talk therapy and EMDR alone often aren't enough to finally heal. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT Ready to go deeper? Think the abuse never touched you physically? Find out the truth. In this members-only bonus, Liz walks Dr. Kerry through a simple body self-assessment to learn if you’re storing trauma. Learn the early warning signs before they turn chronic. Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here. LIZ TENUTO (known to her millions of followers as The Workout Witch) demystifies somatic healing and offers a compassionate, science-backed roadmap for anyone struggling with the physical aftermath of stress and trauma. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and an abusive marriage, Liz spent years battling chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia. She cycled through countless healing trends before discovering the life- changing power of somatics. Today, Liz is a trauma informed practitioner with a degree in psychology, 15 years of teaching experience, and advanced training in somatic movement through Pilates, Reiki, and 6 years of Feldenkrais mentorship with Augusta Moore. Website Book: When the Body Speaks: How Somatic Healing Sets You Free Key Moments 00:00 Like a paper doll, flat and dead 01:00 Meet Liz Tenuto, the Workout Witch 02:40 When foot pain feels like walking on glass 04:23 Why your body never leaves fight or flight 05:59 How chronic stress dominoes into disease 08:47 The angry father and the trauma beneath the pain 10:22 Unexplained pain your doctor can't explain 11:49 Stress weight and the shame no one talks about 13:56 What somatics actually is 14:36 The massage that unlocked a buried trauma 16:29 Why talk therapy alone isn't enough 19:21 What somatics felt like the first time 21:46 The small, perfect self you built to survive 24:07 Why chasing your step count backfires 26:30 Fight, flight, freeze, and the Goldilocks state 28:44 Five minutes a day to rewire your nervous system 31:01 Are you armored up without knowing it? (→ Podcast Extra) Dr. Kerry's Resources ReclaimYou: Dr. Kerry's AI-powered coaching app The Complete Recovery Collection: Narcissistic abuse resources First Steps to Leaving: Online self-paced digital course Toxic-Free Relationship Club: Live coaching & community support Follow Dr. Kerry! Youtube Instagram TikTok Facebook Kerry Kerr McAvoy, Ph.D, a retired psychologist & author, is an expert on cultivating healthy relationships and deconstructing narcissism. As an Amazon affiliate, commission is earned from qualifying purchases. This podcast/video is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute therapy, counseling, or professional mental health advice. If you are in crisis, please call 911 or your local emergency number. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.