Self-Care Isn’t Enough: Heal Trauma with Self-Regulation

Free trauma regulation guidebook from Ashley Anne: substack.com/@gravitypointinstitute Work with Leslie: theloomlife.com What if trauma work didn’t have to feel like guesswork? In this episode of Pulling Threads, Leslie sits down with Ashley Anne, PhD — trauma specialist, neuro counselor, TEDx speaker, and founder of the Gravity Point® Institute — to unpack nearly 20 years of research into one of the most important distinctions in healing: self-care vs. self-regulation. Ashley grew up as a highly sensitive, neurodivergent child who looked fine on the outside and felt everything on the inside. She became a trauma therapist and burned out badly — despite doing yoga, journaling, therapy twice a week, and all the self-care. What she discovered in her research was that self-care and self-regulation are not the same thing. And that difference changed everything. In this conversation, Leslie and Ashley explore: • Why self-care alone can’t heal a dysregulated nervous system • The Gravity Point Method: a step-by-step process for resolving stress and trauma — not just managing it • How the body signals dysregulation before the mind catches up • The difference between a “true state” and a “trauma state” — and why divorce activates both • Why highly sensitive and neurodivergent people get stuck in toxic dynamics • How healing yourself is contagious — one nervous system at a time This episode is for anyone who has done “all the things” and still feels stuck, anyone navigating divorce trauma, and anyone curious about what it actually means to regulate — not just cope. [★ RESOURCES MENTIONED] ★ Ashley’s FREE Guidebook (download via Substack): substack.com/@gravitypointinstitute ★ Ashley’s Book: gravitypointinstitute.com/publications ★ Gravity Point® Institute: gravitypointinstitute.com ★ Follow Ashley: @gravitypointinstitute (Instagram, YouTube, all platforms) [★ WORK WITH LESLIE] ► The Loom Life (coaching, therapy & more): theloomlife.com ► Loom Life Therapy: loomlifetherapy.com ► THROUGH — Leslie’s 8-Week Divorce Coaching Program: https://theloomlife.com/throughdivorceprogram ► Mindful Untangling Community: https://theloomlife.com/community ► Follow Leslie on Instagram: @the.loom.life ► TikTok: @leslieellenmathews #PullingThreads #TraumaHealing #NervousSystemHealing #SelfRegulation #DivorceTroubleRecovery