You Can’t Regulate Your Way Out of Trauma

There’s a lot of misinformation out there suggesting that regulating your nervous system is the only thing you need to do to heal from trauma. If only it were that simple.

Regulation is crucial, no doubt. But it’s just the first step—a foundation to create enough space in your system to begin the real work of transformation.

The truth is, presenting regulation as the ultimate solution does a disservice to those seeking healing. It can set people up for failure when they inevitably realize that regulation alone doesn’t address the deeper patterns driving their dysregulation.

Here’s the reality:

Most people coming to heal from trauma are deeply dysregulated and under-resourced. Living with unresolved trauma takes a profound toll on the mind, body, and spirit.

This is why learning to regulate is such an essential starting point. Understanding your nervous system, tracking its responses, and practicing tools that create small shifts—like preventing escalation into severe dysregulation—are vital first steps.

But regulation is not the end game.

It’s just the beginning.

Once you have enough regulation on board, that’s when the real, life-changing work begins: addressing the root causes of your dysregulation. These are the patterns formed so early in life that they often feel invisible, yet they hold immense power over how you perceive and interact with the world.

Think about it:

• People-pleasing.

• Lack of boundaries.

• Decision-making paralysis and self-doubt.

• Hypervigilance.

• Numbing out or self-isolation.

These aren’t just behaviours—they’re survival patterns rooted in early developmental trauma and feelings of unworthiness. And no amount of breathwork, yoga, or cold water immersion is going to heal these at the core.

The deeper work lies in unraveling these patterns, understanding where they came from, and creating space for new ways of being.

So yes, regulate your nervous system. It’s a vital first step. But don’t stop there. Healing requires going deeper, addressing the roots of trauma, and making the changes that ripple through your entire life.

If this resonates and you’re ready to explore these deeper layers of healing, I’d love to invite you to a Sanctuary Connection Call. This is a free, no-pressure space where we can explore whether this gentle yet transformative work is the next step on your journey.