Navigating Shame and Boundaries After Trauma

The statistics on early childhood sexual abuse are heartbreaking. One in four girls and one in thirteen boys have experienced some form of childhood sexual trauma—at least the cases that get reported. It's hard to wrap your head around how something so dark can be happening so often. This is why talking about childhood sexual trauma is so difficult and often carries so much shame—it feels so unimaginable, even when it happens to you. But we know that shame thrives in silence, and the first step in healing is unpacking that trauma.

In today’s episode, Elisabeth and Jennifer sit down with Lovey Bradley, an NSI-certified practitioner, trauma therapist, and brain-based coach, to talk about the lasting impact of sexual trauma on our lives. Together, they explore how deeply trauma affects the body—from freeze responses and dissociation to bracing, pelvic floor tension, and pain—and how these experiences shape our lives. They also open up about their personal journeys and the ways they’ve worked to re-pattern their nervous systems with healing modalities like NSI, helping them heal and thrive after early childhood trauma.

When shame has been your constant companion, it can feel impossible to set boundaries and reclaim your sense of self. But healing is possible. Lovey, Elisabeth, and Jennifer are living proof of that. Our bodies are always sending us signals on how to heal; the key is learning how to listen.

If this episode resonates with you, whether you’ve experienced this trauma yourself or know someone who has, we invite you to listen and share. Topics discussed in this episode:

• Sobering statistics around sexual trauma in the population
• How the freeze response shows up in early childhood sexual trauma
• Why the freeze response is actually a survival mechanism
• Lovey’s experience with becoming aware of her own freeze response pattern
• The most common ways sexual trauma shows up in our lives
• Pelvic floor contractions and how they affect intimacy
• How dissociation shows up in those who’ve experienced childhood trauma
• The ways our bodies naturally repress emotions, leading to dysregulation
• The role of shame in childhood sexual trauma
• Why setting boundaries feels so challenging for those affected by early trauma
• Healing from trauma with modalities like NSI, and what life can look like on the other side

Connect with Lovey Bradley on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drloveyb

Learn more about the Neuro-Somatic Intelligence Coaching program and sign up for the next cohort now! https://www.neurosomaticintelligence.com

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This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear.

We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being.

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We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don’t warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It’s very important to talk to a medical profession...