There is such a long waiting time for the treatment due to the amount of people needing it because of the north of ireland troubles.

We sometimes forget that our nervous systems don’t live in isolation.
They live in relationship.

The closer someone is to us emotionally, the more our nervous system perceives their state as relevant to our survival and belonging.

So when:
A partner becomes reactive or dysregulated.

Our nervous system doesn’t just observe it, it often tracks it as meaningful and for very good reasons.

It can be so hard to be there for each other at a nervous system level if we don’t understand that might be going on for each other.

Thank you for sharing something many deeply caring, trauma self-aware people experience. I hope it’s somewhat helpful.

I apologize, I’m only catching this now Brain
I’m running a free Nervous System Basics resource beginning March 3rd 2026
and it’s running through to the first week in April.
Feel free join, no need to register, you can join my email list by signing up for my newsletter and it will arrive straight to your inbox.

You are welcome John. I’m so glad, you tripped across this and that it has been a valuable resource to you. You’ve been waiting a long time.

I have been recently diagnosed with severe ptsd from childhood and teenage trauma. I am waiting 2 years so far for treatment but reading your article is truly remarkable in helping me to understand and take the first step to healing and to be me again . Thank you

Thank you for your comment Angela and know that you are very much appreciated.

Thank you for sharing so openly about your recent experiences which triggered the very real threat of life, as you continue to take off your health and lungs after the smoke damage.

The recognition of this visceral feeling, although heavy brings in immense light. Once we realize this and define it ‘survival mode’ for what it is, we can begin to work with the body and brain to help guide our way out of this locked in alarm state. I myself visited it more often then I’d care to admit for the first 40 years of my life and did for a stage get stuck in it without realizing it. Hence why I now write about it.

The main thing I would like to share with you to lift your head and heart is that, when we restore safety to the system, we can finally feel fully alive and it’s never too late to experience this.

With a commitment to nervous system informed self care you will help bring the stored stress cycles to completion and the time you have left will feel a lot lighter and and very, very, much brighter ✨