4 STEPS TO RELEASING TRAUMA THAT CAUSES THYROID, HORMONE, AND AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS

WANT TO REVERSE A THYROID, HORMONE OR AN AUTOIMMUNE DISODER?

Unresolved trauma is one of the main causes of chronic illnesses.

Medical doctors overlook the connection between trauma and physical health because they are not trained to understand it. Yet, physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological, and sexual trauma can wreak havoc on your health, leading to debilitating conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves' Disease, Thyroid Eye Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Sjogren’s, Lupus, chronic fatigue, connective tissue disorder and other autoimmune conditions. 

Trauma is also a major contributing factor in thyroid disorders such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. It can even cause infertility, PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), cancers, and other chronic conditions.

The connection between trauma and physical health was explored as early as the early 1900s. Unfortunately, this insight was abandoned in favor of quick fixes (medications) that offer only temporary relief at best, or cause more harm at worst. 

However, a new area of research is emerging to study trauma and its effects on our health. Recent studies highlighted the correlation between trauma, stress, and the development of autoimmune disorders. 

Author: Elena Isoldi Medici, Holistic Master Health Coach

Elena specializes in the reversal of thyroid, hormone, autoimmune disorders, and digestive disorders.

One study showed that up to 80% of patients reported uncommon emotional stress before autoimmune disease onset. (1)

Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found a strong association between stress-related disorders, such as PTSD, and the subsequent development of autoimmune diseases. This study suggests that psychological stress can impair immune function, increasing the risk of autoimmune conditions​. (2)

Another study showed that women with PTSD are more likely to develop autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. The study found that women with a history of PTSD had a 1.6 times higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases compared to those without PTSD. (3)

Most of my clients are women. What I found is that women are most likely to develop autoimmune disorders than men. Recent research confirmed this by finding that women account for about 80% of all autoimmune disease cases, with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune thyroid disorders, and lupus showing notably higher female-to-male ratios​. (4)

So, if our goal is to help people who suffer from such conditions heal, shouldn't we be looking at how we can help them heal trauma? The medical community already tried to shortcut their health with countless expensive labs, supplements, medications, surgeries, radiation, dietary changes and talk therapy, yet, as a society, we are worse off now than we were fifty years ago. After all, no amount of pills or food can heal the core of the problem, if that core is trauma. 

So, let's talk about a better way to achieve the very thing you crave in this moment - REVERSING thyroid, hormone, and autoimmune disorders. And yes, it is possible! 

I’ve coached clients on their journey to wellness for nearly two decades, with the ultimate goal of complete healing of all symptoms and disorders. 

My own health suffering - hypothyroidism, pituitary tumor, a hormone imbalance, and infertility - led me on the search for a solution my doctors could not offer. In the pursuit of my health, I looked at all of the things you may have explored yourself - medications, supplements, diets, detoxes, acupuncture, and more - the usual culprits most health practitioners, even in our day, focus on. While most of these are important, there was more that needed to be considered. 

With time, I uncovered over fifty-two (52) contributing factors to the development of thyroid, hormone, autoimmune, and other chronic health disorders. And trauma was at the lead of that pack.  

So, how does trauma affect us and why is it important to address it if we want to have a shot at healing?

When the body perceives a threat, the stress response is activated, primarily involving the sympathetic nervous system. This system triggers the release of key stress hormones: cortisol, and adrenaline (also known as epinephrine). These hormones prepare the body for a "fight-or-flight" response, optimizing the body to either confront or flee from the threat​.

HORMONAL CHANGES

CORTISOL: This hormone increases glucose in the bloodstream, enhancing brain function for quick decision-making. It also suppresses non-essential bodily functions like digestion and reproduction during stressful situations. 

ADRENALINE: This hormone increases heart rate, elevates blood pressure, and boosts energy supplies by increasing the availability of glucose in the bloodstream. 

PHYSICAL RESPONSES

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: Heart rate and blood pressure rise to pump more blood to muscles and vital organs, preparing the body for immediate physical action.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: Breathing becomes rapid and shallow to increase oxygen intake, which is necessary for muscle function during stress.

MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM: Muscles tense up, preparing the body for quick action.

During this time, the body drastically draws on its resources of minerals, vitamins, and nutrients, while also suppressing nonessential functions, which is everything that does not aid in escaping immediate danger. It focuses solely on survival.

If the threat is addressed immediately, the body relaxes, goes back to thriving, restarts "nonessential" functions, and restores depleted storage of the resources it used up from our diet, if it is are sufficiently rich in nutrients. 

Our immune system is designed to protect the body, whether the threat is emotional, physical, psychological, environmental, or dietary. But what happens if the threat is the trauma that lingers with us for years? And we unconsciously remain in a state of constant alert?

If the body is kept in stress mode for prolonged periods of time, it begins to shut down. It lacks energy, nutrients, minerals, and other resources, so systems begin to fail. Each person gets affected differently. 

Prolonged stress is traumatic to the body. So, for all intents and purposes, stress is trauma and trauma is stress. It keeps the body in a constant state of alert and fear, which will lead to various health issues:

CARDIOVASCULAR: Chronic high blood pressure and increased heart rate can lead to heart disease, hypertension, and a higher risk of stroke. 

DIGESTIVE: Stress causes digestive problems such as stomach pain, acid reflux, diarrhea, irritable bowel diseases and irritable bowel syndrome. It affects blood flow to the stomach and can lead to increased stomach acid production. This can also lead to chronic anxiety.

IMMUNE SYSTEM SUPPRESSION: The constant release of cortisol can suppress the effectiveness of the immune response. Persistent stress weakens the immune system, making the body more susceptible to infections, illnesses, and autoimmune disorders. ​  

MENTAL: Chronic stress can lead to anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and other mental health disorders. It affects brain areas involved in mood regulation and can reduce hippocampal volume, impacting memory and cognitive function, and leading to sleep disturbances and insomnia. ​

PHYSICAL: Chronic stress leaves us in fight, flight, freeze or fawn modes. When we are in fight or flight, our muscles always tense, expecting the next big bad thing to happen. This can lead to tension headaches and body aches. Prolonged stress can lead to adrenal fatigue, thyroid dysfunction, and other hormone-related issues.

And this is only the beginning. As a result of prolonged distress, our cells become prone to excessive inflammatory signaling. The body draws heavily on its resources, quickly depleting them. If we eat an unhealthy diet and continue to live in stress, we keep producing stress hormones to survive, while the body neglects its innate need to regulate hormone production necessary for all functions of our existence—thyroid regulation, reproductive hormone regulation, and even heart health.

The longer we stay in the FOUR Fs (fight, flight, freeze, fawn modes), the more our organs begin to malfunction and shut down. With time, leading to the development of various chronic conditions, including but not limited to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves' Disease, Thyroid Eye Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Sjogren’s, Lupus, and other autoimmune conditions, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, infertility, PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), cancers, and other chronic conditions.

Trauma precipitated most of my health issues, as it does with most of my clients.

What kind of trauma can cause such regression in our health and lead to an immune response?

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are recognized as significant determinants of long-term emotional and physical health. The ACE score, which quantifies the number of traumatic experiences an individual had before the age of 18, is used to predict the likelihood of negative health outcomes later in life. The higher the ACE score, the greater the risk for various health issues.

Being over 18 does not mean that we outgrow our childhood traumas. Unless properly addressed and released from the body, they can create a life-long struggle with psychological and physiological health. 

Neglect, emotional, physical abuse, infidelity, narcissistic parents or partners, exposure to acute trauma such as witnessing a traumatic event or being a part of it, sexual and spiritual abuse, and chronic stress due to life difficulties all play a role in the expression of illnesses, regardless of our age. 

Years ago, I had a client. Let's name her Jane. A skilled psychiatrist with a loving husband, and three beautiful children. On the surface, Jane's life seemed perfect. However, she was silently battling a debilitating condition – Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and over 35 symptoms it caused, including chronic fatigue. 

Despite her professional background and supportive family, Jane could barely function. Her energy levels were so low that she struggled to get through each day, feeling like she was constantly walking through quicksand.

Determined to find a solution, Jane sought my help. At first, we focused on her diet and deficiencies. There was some progress but much less than I expected—around 20% in four weeks. It was clear that something deeper was at play.

We scheduled a call to delve into her history. I asked Jane to share any significant events from her past. Hesitantly, she opened up about a traumatic experience she had kept buried for years—she had been sexually abused by her father as a child.

This revelation was a turning point. Although Jane did years of talk therapy, the trauma was lodged so deep that words alone could not release it. 

Immediately, we began incorporating specific tools and techniques to help her process and release this trauma, tailored to her unique situation and personality. Jane engaged in therapeutic activities I designed to address the deep-seated emotional wounds that had been impacting her health.

Within four weeks of starting this work, Jane’s progress was remarkable. She experienced an 80% improvement in her symptoms. 

Six months later, she was off thyroid medication, had lost 30 pounds, and all her symptoms had vanished. Jane not only regained her health but also reconnected with her family on a deeper level, enjoying a newfound sense of joy and fulfillment in her life.

Great for Jane. Right? But what about you?

Have you experienced trauma that is dragging you down into the abyss of countless symptoms, exhaustion, brain fog, suffering, and hopelessness? 

Have you already tried psychotherapy, talk therapy, psych meds, thyroid meds, EMDR, and god knows what else, and yet you are worse off than ever? 

What can you do right now to feel better? 

Based on twenty years of experience, I believe that our trauma healing needs to be customized. The one-size-fits-all approach is the reason that so many of us are overmedicated yet still suffer.

Customizing your "heling me from my trauma" protocol can only be done if you and I sit down for a long heart-to-heart chat to understand the history of your trauma, your personality, and the progression of your illness. 

Until that happens, here are FOUR SIMPLE THINGS you can do right now on your own to start releasing trauma that's holding you back. 

Those of us who experienced trauma know how hard it is to admit that it happened to us. Not to some characters on the pages of the books, but us. And because it is hard to accept it, we normalize it. We look for others with similar experiences, so we can tell ourselves—this is just how life is. This is not trauma. This is a part of life. 

While normalizing trauma is a common defense mechanism, the first step to healing is acknowledging that trauma did happen to us, and that it is not normal. 

Even though most traumas are perpetrated on us by others, we often blame ourselves, especially if we were young when it happened. We start believing that we are worthless, not good enough to be loved, heard and protected, and perhaps that we deserve what we got. Nothing can be further from the truth but you cannot argue with a traumatized mind and heart.

The second step to healing then, starts with self-forgiveness and acceptance. This is not the time to try to forgive the perpetrators. This story is not about them. It is about YOU. It is about your ability to start seeing yourself outside of the trauma self-perception

Implementing simple practices such as telling yourself: "I am enough," "I am lovable," "I am worthy," and looking at your own reflection when you look in the mirror with love is the beginning of your healing journey. 

When your body begins to heal your mind and your mind your body, the hormones of stress are downregulated, and your body can get back to repairing and healing itself.

When we live in trauma and chronic stress, we forget how to breathe. Our breathing becomes shallow and quick. We feel anxious. So, we can't relax and our bodies lack oxygen.

One of the simple steps you can take right now to downgrade a feeling of anxiety or panic, is to slow your breath and then deepen it. SLOW, LONG, DEEP BREATHS. It will calm your nervous system and help you ground yourself in the present moment. This will help you get disconnected from trauma, so your nervous system can take a break.

Additionally, you can practice a breathing exercise called Breathworks. (5)

When we experience trauma, it affects not only our heart and mind, but also every single cell in our bodies. Unless we complete trauma cycle and move it out of our bodies, it gets stuck and keeps deteriorating our health. We end up feeling like we want to curl up in a ball, lay down and not move even an eyelash all day long. Not only does this compound trauma but it also stagnates our blood and cells, leaving us more toxic. 

Engaging in regular physical activity, such as yoga, walking, boxing, or running, or stepping on a vibration plate will help release tension stored in the body, freeing up your energy to start healing.

Much has been said about mindfulness techniques and healing trauma. And while meditation and visualizations are great healing tools that I use daily, a traumatized brain seeks destruction, not quietness, so is not likely to relax into either without support and guidance. 

The best way to heal trauma is to first understand the person that experienced it, their personality, their internal dialogue, cirumstances, and where trauma settled in their body. Some of us store it in our thyroid and reproductive organs, like I did. Some, in our adrenal and pituitary glands. While some in our guts and extremities. 

No two people are alike, so no solutions should be alike either. I customize trauma release for each of my clients, choosing from over a dozen different techniques. They range from physical, emotional, psychological, to spiritual practices, each tailored for each unique situation. 

It feels daunting to try resolving symptoms of thyroid, hormone, and autoimmune disorders, including trauma. I’ve been there myself, so I know it firsthand. But it doesn’t have to be that way. 

There is an easy way to address thyroid disorder symptoms AND reverse them permanently. However, it starts with a simple yet complicated step: 

IDENTIFYING THE ROOT CAUSES of these conditions.

Over the years of helping thousands from all over the world achieve the reversal of conditions such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Graves' Disease, Hashimoto's, Thyroid Eye Disease, goiters, nodules, endometriosis, PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), infertility, Sjogren's, MS (multiple sclerosis), estrogen dominance, chronic fatigue, and many other autoimmune and hormone disorders, I uncovered over 52 root causes that trigger these conditions. 

Fifty-Two sounds like a large number, I know. However, without understanding your personal root causes, it is absolutely pointless trying to treat your condition and your symptoms. This is the reason you may still be suffering even after years of medical and naturopathic medical care. 

However, if the ROOT CAUSES are IDENTIFIED and ADDRESSED, the reversal of these conditions becomes not only possible but probable. I know this because I personally reversed hypothyroidism, pituitary tumor, a hormone imbalance, and infertility, even though I was deemed incurable. And I did it without medications and with only one supplement. 

And since then, over the years, I have helped thousands from 34 countries do the same.   

If you are done missing out on life...

If you are done suffering and feeling confused...

If you're done being held hostage by your symptoms... 

If you are done wasting your time and money on methods and treatments that don't work, and...

If you want REAL measurable LASTING results NOW...

I am hosting a LIVE EVENT on 10/17/24, during which I will show you how to identify the First 5 Primary Root Causes of Thyroid, Hormone, and Autoimmune Disorders.

During this LIVE EVENT, you will learn: 

BONUS: a DEEP DIVE into understanding TRAUMA mechanics and its effects your thyroid, immune and hormone health, and what to do about it to start healing.

And, how to identify and address YOUR PERSONAL ROOT CAUSES so you can stop suffering and start thriving NOW! 

You can sign up for this LIMITED-AVAILABILITY LIVE EVENT by clicking on this button.

Elena Isoldi Medici

Holistic Master Health Coach

Elena Isoldi Medici specializes in serving those who want to reverse thyroid, hormone, and autoimmune disorders naturally.

In 2007, Elena faced her own health challenges, being diagnosed with hypothyroidism, hormone imbalance, a pituitary tumor, and infertility. Plagued by over 20 debilitating symptoms and little hope of recovery, Elena sought both allopathic and naturopathic treatments, but to no avail. She was deemed INCURABLE.

Undeterred, she embarked on a journey of self-discovery and research. She crafted a unique health protocol that allowed her to reclaim her health FULLY in an impressively short time, and enabled her to conceive naturally.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HER SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSES WAS RESOLVED, and she hasn't been sick since!   

Elena's innovative approach has transformed thousands of lives across more than 34 countries, helping them restore their health naturally.

REFERENCES

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19931651/

2-3. https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-020-2432-9

4. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2024/02/women-autoimmune.html

5. https://360impacthealth.com/breathing-to-release-trapped-trauma-initiate-healing-breathwork/