Episode 20: Is “Calming the Nervous System” Actually Making You Worse? with guest Irene Lyon
Chronic illness is often treated as a purely physical problem—but what if that’s a dangerous oversimplification? In this deep, science-informed conversation, Dr. Eleanor Stein speaks with nervous system expert Irene Lyon about how unresolved trauma, stress, and early life experiences can dysregulate the autonomic nervous system and drive chronic symptoms years later. Together, they unpack why fight-flight-freeze patterns persist, why quick nervous system “hacks” can backfire, and what true healing actually requires. This episode offers education, nuance, and genuine hope for anyone living with complex chronic illness.
Key Takeaways
• Chronic illness may arise from nervous system dysregulation, not just disease.
• Fight, flight, freeze, and shutdown can coexist—creating chronic symptoms.
• Many “calming” techniques suppress symptoms without resolving root causes.
• True healing requires capacity building, not quick fixes.
• Co-regulation (early and adult) is foundational to self-regulation.
• Slow, titrated healing is safer and more effective than aggressive approaches.
(00:00) Why chronic illness may be a nervous system issue.
(03:06) What nervous system dysregulation really means.
(04:23) Dr. Peter Levine's "tiger story": how trauma gets trapped in the body.
(09:58) Fight, flight, freeze…and shutdown explained.
(40:57) Why popular nervous system hacks can backfire.
(49:57) How early trauma shows up decades later as illness.
Below are some great resources from Irene Lyon:
https://irenelyon.com/2019/03/22/can-online-healing-really-work/
https://irenelyon.com/2019/11/14/how-to-find-a-good-practitioner/
https://irenelyon.com/healing-trauma
Irene's Social Media
https://www.youtube.com/irenelyon
https://www.instagram.com/irenelyon/
https://www.facebook.com/lyonirene
Welcome to my podcast!
I am a retired medical doctor and psychiatrist specializing in chronic complex diseases. With over 33 years of experience, I have worked with thousands of patients, integrating both conventional and integrative approaches to enhance health and function. Since retiring from medical practice at the end of 2022, my passion is to help others find healing by sharing science-based, no-to-low-cost health strategies.
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