Episode 10: Addressing Unresolved Emotions to Help With Progressive MS? (Part 3) with Dr. Arielle Schwartz
- THA Operations
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
When Your Body Attacks Itself
Laura Bautista was diagnosed with progressive MS. The doctors gave her the standard narrative including that your disease will progress, your symptoms will worsen, you should manage what you can, and accept what you can't.
But something in her knew there was more to address, something beneath the autoimmune diagnosis and something her body was trying to tell her.
Progressive MS isn't always a one-way street. Laura's story shows what's possible when you address the trauma underneath chronic disease.
This concludes my series with Dr. Arielle Schwartz. We hear from Laura, a 21-Day Journey graduate. She shares how healing her unresolved emotions affected her MS progression. This is about hope, not hype.
The Connection Between Trauma and Disease
Unresolved emotions don't just affect your mental health but your cellular health, your immune system, and your disease progression.
Laura's body was holding emotions she'd never processed and trauma she'd survived but never integrated. That unresolved material was affecting her biology at the deepest level.
This isn't metaphorical. The research is clear that chronic stress dysregulates immune function, unresolved trauma keeps the body in inflammatory states, the freeze response affects cellular metabolism, your nervous system and immune system are in constant communication, and autoimmune conditions often have trauma histories.
When your nervous system stays stuck in protective states, your immune system stays activated. In autoimmune disease, that activation turns against your own tissue. Your body attacks itself because it never learned the threat was over.
Working With Freeze in Chronic Illness
MS often involves a body in chronic freeze, not just emotionally shut down but biologically locked in protective immobilization.
Laura learned to work with her freeze response and to thaw what had been locked down for years. This wasn't about pushing through symptoms or forcing her body to perform.
The process involved recognizing freeze operating in her system, building nervous system safety slowly, processing emotions her body had been holding, completing protective responses that never finished, and creating conditions where her biology could shift.
Dr. Schwartz explains how chronic illness often masks as purely physical when trauma is the root, how the body uses disease as protection when emotional overwhelm has nowhere to go, and why addressing nervous system dysregulation changes what's possible with progressive conditions.
Hope Without Promises
I need to be clear here. Every body is different. Every disease has complexity. MS has genetic factors, environmental triggers, and biological components we don't fully understand.
This isn't a cure story but a connection story.
Laura's healing doesn't mean everyone with MS has unresolved trauma. It doesn't mean trauma work will reverse every autoimmune condition. It doesn't mean you caused your disease by not healing fast enough.
But it does mean the connection matters, that addressing trauma alongside medical treatment can change outcomes, and that your body's capacity to heal is greater than the standard narrative suggests.
Hope isn't the same as hype. Hope is recognizing possibility while respecting complexity.
This Episode Is For:
✓ People with chronic illness who suspect unresolved emotions play a role
✓ Anyone told their disease is purely genetic or irreversible
✓ Those with autoimmune conditions seeking to understand trauma's impact
✓ Practitioners working with clients where disease and trauma intersect
✓ People looking for hope without false promises
✓ Anyone ready to explore the mind-body-immune connection
What You'll Learn
Listen to hear Laura's story and understand how addressing trauma can affect progressive disease in ways traditional medicine doesn't explain. Discover the connection between unresolved emotions and immune dysregulation. Learn why nervous system healing matters for chronic illness.
Your body is more capable of healing than you've been told, but it needs the right support.
Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information shared reflects my clinical expertise and research, but every person's biology and healing journey is unique. Always consult with qualified healthcare providers before making changes to your treatment plan or starting new interventions. If you're experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact emergency services or a crisis helpline immediately.
Join the Conversation
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode. What resonated with you? What questions came up?
Please keep comments respectful and supportive. This is a community of people committed to healing. We welcome diverse perspectives and honest questions, but we don't tolerate personal attacks, spam, or content that could harm others on their healing journey.
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