The Missing Piece I Discovered After Years in Practice: Does Your Body Feel Safe?
By Dee Davidson
After several years in practice, I started noticing something I couldn’t ignore.
I could run the testing.
We could improve nutrition.
We could work on blood sugar, movement, sleep, hydration and minerals.
We could identify things we wanted to address in the gut, such as low stomach acid, digestive dysfunction or microbial imbalances. We could build protocols and carefully work through them one step at a time.
And yet, sometimes, the person sitting across from me STILL wasn't feeling better.
In fact, there were times when adding more supplements, restrictions and protocols seemed to make someone feel MORE overwhelmed.
Eventually, something became very clear to me:
We were asking a body already living in survival mode to take on even MORE.
And that changed the way I practice.
You Can't Ignore the Nervous System
Your nervous system is constantly gathering information about your internal and external environment.
Am I safe?
Is there a threat?
Do I need to protect myself?
Stress itself isn't inherently bad. Your sympathetic nervous system helps you respond to challenges, exercise, meet a deadline and react appropriately when there is an actual threat.
The problem is when the body rarely gets the message that the threat is over.
For some people, chronic stress, anxiety, trauma, caregiving, relationship challenges, work pressure, financial worries, poor sleep, illness and years of feeling unwell can create a life that feels like one long emergency.
You might be sitting safely on your couch while your nervous system is still acting like something is chasing you.
And that matters.
Chronic stress can influence sleep, digestion, appetite, glucose regulation, immune function, pain perception and many of the behaviors that help us take care of ourselves.
So imagine adding an elaborate wellness protocol on top of THAT.
Take these seven supplements.
Eliminate these foods.
Do this cleanse.
Sauna four times a week.
Exercise.
Meal prep.
Meditate.
Sleep eight hours.
Don't forget your binder!
Sometimes the “healing plan” becomes another source of stress.
I Started Asking a Different Question
Instead of only asking:
“What does this person need to DO?”
I started asking:
“Does this person currently have the capacity to DO it?”
That distinction has become incredibly important in my practice.
If someone is highly anxious about every supplement, afraid of food, terrified by every sensation in their body, chronically overwhelmed or living in an extremely high-stress state, sometimes my recommendation is NOT to jump into an intensive protocol.
There have even been times I've turned potential clients away from deeper work because I didn't believe adding an extensive health checklist was the most supportive first step for them.
That's not giving up on someone.
It's recognizing that MORE isn't always better.
Sometimes the foundation needs to be creating more capacity, predictability and safety first.
What Does “Feeling Safe” Actually Mean?
I'm not simply talking about having a roof over your head and food on the table.
And I'm certainly not suggesting that physical symptoms mean someone subconsciously “doesn't feel safe.”
I'm talking about building greater nervous-system flexibility.
Can you experience stress and eventually come back down?
Can you rest without feeling guilty?
Can you eat without analyzing every bite?
Can you notice a physical sensation without immediately assuming something terrible is happening?
Can you set a boundary without spending three days worrying that someone is upset with you?
Can you slow down?
Can you receive support?
Can you recognize when you're overwhelmed and have tools that help you regulate?
THAT is part of health too.
This Is Why I Talk About Nervous-System Work So Much
Years ago, I probably would have looked at someone's health puzzle and immediately thought about nutrition, supplements, gut health, hormones, detoxification, movement and testing.
I still look at ALL of those things.
But today, I'm also paying attention to the person underneath the protocol.
What is happening in her life?
What is her relationship with her body?
What does stress look like for her?
Does she feel like she has to control everything?
Is she afraid of making the “wrong” health choice?
Does every new recommendation create more anxiety?
Is she able to rest?
Because sometimes before we add another protocol, we need to build more capacity for the work we're asking the body and person to do.
Where Primal Trust Comes In
This is one of the reasons I frequently talk about the Primal Trust™ program.
If you recognize yourself in what I've written, particularly if you're living with chronic stress, fear, hypervigilance or anxiety around your health, it may be worth exploring nervous-system regulation and brain-retraining tools before piling another complicated protocol onto your plate.
Primal Trust focuses on areas such as nervous-system regulation, somatic practices, brain retraining and creating a greater sense of internal safety and resilience.
I especially like that this work isn't about telling yourself to “just calm down.”
It's about PRACTICE.
Learning tools.
Building awareness.
Creating new patterns.
And gradually increasing your capacity to move between activation and rest rather than expecting yourself to never experience stress again.
Your Next Step Might Not Be Another Supplement
This may be one of the biggest things I've learned through years of working with people:
Sometimes we don't need to push harder. We need to create a stronger foundation from which to move forward.
Your nutrition matters.
Your movement matters.
Your sleep matters.
Your gut matters.
Your metabolic health matters.
Appropriate medical care matters.
AND your nervous system belongs in that conversation too.
So if you're doing “all the things” and wondering why you still feel like your body is fighting you, perhaps the next question isn't:
“What else should I add?”
Maybe it's:
“What would help me feel more supported and regulated right now?”
If this resonated with you, I invite you to check out Primal Trust and learn more about their approach.
And if you're unsure whether you're ready for deeper functional wellness work or whether nervous-system support might be a better place to begin, you're welcome to connect with me.
Sometimes knowing WHERE to start is just as important as starting.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for educational and wellness purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease or replace individualized medical care. Supplements are not appropriate for everyone and may interact with medications or medical conditions. HTMA cannot diagnose mineral deficiencies, thyroid disease, blood sugar disorders, nervous system disorders, toxicity, or other medical conditions. Vitamin D status is best evaluated with appropriate blood testing when indicated. Consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider regarding supplements, testing, or significant changes to your health routine.