The long shadow of trauma doesn't simply disappear with time, especially for teen mothers who've experienced violence and abuse. Rather than fading into the past, unresolved trauma physically embeds itself in the body, rewiring the nervous system and reshaping brain development in ways that continue affecting mothers decades later.

Dr. Chris unpacks the neurobiological reality of trauma, explaining why many adult women who were teen mothers experience heightened sensitivity, emotional reactivity, and difficulty regulating their responses—not because of character flaws, but because of physical changes to their nervous systems. Drawing from trauma specialists like Jasmin Lee Cori and pioneering researcher Peter A. Levine, she explores how traumatic experiences create a state where survivors are simultaneously "revved up and constricted," functioning with "a foot on the accelerator and brake at the same time."

This episode offers a compassionate understanding of the brain science behind trauma, detailing how emergency responses get trapped in the body, creating a "stacking effect" where each subsequent stress compounds upon unresolved previous experiences. Particularly illuminating is Dr. Chris's explanation of how trauma impacts three brain regions—the survival-focused reptilian brain, the emotion-centered limbic system, and the thinking-oriented neocortex—affecting everything from memory to concentration to emotional regulation.

Beyond simply explaining trauma's physical impact, this episode offers practical pathways toward healing. From somatic (body-based) therapies to improving self-regulation—your emotional thermostat—to building resilience, Dr. Chris shares how mothers can gradually reclaim control of their nervous systems. Using the powerful metaphor of freeing a car stuck in snow, she illustrates how healing happens not through forcing the process but through gentle back-and-forth movements that gradually build traction.

Ready to understand why past trauma still affects your mothering today and discover pathways toward genuine healing? Join our supportive community of teen mothers and adult women who were teen mothers by visiting teenmomsa.org or connecting with us on social media @TeenMomsAnonymous.