Coming Home for the Holidays: Understanding the Bodies Loops

As the holidays approach, certain emotions or patterns may resurface. These familiar reactions are not setbacks, they're signals from your nervous system showing where safety is still learning to settle in.

The nervous system loves patterns. It's wired to return to what feels familiar, the thoughts, reactions, and behaviors that once helped you survive.

This is sometimes referred to as:

A trauma loop, when the mind replays old stories or emotional experiences as if they are still happening now.

A trauma thought loop, when repetitive thoughts or beliefs arise from past pain: "I'm not safe," "Something bad always happens," or "I have to hold everything together."

A trauma response or survival loop, when the body keeps cycling through old fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses because it hasn't yet received a signal that it's safe to complete the response.

During the holiday season, notice which emotions or patterns seem to surface. They often appear around family gatherings, old traditions, or certain dates around the calendar. This is your body showing you where healing is unfolding.

Take a moment to sit and quietly reflect on those patterns. Not to fix them, just to notice.

Let your breath slow.

Feel your feet on the ground.

Look around the room and name three things that remind you you're safe now.

Each pause is a gentle invitation, a reminder that safety can be practiced, and peace can be reclaimed, one breath at a time.

By Carrie Payne