In today’s healthcare system, we often encounter the idea that some of our biggest health issues can be resolved through lifestyle changes. While this is technically correct, from an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) perspective, such change is also complex. When people are dealing with trauma, stress, or PTSD, their body and mind are often caught in survival mode, where the “lifestyle” choices they can make are determined by patterns they’ve learned from their past experiences. Their nervous systems are locked into a state of tension, hyper-vigilance, or numbing that makes “choosing better” feel almost impossible; their best efforts are a failure to measure up to imposed standards.
Lifestyle changes are important, but when your nervous system is stuck in a chronic state of fight, flight, or freeze, simple things like eating healthier, getting more sleep, or exercising aren’t just about making a choice; they’re about working against deep-rooted survival strategies that have kept you going through some heavy stuff. People may want to change, but their systems often don’t have the tools, resources, or safety needed to make those changes sustainably.
In a culture that constantly demands more from us, where virtually every system is stacked against our basic biological needs, the idea that someone can “snap out of it” or “choose a better lifestyle” bypasses how the body and mind have adapted to constant stress and pressure. Change is not just about willpower; it’s about having the right support, being in an environment that nurtures your nervous system’s ability to regulate, and, most importantly, being able to address the somatic and relational aspects of our trauma.
The mainstream culture environment is harmful to our nervous systems’ ability to regulate. It practically demands we ignore our bodily needs and neglect our relationships. This is the antithesis of health.
The medical industry urges people to change their habits, out of context. It neglects to help people reconnect with their bodies, with their sense of safety, and with the resources they need to make those changes in a way that honors their lived experiences and needs. If we don’t deal with the root causes of stress and trauma, prescribing “lifestyle changes” is simply a cover-up for the systems that harm us.
This post includes content generated by ChatGPT, a language model developed by OpenAI. The AI-generated content has been reviewed and edited for accuracy and relevance.
