Justice is essential for nervous system regulation, and a key missing factor for me. My nervous system isn’t just dealing with severe pain and trauma. It is also dealing with the ongoing assault of being gaslit, dismissed, and denied justice after non-consensual tissue removal. My complaint to the licensing board was dismissed as directed by a Delaware deputy attorney general on the alleged basis of “not enough evidence,” so the gynecologist is free to keep cutting unconscious women. No amount of self-regulation can fully counteract the dysregulation caused by a system refusing to acknowledge such egregious harm.
Justice as a Physiological Imperative
Justice is not merely an abstract ideal but a fundamental physiological imperative. When harm occurs, particularly deep violations of autonomy and safety, the nervous system registers it as a threat to the individual and the larger fabric of human connection. The human nervous system requires validation, accountability, and tangible reparations to achieve regulation. Individual efforts to self-regulate are often insufficient to counteract the dysregulation caused by unacknowledged harm and systemic injustice.
The nervous system experiences constant distress when forced to defend its reality against denial and dismissal. This physiological need for justice is rooted in our biological drive for safety and connection.
The Impact of Unresolved Harm
A sense of safety is the core of human well-being. Human beings are fundamentally relational, shaped by our connections and experiences with others. When harm is committed and no justice follows, the nervous system remains on high alert. It continually scans for resolution, trying to make sense of an environment that has proven dangerous. This is not a failure of the individual. It is an adaptive response to an unresolved threat.
A body that does not receive signals of repair cannot simply “move on.” It remains locked in patterns of survival, often manifesting as chronic stress, pain, exhaustion, “mental health conditions,” and difficulties with trust and connection.
Repair and Resolution
When justice is served—when harm is recognized, addressed, and repaired—the body no longer has to stay in a constant state of defense. The burden of having to prove the truth and carrying the weight of injustice alone is lifted.
Justice is not about revenge, but repair. The nervous system is designed to settle when there is evidence that harm has been acknowledged and accountability has been taken. Without this, the violation remains an open wound, demanding attention because the body knows that unattended harm is dangerous.
A culture that dismisses or ignores harm creates a population of dysregulated, disconnected individuals. This is the natural outcome of a system that refuses to engage in repair. People cannot simply self-regulate their way out of systemic failure.
Systemic Change
Individual strategies can help, but they cannot replace the fundamental need for relational and societal accountability. The nervous system thrives in environments where there is trust, reciprocity, and fairness. When these are absent, the result is suffering—not just on an individual level, but collectively.
True justice includes creating the conditions that allow the body to release the burden of past harm and return to a state where connection, creativity, and well-being are possible. Without justice, survival takes priority over thriving. The body knows what it needs. It is time for systems to listen.
Call for Systemic Change
The evidence is clear: justice is not just an abstract concept, but a fundamental physiological need. When harm is dismissed, denied, or left unaddressed, individuals and communities suffer deeply. Therefore, we must demand systemic change. Institutions must adopt trauma-informed practices that recognize and respond to the neurobiological impact of harm. This means creating environments where validation, accountability, and repair are prioritized.
Specifically, we must call for greater accountability in medicine and licensing boards. Medical professionals who cause harm must be held responsible for their actions. Licensing boards must prioritize patient safety and well-being over protecting those who violate their oath. This includes thorough investigations of patient complaints, transparent disciplinary processes, and meaningful consequences for malpractice and abuse.
We must advocate for these changes in our communities. Contact elected officials, engage with healthcare institutions, and support organizations working for patient advocacy and trauma-informed care. By working together, we can create a world where justice is not just an ideal, but a lived reality, enabling healing and well-being for all.
