In this exciting episode of Trauma Meets Recovery, Dr. Mark McNear sits down with world-renowned trauma pioneer Dr. Peter Levine — creator of Somatic Experiencing® and a leading voice in nervous system healing and trauma recovery.

Dr. Levine explains how trauma becomes trapped in the body, why so many people stay stuck in survival mode, and how healing begins through reconnecting with the nervous system — not just the mind. He provides hope for those whose lives had been impacted by trauma.

We explore:
• Why trauma is stored in the body
• Fight, flight, freeze & shutdown responses
• The nervous system’s role in healing
• Somatic Experiencing® explained
• How unresolved trauma affects daily life
• Why traditional talk therapy can miss the body
• Practical insights for regulation and recovery

Whether you’re healing from trauma, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about how the body and mind work together, this conversation offers profound insight and hope.

🎧 Subscribe to Trauma Meets Recovery for conversations on healing, trauma, mental health, nervous system regulation, addiction recovery, and personal growth.

Follow @TraumaMeetsRecoveryPodcast
Facebook & Instagram: @TraumaMeetsRecoveryPodcast

Find Dr. Peter A. Levine:
Instagram: @drpeteralevine

#PeterLevine #SomaticExperiencing #TraumaHealing #NervousSystem #PolyvagalTheory #MentalHealthPodcast #HealingTrauma #TraumaRecovery #PsychologyPodcast #TraumaMeetsRecovery

What is Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) really like?

In this episode of Trauma Meets Recovery, Dr. Mark McNear sits down with Mike Cuevas—author, advocate, and survivor—to break down the truth about DID, trauma, and the mind’s incredible ability to adapt.

🧠 DID isn’t chaos. It’s not weakness.
It’s a powerful survival response developed when safety wasn’t available.

In this conversation, we explore:
• What Dissociative Identity Disorder actually is
• The truth behind the “multiple personalities” misunderstanding
• Why DID is a response to trauma—not a disorder to fear
• How the nervous system creates “parts” to survive
• The shift from “What’s wrong with me?” → “What happened to me?”
• Tools for healing, self-compassion, and integration

Mike shares his personal journey of discovering DID, navigating memory gaps, and learning to work with—not against—the parts of himself that helped him survive.

💬 “DID isn’t broken… it’s how the mind survives.”

If you’ve ever felt disconnected, overwhelmed, or like different parts of you are pulling in different directions—this episode will change how you understand yourself and others.

🎧 Listen / Watch Now:
YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on trauma, healing, and mental health

What if the key to healing trauma isn’t just in your thoughts—but in your nervous system?

In this powerful episode of the Trauma Meets Recovery podcast, Dr. Mark McNear sits down with renowned clinician and author Deb Dana to break down Polyvagal Theory into simple, practical tools you can use in everyday life.

Together, they explore how your nervous system constantly scans for safety and danger through a process called neuroception—and how bringing these patterns into awareness can give you something many trauma survivors struggle to access: choice.

Deb Dana walks listeners through the three core states of the nervous system—regulation, fight-or-flight, and shutdown—and explains why healing isn’t about staying calm all the time, but learning how to move out of survival states with awareness and support.

You’ll learn:

• How to recognize your body’s cues of safety vs. danger
• Why trauma keeps us stuck in survival responses—and how to shift out
• The difference between implicit (automatic) and explicit (aware) experience
• How to build a personalized “regulation plan” for moments of overwhelm
• The power of co-regulation and safe connection in healing
• What “glimmers” are—and how tiny moments of safety can rewire your nervous system

This conversation is both deeply insightful and immediately actionable—offering a roadmap to move from reactivity to resilience, from survival to thriving.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in anxiety, shutdown, or emotional overwhelm, this episode will help you understand why—and more importantly, what to do about it.