Episode 211: How Somatic Experiencing Helps with Chronic Pain and ADHD
🌟 My new book, The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit, is available to order here 🌟
ADHD isn’t just about focus and forgetfulness, it’s a whole-body experience.
Many women with ADHD also struggle with chronic pain, tension, migraines and hypermobility, yet these physical symptoms are rarely linked to ADHD in traditional treatments.
In this episode, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner Susanna Elias shares her personal journey of overcoming 24 years of chronic back pain and explains how trauma, stress, and emotional dysregulation can become “stuck” in the body.
She introduces Somatic Experiencing (SE) as a powerful approach to help neurodivergent people reconnect with their bodies, regulate their nervous systems, and find relief from long-standing physical discomfort.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your emotions or disconnected from your body, this episode will give you practical tools to understand the mind-body connection, regulate your nervous system and create a sense of balance and ease.
What You’ll Learn:
✨ How ADHD and trauma can manifest as physical symptoms such as chronic pain and hypermobility.
✨ Why traditional treatments often overlook the body’s role in ADHD.
✨ How Somatic Experiencing (SE) helps process and release stored stress and trauma.
✨ The link between emotional dysregulation and physical discomfort in ADHD.
✨ The role of co-regulation & self-regulation in managing stress and sensory overload.
✨ Regulating the nervous system is crucial for managing ADHD symptoms and overall wellbeing.
✨ Emotional experiences can lead to physical symptoms, highlighting the mind-body connection in health.
Timestamps:
🕒 01:06 – What is Somatic Experiencing? How it helps ADHD & trauma
🕒 08:18 – The surprising link between ADHD, hypermobility, and chronic pain
🕒 16:00 – How unprocessed trauma can create dysregulation in the nervous system
🕒 24:08 – The role of mind-body healing in ADHD
🕒 31:00 – Understanding how emotions impact physical health
🕒 36:04 – How co-regulation & self-regulation help with ADHD symptoms
Connect with Susanne via her website or Instagram, @susannaeliasbodymind
Links & Resources:
🌸 If you love the podcast but want more ADHD support, get a sneak peek of my brand new book, The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit and pre-order it here!❗
🌸 Join me for a series of breakthrough ADHD Wellbeing Workshops this spring/summer
Find Kate's popular online workshops and free resources here.