Holistic Sands Psychology

01/03/2026

Cortisol is a hormone your body releases when you feel stressed or under threat. It’s part of your built-in survival system. When something feels dangerous, cortisol helps your body focus on getting through it by putting less important jobs — like digestion, reproduction and parts of the immune system — temporarily on hold.

This response is meant to be short-term. It’s designed to help you deal with a stressful moment and then switch off once you’re safe again.

But with PTSD and C-PTSD, the body can struggle to switch that alarm system off. It can stay stuck in “threat mode”, even when there’s no immediate danger. That means cortisol levels can remain out of balance — too high for some people, and too low for others.

The connection between the mind and body is very real. When your mental health is suffering, your body feels it too. Over time, living with disrupted cortisol levels can start to affect your physical health in ways that feel confusing, unexpected, and sometimes worrying — such as:

❗️Your skin may scar more easily
❗️Your ears might ring
❗️You might gain weight around your tummy
❗️You might develop digestive issues like bloating, gas or IBS
❗️You might get frequent joint and muscle pains
❗️It can be difficult to gain muscle
❗️Your feet and hands might be icy cold
❗️You might yawn more
❗️Allergies may flare up, or you may develop new ones

If you’ve experienced any of these, you’re not imagining them.
PTSD and C-PTSD are not “just in your head”. They are whole-body conditions.

When your nervous system has been on high alert for a long time, your body adapts in ways that were once protective - but that can become exhausting and damaging over time.

When we live in survival mode, the body prioritises immediate threat over long-term health.

That’s why digestion, immunity, hormones and even temperature regulation can become disrupted. Your body isn’t broken - it’s trying to protect you.

Find out more about how PTSD and C-PTSD can physically affect your body in our blog article here:
https://www.ptsduk.org/10-unexpected-physical-symptoms-of-ptsd/

Find out more about how cortisol and PTSD and C-PTSD are linked (and how you can balance cortisol levels) here:
https://www.ptsduk.org/the-link-between-cortisol-and-ptsd/

PLEASE NOTE: These symptoms listed can also be an indication of other conditions - so if you experience any of these symptoms, you should speak to your GP to rule out anything more serious.

18/02/2026

To celebrate Youth Week, the NSW Office for Youth is running a Design a Sticker Competition! If you're aged 12 to 24 and live in NSW, you can submit a sticker design that represents or explores the Youth Week theme, ‘Dream. Dare. Do.’

Nine winners will be selected from three age categories with VERY exciting prizes to be won – including all winners receiving a printed version of their sticker design to keep!

Entries close at 11.59PM on Sunday, 29 March. Head to the link below to find out more:

🔗https://bit.ly/4tMEiSo

18/02/2026

The amygdala is the brain’s danger detector — but it doesn’t identify what the danger is.

It reacts to felt threat, not facts.
Volume, tone, unpredictability, sensory input, past experiences and sudden change can all trigger the same alarm.

For neurodivergent children and young people, this system is often more sensitive and more easily overwhelmed. What looks small to an adult can feel genuinely unsafe to their nervous system.

This is why behaviour shifts fast, logic disappears, and reactions seem out of proportion.
The brain isn’t misbehaving — it’s protecting.

18/02/2026

https://www.nsw.gov.au/arts-and-culture/nsw-youth-week

The next Youth Week is from 16–26 April 2026

09/02/2026

07/01/2026

Support group for single parents of neurodivergent kids in the Illawarra.

Send a message to learn more

21/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cz48Qvpru/

Send a message to learn more

17/12/2025

Ever noticed how shouting back seems to happen in a split second?
That’s not attitude — it’s the brain acting sub-consciously.

Mirror neurons fire before thinking begins, copying tone, volume and emotional energy automatically. A child isn’t choosing to escalate. Their nervous system is reflecting what it senses in yours.

This visual explains why regulation is caught, not taught — and why calm has to go first.

15/12/2025

Free 50 COPING SKILLS POSTER FOR TEENS: THE (MOSTLY EFFECTIVE) GUIDE TO NOT LOSING IT

This free poster gives young people 50 simple coping skills they can use when they feel stressed or overwhelmed. It covers brain breaks, movement, creative ideas, sensory activities, ways to connect with others and ways to plan ahead. It is easy to use in schools, homes and support sessions. Many workers use it to help young people talk about what works for them and to build healthier coping habits.

If you would like this as a free PDF, comment COPING and we will send you a link to the website where you can download it.

15/12/2025

Distressing news and hearing about other people's traumatic experiences, like what has happened at Bondi, can contribute to secondary trauma. When the world feels dark it's really important to check in with yourself.

Did this hit home for you? Learn more about dealing with trauma: https://kidshelpline.info/3WByyut

13/12/2025

28/11/2025

If you're doing your best to stop self-harming, we're proud of you. Self-harm can be addictive, and while it feels hard to stop, it's totally possible.

These tips might help. And don't forget, we're open 24/7 if you want to get in touch. 🤍