01/20/2026
Bridget, 38, grew up as the oldest daughter in a home where she played the peacemaker for her parents.
She’d comfort her dad after fights and listen to her mom vent. She tried to protect her younger siblings who heard a lot of yelling, betrayal, and harsh words. The next day her parents would often pretend nothing happened. They’d be back to “normal” and no one ever talked it. Bridget learned to keep the peace, but her body was always bracing for the next sign of tension or snide remark between her parents. They lacked communication skills and the ability to repair, and that soon the home would become an emotional tornado.
Sometimes she’d go to the parent trying to seek affection or reassurance. But both of them were highly self focused and stuck in survival mode themselves. Bridget tried to get her parents to how so much fell on her shoulders. She tried to get some recognition from them, but often they told her “you have it so much better than I did.” Or “I’m sorry you don’t have a perfect family.” Or “you’re ungrateful.” Her reality of having to deal with too much, too soon was denied over and over again.
As she got older, she found herself with partners who also denied her reality. Her intuition would go off and she’d ask questions only to be told she was “crazy,” “insecure” or “jealous.” Even when she was being betrayed by people she loved and trusted— she was always the problem. Her reality was always denied.
When Bridget started feeling sick and exhausted, she went to doctor after doctor. She got blood tests and was told there was no problem. She got serious about nutrition, but still she didn’t feel any better. When she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder she finally had some answers.
Bridget’s body tired desperately to protect itself. Responding to consistent emotional pain and stress, her body flooded with cortisol and adrenaline. Her immune system “overreacted” to the perceived emotional threats resulting in widespread inflammation in her body.
Nutrition was a great start, but her nervous system needed safe people who validated her reality, her intuition, and her life experiences
