How to feel safe in stress and trauma healing, and the Cell Danger Response
"When cells sense danger, they prioritize survival over normal functions like growth and repair...This underscores the interconnectedness of our environment, stress levels, and overall health."
Dr Cathleen King, DPT, is a "doctor of physical therapy who teaches neuroscience principles, and is a mind-body practitioner, and writer of articles on stress, chronic illness, and recovery.
She responds to questions from a Primal Trust™ Community member:
"How do I find internal safety when my body and mind constantly send signals that I'm not safe, especially when I come from generations who have never experienced internal safety?"
Cathleen King responds: "We think that we need the suffering to go away to be in safety - that's the lie of the ego. The safety is that we have connection. If we're going through a hard time and we would have had a parent hold us and say 'I'm right here, I am not leaving, you are not gonna be alone' - that's the safety we all seek."
Here is an excerpt from her article Navigating Cell Danger Response:
"Cell Danger Response isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a physiological state that can profoundly affect our health and healing journey.
If you’re someone who has tried “everything to get better”, or reacts strongly or negatively to a range of supplements, detox protocols, health regimes etc, please read on – this information is likely the key you need to unlock your healing.
Our bodies are incredibly adaptive and protective. When faced with threats—be it physical, emotional, or environmental—our cells can go into what I like to call a “protective hypometabolic state.”
It’s like when you’re in Florida and a hurricane is coming—you batten down the hatches, close the shutters, and go into survival mode.
But what happens if you never open those shutters again? You remain in a constant state of vigilance and protection, never fully allowing yourself to relax and let life in. That’s the essence of the Cell Danger Response.
See video and more below.
Related video (provided to her subscribers) Finding Inner Safety Amidst the Cell Danger Response
Understanding the Cell Danger Response
The Cell Danger Response is a cascade of physiological reactions that occur when our cells perceive danger. This can stem from chronic stress, unresolved trauma, exposure to toxins, or even chronic infections.
Our cells essentially “harden” their walls, metaphorically speaking, to protect themselves. This hardening prevents proper nutrient exchange, impairs detoxification pathways, and hampers the body’s ability to heal and function optimally.
Cell Danger Response is a theory coined by Dr. Robert Naviaux, a pioneer in mitochondrial medicine and cell biology.
The concept of Cell Danger Response (CDR) highlights how cells shift into a protective hypometabolic state to defend themselves. This response involves a complex cascade of biochemical reactions aimed at safeguarding cellular integrity.
Essentially, when cells sense danger, they prioritize survival over normal functions like growth and repair, altering their metabolism and communication pathways.
Understanding CDR is crucial as it underscores the interconnectedness of our environment, stress levels, and overall health, emphasizing the profound impact of perceived threats on cellular biology and systemic wellness.
Bridging Internal Safety with External Reality
Our emotional and nervous systems often mirror what’s happening at the cellular level. If we’re stuck in a perpetual state of fear or trauma, it makes sense that our cells are also on high alert.
For this reason, at Primal Trust™ we emphasize the importance of developing a sense of safety and trust, both internally and externally."
» Read more in her article Navigating Cell Danger Response: A Path to Healing with Primal Trust.
~~~
⏩ Program: Primal Trust Membership & Community - "Learn to consciously self-regulate your biology and heal."
📖 Free ebook by Dr. Cathleen King: "How Healing Happens" - a 127 page guide "to brain retraining and nervous system somatic healing."
~~~~
Related:
Trauma healing physician Aimie Apigian, MD on feeling safe:
"Trauma can have a profound impact on our bodies, leading to chronic health conditions and mental health issues.
“However, by understanding our biology and how our bodies came to store trauma in the first place, we can follow the clear step-by-step out.
"There is a certain essential sequence that we must follow. This begins with one thing… creating a felt sense of safety within ourselves.
"Our bodies have a natural capacity to heal from trauma when we feel safe."
▶️ Learn about her trauma recovery programs: TheFoundational Journey: 21 Day Journey + Intro to All Parts of Me, for addressing stored trauma in the body.
~~~~