83. Grief, Self-Compassion, and the Nervous System: What Healing Really Requires
Fri Feb 06 2026
What if healing isn’t about fixing what feels wrong, but learning how to feel what’s been held for too long?
In this episode of Living Inspired, I’m joined by somatic and transformational coach Soulla Demetriou for a grounded conversation about grief, self-compassion, and the nervous system, and why these are often the missing pieces in healing.
We explore how grief shows up not only after loss, but in quieter, less visible ways when life doesn’t unfold as we hoped. We talk about how avoiding grief can keep the nervous system stuck in survival mode, and how this can ripple into fatigue, digestive issues, sleep struggles, and emotional overwhelm.
This episode is especially for women who feel unsettled in their bodies despite “doing all the right things.” We discuss how self-compassion creates safety in the nervous system, and how healing often happens in small, steady moments rather than big overhauls.
Why grief is not something to fix, but something to allow
How unprocessed grief can show up as physical and emotional symptoms
The role of nervous system safety in healing
Why self-compassion is foundational, not optional
Simple ways to help the body exhale and soften
Find Rachel here:
RachelCartaRN.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peaceinperimenopause
Find Soulla Here:
https://soulshineretreats.comhttps://www.instagram.com/soulshine_soulla
More
What if healing isn’t about fixing what feels wrong, but learning how to feel what’s been held for too long? In this episode of Living Inspired, I’m joined by somatic and transformational coach Soulla Demetriou for a grounded conversation about grief, self-compassion, and the nervous system, and why these are often the missing pieces in healing. We explore how grief shows up not only after loss, but in quieter, less visible ways when life doesn’t unfold as we hoped. We talk about how avoiding grief can keep the nervous system stuck in survival mode, and how this can ripple into fatigue, digestive issues, sleep struggles, and emotional overwhelm. This episode is especially for women who feel unsettled in their bodies despite “doing all the right things.” We discuss how self-compassion creates safety in the nervous system, and how healing often happens in small, steady moments rather than big overhauls. Why grief is not something to fix, but something to allow How unprocessed grief can show up as physical and emotional symptoms The role of nervous system safety in healing Why self-compassion is foundational, not optional Simple ways to help the body exhale and soften Find Rachel here: RachelCartaRN.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peaceinperimenopause Find Soulla Here: https://soulshineretreats.comhttps://www.instagram.com/soulshine_soulla