In this episode of Wired for Well-Being, Dr. Jeffrey Rutstein unpacks what your nervous system actually is—and why understanding it can change everything.

Through a lively back-and-forth with producer Steve Lessard, Jeffrey explains how the nervous system acts as your body’s “command center,” running automatic survival programs that once kept us safe from saber-toothed tigers—but now often hijack our peace when we’re simply stuck in traffic or waiting on a text.

You’ll learn:

• The four main nervous-system states—fight, flight, freeze, and shutdown—and how each shows up in the body and mind.

• Why your state drives your story, and how shifting state first can quiet loops of anger, fear, or collapse.

• How trauma, genetics, and early experience shape your “set point” for safety and reactivity.

• What Polyvagal Theory reveals about our built-in capacity for regulation, connection, and compassion.

• Simple body-based ways to begin collaborating with your nervous system instead of fighting it.

As Jeffrey shares, “There are no bad states—only information.” When we learn to listen to the messages of our body with kindness, we stop blaming ourselves for being reactive and start discovering how to return to safety, presence, and choice.

Have a question for Jeffrey? Leave a voicemail at 866-357-5156. If you can’t reach that number, record a voice memo and email it to hello@drjeffreyrutstein.com.

Learn more about the Healing Trauma Program: drjeffreyrutstein.com/links

The content in this podcast is for informational purposes only and not intended as professional mental health advice. Always consult qualified healthcare providers for medical concerns.