Sexual Abuse and Shame: How Trauma Shapes the Body and Boundaries

Shame doesn’t live in your head, it lives in your body. In this deeply vulnerable and enlightening episode, somatic practitioner Luis Mojica returns to Trauma Rewired to share the biological impact of trauma, the hidden costs of fawning, and how embodiment is not about peace, it’s about presence. Together, we explore how unprocessed shame can drive chronic inflammation, gut dysfunction, and boundary collapse, long after the traumatic event has passed. Luis also shares his own story of sexual trauma, dissociation, and how learning to support his constriction, rather than push through it, changed his life. We discuss how trauma responses like shame and fawning were once protective, and why repatterning happens not through digging up the past, but by feeling what’s here now. This episode offers hope, clarity, and tangible insights for anyone healing from trauma, struggling with burnout, or navigating the complexities of somatic work. Topics discussed in this episode: Why shame is physically stressful to the body The connection between shame, inflammation, and the gut How fawning breaks your own boundaries to gain connection Why trauma healing is not about digging up the past Embodiment ≠ Peace — what it really means The power of witnessing and being witnessed Trauma’s impact on autoimmune responses Constriction as a nervous system signal The somatic difference between memory and sensation Why burnout happens from emotional override The role of titration in safe, sustainable healing How supporting constriction expands capacity What boundaries mean in the body — and how to set them 🔗 Learn More & Links 🎓 Explore the Neurosomatic Intelligence Coaching Certification: https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/ 🎓 Free 2-week nervous system training trial: https://www.rewiretrial.com 📚 Learn more about Luis Mojica: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/  https://www.instagram.com/holistic.life.navigation  📲 Follow Trauma Rewired: https://www.instagram.com/trauma.rewired/  Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/761101225132846 Get a FREE 1-Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs with AG1: https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If someone’s life is in danger, immediately call 911. We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don’t warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It’s very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren’t responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast. We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don’t verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization. We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs. We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional. The BrainBased.com site and Rewiretrail.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis. Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved. We’ve done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected] All rights in our content are reserved This episode was produced by ClipGrowth - Podcast Video Editing, SEO & YouTube Strategy ClipGrowthAgency.com