Stage Three: Trauma & the Nervous System

Resolving the electrical and burning pain of fibromyalgia by healing cortisol dysregulation, dysautonomia, and the lasting effects of trauma.

By Brehan Crawford, MAcOM, LAc  ·  Crawford Wellness

Fibromyalgia Protocol Series:  Stage 0  ·  Stage 1  ·  Stage 2  ·  Stage 3  ·  Stage 4  ·  Movement

The overlap between fibromyalgia and trauma is unmistakably huge.

If it seems like every fibromyalgia patient you know had a traumatic childhood, you're not wrong. A 2012 study showed that fibromyalgia patients were significantly more likely to have experienced verbal, physical, or sexual abuse in childhood than the population at large. And intergenerational trauma is not just a buzzword  it's real and supported by evidence. If you have fibromyalgia but weren't the direct sufferer of abuse, the pain you have now could be echoes from what your mother or grandmother had to endure.

If you haven't gone through Stages 1 and 2, I highly recommend you consider them before engaging with Stage 3. It's safe to start here if it seems most appropriate for you — but if you haven't resolved chronic infections and put your microbiome into a healthier place, you may find that Stages 3 and 4 need to be repeated over and over instead of having lasting effects.

The Role of Cortisol

Cortisol is a natural steroid you produce with your adrenal glands. It has a normal daily rhythm peaking in the early morning and declining through the day — that governs energy regulation, immune function, and your overall activity levels. When that delicate balance is disturbed, the effects can be devastating.

Here's a list of symptoms. Tell me whether this sounds like steroid poisoning or a fibromyalgia patient: anxiety, depression, burning skin, heart rhythm problems, blood pressure fluctuations, irregular appetite, increased susceptibility to infections, muscle weakness, persistent fatigue, nausea, sleep disturbances, menstrual irregularities, edema, and exacerbation of gastrointestinal issues. The answer is both — and that overlap is not a coincidence.

"Pain and discomfort — both physical and emotional — are profound teachers. They might be tough taskmasters, but they invariably guide us toward introspection and the life shifts we need to make."

— Brehan Crawford, MAcOM, LAc

Dysautonomia: Balancing the Two Nervous Systems

Dysautonomia refers to the malfunctioning of the autonomic nervous system — the system that governs involuntary functions like heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion. It has two branches:

In an ideal scenario, the body seamlessly transitions between these two modes. But modern life's pressures — the constant productivity demands, the loss of genuine rest and community — push most of us into sympathetic dominance. Transitioning back isn't as simple as flipping a switch. Sometimes we need to experience heightened sympathetic activity — like the catharsis after a good cry — before easing into the restorative embrace of the parasympathetic state.

Lifestyle essentials for this stage: Prioritize quality sleep. Reduce or eliminate caffeine and alcohol. Limit screen time before bed. Do not "catch up" on life during good days — the lure of making up for lost time is understandable, but overexerting yourself during good days can trigger a relapse. Quality rest and recalibrating your cortisol rhythm is paramount.

The Stage 3 Protocol: Tea, Foot Soak, and Topical Balm

The "Huff and Puff" Breathing Exercise

This is a potent exercise for fostering mental clarity and catalyzing deep emotional release. It comes with a word of caution: observe safety protocols and heed your body's signals. This practice is amplified when coupled with daily gratitude journaling over a span of 30 days.

This exercise can evoke strong emotions — crying, laughter, or vivid memories. If this happens, express those emotions and let them go. Return to the exercise the next day. This is the deep-seated emotional baggage being shed. For best results, practice daily for 30 days and journal your experiences afterward.

For the whole-body shaking exercise that complements Stage 3 breathwork, see the Movement Protocol.

"When exposed to too much stress at the wrong point in life — or prolonged stress at any point in life — our bodies are generally strong enough to make themselves sick by secreting too many steroid hormones. The symptoms of chronic cortisol overexposure are nearly indistinguishable from fibromyalgia."

— Brehan Crawford

Next in the Series

Stage 4: Circulation & Repair

Address the final layer — sharp, stabbing pain, prostaglandin imbalance, and the return to vibrant circulation and long-term remission.

Full Series:  Stage 0  ·  Stage 1  ·  Stage 2  ·  Stage 3  ·  Stage 4  ·  Movement