Episode #35
Hijacked by Betrayal Trauma? How to Interrupt the Cycle & Create a New Baseline with Brett Judd, LCSW (Rise 2:35)
Hijacked by Betrayal Trauma? How to Interrupt the Cycle & Create a New Baseline with Brett Judd, LCSW (Rise 2:35) *Note: This episode includes helpful visuals - For the full experience, check it out on YouTube Have you ever been triggered by something your partner said, did, or didn’t do—and suddenly felt like you were no longer in control of your response? You may know logically that your reaction seems bigger than the moment, but your body is already on high alert. You’re anxious, angry, hypervigilant, overwhelmed, or shutting down before you even have time to think. In this episode of RISE, MaryAnn Michaelis LCSW, CSAT, CPTT, is joined by licensed clinical social worker and hypnotherapist Brett Judd to explore what happens in the brain and body when betrayal trauma triggers hijack our ability to think clearly and respond intentionally. Brett explains the emotional arousal cycle and how trauma and repeated experiences can create a new baseline—one where the brain becomes primed to anticipate danger, even when we desperately want safety and connection. For betrayed partners, this can help explain why hypervigilance, overthinking, emotional reactivity, anxiety, withdrawal, and shutdown can feel so automatic. But understanding the cycle is only the beginning. This conversation focuses on where we can interrupt the cycle and how repeated interruptions can begin to create a new baseline. You’ll learn how to: • Recognize when you are being hijacked by a trigger • Understand what is happening in your brain and body during emotional arousal • Recognize why your reactions may feel automatic rather than conscious • Understand how past experiences can create new emotional baselines • See a trigger as information rather than an instruction to act • Use curiosity to create space between a trigger and your response • Notice what your body is telling you when your thinking brain isn't fully online • Use simple questions to understand what is happening underneath your reaction • Recognize when “I don't know” may mean your logical brain has gone offline • Interrupt the emotional arousal cycle • Develop a plan for what you can do differently the next time you're triggered • Begin expanding your window of tolerance • Repeatedly practice new responses that can help create a new baseline One of the most powerful ideas in this conversation is that a trigger is information—not an instruction to act. The goal isn't to never be triggered again. Betrayal trauma recovery isn't about eliminating every difficult emotion or reaction. The goal is to recognize the hijack, understand what is happening, create a pause, and learn to respond differently. Over time, those new responses can begin to change the baseline your brain has learned to expect. If you've ever wondered, “Why do I keep reacting this way?” or “Why does my body respond before I can even think?”, this episode offers a framework for understanding the cycle—and practical ways to begin changing it. About Brett Judd Brett Judd is a licensed clinical social worker and hypnotherapist practicing in Southeast Idaho. He has approximately 30 years of experience in personal change and development, with a focus on trauma, the brain, emotional arousal, and the behavioral patterns that develop in response to trauma. To access the emotional arousal cycle Brett shares, use this link: https://app.steadytide.com/j1.pl?ea9831ceeb6281c36f8979caaf80c83330c18597895ff4df5a5840bbabacf3d2 Brett also creates hypnosis resources focused on sleep, relaxation, emotional processing, and letting go. Find Brett's Hypnotherapy Resources at @BrettJuddHypnotherapy, including resources focused on deep sleep, relaxation, emotional processing, and letting go. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoLr-X9l-0Bh91otlaDKSYg A reminder from MaryAnn: Healing is a journey. Give yourself compassion as you learn to understand your responses, interrupt old patterns, and create new ones.
