Ever burst into tears during a massage or felt grief bubble up when you’re just trying to sleep? You’re not broken—and you’re definitely not alone. In this episode, Dr. Misty pulls back the curtain on fascia: your body’s secret emotional archivist.

We’ll break down what fascia actually is (think: way sexier than raw chicken), why it hoards every microtrauma and shutdown, and how those mysterious aches, pains, and restless nights are actually your body keeping score. From chronic jaw tension to pelvic floor pain to the sleep-shame spiral, you’ll learn why your “tight hips” are holding old grief, why your jaw’s clenching on unsaid truths, and why stretching just isn’t enough.

Most importantly, we’ll explore erotic rest—not just as self-care, but as an act of radical rebellion and embodied pleasure for trauma-impacted, neurodivergent, and queer bodies. Get practical tools for fascial release (no, not torture with foam rollers), and learn why tenderness—not performance—is your body’s true path to safety, pleasure, and finally, real rest.

Listen in for:

• The real deal on fascia as emotional memory

• How trauma and shame live in connective tissue

• The “fascia-sleep-shame loop” (and how to break it)

• Science-backed, anti-perfectionist tools for reclaiming rest and pleasure

• Why erotic rest is a liberation movement, not a wellness trend

Mentioned: Download this episode’s worksheet, “Mapping the Body’s Bedtime Stories,” exclusively in The Ember Vault.

• (00:00:03) - Why Your Fascia Holds You Back
• (00:04:27) - How Fascia Is the Keeper of Your Emotional History
• (00:09:53) - Fascial Holding Patterns and the Sleep Struggle
• (00:16:12) - How to Rest Your Fascial Tension
• (00:18:58) - Fascial Release for Emotional Unwind
• (00:22:16) - Body's Fascia Memory and Rest

Why does your brain turn into a haunted house the minute you finally feel safe enough to rest? Why do so many trauma-impacted, neurodivergent adults struggle with sleep—even when nothing is “wrong” on the outside? Welcome to Untamed Ember, where Dr. Misty dives headfirst into the Polyvagal Paradox—that infuriating reality where your body refuses to relax, no matter how perfect your sleep hygiene or how many weighted blankets you own.

In this episode, we break down:

• Why sleep is the ultimate act of vulnerability—and why your nervous system might see it as a threat, not a reward

• How trauma, neurodivergence, and chronic stress rewire your body’s ability to rest (and why “just relax” is a setup for shame)

• The difference between “tired but wired” insomnia and emotional collapse sleep—and why you might bounce between both

• The real role of fascia, hypervigilance, and your window of tolerance in sleep struggles (not just “bad habits”)

• How polyvagal theory reveals the secret language of your sleep cycles—plus what “false ventral” looks like at 2AM

• A client story that proves: Your sleep isn’t broken, your nervous system is just a damn good protector

• Radically practical, non-performative tools for reclaiming rest: deep pressure, rocking, Yoga Nidra, body scan journaling, and the lost art of letting your sleep be weird

This isn’t another lecture on blue light and bedtime routines. It’s a rebellious, trauma-informed, neurodivergent-friendly call to stop blaming yourself for sleepless nights and start building genuine nervous system safety—at your own pace, with your own rules.

PLUS: Vault members, don’t forget to grab this week’s worksheet, The Sleep Safety Map, to build your own personalized nervous system plan for rest at untamedember.com. And join our FREE newsletter for free weekly resources: untamedember.kit.com

Want more anti-shame, science-backed content?

• Listen to the Untamed Ember podcast wherever you get your podcasts

• Join The Ember Vault for weekly deep-dive worksheets and tools ($5/month)

#polyvagaltheory #trauma #neurodivergent #sleep #nervoussystem #insomnia #rest #healing #cptsd #adhd #autism #untamedember

• (00:00:07) - It's Always 3am Again
• (00:00:49) - How to Sleep When You're Unable to Sleep
• (00:02:15) - Why Sleep Isn't Safe For Some People
• (00:05:36) - Why Your Sleep Isn't Restful
• (00:09:14) - How Neurodivergence Affects Your Sleep
• (00:13:52) - How to Sleep Better With Chronic Insomnia
• (00:17:25) - The Most Ridiculous Part of Sleep Struggles
• (00:18:19) - Why You're Not Safe to Sleep
• (00:21:36) - 5 Ways to Rest Your Body (That Actually Work)
• (00:26:56) - Reclaiming Sleep in Your Nerves
• (00:29:05) - How to Get More Sleep

When someone in authority told you "your body isn't really yours," that messaging didn't just live in your mind—it rewired your nervous system. In this revolutionary episode, Dr. Misty exposes how high-control systems, particularly religious environments, strategically target sexuality as their primary mechanism of control. We dive deep into the neurobiology of religious sexual conditioning, exploring how it creates internal "parts" that continue enforcing these rules long after you've intellectually rejected them. But this isn't just about understanding the damage—it's about liberation. Discover practical, somatic approaches to reclaim your erotic sovereignty, decolonize your nervous system, and develop an embodied sexuality that genuinely belongs to YOU, not to systems that sought to control you. Because your pleasure isn't just personal—it's political resistance against institutions that weaponized shame to maintain power.