In this powerful and deeply honest episode of Holistic Health with Melissa, Melissa sits down with Amanda Dykes, host of Unedited Faith, to talk about trauma, faith, healing, and what it really means to surrender to God when prayer alone feels insufficient.

Amanda shares her journey as a preacher's kid raised in rural East Tennessee, navigating sexual assault, domestic violence, church hurt, deep grief after losing both parents, and the quiet depression that followed. She opens up about how unprocessed trauma shaped her identity, distorted her relationship with God, and left her feeling unseen, unworthy, and angry, even while deeply rooted in faith.

Together, Melissa and Amanda explore why "just pray about it" often falls short for trauma survivors, how the body stores unresolved pain, and why healing requires honesty, embodiment, surrender, and safe human connection. Amanda also shares how jail ministry became a turning point in her life, teaching her that trauma is a prison long before bars ever appear, and how God used her own pain to lead her toward purpose.

This episode is for anyone who loves Jesus but feels stuck, angry, numb, disconnected, or ashamed. It is a reminder that God meets us at eye level, not perfection, and that healing happens when faith, action, and compassion come together.

If you've ever wondered why prayer hasn't brought the healing you hoped for, this conversation will speak straight to your heart.

Join the 3-day Mind-Body Healing Workshop: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/MindBodyHealingWorkshop

Interested in coaching? Connect with me here: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/discovery-information-form

Healing is ALWAYS possible!

What if your emotions were not the problem, but the pathway to healing?

In this powerful conversation, Melissa sits down with licensed psychologist and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist Dr. Audrey Davidheiser to explore how trauma healing, faith, and emotional health are deeply connected.

Dr. Audrey breaks down Internal Family Systems in a simple, accessible way, explaining how we all have "parts" within us and why that does not mean we are broken. She shares how the IFS concept of the Self aligns with a Christian understanding of God-given wisdom, calm, compassion, and healing power that remains untouched by trauma.

Together, Melissa and Dr. Audrey discuss:

• Why emotions are not your enemy and what happens when you suppress them

• How trauma survivors often stay stuck in their head and avoid deeper healing

• The role of protector parts, nervous system regulation, and somatic awareness

• Common misconceptions about IFS, therapy, and faith-based healing

• How IFS can support grief, religious trauma, and emotional healing

• Practical ways to begin listening to your emotions with curiosity instead of judgment

This episode is especially for women who feel overwhelmed, disconnected from their emotions, or unsure how faith and therapy can work together. If you have ever felt like you were "too much," "too sensitive," or broken, this conversation will remind you that healing is already built into how God designed you.

Mind-Body Healing Workshop: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/MindBodyHealingWorkshop
Interested in working with me? https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/discovery-information-form

Connect with Dr Audrey:
https://aimforbreakthrough.com
https://Facebook.com/DrAudreyD
https://www.instagram.com/draudreyd/
https://draudreyd.substack.com/
Buy her book- Grieving Wholeheartedly: Bringing Healing to Every Part of Your Soul https://amzn.to/46gPdd8

What happens inside your body when you witness violence, even if it did not happen to you?

In this solo episode, Melissa breaks down trauma in a deeply personal and educational way after being unexpectedly triggered by graphic footage of the Bondi Beach shooting. Drawing from her own experience surviving a school shooting at age 15 and over 20 years of trauma and somatic work, she explains why exposure to violence through our phones can activate the nervous system just as powerfully as real-life danger.

You will learn why trauma is not the event itself but what happens inside your body as a result of the event, how past experiences and nervous system capacity shape your response, and why chronic exposure to distressing content fuels anxiety, inflammation, and physical symptoms. Melissa also explains the mind-body connection in trauma healing and why regulation is not a destination but a practice you return to again and again.

This episode includes a short somatic breathing and body-based practice to help you begin regulating your nervous system in real time.

If you struggle with anxiety, trauma responses, emotional overwhelm, or chronic stress and symptoms, this episode will help you understand your body with more compassion and give you tools to support healing.

If you want to join the 3-day Mind-Body Healing Workshop, sign up here: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/MindBodyHealingWorkshop

Want to join The Freedom Collective group program or 1:1 Rooted-Rewired-Restored? Submit your application here: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/discovery-information-form

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