I used to scream or drop to the floor crying when someone walked in the room unexpectedly.
I used to carry constant tension in my body.
I used to go for massages and feel the RMT’s arms shaking from the pressure they were using and I still couldn’t feel it.
I have very few childhood memories.
I used to live in a constant state of fight/flight/freeze and didn’t know it. (For decades).
I used to place all my worth within my level of productivity and busyness.
I used to panic if anyone put a hand near my collarbone or neck – even in a safe and loving way. Even if it was my child; sometimes I still do.
I used to be constantly “doing” and wore my “never slowing down” like a badge of honor.
I used to use physical pain as a way to feel something other than what I was feeling inside.
I used to gain all my validation and measure of success and worth from other people or things outside of myself, in my mind I was never good enough without clear external validation.
I used to constantly worry that people were mad at me, didn’t like me or that I’d done something wrong.
I used to subconsciously scan constantly for signs of safety and consistently misinterpret signs and signals that I was unwanted and a complete burden.
(Even when I was able-bodied).
I spent most of my life just trying to survive and feeling like the monster that was chasing me, was me.
Follow along for more on why this matters, where it led me, and how I’m recovering (and learning to feel safe again). And how I’m helping others with this, too.
About Denise Elysa
Denise Elysa is a practitioner and teacher of multiple modalities including somatic inquiry, intuitive energy healing, past life regression, oracle card reading and meditation. Blending somatic inquiry, somatic parts work, nervous-system informed education, intuition and grounded spirituality, she helps people who feel disconnected or chronically unwell reconnect with themselves, increase their capacity and awaken their inner healer, without requiring medical validation or overwhelming routines.
While Denise works with guests of all different lifestyles, needs and backgrounds, she holds a special place in her heart for those living with complex chronic diseases such as ME/CFS, MCAS, Fibromyalgia, POTS, hEDS, Lyme disease and co-infections, as well as other coexisting conditions. After years of navigating her own recovery through over 30 different medical diagnoses, she is living out what she considers to be her life's work by supporting others in the same methods that got her out of a wheelchair and a life filled with anxiety, depression and disconnection, and back to herself. She does this through her online community - EmbodiedSoul with Denise Elysa, her 1:1 sessions - particularly her Bridge to Embodiment Program, and through her podcast - Coming Home to Ourselves with Denise Elysa. Additionally, she is contracted to two of the Internal Medicine Specialists at the BC-CLMF to co-facilitate group sessions for their patients.
How is Denise’s work different from others?
- Over 13 years of experience in professionally supporting people with their health and wellbeing
- Lived experience navigating complex chronic illness, Lyme disease and co-infections, autoimmune diseases, chronic pain conditions, trauma, disability, neurodivergence and nervous system healing
- Contracted to Internal Medicine Specialists to co-facilitate offerings to their patients living with complex chronic diseases such as ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, Post-Viral Illness, LC, MCAS, POTS, Chronic Pain, hEDS, and other co-occurring conditions
- Foundation of her energy healing work is based in Therapeutic Touch® and acknowledged by the Therapeutic Touch International Association as meeting all criteria for each of their courses and is a member in good standing with the BCTTNS
