The Way Out When You Just Can't Move Forward
The Way Out When You Just Can't Move Forward  
Podcast: The Wired for Well-Being Podcast
Published On: Sat Sep 12 2026
Description: Get your free gift on the nervous system at drjeffreyrutstein.com/links Want to leave a question? Call 866-357-5156 You already know what would help. Move your body. Get outside. Do the practice. But when you're deep in nervous system shutdown, the energy all of that requires is exactly the thing you don't have — and pushing harder only drives you further down. That's the trap of dorsal collapse: it takes away the very resource you'd need to climb out of it. In this episode of Wired for Well-Being, Dr. Jeffrey Rutstein — psychologist, trauma expert, and nervous system specialist — responds to a listener navigating complex PTSD who describes episodes of severe fatigue that flatten him for up to three weeks at a time, and asks how to mobilize when his body simply won't come with him. Drawing on polyvagal theory, nervous system science, and decades of trauma-informed clinical work, Jeffrey explains why trauma recovery so often includes long stretches of shutdown and collapse, when persistent exhaustion deserves a medical workup for chronic fatigue syndrome or inflammation, and why the "second arrow" — the self-blame that lands on top of the state — is what deepens the collapse and lengthens our stay in it. He then walks through what actually raises our energy so we can move from "I can't" to "I can.  Have a question for Jeffrey? Leave a voicemail at 866-357-5156. If you can't reach that number, record a voice memo or email hello@drjeffreyrutstein.com. Claim your free 20-minute video on the three nervous system states and practices for moving from dysregulation back to regulation at drjeffreyrutstein.com/links. The content in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional mental health advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical or mental health concerns.