Why Trauma & Stress Can Drain Your Motivation—and How to Reignite It

Have you ever woken up with a to-do list longer than your arm, only to find yourself staring at the wall, completely drained before the day even begins?

You want to get things done, but something inside you feels stuck like an invisible weight is pressing down on your chest. You tell yourself to push through, but no amount of self-discipline seems to shake the exhaustion.

You're not lazy. You're not broken. Your body and mind are protecting you.

The Silent Thief of Motivation

Let me tell you about "Sara" (not her real name). A powerhouse of a woman, juggling work, family, and personal growth. But after a series of overwhelming life events a sudden breakup, financial stress, and the lingering effects of childhood trauma, she started feeling like a stranger in her own life. She wanted to exercise, to create, to move forward… but every time she tried, it felt like wading through thick mud.

This is the hidden cost of stress and trauma. When the nervous system is stuck in survival mode, motivation is one of the first things to go. Instead of focusing on long-term goals, your brain and body prioritise immediate safety. The stress response, fight, flight, freeze, or fawn, kicks in, draining your energy reserves, leaving you feeling unmotivated, unfocused, and emotionally numb.

Why Stress and Trauma Hijack Your Drive

Your brain isn’t working against you. It’s doing what it was designed to do: protect you from perceived threats. Chronic stress and past trauma keep your nervous system on high alert, which means:

• Dopamine (the motivation hormone) takes a hit. Your brain deprioritises goal-seeking behaviours when it’s focused on survival.
  

• Your body is in ‘energy conservation mode.’ Instead of channeling energy into creativity and ambition, it’s being used to stay alert to danger—even if that danger is in the past.
  

• You might subconsciously avoid excitement or success. If pushing yourself led to burnout before, your nervous system may resist progress to protect you.

Reclaiming Your Motivation: It Starts with Your Body

The good news? Your motivation isn’t gone—it’s just buried under layers of tension, fear, and exhaustion. To get it back, you need more than mindset shifts. You need to engage your body in the healing process.

Somatic practices, nervous system regulation, and holistic bodywork can help release stored trauma, shift you out of survival mode, and reawaken your natural drive. Imagine feeling energized instead of drained, inspired instead of stuck, at home in your own body instead of battling it every day.

Your Invitation to Heal and Reignite Your Fire

If Sara’s story resonates with you, know that you’re not alone and you don’t have to stay stucked. This summer, I’m offering powerful in-person and remote experiences to help you reconnect with your body, reset your nervous system, and reignite your motivation:

🌿 Summer of Self-Love Half-Day Retreat (June 8th) – A nurturing space to soften, breathe, and reconnect with yourself. More details here or book here.

🌙 Soul-Nourishing Retreat (Oct 3rd-5th) – A full weekend designed to help you restore, realign, and move forward with clarity. More details here or book here.

🔥 1:1 Holosomatic Bodywork Therapy (online and in person) – A deeply healing experience to release stored stress and restore balance. More information on my approach here or book an exploration call here.

Your body holds the key to your motivation. When you give it the care and support it needs, everything begins to shift. Are you ready to take the first step?

As a trauma informed accredited Life Coach, Neurolinguistic Programming & EFT practitioner, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Breathwork and yoga teacher with a holistic somatic approach, Carla Carolina Watson can support your journey.

For the last 7 years she’s worked in the wellbeing industry providing safe spaces for people to let go what’s holding them back and focus their energy on what truly matters for them while embracing their most authentic balanced self.

Carla has worked in renowned wellness centres, yoga studios, 1:1 with individuals all over the world as well as facilitating wellbeing spaces for local businesses to support their teams.

Her unique approach gives her clients different options to explore what works best for their goals. Through her offerings you can choose to work on: Phobias & Fears, Self-Reflection, Emotional Resilience, Anger, Communication, Stress Management and more.

Since becoming a mother two years ago she has focused on creating healing spaces for women and mothers to explore the benefits of different nourishing somatic practices like Sound Baths, Therapeutic Singing & Writing, Women Circles, and Wellness workshops.

Her services are also available to curate private gatherings like: Mother Blessings, Purposeful Hen Parties, Festivals and more.

Get in touch for more information: carlacarolinacoach@gmail.com