Monday, August 3, 2026

Elijah Under The Broom Tree: What Dorsal Vagal Shutdown Actually Looks Like

Part 2 of When Your Body Won't Let You Rest. You did everything right — and now you can't get out of bed. This isn't spiritual failure, it's dorsal vagal shutdown: the nervous system's deepest protective response after prolonged or inescapable stress. In this episode, counselor and author Elisha walks through the story of Elijah under the broom tree (1 Kings 19) — a prophet at the peak of his ministry who collapses into what looks exactly like chronic exhaustion and burnout. You'll learn:• What dorsal vagal shutdown is, and how it's different from fight-or-flight (covered in Part 1) • Why "just pray harder" doesn't work on a nervous system in protective shutdown • The R.E.S.T. Framework applied to Elijah's collapse and recovery • A guided somatic practice to help your body come back online • Why God fed and let Elijah sleep before He ever questioned him This episode is for you if you're running on empty, functioning on the outside while collapsed on the inside, recovering from ministry or caregiver burnout, or have been told your exhaustion is a faith problem. 📌 Free download: The S.T.A.R.T. Guide — https://elishas-space.onpodium.com 🕊️ If this helped, share it. Text it to someone who's running on empty. About Elisha's Space: a sanctuary for women navigating the intersection of clinical trauma recovery and Christian faith — moving beyond "just pray more" to offer somatic tools and theological reframing for nervous system healing. #dorsalvagalshutdown #nervoussystemregulation #chronicexhaustion #christiancounseling #traumahealing #elishasspace #somatichealing #burnoutrecovery