Firefly Somatics

31/08/2025

Co-regulation 👥

This is the process where our nervous system naturally balances and stabilises itself through connection with others.

Our vagus nerve, mirror neurons, and systems of heart and somatic coherence all work together to attune us to the energy of those around us. When we are in the presence of another person, our body picks up subtle cues—their tone of voice, breathing patterns, facial expressions—and our nervous system responds, either calming or activating in response. From childhood, our nervous system learned patterns of attunement based on our early attachments, which shapes how we respond to relationships today. If our caregivers were calm and responsive, our nervous system learned to feel safe and regulated; if they were inconsistent or dysregulated, we may carry sensitivity to others’ emotional states and unconsciously mirror their tension.

Signs that co-regulation is happening can include shifts in heart rate, changes in breathing, chest tightness or heaviness, fatigue, emotional fluctuations, and even digestive or muscular tension. Spending time with people whose systems are dysregulated can pull on our energy, leaving us drained, short of breath, or emotionally reactive, even if we aren’t consciously aware of it. Polyvagal theory highlights that social engagement is central to nervous system health. We are designed to heal in connection, not isolation. Our nervous system grows, stabilises, and learns safety through interaction, through moments of attunement, empathy, and shared regulation. Being human is inherently relational, and co-regulatory work—whether through friends, family, or community—is a foundational part of maintaining balance and thriving.

Co-regulation is a reminder that true nervous system healing is not something we do alone; it emerges in the exchange, presence, and energy we share with one another.

www.fireflysomatics.com

28/08/2025

🧠 Study shows children exposed to family conflict have brain changes similar to combat veterans.

It literally rewires the child's fear system the same way war does to soldiers.

Children exposed to family violence display the same brain activity patterns as soldiers who’ve experienced combat, according to groundbreaking research from University College London and the Anna Freud Centre.

In the first study of its kind using functional MRI scans, scientists found that maltreated children showed heightened activity in the amygdala and anterior insula—regions linked to detecting threats—when shown angry faces.

These same brain regions light up in combat veterans, suggesting that repeated exposure to violence, even in the home, may rewire the brain’s emotional systems for hyper-vigilance.

While this adaptation may help children detect danger in the short term, it also activates brain circuits associated with anxiety disorders, increasing the risk of long-term mental health issues. Notably, the children studied were not currently diagnosed with any psychiatric conditions, underscoring that brain changes can occur beneath the surface. Researchers hope the findings will prompt earlier interventions and spark the development of treatments that help reverse these effects—or better yet, prevent them. As Professor Peter Fonagy noted, the study should energize efforts to protect children from violence and its lasting imprint on the brain.

Source: McCrory, E., et al. (2011). Maltreated children show same pattern of brain activity as combat soldiers. Current Biology.

26/08/2025

🚨 LEGENDS ARE BACK ON THE PITCH! 🚨

This isn’t just football… it’s a family fun day with a cause 💙

⚽️ Shelbourne Legends including Mark Rutherford and Tony Sheridan vs Tolka Rovers Legends including Mick Deegan

✨ With special guests: Thomas Carty, Willa White, Rory Hearne & Ireland’s own Olivia O’Toole

📍 Frank Cooke Park
🕑 Kick-off: 2pm
❤️ Date: Saturday, 6th September

🎉 What’s in store?
✅ Half-time kids’ match
✅ Raffle with great prizes
✅ Food & refreshments upstairs after the match
✅ Meet & chat with the legends & guests after full-time!

And the best part? 👉 Every cheer, every ticket, every raffle entry supports Feed Our Homeless, with amazing local volunteers helping make it all happen.

Bring your friends, bring the kids, bring your love for football & community. It’s going to be a day to remember 🙌

Tickets can be purchased through eventbrite (link below)

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/shelbourne-legends-v-tolka-rovers-legends-tickets-1621101852279?aff=oddtdtcreator

23/08/2025

LIBIDO TALK 🔥

Did you know your libido is deeply connected to your nervous system?

When the sympathetic nervous system, your “fight or flight” response is dominant, s*xual energy can actually surge. This happens because your body is seeking pleasure as a counterbalance to stress or pain. Both men and women experience this. It is a huge driving force in the modern day dating scene eg tinder “fun”, hook up culture/ one night stands, serial dating, etc.

But libido isn’t just desire based.

In truth it’s about SAFETY.

According to Polyvagal Theory, the vagus nerve plays a key role in regulating states of calm, connection, and trust in your body. When your nervous system is dysregulated or in a “shutdown” state, s*xual arousal and the ability to or**sm can drop, because your body doesn’t feel safe enough to fully release and experience pleasure.

Your nervous system only knows pain and pleasure. When it’s stuck in stress or trauma patterns, it often seeks out pleasure…through s*x, or**sms, or other sources… as a form of self-soothing. Over time, this can create cycles of hypers*xuality, frustration, or disconnection from your own body.

Healing the nervous system through somatic awareness, polyvagal practices, and hormonal balancing allows libido to return in a way that is aligned, grounded, and fully embodied.

When your body feels safe, pleasure can flow naturally, and s*xual energy becomes a source of connection, vitality, and deep satisfaction, not just a stress release.

When the nervous system signals safety, you feel connected to self, and therefore as a byproduct, feel safe in physical intimacy with another. From here, where you are able to fully surrender into your body, true pleasure can happen.

Read blog post in full here ➡️ https://fireflysomatics.com/2025/08/24/libido-the-nervous-system-why-safety-is-the-real-key-to-pleasure/

19/08/2025

At Firefly Somatics™, we honour integrity as the foundation of all transformation and guide people toward true Melf-mastery.

Our approach goes beyond the individual: what we teach is meant to ripple outward, touching your family, your friends, your children, and your partners. We are working to create and anchor a collective shift in awareness.

This is the new way of living… anchoring consciousness around the mind, the body, and the nervous system, cultivating regulation and alignment so that life is lived from a place of fulfillment rather than overstimulation, anxiety, or physical imbalance.

Through this work, we aim to empower people to reclaim their sovereignty, embody resilience, understand self at a level unknown before, and radiate that empowerment into the world around them.

To shine a light like a FIREFLY!

www.fireflysomatics.com

17/08/2025

16/08/2025

CLIENT TESTIMONIAL 💫

From client Sarah Brennan, who has been working with us since July 2024. Initially having an online session with Danielle, and in October 2024, decided to enrol in our 12 month psychosomatic healing programme.

“Over the last few months, my life has changed for the better. My smile has returned, and my love for life has amplified.

When I find something funny, I laugh so hard. A laugh that has been missing for such a long time. When I find something beautiful, I smile and go on and on about it.

I signed up for the 12 month programme and working with the Firefly team has been nothing short of a privilege.

Chronically sick for a decade, my health had completely deteriorated to a point where I could not get out of my bed.

Countless doctors, specialists, consultants, scans.. everything. Ive had it all.

No answers for years, until I started working with Danielle and Coach Amy… I started to see improvements with in a number of weeks. This is not a “quick fix” it takes work, patience, determination and commitment.

It’s an ongoing process and a process I’ll be forever grateful for as I’ve gained so much self-awareness and self-love.

Good days were scarce, but when I got them, I held onto them tightly. Now, “bad days” are a rare occurrence.

“Your health is your wealth.” I think you only truly appreciate the meaning of that sentence when your health is taken from you. I wake up every day with so much gratitude that I can go to work in good form, do a workout and not be bed bound for days after, go dancing with my friends until 2am confidently sober and wake up fresh.

Even having the energy to clean my room.

Noticing the little things around me. The trees, flowers, insects, people being present and kids buying sweets in the shops. Little things. Things I would never be focused on because my thoughts were so fired up all the time and my body in so much pain.

Signing up for Firefly has been the best commitment and biggest act of self-love I have ever made towards myself and for my future.

Currently writing this review on a solo trip to Bulgaria which I never would have dreamed of doing this time two years ago. So incredibly grateful❤️”

www.fireflysomatics.com

15/08/2025

From a neurobiological perspective, boundaries are directly tied to Polyvagal Theory. Your vagus nerve regulates safety, connection, and social engagement. Early caregiver interactions—how emotions were mirrored, attunement or neglect, and reinforcement of your self-worth—shape your attachment system and how your autonomic nervous system responds to others.

When early experiences are inconsistent, neglectful, or traumatic, the nervous system can become dysregulated, leading to hyperarousal (anxious, fawning, people-pleasing behaviors) or shutdown (avoidant, dissociative withdrawal). This often shows up as saying yes when you really mean no, staying quiet to avoid conflict, or prioritising others’ comfort over your own. While it feels like keeping the peace, it is a form of self-abandonment. Over time, unexpressed needs and emotions—anger, frustration, or resentment—can build inside and unconsciously get displaced onto others, even though the true source is anger at oneself.

At Firefly Somatics™, we integrate somatic awareness and neurobiological retraining to help clients restore boundaries at every level—physical, s*xual, emotional, mental, spiritual. We work with the nervous system, strengthening vagal tone so the body can reliably signal safety, regulate emotions, and engage socially without fear. This allows clients to assert needs, honor themselves, and maintain authentic relational connection.

Healthy boundaries are not about pushing others away. Rather, they are the embodied expression of nervous system safety, self-worth, and relational resilience.

www.fireflysomatics.com

11/08/2025

Clients often hide their most painful parts — even from themselves.

But the shadow side doesn’t stay buried for long.

How to Help Your Client Integrate and Heal Their Shadow Parts will show you how to help clients face what they fear most.

Sign up today for 50% off! ➡️ https://www.nicabm.com/program/shadow-side-5/?del=8.11.2025FBPost