Solo Episode: Internal Security Vs. External Safety
Disclaimer
This podcast is not medical advice. The conversations shared here reflect lived experiences and personal perspectives.
Episode Summary:
In this solo episode of Walking the Genetic Line, therapist and host Sara Champie invites listeners to explore a subtle but powerful distinction: the difference between external safety and internal security. Through a trauma-informed lens, Sara reflects on how our nervous systems constantly scan for safety—and how our earliest relationships shape the way we respond to uncertainty and risk throughout life.
Drawing from Polyvagal Theory, interpersonal neurobiology, and her own clinical practice, Sara offers an honest look at what it means to live in an unpredictable world—especially when faced with hereditary cancer risk. She reminds us that while we can’t guarantee safety, we can cultivate security: a grounded, loving relationship with ourselves that helps us meet life’s unknowns with compassion and trust.
This episode is a guided reflection for anyone learning to hold both helplessness and agency, fear and courage, loss and love—all at once.
Key Themes:
The difference between external safety and internal security
How early attachment shapes our felt sense of safety
Polyvagal Theory and the body’s constant search for cues of safety
Reframing helplessness as an entry point to personal agency
Building internal trust through compassion and self-connection
What “healing” really means when safety can’t be guaranteed
Reflection Invitation:
As you listen, take a moment to notice where you feel helpless—and where, alongside that helplessness, you might also find a small act of agency or self-kindness. Healing begins not in control, but in relationship—with ourselves.
Connect & Resources:
If this episode resonates, subscribe and share it with someone navigating their own genetic risk.
You can connect with Sara on Instagram or TikTok @facetherisktogether or visit sarahchampieLCSW.com to explore 1:1 or group support.
Download the free guide: “10 Questions to Ask Yourself After a Genetic Mutation Diagnosis.”