Why Women Need to Feel Safe to Be Healthy
Mascari, Brooke - February 20th, 2025
Imagine trying to grow a thriving garden in rocky, unstable soil. No matter how much water or sunlight it gets, the plants struggle to take root. This analogy is a picture that defines women’s health in many ways — without a foundation of safety, the body cannot flourish. Feeling physically and emotionally secure is not just comforting; it is essential for achieving homeostasis for women — the body’s optimal state of balance and well-being. In a world that constantly demands more from women, creating a sense of safety is not a luxury to be overlooked, but a biological necessity that we must learn to bring awareness to.
The Science Behind Safety and Homeostasis
Homeostasis is the body's ability to maintain stable internal conditions despite external changes. This balance is essential for regulating hormones, digestion, immune function, and overall well-being. When a woman feels unsafe—whether due to stress, trauma, an unhealthy environment, or emotional distress—her body shifts into a state of survival rather than balance.
The Stress Response and Its Impact on Women
When a woman perceives a threat, whether real or perceived, her body activates the sympathetic nervous system, triggering the fight-or-flight response. This response releases stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which can be helpful in short bursts but detrimental when chronic; lasting weeks, months, and even years. Unfortunately, many women have been living in these chronic stress conditions for years, and often normalizing it. When this level of stress is on the body, the body can only endure for so long before imbalances begin to emerge.
Chronic stress and high levels of cortisol over time begin to look like:
Hormonal imbalances (e.g., estrogen dominance, progesterone depletion, thyroid dysfunction, Hashimotos)
Gut health issues, including bloating, food sensitivities, irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut, and autoimmune diseases
Weakened immune function, making the body more prone to infections and inflammation
Increased anxiety, depression, mental exhaustion, and lessened mental resiliency
Disruptions in sleep, which further perpetuate stress and imbalance
For a woman to achieve homeostasis, her body needs to feel safe—both externally in her environment and internally within her emotions and thoughts.
The Role of a Safe Environment in Women’s Health
1. Emotional Safety for Hormonal Balance
Women are deeply affected by their emotional environment. Emotional safety—having supportive relationships, being able to express emotions without judgment, and feeling seen and heard—is crucial for hormonal regulation. Studies show that emotional security lowers cortisol levels and enhances the production of oxytocin, the “bonding hormone,” which supports emotional resilience and overall well-being.
2. Physical Safety for Nervous System Regulation
A physically safe environment, free from harm or excessive stressors, allows a woman’s nervous system to remain in a parasympathetic state—commonly known as “rest and digest.” This is essential for proper digestion, reproductive health, and healing. Chronic exposure to unsafe or high-stress environments keeps the nervous system on high alert, disrupting homeostasis and leading to long-term health challenges.
3. Safe Nutrition and Nourishment
Feeling safe also extends to the food women consume. Many women struggle with stress-related digestive issues, making it difficult to absorb nutrients effectively. Creating a safe, mindful eating environment—free from distractions, stress, and negative self-talk—allows the body to properly digest and assimilate nutrients, supporting gut health and overall vitality.
4. Mental and Emotional Detox for Inner Safety
Incorporating practices such as meditation, breathwork, and journaling can help women release past trauma, rewire stress responses, and cultivate inner safety. These practices allow the body to shift from a constant state of survival to one of relaxation and restoration, essential for long-term health and hormonal harmony!
How to Cultivate a Safe Space for Optimal Health
Create Supportive Relationships: Surround yourself with people who uplift, respect, and honor your emotions.
Prioritize Rest and Relaxation: Incorporate gentle movement, breathwork, and quality sleep into your daily routine.
Set Boundaries: Protect your energy by saying no to situations or relationships that cause distress and make you feel unsafe (feeling unsafe doesn’t just mean your physical safety; it also encompasses your mental and emotional safety).
Engage in Self-Care Rituals: Nourish yourself with grounding foods, self-compassion, mindful practices, or any healing routine that brings you joy and peace. Perhaps you love reading, art, being creative, baking, hiking, or swimming. Get curious and explore different activities that regulate you and allow your nervous system to be at peace! And don’t forget to romanticize your life; enjoy your pretty latte, make yourself that Epsom salt bath, light a good candle to make even a normal moment feel special, treat yourself to a healthy delicious meal, and buy yourself a massage. Find what helps you feel wonderful and see about incorporating that into your life more often!
Heal Emotional Wounds: Seek therapy, coaching, or self-reflection techniques to process past trauma and build inner safety.
A woman’s ability to thrive is deeply connected to her sense of safety. When she feels secure in her body, environment, and emotions, she can truly achieve homeostasis, allowing her hormones, nervous system, and overall health to function optimally. By prioritizing safety—both externally and internally—women can reclaim their health, vitality, and power, living in alignment with their natural balance and well-being!