In this foundational episode of Tionatam, Chase Thornock shares the story that changed everything—his health, his marriage, his finances, and ultimately the creation of The Shift Five.

From the outside, life looked perfect: a successful career, a young family, financial stability, and physical strength. But internally, Chase’s body was shutting down. After being diagnosed with severe Crohn’s disease, becoming bedridden, dependent on IV nutrition, and nearly dying from sepsis, he was faced with a stark reality:

No one was coming to save him.

What followed was a deep, personal journey into understanding the autonomic nervous system, chronic stress, inflammation, trauma, and the body’s innate ability to heal—when the right conditions are created.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why chronic stress leads to chronic inflammation and autoimmune disease
2. How the autonomic nervous system governs healing, digestion, hormones, immunity, and mental health
3. The difference between fight-or-flight and rest-and-digest, and why so many of us are stuck in survival mode
4. How trauma and subconscious “bookmarks” keep us reliving the past in our bodies
5. Why your nervous system may sabotage change—even when you want it
6. How breathwork and cold exposure retrain safety, resilience, and homeostasis
7. Why cortisol isn’t the enemy—and how learning to release it properly changed everything
8. The science behind why anxiety, depression, autoimmune disease, and relational conflict share a common root

If you’ve ever felt stuck in anxiety, illness, burnout, scarcity, or reactivity—and wondered why willpower isn’t enough—this episode lays the foundation for a completely different way forward.

Healing isn’t about forcing change.

It’s about teaching your body that it’s safe to heal.

1. Join the dojo with a free trial → https://www.theshift5.com/offers/uzXUCznH
2. Follow The Shift 5 on Instagram → @the.shift.5
3. Questions or support → team@theshift5.com