Do This to Cut Cortisol by 43%, Relieve PTSD, & Rewire Your Nervous System - With Jessica Ortner
The Model Health ShowShow Notes
Most people still believe that when stress hits, you should just “think positive” and push through—but your biology doesn’t work that way. When your brain’s alarm system gets triggered, your rational thinking literally goes offline. In this episode, we’re breaking down a powerful, science-backed way to work with your nervous system—not against it—to reduce stress, lower cortisol, and regain control of your mind and body.
Our guest, Jessica Ortner, is a New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of The Tapping Solution, a global movement that’s helped millions of people reduce anxiety and trauma using Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). Her work is backed by hundreds of peer-reviewed studies and is now being researched at institutions like Yale, Harvard, and Columbia. Jessica brings both personal experience and cutting-edge science to help us understand how to truly rewire our stress response.
In this conversation, you’re going to discover how tapping can reduce cortisol levels by up to 43%, help resolve PTSD symptoms, and transform the way your brain responds to stress triggers. We’re diving into the neuroscience behind anxiety, how your body stores trauma, and why you can’t think your way out of stress—but you can retrain your nervous system. Plus, you’ll learn a simple, practical technique you can use anytime to create calm on demand.
In this episode you'll discover:
Introduction + Why you can’t think your way out of stress (00:00)
The tapping method & 43% cortisol reduction explained (01:23)
Meet Jessica Ortner + what EFT tapping is (02:02)
How tapping calms the nervous system (science breakdown) (03:21)
Jessica’s anxiety story & discovering tapping (05:31)
Why chronic stress is so damaging today (09:08)
The 43% cortisol study (how tapping beats other methods) (10:05)
PTSD study: 90% symptom remission (game-changing results) (13:31)
Real-life PTSD story + first responders application (17:00)
“Your body’s electrical system” (trauma + stress explained) (19:32)
Memory reconsolidation: how tapping rewires the brain (22:30)
The “familiarity trap” + why anxiety patterns repeat (28:06)
Fear of flying story + real-world tapping results (31:38)
Step-by-step tapping tutorial (guided demo) (35:25)
Tapping for physical pain + healing stories (45:24)
Brain scan study: tapping reduces cravings & rewires responses (51:17)
Final insights + how tapping can transform your life (58:02)
Items mentioned in this episode include:
Grab your copy of Rewired and learn how to rewire your brain, calm your nervous system, and break free from stress-driven patterns: Rewired - The Breakthrough Tapping Method
Paleovalley.com/model – Real, nutrient-dense foods made with integrity to support your health and energy. Get 15% off with code MODEL.
Organifi.com/model – High-quality superfood blends designed to simplify your nutrition and support whole-body wellness. Get 20% off + free shipping with code MODEL
Connect with Jessica Ortner Website || Instagram || Facebook
We’re celebrating 1,000 episodes of The Model Health Show— Join us for a special live experience with unforgettable moments and guest appearances!! Save your Spot and be part of the celebration at: Themodelhealthshow.com/livestream
Be sure you are subscribed to this podcast to automatically receive your episodes:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Soundcloud
Pandora
YouTube
This episode of The Model Health Show is brought to you by Paleovalley and Organifi.
Paleovalley Essential C FormulaMost vitamin C supplements are derived from genetically modified corn and synthetic compounds—but Paleovalley uses real, organic superfoods like camu camu, amla berry, and acerola cherry. Head to paleovalley.com/model to get 15% off your order.
Organifi makes it simple to fuel your body with high-quality, delicious nutrition—without the guesswork. Head to Organifi.com/model and use the code MODEL to get 20% off your order.
More from The Model Health Show
No matter who you are, at some point you’re going to be faced with discomfort and difficulties. But what separates the great from the average is their ability to build resilience and greatness in the face of adversity. On today’s show, you’re going to learn exactly how to turn adversity into advantage.
Science can tell us a lot about how the human mind and body function – but still, there is a lot that we don’t understand yet. Luckily, scientists are finding new ways to study human consciousness and capacity. On today’s show, we’re diving into the incredible potential of the human mind.
For all of modern history, humans have tried to uncover the perfect diet for optimal health. And today, there are a lot of conflicting opinions on what makes a healthy diet, from keto to vegan and everything in between. Today’s guest is here to cut through the noise and help you optimize your diet with objective, science-based principles.
Your health is a culmination of your regular habits, including your financial habits. Financial stress has been known to have destructive effects on both physical and mental health. And today’s guest is here to show you how to take control of your finances, create freedom, and improve your health with simple mindset shifts.
If you want to perform at a high level in any sport, it starts with being able to move your body proficiently. Today, you’re going to learn the training principles that the best coaches in the world use to train elite athletes – and how everyday athletes can use those principles to move better.