About the Panda (Corey Jackson)
As a first responder, I was involved in a hostage situation that ended with me having to take a life at extremely close range. In that moment, training took over and I survived… but what I didn’t realize was that my nervous system didn’t survive the same way my body did.
From the outside, I looked functional. I was cleared to go back to work. I was told I was okay. But internally, everything was shattered. My body stayed stuck in survival mode. Sleep disappeared. Peace disappeared. I felt disconnected from my family, disconnected from myself, and honestly… disconnected from life.
I went down a very dark road trying to numb the pain. I was prescribed multiple mental health medications. While they were intended to help, for me they created deeper dissociation. I stopped feeling the bad… but I also stopped feeling the good. I couldn’t fully feel joy. I couldn’t fully feel love. I felt like I was watching my own life from the outside.
Then someone introduced me to something that sounded almost too simple to matter… breathwork.
What I learned is trauma doesn’t just live in our memories. It lives in our nervous system. It lives in our bodies. Breathwork helped me slowly, safely return to my body. It helped me release emotions I didn’t even realize I was holding. It helped my nervous system learn that I was no longer in danger.
And something unexpected happened…
I started to feel again.
I could feel my daughters hugging me. I could feel connection with my wife. I could feel peace. I could feel purpose. I could feel love.
For me, breath became more than a tool. It became spiritual. Scripture tells us that God breathed life into man. Breath is life. Breath is connection. Breath is presence.
I truly believe God used breath to bring me back from a place where I was alive… but not living.
Today, I stand here not just as a survivor of trauma, but as someone who helps others reconnect with themselves, regulate their nervous systems, and rediscover hope.
If there’s one thing I want people to take away, it’s this:
Healing is possible. Even when your mind feels broken… your body still holds the roadmap back to peace.
And I give all glory to Jesus for guiding me back to life.
Certifications
Corey Jackson
SomatIQ Breathwork™ Practitioner
An immersive, experiential practice designed to create confidence and connection through our breath. Accredited by Arizona State University.
Peer Support
Corey Jackson has received peer support training focused on assisting law enforcement officers and military personnel navigating critical incident stress, trauma exposure, and operational burnout. Through both formal training and lived experience, Corey has provided direct peer support to over 100 law enforcement and military members. His approach combines trust-based conversation, trauma-informed awareness, and somatic regulation tools to help first responders feel seen, grounded, and supported during some of the most challenging seasons of their careers.
BA Criminology
Corey Jackson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, providing him with a strong academic foundation in the criminal justice system, behavioral science, and the sociological factors that influence crime and public safety. His education complements his real-world experience in law enforcement, allowing him to approach public safety, trauma, and community relations with both analytical understanding and practical insight. Corey integrates this academic background into his work supporting first responders, advocating for mental health awareness, and promoting progressive, human-centered approaches to officer wellness and community healing.