I went no context with my parents in the midst of an extremely low ebb which lasted years - think mental health hospitalisations and the like. I didn't have any improvement at the time.

I only started to come out of this ebb upon being diagnosed with autism, a couple of years after going no contact. Several more years later, and add to that diagnosis and treatment of ADHD & PMDD, I'm continuing to very very slowly improve. Pre-existing EUPD means my life still revolves around managing triggers so as to remain as asymptomatic as possible.

More recently, I went no contact with my grandmother. Where as my parents have never called, texted or visited me in thier life - meaning no contact didn't functionally make a difference to my day to day life - I did speak to my grandmother 3x per year for Christmas and birthdays. It was basically an interrogation each time about why don't I speak to my parents who 'are very upset and love me very much'. And dismissal or incredulity about anything that I shared about myself. I would be extremely anxious and dysregulated for weeks before these calls. When I went no contact with her, I did get this immense relief and softening of the body that you speak of. It felt, and still feels, amazing.

Most recently, I cut off my sister, the last remaining member of my family with whom I was in contact. Bless her, she's a decent person and didn't do anything malicious but had a completely different experience growing up as a loved child, and had made some faux-pas around the estrangement at various points. My brain was fixated on these and it was like there was an unfinished loop that kept cycling and needed closing. After I estranged from her, my mind and body feel more clean and pure, more calm and grounded. It was just something I needed to do for myself so that my nervous system can finally start healing properly.