CPTSD: Breaking Free from Guilt and Shame - Real Tools That Work

In this episode, we tackle guilt and shame - the twin monsters that follow trauma survivors like emotional shadows. We explore how these feelings aren't just emotions but survival strategies your brain developed to keep you safe in unsafe situations. Through real listener stories and neuroscience research, we'll understand why shame feels so overwhelming and discover practical tools you can use right now to break free from patterns that once protected you but now suffocate you. This isn't about toxic positivity - it's about becoming whole, not perfect.Key TakeawaysGuilt and shame in CPTSD are survival mechanisms that have outlived their usefulnessShame loses power when we break silence and talk about it with safe peopleSelf-compassion literally rewires your brain and increases motivation, not decreases itHealing means coexisting with shame without being controlled by itYou're not broken - you're incredibly good at surviving difficult circumstancesWhat You'll DiscoverHow childhood trauma creates lasting physiological changes that can be reversedThe neuroscience behind why shame feels like a four-year-old's survival responseReal tools like the shame spiral circuit breaker and good enough practiceWhy perfectionism is shame's favorite weapon and how to disarm itHow to build a shame emergency kit for those 3 AM crisis momentsResources MentionedDr. Brené Brown's research on shame resilience and vulnerabilityDr. Pete Walker's work on emotional flashbacks and Complex PTSDDr. Dan Siegel's research on neuroplasticity and the developing brainKristin Neff's studies on self-compassion and cortisol reductionDr. Gabor Maté's work on trauma, addiction, and toxic shameThe ACE Study (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and Dr. Nadine Burke Harris's researchDr. Janina Fisher's work on structural dissociation and trauma partsNext Episode Preview Next week we'll explore using affirmations to heal trauma - not toxic positivity, but trauma-informed ways to rewire automatic negative thoughts. We'll discover how to work with your trauma brain instead of against it.📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at [email protected].💛 Join Our Supporters Club 💛 Go ad-free and help keep these vital conversations alive—Click Here

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