Healing Out Loud

In this episode of Healing Out Loud , I talk about something that used to really worry me, my memory. I used to think my bad memory meant something was wrong with me. Through CPTSD and therapy, I learned it’s often a nervous system doing its best to survive, not a broken brain. This episode explores how trauma can affect memory, attention, and presence, not as a character flaw, but as a nervous sy...

In this episode of Healing Out Loud , I talk about CPTSD, emotional ambiguity, and that strange in-between space where you look fine on the outside… but internally everything feels a bit unlabelled, noisy, and hard to pin down. We get into the “I’m Fine. I Think. Maybe. Hold On.” moments, when your nervous system is scanning for danger, your brain has 47 tabs open, and you’re trying to function wh...

Being “low maintenance” can sound like a compliment. Easygoing. Chill. No drama. But for many with CPTSD, it isn’t a personality trait, it’s a survival strategy. In this episode of Healing Out Loud , Jack explores how constantly saying “I’m fine” or “you pick” can quietly turn into self-abandonment, and how the fawn response shapes the way we show up in relationships. Because real connection doesn...

Some days you feel nothing. Other days it all hits at once, and neither feels “right.” In this episode of Healing Out Loud , Jack talks about the messy, unpredictable nature of healing, especially when you’re living with CPTSD. The emotional whiplash, the quiet numbness, the sudden overwhelm… it’s all part of the process, even when it makes no sense. This isn’t about fixing it or getting it “right...

We all know healing isn't east. It’s messy, confusing, and occasionally makes you wonder, “…who the hell am I?” In this episode, I dive into the weird, awkward, and surprisingly familiar shifts that happen when you start untangling trauma from your personality. Expect laughs, honesty, and a little “CPTSD shitathon” survival tips along the way. I’m Jack, I have CPTSD, and I’m figuring out what...

In this episode of Healing Out Loud , Jack dives into why getting an official diagnosis of Complex PTSD can be a game-changer for your healing journey. With symptoms that often overlap with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and more, CPTSD can be misdiagnosed, or worse, misunderstood. Jack explains why the “C” matters, how naming your trauma can shift shame into understanding, and why the right diagnosis...

Have you ever stopped mid-thought and asked, "Am I overreacting?" In this episode, Jack tackles a listener's question that hits at the core of the healing journey: the tendency to gaslight our own trauma because it doesn't feel "serious enough" compared to others. In this episode, we discuss: Why the "Body Receipt" matters more than a police report. How "...

Healing isn’t just about escaping the storm, it’s about learning how to live in the quiet that comes after. In this episode, Jack explores the disorienting reality of "Stage 2" recovery. What happens when the smoke finally clears, the sirens stop, and you're standing in a life you don't know how to lead? We’re dismantling the idea that purpose is a grand mission you "earn&qu...

Why does sleep feel like a cruel joke when you’re living with CPTSD? In this episode of Healing Out Loud , Jack dives into the 2 a.m. ceiling-staring marathons your nervous system insists are “necessary.” When you're stuck in trauma mode, your body doesn’t power down at bedtime; it stays on guard, running a 24-hour security drill while you’re just trying to rest. If you’ve ever felt exhausted...

Have you ever caught yourself saying, “I notice that activated my anxious attachment,” when what you really meant was, “That hurt my feelings”? In this episode of Healing Out Loud , I dive into the performance trap of recovery, how the language of therapy can quietly become a new kind of armor. We’ll talk about why clarity feels like power when you grew up in chaos, how healing can slide into iden...

Healing isn’t linear, and neither is the realization that you have CPTSD. For many of us, trauma wasn't one "big bang" event, it was the water we were swimming in. In this episode, Jack breaks down the "quiet devastation" of realizing your foundation was tilted from day one. We’re moving past the labels and looking at the context : from the exhaustion of "living in the...

Toxic shame is more than just a feeling; for those with CPTSD , it is a survival strategy. In this episode of Healing Out Loud , Jack explores why we experience "collapse" instead of accountability, how our inner critic mimics our own voice to keep us safe, and why trauma recovery often makes shame panic before it settles. We often think of shame as a moral verdict, proof that we are fundamentally...

In this episode of Healing Out Loud , I dive into the messy, complicated work of reclaiming my emotions after surviving sexual abuse. I talk about the rules I was taught as a kid, how to suppress, hide, and edit my feelings, and the ongoing tension that healing creates. I share how therapy helped me start noticing and giving space to the parts of me I’d long been trained to hide, and why, even now...

The holidays can be beautiful, and brutal. In this episode, Jack talks about navigating the season with CPTSD, where twinkly lights meet old triggers and quiet grief. It’s a reminder that you can’t do the holidays wrong when you’re doing them honestly, and that protecting your peace is its own kind of joy.

The latest Jeffrey Epstein documents are out, and for survivors of child sexual abuse, the impact can be devastating. I’m Jack, from Healing Out Loud , and today we’re unpacking the emotional shockwaves these files send through survivors, including me. This episode isn’t about politics or headlines, it’s about trauma, survival, and the ways systems can fail us. I share grounding tools, reflections...

In this episode of Healing Out Loud , Jack dives into one of the toughest, most empowering parts of healing: accountability. Living with CPTSD can make life messy, from intrusive thoughts and flashbacks to impulsive decisions and deep shame. But accountability isn’t about blame or perfection; it’s about taking ownership of how you respond, the choices you make, and how you show up for yourself and...

In this bite-sized episode of Healing Out Loud , Jack dives into the painful truth about growth: not everyone will see or accept the changes you’ve made. After a blog post struck a chord with listeners, he explores the quiet ache of realizing that healing isn’t about proving your worth to others, it’s about learning to honor your own journey, even when those who mattered most may never recognize i...

Sometimes the hardest part of healing is stepping away from the people who should have been your safe space. In this episode of Healing Out Loud , Jack talks about why creating distance from family can be necessary for your survival and growth, how to set boundaries without guilt, and why protecting your peace is not only allowed, it’s brave. If you’ve ever felt torn between love and self-preserva...

Join Jack, a CPTSD survivor, as he dives into the messy, human, and often taboo sides of sexuality after trauma. In this episode, Jack busts common myths about kink, explores how trauma shapes desire, and shows why reclaiming your body and pleasure is an act of healing, not shame. Expect warmth, honesty, a touch of humor, and a few moments that might make you blush.

In this episode of Healing Out Loud , Jack opens up about one of the hardest parts of surviving childhood sexual abuse , learning to live inside the body that remembers it all. From years of quiet self-disgust to slowly rebuilding trust with his own reflection, Jack shares what it’s like to grieve a body that never got to just be a body, and how therapy, truth, and time helped him see it not as th...

Healing from CPTSD and trauma can feel isolating, like you’re carrying the weight of the world alone. In this episode of Healing Out Loud , I talk about why finding a community that truly understands matters more than you might realize. I talk about the people who’ve shown up for me, how connection can help us heal, and why giving support is just as powerful as receiving it. If you’ve ever felt al...

Forget the buzzwords and Instagram aesthetics, this episode dives into practical, everyday ways to show up for yourself. Jack breaks down what reparenting really means, why it feels awkward, and how small, consistent acts of care can slowly rewire your nervous system to believe, “I’m safe now. I matter.” Perfect for anyone ready to take the small steps toward healing and self-compassion.

In this episode of Healing Out Loud , I dive into the messy, terrifying, and surprisingly freeing process of learning who I really am beneath the layers of trauma and CPTSD. We talk about the in-between space where old survival patterns are loosening, the small shifts that signal progress, and why it’s okay not to have all the answers. If you’ve ever felt disoriented in your healing journey, or wo...

Ever been told to “just get over it” or “think positive” when dealing with trauma? In this episode of Healing Out Loud, Jack, who has CPTSD, breaks down the worst advice he’s ever received about trauma, and why these clichés are unhelpful, harmful, and sometimes downright ridiculous. Through humor, personal stories, and honest reflection, Jack explores what actually supports healing and self-compa...

Grief isn’t just about losing someone, it shows up in many forms for people with CPTSD: lost childhoods, lost trust, lost safety, and even lost versions of ourselves. In this episode, I explore how grief quietly shapes our healing journey, why it’s so easy to overlook, and how acknowledging it can actually help us move forward. #CPTSD #HealingOutLoud #Grief #TraumaRecovery #MentalHealth