Hello Trauma Brain

Raysa Michelle
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Weekly

A podcast about living with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and what I am doing to heal and get better. This podcast is for anyone who has C-PTSD, thinks they might have it, or has a loved one with this diagnosis.

  1. Oct 22

    EP.084 | Hair Trauma & C-PTSD: When Your Hair Becomes a Trigger

    Content WarningThis episode discusses childhood narcissistic abuse, hair-based control, bullying, and physical abuse involving a hairbrush. Please take care while listening and pause or skip if you need to. Episode OverviewIn this episode, I share how hair-based control, criticism, and abuse shaped my relationship with my natural curls. I talk about reclaiming my hair through a curly cut, bangs, purple curls, and learning to choose what feels like me. In this episodeI reflect on growing up feeling shamed for my curly hair and having it cut or straightened against my wishes.I share how criticism from abusers and bullies affected my confidence and the way I styled my hair.I talk about reclaiming my curls, trying a curly cut with bangs, and embracing purple highlights.I reflect on what feels authentic now, including the complicated feelings I still have about my gray hair.I invite you to consider your own relationship with your hair and what might bring you joy.📖 Chapters00:31 Introduction and episode overview 01:26 Personal hair trauma and its connection to narcissistic abuse 01:58 Cultural influences and childhood experiences with hair 03:15 Healing journey: reclaiming natural hair and joy 04:13 The role of trauma and shame in hair relationships 05:34 Tools and practices for healing hair trauma 09:11 The significance of hair as identity and expression 14:01 Breaking free from abusive conditioning and reclaiming self-love 20:29 The importance of authentic self-expression through hair 25:34 Celebrating natural hair and embracing aging 30:37 Healing invitation: reflecting on your own hair story Episode MentionedEP.081: Rumination OCD with Dr. Michael J. GreenbergCrisis SupportFind a HelplineIn the U.S., call or text 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.Stay Connected✨ Stay connected with Hello Trauma Brain: 🎧 Listen on all platforms → hellotraumabrain.riverside.com 🔗 All links in one place → bio.site/hellotraumabrain ⭐ Subscribe + leave a 5-star review wherever you listen 📱 Follow @hellotraumabrain on social → Instagram | TikTok ▶️ Subscribe on YouTube and hit the bell 💛 Donate via PayPal → paypal.com/paypalme/rmichellerising 📧 Email Raysa → hellotraumabrain@gmail.com

  2. Season 4 Trailer

    Season 4 Trailer

    Season 4 Is Almost HereIn this trailer, I'm announcing Season 4 of Hello Trauma Brain, premiering October 22, 2026. This season, I'm digging into toxic shame, shame that was never mine to carry in the first place, and I'm giving it back to the people it actually belongs to: my abusers. What's Coming This SeasonSeason 4 premieres October 22, 2026This season's theme: releasing toxic shameA mix of solo episodes, conversations with fellow survivors and trauma experts, and illustration episodes using media to show what narcissistic abuse can look like in real lifeNew episodes every other Thursday or as my trauma brain allowsWhile you wait, you can catch up on Seasons 1–3 wherever you listen, and subscribe now so you don't miss the premiereRemember you deserve to healCrisis SupportIf you're struggling, you're not alone. Support is available right now. 🌍 International: findahelpline.com 🇺🇸 US: Call or text 988 Stay Connected✨ Stay connected with Hello Trauma Brain: 🎧 Listen on all platforms → hellotraumabrain.riverside.com 🔗 All links in one place → bio.site/hellotraumabrain ⭐ Subscribe + leave a 5-star review wherever you listen 📱 Follow @hellotraumabrain on social → Instagram | TikTok ▶️ Subscribe on YouTube and hit the bell 💛 Donate via PayPal → paypal.com/paypalme/rmichellerising 📧 Email Raysa → hellotraumabrain@gmail.com

  3. Sep 3

    EP.083 | Learning to Vacation When Rest Was Never Safe | Season Finale

    ⚠️ Content warning: This episode touches on place-based trauma triggers, institutional gaslighting, references to a dangerous situation (no specific details), financial abuse, and OCD/rumination. Please take care of yourself while listening. In this episode, I get real about what happened during my latest vacation. It was three days, a lot of layers, some real joy, and some genuinely hard stuff, and my C-PTSD showed up the whole way through. I talk about learning to actually plan for myself instead of winging it and hoping for the best, what happened when old triggers came up on the road, and how I found my way back to myself after a really rough day two. This is also our Season 3 finale, so I'm looking back on the season and sharing what's coming in Season 4. Chapters 00:30 The Struggles of Taking a Vacation with CPTSD 09:45 Reclaiming Vacationing: A Personal Journey 13:41 Planning for Self-Care: A New Approach to Vacations 17:25 Facing Triggers: A Road Trip Through Memories 24:41 Finding Joy in the Unexpected: Day One of the Trip 24:47 The Challenges of Day Two: A Poorly Organized Event 27:46 Gaslighting and Reflection: The Aftermath of Day Two 30:44 The Aftermath of Burnout and Recovery 32:35 Therapeutic Insights and Validation 34:38 Restoring Faith in Experiences 40:02 Season Three Recap and Lessons Learned 43:45 Looking Ahead to Season Four 43:58 Healing Invitation Resources mentioned: Gregory Alan Isakov's website: gregoryalanisakov.comEpisodes mentioned: EP.071 - Transcend TraumaEP.072 - SurThrivingEP.073 - Screaming BodyEP.074 - CPTSD Q&AEP.078 - Home After AbuseEP.079 - Unlearning StuckEP.081 - Rumination & OCDIf you need support: Find a helpline near you: findahelpline.comUS: call or text 988✨ Stay connected with Hello Trauma Brain: 🎧 Listen on all platforms → hellotraumabrain.riverside.com 🔗 All links in one place → bio.site/hellotraumabrain ⭐ Subscribe + leave a 5-star review wherever you listen 📱 Follow @hellotraumabrain on social → Instagram | TikTok ▶️ Subscribe on YouTube and hit the bell 💛 Donate via PayPal → paypal.com/paypalme/rmichellerising 📧 Email Raysa → hellotraumabrain@gmail.com

  4. Aug 27 ·  Bonus

    Bonus: I Was a Guest on The Chaos to Connection Podcast

    Episode Overview This bonus episode is a quick update from me: I was recently a guest on The Chaos to Connection Podcast with Diane Sorensen, where we talked about C-PTSD, estrangement, boundaries, and inner child reparenting. I'm sharing a few reflections on what came up for me after listening back, plus a preview of what's ahead for Hello Trauma Brain. In This Episode I announce my guest appearance on The Chaos to Connection Podcast (episode 299) with host Diane SorensenWe talked about C-PTSD, estrangement, boundaries, and inner child reparentingI reflect on what I wished I'd mentioned about C-PTSD, including its roots in relational traumaA preview: Diane Sorensen will be a guest on Hello Trauma Brain during Season 4What's next for HTB: the Season 3 finale is coming soon, with Season 4 launching in September 2026 Resources Mentioned 299. The Patterns That Once Protected You: Understanding Complex Trauma with Raysa (my guest appearance on The Chaos to Connection Podcast, hosted by Diane Sorensen) Stay Connected ✨ Stay connected with Hello Trauma Brain: 🎧 Listen on all platforms → hellotraumabrain.riverside.com 🔗 All links in one place → bio.site/hellotraumabrain ⭐ Subscribe + leave a 5-star review wherever you listen 📱 Follow @hellotraumabrain on social → Instagram | TikTok ▶️ Subscribe on YouTube and hit the bell 💛 Donate via PayPal → paypal.com/paypalme/rmichellerising 📧 Email Raysa → hellotraumabrain@gmail.com

  5. Jun 4

    EP.082 | The Demon Who Fed on Toxic Shame: A C-PTSD Lens on K-Pop Demon Hunters

    ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode mentions trauma and references to suicidal ideation. Please take care of yourself. Heads up: some audio distortion + no YouTube this time (copyright claim). Full video on Spotify. 💛 Have you seen K-Pop Demon Hunters? This award-winning animated film is stunning, but what stopped me cold was how accurately it portrays toxic shame: where it comes from, how it's used to control us, and how we begin to heal. In this episode, I break down key scenes through a C-PTSD lens, exploring the connection between toxic shame, the inner critic, narcissistic abuse, and what it looks like to reclaim your voice. ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Intro 08:52 Shame & Its Origins 14:50 K-Pop Clip Analysis Begins 17:37 Shame Steals Rest & Joy 19:21 C-PTSD Thieves of Joy 19:48 The Burden of Toxic Shame 22:12 Rumi's Shame 23:50 Voice & Value 26:40 Shame as Control 29:04 Hope vs. Shame 30:45 Healing Through Compassion 32:35 Facing the Past 35:00 Acceptance & Vulnerability 37:09 Fear of Rejection 39:29 The Inner Critic 43:16 Gray vs. Dark Gray Rocking 46:50 Empowerment Through Music 49:52 Healing from Shame 56:37 Healing Invitation 📚 Resources mentioned: 🎬 K-Pop Demon Hunters (watch on Netflix)📖 Healing the Shame That Binds You by John Bradshaw🌐 Brené Brown shame vs. guilt research📖 Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker🌐 Dr. Ramani Durvasula narcissistic abuse expert📲 RRP Therapists on Instagram📺 Ruri Ohama ADHD Notion system (YouTube)🆘 If you or someone you know is struggling: 🌍 Worldwide crisis support: findahelpline.com 🇺🇸 US only — call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) ✨ Stay connected with Hello Trauma Brain: 🎧 Listen on all platforms → hellotraumabrain.riverside.com 🔗 All links in one place → bio.site/hellotraumabrain ⭐ Subscribe + leave a 5-star review wherever you listen 📱 Follow @hellotraumabrain on social → Instagram | TikTok ▶️ Subscribe on YouTube and hit the bell 💛 Donate via PayPal → paypal.com/paypalme/rmichellerising 📧 Email Raysa → hellotraumabrain@gmail.com

  6. May 14

    EP.081 | Rumination, Trauma & OCD: Inside Rumination-Focused ERP with Dr. Michael J. Greenberg

    In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Michael J. Greenberg, licensed clinical psychologist and the director of OCD Associates, to talk about something I've lived with since childhood but only recently learned has a name: rumination OCD. For a long time, I thought rumination was something that happened to me, a side effect of trauma. But Michael's work helped me see that rumination is actually something we do, and if it's something we do, it's something we can stop. We talk about what rumination is, how it differs from intrusive thoughts, the six engagement patterns that keep rumination going, and how attachment and complex trauma can intensify OCD loops. This conversation opened my eyes to how treating OCD requires different tools than treating C-PTSD, and I hope it offers you the same clarity it gave me. Chapters: 10:49 Conversation with Dr. Greenberg begins 13:02 Understanding Rumination in OCD 14:11 The Control of Rumination 17:08 The Complexity of Stopping Rumination 19:56 The Role of Core Fears in OCD 35:49 Core Fears and Emotional Conflicts 37:37 The Role of Attachment in OCD 52:06 Dependency and Control in Treatment 58:11 Inner Child Work and Its Challenges 01:02:48 Understanding Rumination and Compulsions 01:04:13 The Six Types of Rumination 01:07:57 Navigating Emotional Flashbacks and Feelings 01:24:22 Healing Invitation Connect with Dr. Michael J. Greenberg: WebsiteEmail: michael@drmichaeljgreenberg.com Resources Mentioned: Dr. Elna YadinDavid Malan’s book Individual Psychotherapy and the Science of PsychodynamicsDr. Michael Alcée’s Website ✨ Stay connected with Hello Trauma Brain: 🎧 Listen on all platforms → hellotraumabrain.riverside.com 🔗 All links in one place → bio.site/hellotraumabrain ⭐ Subscribe + leave a 5-star review wherever you listen 📱 Follow @hellotraumabrain on social ▶️ Subscribe on YouTube and hit the bell 💛 Donate via PayPal → paypal.com/paypalme/rmichellerising 📧 Email Raysa → hellotraumabrain@gmail.com

  7. Apr 30

    EP.080 | Breaking the Silence: Emotional Incest & Sexual Assault | SAAM

    April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and in this episode I share my personal experiences as a survivor of sexual abuse and emotional incest. For a long time, I didn't have names for what happened to me. I just knew something felt wrong. Chapters00:00 Sexual Abuse Awareness Month05:20 Trauma Anniversaries09:40 Emotional Incest25:27 Consent and Boundaries33:21 Spectrum of Sexual Abuse36:13 Grooming and Why Survivors Stay Silent40:44 Resources and HealingResourcesRAINN Hotline — 1-800-656-HOPECrisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741SNAPPsychology Today Therapist FinderYWCA (not YMCA 😅)Incest Aware AllianceHealing and C-PTSD FoundationSilently Seduced — Kenneth AdamsAdult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents — Lindsay C. GibsonThe Emotional Incest Syndrome — Patricia LoveFawning — Dr. Ingrid ClaytonPerry Power on InstagramBrad Shore on YouTubeEP.064 with Dr. Ingrid ClaytonRAYE — Life BoatRedd & The Paper Flowers✨ Stay connected: 📱 Instagram 🌐 hellotraumabrain.riverside.com 🌐 All platforms via Bio Site (quick links to every player 🙂) 💛 Donate via PayPal 📧 hellotraumabrain@gmail.com

  8. Apr 9

    EP.079 | Unlearning What Keeps You Stuck | Learned Distress with Sara Avery

    Welcome to Hello Trauma Brain, a podcast where I share my personal journey of living with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), and the tools and practices I'm using to heal, recover, and grow. 🎙️ In this episode, Sara Avery, executive director of the Learned Distress Removal Process, joins me to discuss why healing from complex trauma can feel so difficult, even when we're doing all the "right" things. Sara Avery shares her 25-year journey helping people heal from complex trauma through the Learned Distress Removal Process Sara explains what Learned Distress is, how it gets created during childhood, and why many survivors keep ending up in the same kinds of relationships and situations. We explore the six Learned Distress types (Idealist, Perfectionist, Caregiver, Optimist, Defeatist, and Dictator) and what core well-being looks like when it's uncovered for each type. Sara shares the story behind the development of the Learned Distress Removal Process and her collaboration with founder Mimi Herrmann. Our conversation touches on the connection between emotional and physical health, the role of sleep in healing, how to begin accessing your core well-being, and so much more. This episode's healing invitation encourages you to reflect on which Learned Distress patterns resonated with you and notice what comes up as you sit with this new language Connect with Today's Guest, Sara Avery Learned Distress Removal Process website: https://www.LearnedDistress.com Free Learned Distress Type Report: https://LearnedDistress.com/SQ/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saraavery_ldr_process/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LearnedDistress YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LearnedDistress TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sara.avery?lang=en 📖 Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Healing from Trauma 09:34 The Connection Between Emotional and Physical Health 12:18 The Role of Sleep in Healing 15:31 The Process of Change in Trauma Recovery 18:22 Understanding Learned Distress 21:20 Resistance to Change in Trauma Work 24:24 Core Well-Being vs. Learned Distress 27:21 The Impact of Early Experiences on Trauma 29:50 Survival Mechanisms and Trauma Responses 36:42 Understanding Learned Distress 38:13 Types of Learned Distress 46:23 The Impact of Relationships on Recovery 57:46 The Journey to Core Well-Being 01:09:35 - Healing Invitation ✨ Stay connected with Hello Trauma Brain: 📱 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellotraumabrain/?utm_source=chatgpt.com 🎧 Subscribe on your favorite platform: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hello-trauma-brain/id1701533871?utm_source=chatgpt.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HelloTraumaBrain?utm_source=chatgpt.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2SmkhdauRaPVQVqfLH3vs7?utm_source=chatgpt.com Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/30355338-f787-4305-b06b-36c4beec07e0/hello-trauma-brain?utm_source=chatgpt.com 💛 If the podcast has been meaningful to you and you'd like to support it, you can make a donation (any amount is so appreciated!) here: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/rmichellerising?utm_source=chatgpt.com. Thank you for helping me keep this space going. 🔗 More links: 🌐 Official Bio Site: https://bio.site/hellotraumabrain?utm_source=chatgpt.com (quick links to all platforms 🙂) 🌐 Official Website: https://www.raysamichelle.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com (currently under construction) 📧 You can reach me at: hellotraumabrain@gmail.com Disclaimer: I'm not a licensed psychologist or mental health professional. This podcast is simply me sharing my own journey. It's not meant to replace professional care. If you think you might have Complex PTSD or any mental health condition, please reach out to a qualified provider.

    EP.079 | Unlearning What Keeps You Stuck | Learned Distress with Sara Avery
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About

A podcast about living with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and what I am doing to heal and get better. This podcast is for anyone who has C-PTSD, thinks they might have it, or has a loved one with this diagnosis.

Information

  • Creator
    Raysa Michelle
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    90
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Raysa Michelle
  • Show Website
    Hello Trauma Brain

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