CPTSD: Making Sense of It

Gregory
  • 4.3 (22)
  • Mental Health
  • Semiweekly Series

This show is for adults living with complex PTSD who need trauma-framed, 8–12 minute explainers and micro-tools they can use between therapy sessions—not generic wellness content. We own the lexicon of complex trauma, CPTSD, flashbacks, dissociation, fawn response, hypervigilance, and trauma boundaries. Every title leads with CPTSD or trauma context. We never publish bare "grounding," "breathing," or "healing journey" episodes that compete with `anxiety` or `grief`; we never promise cures, diagnose listeners, or replace licensed trauma therapy. --- Topics include: CPTSD: Let's Make Sense of This Shit. Audio for this show is produced with AI assistance. Episodes are researched, scripted, and reviewed for accuracy before release. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/cptsd-making-sense-of-it--6331440/support.

  1. Episode 129

    Understanding CPTSD: Rewrite Your Trauma Story

    In this episode, we explore how to transform your personal narrative by rewriting the trauma story that has defined you. Discover how to shift from victimhood to empowerment, find new meaning in your past experiences, and reclaim your identity. This episode offers practical steps to reframe your history and unlock your inner strength. What You'll Learn: • How to identify the core trauma narrative you've been telling yourself • Techniques to rewrite your story with agency and power • Ways to find new meaning in painful past experiences • Strategies to separate your identity from your trauma • Tools to build a resilient, empowered self-narrative Key Insights: • Your trauma story is not the truth—it's a perspective that can be changed • Rewriting your narrative activates neuroplasticity and healing • Finding power comes from acknowledging pain while choosing a new frame • Meaning is created, not discovered—you can assign new significance • Small shifts in language can create profound changes in self-perception Recommended Resources: • "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk • "Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving" by Pete Walker • "Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors" by Janina Fisher 📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at cptsd@senseofthisshit.com. 💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...

  2. Episode 136

    Understanding CPTSD Foundations: Building a Life After Trauma

    In this episode, we break down the core pillars of rebuilding a life after complex trauma—moving from survival mode to genuine stability. Whether you're new to CPTSD recovery or need a refresher on the fundamentals, this episode offers a clear roadmap for establishing safety, reconnecting with your body, and creating routines that support long-term healing. What You'll Learn: • How to define and recognize your trauma responses • Steps to create physical and emotional safety at home • The role of grounding techniques in daily life • How to rebuild trust in yourself and others • Practical ways to set boundaries without guilt Key Insights: • CPTSD recovery is not linear—expect cycles of progress and setbacks • Healing starts with nervous system regulation, not cognitive understanding • Relational trauma requires relational repair, even in small doses • Grieving lost childhood experiences is a necessary part of building a new life • Consistency in small self-care actions creates lasting change over time Recommended Resources: • "Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving" by Pete Walker • "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk • "Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents" by Lindsay Gibson 📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at cptsd@senseofthisshit.com. 💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...

  3. 10/05/2024

    CPTSD 101: Making Sense of Trauma and Healing

    In this episode, we break down the basics of Complex PTSD (CPTSD) — what it is, how it differs from PTSD, and why understanding your trauma is the first step toward real healing. Whether you're newly diagnosed or just starting to make sense of your experiences, this episode provides a clear, compassionate introduction to CPTSD and the path to recovery. What You'll Learn: • The key differences between PTSD and CPTSD • How childhood trauma shapes your nervous system • Why emotional flashbacks are a core symptom • The role of shame and self-criticism in CPTSD • Practical first steps for starting your healing journey Key Insights: • CPTSD often results from prolonged, repeated trauma • Healing involves reconnecting with your authentic self • Validation of your experiences is crucial for recovery • Small, consistent steps lead to lasting change • You are not broken — your brain adapted to survive Recommended Resources: • "Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving" by Pete Walker • "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk • "Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors" by Janina Fisher 📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at cptsd@senseofthisshit.com. 💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...

  4. 10/11/2024

    CPTSD vs PTSD: Key Differences Survivors Need to Know First

    In this episode, we break down the critical differences between CPTSD and PTSD, and why understanding them is a game-changer for your recovery. Many people struggle for years with symptoms that don't quite fit the standard PTSD framework, leaving them feeling stuck, misunderstood, or misdiagnosed. We clarify the distinct signs of Complex PTSD, including emotional flashbacks, toxic shame, and relational difficulties, and explain why standard PTSD treatments often fall short. You will learn practical, trauma-informed strategies to address the unique challenges of CPTSD, from inner child work to nervous system regulation. This episode offers hope and clarity for anyone navigating the messy, non-linear path of healing from prolonged trauma. What You'll Learn: • How to tell if your symptoms point to CPTSD versus PTSD • Why emotional flashbacks are different and how to handle them • The role of toxic shame in CPTSD and steps to release it • Simple nervous system tools to calm chronic hyperarousal • How to rebuild trust in yourself and others after relational trauma Key Insights • CPTSD stems from repeated, inescapable trauma, not a single event • Emotional flashbacks feel like being flooded with shame and helplessness • Healing requires addressing the inner critic, not just the trauma memory • Safe relationships are the most powerful agent of change for CPTSD • Your symptoms are survival adaptations, not character flaws Recommended Resources: • Pete Walker, Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving • The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk • CPTSD Foundation (cptsd.org) for free educational resources • The Crappy Childhood Fairy YouTube channel for practical daily tools Coming Up Next Next episode, we explore the often-overlooked role of grief in CPTSD recovery and how allowing yourself to mourn can unlock deeper healing. 📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at cptsd@senseofthisshit.com. 💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...

  5. 10/14/2024

    Understanding CPTSD vs PTSD: What You Need to Know for Recovery

    In this episode, we break down the critical differences between CPTSD and PTSD, and why understanding them is a game-changer for your recovery. Many people struggle for years with symptoms that don't quite fit the standard PTSD framework, leaving them feeling stuck, misunderstood, or misdiagnosed. We clarify the distinct signs of Complex PTSD, including emotional flashbacks, toxic shame, and relational difficulties, and explain why standard PTSD treatments often fall short. You will learn practical, trauma-informed strategies to address the unique challenges of CPTSD, from inner child work to nervous system regulation. This episode offers hope and clarity for anyone navigating the messy, non-linear path of healing from prolonged trauma. What You'll Learn: • How to tell if your symptoms point to CPTSD versus PTSD • Why emotional flashbacks are different and how to handle them • The role of toxic shame in CPTSD and steps to release it • Simple nervous system tools to calm chronic hyperarousal • How to rebuild trust in yourself and others after relational trauma Key Insights • CPTSD stems from repeated, inescapable trauma, not a single event • Emotional flashbacks feel like being flooded with shame and helplessness • Healing requires addressing the inner critic, not just the trauma memory • Safe relationships are the most powerful agent of change for CPTSD • Your symptoms are survival adaptations, not character flaws Recommended Resources: • Pete Walker, Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving • The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk • CPTSD Foundation (cptsd.org) for free educational resources • The Crappy Childhood Fairy YouTube channel for practical daily tools Coming Up Next Next episode, we explore the often-overlooked role of grief in CPTSD recovery and how allowing yourself to mourn can unlock deeper healing. 📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at cptsd@senseofthisshit.com. 💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...

  6. 10/18/2024

    Navigate Trauma Calm: Box Breathing When Hypervigilance Spikes

    In this episode, we explore how simple breathing exercises can become a powerful tool for managing the intense stress and hyperarousal that come with Complex PTSD. Many of us feel trapped in a cycle of fight-or-flight, but your breath is an anchor you can access anytime, anywhere. We break down practical techniques like box breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, and the 4-7-8 method, explaining how they directly calm your nervous system and shift your brain out of survival mode. Whether you're dealing with a sudden flashback or just a day that feels overwhelming, these strategies offer immediate relief without needing medication or therapy. Learn why slow, conscious breathing actually lowers cortisol, activates your vagus nerve, and helps rewire your stress response over time. This episode is designed for anyone who has tried everything and still feels stuck in anxiety—your breath might be the simplest, most effective reset button you've never fully used. What You'll Learn: • How to activate your parasympathetic nervous system in under 60 seconds • A simple breathing pattern that stops panic attacks in their tracks • Why exhaling longer than inhaling triggers instant relaxation • How to build a daily 5-minute practice that reduces overall stress • The one mistake most people make when trying to breathe for calm Key Insights • Your breath is the only automatic body function you can consciously control • Shallow chest breathing keeps your brain locked in threat detection mode • The vagus nerve responds directly to the rhythm of your inhales and exhales • Even one minute of slow breathing can lower your heart rate significantly • Consistency matters more than duration for rewiring your stress response Recommended Resources: • The Wim Hof Method by Wim Hof – guided breathing techniques for resilience • Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor – science of nasal breathing • Calm App – free guided breathing exercises and timed sessions • Anxiety Canada’s “Box Breathing” PDF – free downloadable practice sheet • The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk – trauma and nervous system connection Coming Up Next Next episode, we dive into the science of sleep and CPTSD—discover three simple nighttime rituals that can help you fall asleep faster and wake up feeling restored, even after years of insomnia. 📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at cptsd@senseofthisshit.com. 💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...

  7. 10/21/2024

    How Trauma Changes Your Brain and How to Heal

    In this episode, we break down exactly how trauma physically rewires your brain's stress response, memory processing, and emotional regulation centers. You will learn why common coping mechanisms like dissociation, hypervigilance, and emotional flashbacks are actually your brain's survival adaptations, not personal failures. We explain the science behind neuroplasticity and how targeted practices can gradually rebuild neural pathways for safety, connection, and calm. Whether you are newly diagnosed with CPTSD or have been on a healing journey for years, this episode gives you a clear, compassionate roadmap for understanding and retraining your brain. What You'll Learn: - How trauma shrinks the hippocampus and over-activates the amygdala. - Why your brain's alarm system gets stuck in high alert. - Simple daily practices to strengthen the prefrontal cortex. - How to rewire shame-based neural loops with self-compassion. - The role of sleep, nutrition, and movement in brain healing. Key Insights: - Your brain is not broken—it adapted to survive an unsafe world. - Healing is not about forgetting trauma, but integrating it. - The vagus nerve is a key pathway to reset your nervous system. - Small, consistent actions create lasting neuroplastic change. - Safety in relationships literally grows new brain tissue. Recommended Resources: - "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk – foundational book on trauma and the brain. - "Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors" by Janina Fisher – practical workbook for structural dissociation. - "The Brain That Changes Itself" by Norman Doidge – explores neuroplasticity in accessible language. - CPTSD Foundation (cptsd.org) – free webinars and resources on trauma recovery. - "Polyvagal Theory in Therapy" by Deb Dana – exercises for nervous system regulation. Coming Up Next Next episode, we explore how to rebuild healthy relationships after CPTSD, including practical steps to set boundaries, trust your gut, and find safe connection without losing yourself. 📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at cptsd@senseofthisshit.com. 💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...

  8. 10/25/2024

    Create Your Safe Space: How to Build Emotional and Physical Safety

    In this episode, we dive deep into what it really means to create safe spaces—both emotionally and physically—for those navigating complex trauma. For CPTSD survivors, safety isn't just a concept; it's a survival necessity that often feels elusive. We explore practical steps to establish internal and external safety, from setting boundaries to regulating your nervous system, so you can finally breathe and heal. What You'll Learn: • How to identify what emotional safety feels like in your body • Practical strategies for creating physical safety in your environment • The role of boundaries in building trust and security • How to communicate your safety needs to others • Ways to recognize and repair safety violations Key Insights: • Safety is a felt sense, not just a logical decision • Your nervous system needs consistent cues of safety to calm down • Safe spaces can be created internally through self-compassion and grounding • Physical safety often requires modifying your environment and routines • Emotional safety deepens when you honor your authentic responses Recommended Resources: • "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk • "Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving" by Pete Walker • "Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors" by Janina Fisher 📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at cptsd@senseofthisshit.com. 💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...

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4.3
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

This show is for adults living with complex PTSD who need trauma-framed, 8–12 minute explainers and micro-tools they can use between therapy sessions—not generic wellness content. We own the lexicon of complex trauma, CPTSD, flashbacks, dissociation, fawn response, hypervigilance, and trauma boundaries. Every title leads with CPTSD or trauma context. We never publish bare "grounding," "breathing," or "healing journey" episodes that compete with `anxiety` or `grief`; we never promise cures, diagnose listeners, or replace licensed trauma therapy. --- Topics include: CPTSD: Let's Make Sense of This Shit. Audio for this show is produced with AI assistance. Episodes are researched, scripted, and reviewed for accuracy before release. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/cptsd-making-sense-of-it--6331440/support.

Information

  • Creator
    Gregory
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    172
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Let's Work This Sh*t Out
  • Show Website
    CPTSD: Making Sense of It

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