The Complex Trauma Podcast

A New Year's Pep Talk (Without the Toxic Positivity)


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It's New Year's Eve, and if you're feeling anything other than excited, there's absolutely nothing wrong with you.

This isn't your typical "new year, new you" pep talk. It's for the trauma survivors who are exhausted by the pressure to transform, who feel like they're failing because they didn't have some massive breakthrough this year, or who are just relieved the dumpster fire of 2025 is over.

In this episode, I talk about why New Year's can be so hard when you're healing from complex trauma, why your nervous system doesn't care about artificial timelines, and what actually supports healing (spoiler: it's not punishing yourself into productivity).

I also get real about my own year, what I'm hoping for in 2026, and the moment I realized I've been so busy overfunctioning that I don't even have hobbies.

Plus, a sneak peek at what's coming in 2026: narcissism in families, religious trauma, emotional neglect, dissociation, and betrayal trauma.

Whatever you're feeling tonight, it's allowed. You're allowed to be exactly where you are.

Happy New Year.

...

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Learn more about EMDR & trauma therapy in Pennsylvania with Reclaim Therapy

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or nutritional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Remember, I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. Nothing in this podcast is meant to replace actual therapy or treatment. If you're in crisis or things feel really unsafe right now, please reach out to someone. You can call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, text them, or head to your nearest ER.

The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the opinions of any organizations or institutions. Reliance on any information provided by this podcast is solely at your own risk.

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The Complex Trauma PodcastBy Sarah Herstich

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