Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads

Healing from Extreme Trauma: Susan’s Story of Strength and Transformation (Part 2 of 3)


Listen Later

Some stories leave you breathless. This is one of them. In Part 2 of our raw, deeply human conversation with Susan Snow, we continue exploring how trauma reshapes a life—and how healing is always possible with the proper support, tools, and truth. Susan opens up about living with PTSD, learning to trust again, and the small but powerful steps that began her transformation.

Welcome back to Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads—your space for honest, gritty, and healing conversations around mental health. We’re proud to be the 2024 People's Choice Podcast Award Winner for Health and the 2024 Women in Podcasting Best Mental Health Podcast, with over 2 million downloads and counting.

We’d love your feedback!
Visit https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a to leave us a message or written input.

"Healing is not an ego thing. It's the bravest, most necessary thing you'll ever do." — Susan Snow.

Episode Summary:

In this emotionally rich second installment, Susan Snow shares the real work of healing from complex PTSD, extreme trauma, and generational wounds. After a tragic and violent loss changed her world at 17, Susan opens up about her years-long battle with anxiety, insomnia, and panic—and how finding the right therapist finally gave her hope.

This episode covers critical mental health topics, including trauma recovery, journaling for sleep, breathwork, emotional boundaries, forgiveness, and how to build a support system when you feel entirely alone. Whether you're just beginning your healing journey or helping someone else through theirs, Susan’s story is your reminder that hope is real—and transformation is possible.

SEO Keywords: PTSD recovery, trauma healing, journaling and sleep, panic attacks, breathwork therapy, finding the right therapist, mental health podcast, grief recovery, trauma coaching, emotional boundaries, Susan Snow

Meet Susan Snow

Susan Snow is a courageous and heartfelt speaker whose life story shines as a beacon of healing and hope.

At just 17, Susan’s world was shattered when her father, LAPD Detective Thomas C. Williams, was ambushed and murdered on Halloween night in 1985. That moment changed everything, pulling her into the depths of grief and trauma.

In the years that followed, Susan faced PTSD, loss, and the long, complicated process of rebuilding her life. But instead of letting the darkness define her, she turned her pain into purpose. By embracing vulnerability and speaking her truth, she has shown that healing is possible—even after unimaginable events.

Today, Susan is the Author of a profoundly moving book that reminds us of two powerful truths: life can change in an instant, and recovery is always within reach.

Whether speaking on stage or connecting through virtual events, Susan doesn’t just share her story—she invites people into it. She creates space for others to see themselves, to grieve, to forgive, and to find their own resilience.

Her signature talks, “Other Side of the Gun: Hope Through the Journey of Grief, PTSD, and Empowerment” and “Forgiveness vs. Forgetting,” go beyond inspiration. They offer honest guidance, compassion, and a roadmap for choosing hope over pain.

Connect with Susan:
Website: https://susansnowspeaks.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susan_snow1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/SusanSnow
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@susansnow1lifecoach
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/susansnowspeaks2023

Key Takeaways:
  • Healing is a personal journey, not a one-size-fits-all process—you must find the right therapist for your trauma.
  • Journaling can be a game-changer in managing anxiety and improving sleep, especially when done before bed.
  • Boundaries, forgiveness, and coaching are powerful tools in healing both yourself and your relationships.
  • Actionable Items:
    • Try expressive journaling nightly—write without censoring or editing, especially before bed.
    • Practice box breathing or tapping to manage panic attacks and regulate your nervous system.
    • Interview your therapist—ask about their specialties and be willing to walk away if it’s not the right fit.
    • Episode Chapters & Timestamps:

      [00:00] Welcome + Recap of Part 1
      G-Rex and Dirty Skittles introduce Part 2 of Susan’s story.

      [01:00] When Therapy Finally Worked
      Susan explains how a therapist specializing in trauma and PTSD changed her life.

      [06:00] Journaling to Sleep Again
      Susan shares how nighttime journaling helped her escape anxiety-induced insomnia.

      [09:00] Breathwork, Tapping & Nervous System Regulation
      Early tools Susan learned that helped control panic attacks and stress.

      [17:00] Rewriting Patterns: Coaching and Boundaries
      Susan’s mindset shift through coaching and powerful conversations about forgiveness.

      [23:00] From Pain to Purpose
      How healing led Susan to write her memoir and step into her life’s mission.

      [35:00] Facing the Fear of Telling Her Story
      Susan talks about the fear of publishing her book—and doing it anyway.

      References & Resources Mentioned:
      • Susan Snow’s website: https://susansnowspeaks.com/
      • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org
      • Susan’s breathing and tapping techniques (Search: “box breathing PTSD” or “EFT tapping trauma”)
      • Susan’s memoir (Link coming soon or available on her website)
      • Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

        Don't miss the next part of Susan’s story.
        Subscribe for more inspiring conversations around mental health.
        Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our site:
        https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews

        #MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #PTSDRecovery #HealingJourney #SusanSnow #TherapyMatters #MentalHealthSupport #TraumaHealing #CoachingForHealing #RealTalkMentalHealth #FindYourPerson #JournalingTherapy #BoundariesMatter #PodcastForHealing #MentalWellness #Grex #DirtySkittles #WomenInPodcasting #Podmatch #TraumaSurvivor

        ***************************************************************************

        If You Need Support, Reach Out

        If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.

        • United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
        • Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
        • Worldwide: Find a Helpline
        • Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub

        Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles

        • Official Website: goesoninourheads.net
        • Facebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheads
        • Instagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittles
        • LinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles
        • Join Our Newsletter: Sign Up Here
        • Merch Store: goesoninourheads.shop

        Audio Editing by NJz Audio


        Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

        ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store

        Sh!t That Goes On In Our HeadsBy G-Rex and Dirty Skittles, Bleav

        • 4.5
        • 4.5
        • 4.5
        • 4.5
        • 4.5

        4.5

        66 ratings


        More shows like Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads

        View all
        The School of Greatness by Lewis Howes

        The School of Greatness

        21,225 Listeners

        Good Life Project by Jonathan Fields / Acast

        Good Life Project

        3,319 Listeners

        The One You Feed by Eric Zimmer

        The One You Feed

        2,545 Listeners

        Untangle by Untangle

        Untangle

        833 Listeners

        Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson by Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson

        Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

        2,495 Listeners

        Change Your Brain Every Day by Dr Daniel & Tana Amen

        Change Your Brain Every Day

        2,004 Listeners

        On Purpose with Jay Shetty by iHeartPodcasts

        On Purpose with Jay Shetty

        27,698 Listeners

        Take Out Therapy: End Overthinking & Overwhelm for Empathic High Achievers by Rebecca Hunter, MSW

        Take Out Therapy: End Overthinking & Overwhelm for Empathic High Achievers

        348 Listeners

        Therapy in a Nutshell by Therapy in a Nutshell -Emma McAdam

        Therapy in a Nutshell

        570 Listeners

        Calm it Down by Chad Lawson

        Calm it Down

        712 Listeners

        Adult Child by Andrea

        Adult Child

        1,826 Listeners

        The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

        The Mel Robbins Podcast

        20,151 Listeners

        The Jamie Kern Lima Show by Jamie Kern Lima

        The Jamie Kern Lima Show

        2,680 Listeners

        Decoded | Unlock The Secrets of Human Behavior, Emotion and Motivation by Bizzie Gold | Mental Health Innovator and Break Method Founder

        Decoded | Unlock The Secrets of Human Behavior, Emotion and Motivation

        103 Listeners

        Mind If We Talk? by BetterHelp

        Mind If We Talk?

        108 Listeners