Get the real conversations and mom therapy you need to heal your nervous system from shame. Emmy-winner Michael Cogdill shares tools for emotional regulation and breaking codependency.In this episode of Notes to My Podcast, Emmy-winning journalist and author Michael Cogdill opens up about the hidden pain many men carry but never talk about. He shares how growing up with a violent alcoholic father shaped his understanding of love, shame, and codependency, and how years later he had to unlearn silence to finally start healing.

Michael and I dive deep into what it means to feel broken without knowing why, exploring:- How shame disconnects men from their emotions- Why codependency feels like love but drains you completely- The importance of therapy, vulnerability, and self-care- The lifelong impact of trauma from childhood chaos- How men can break the cycle of fixing others while ignoring themselves

The Nervous System & Shame (03:15): How childhood trauma creates a "blueprint" of shame that affects emotional regulation in adulthood.

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• Real Conversations on Codependency (09:45): Why "fixing" others is often a nervous system survival strategy to find safety.

• Mom Therapy & Generational Healing (16:20): Breaking the cycle of silence for our children and ourselves.

• Vulnerability as Regulation (20:10): Why asking for help is a high-level nervous system reset.

This episode provides the real conversations and mom therapy—psychoeducation and deep empathy—needed for anyone (mothers and families alike) navigating the legacy of childhood trauma and nervous system dysregulation."Unlearn the silence and reconnect with yourself. Download Mind Circuit for a science-backed Nervous System Reset and tools for Emotional Regulation:Understanding the "Shame Shield" : In the episode, Michael discusses how shame disconnects us. This is a "Freeze" or "Dorsal Vagal" response in the nervous system. Visualizing how shame acts as a protective shield that actually prevents healing helps your audience understand the "Why" behind their emotional blocks.

This conversation is a reminder that healing is not weakness, and asking for help is one of the strongest things a man can do.

In this deeply moving episode, therapist Erin Vandermore and author Michael Cogdill shares his journey from childhood trauma to healing, exploring how shame shapes our lives and relationships. Michael opens up about growing up with an alcoholic father, breaking cycles of codependency, and discovering that "death is no match for love."

Unlearn the silence and reconnect with yourself. Download Mind Circuit for a science-backed Nervous System Reset and tools for Emotional Regulation: Google Play →⁠⁠⁠⁠https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.ageOfUncertainty&hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠

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#Nervous System #Codependency #MomTherapy #SecureAttachment #EmotionalRegulation

Disclaimer: Notes to My Nervous System is an educational and psychoeducational resource created by Erin Vandermore, LCMHC. While Erin is a licensed therapist, this podcast—including episodes described as "Mom Therapy" or "Real Conversations"—is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute psychotherapy, medical advice, or a therapist-client relationship.

Emergency Resources:If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please do not rely on thiscontent. Call or text 988 (in the US and Canada) for the Suicide &Crisis Lifeline, call 911, or head to your nearest emergency room.

© 2024 Erin Vandermore. All rights reserved.