When Chell was just 18 months old, her father—a police officer—shot her mother in the face while she slept and walked free. What followed were years of abuse, foster care, loss, and survival. In this episode, Chell shares the trauma that shaped her life, the night her husband died in her arms, and how she found purpose after everything tried to break her.

Chell's Links:

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondtheMonsters

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@beyondthemonsters

ApplePodcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-monsters/id1778966880

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3gmVkvzX4xNWwsWFamRUai?si=hKz97XK2Rh6eSEU5GL0XCA

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters

Time Stamps:

00:00:00 — What does it mean when a child’s first memories involve extreme violence in the home?

00:03:41 — How does surviving an attempted murder by a parent affect a family long-term?

00:07:58 — Why do children normalize chaos when abuse is part of daily life?

00:11:44 — How does growing up in constant fear rewire a child’s nervous system?

00:14:09 — Why do abusive punishments often feel more humiliating than painful?

00:18:12 — What happens psychologically when a parent chooses an abuser over their child?

00:21:07 — Why do children in foster care experience higher rates of secondary abuse?

00:24:03 — How does institutional neglect allow abuse to continue unnoticed?

00:27:41 — Why do trauma survivors struggle to trust authority figures meant to protect them?

00:31:19 — How does early exposure to violence influence relationship patterns in adulthood?

00:34:48 — Why do abuse survivors often defend or return to harmful partners?

00:37:06 — What happens to the brain during sexual assault when survival instincts take over?

00:39:52 — Why do trauma survivors minimize events that would devastate others?

00:42:21 — How does prolonged trauma distort a person’s sense of safety and faith?

00:45:02 — Why do some people ignore gut instincts right before life-changing events?

00:47:58 — How does alcohol amplify conflict in emotionally volatile situations?

00:49:41 — What happens psychologically when a loved one dies suddenly in front of you?

00:52:06 — How does performing life-saving measures affect long-term trauma processing?

00:55:18 — Why does shock make devastating news feel unreal or delayed?

01:01:27 — How does unresolved trauma resurface during moments of perceived stability?

01:09:42 — Why do survivors expect disaster even during periods of happiness?

01:17:36 — How does repeated loss shape a person’s emotional resilience or numbness?

01:28:54 — Why do trauma survivors struggle with peace more than chaos?

01:45:18 — How does a lifetime of survival mode affect identity and self-worth?

02:06:11 — What does healing look like after decades of compounded trauma?

Topics: Attempted Murder, Family Violence, Foster Care, Widow, Loss

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