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How Toxic Shame Keeps PTSD Stuck (And How To Finally Break Free)
From Toxic Shame to Self-Acceptance: A Trauma Survivor’s Guide
Why Shame Keeps Your PTSD From Healing (And What To Do Instead)
Healing Trauma by Owning Your Story (Not Hiding in Shame)
PTSD, Addiction, and Toxic Shame: How to Stop Sabotaging Your Recovery
Transforming Shame into Strength on Your PTSD Healing Journey
Letting Go of “I’m a Bad Person”: Rewiring Shame After Trauma
How to Stop Feeling Broken: Releasing Trauma, Guilt, and Shame
From Embarrassment to Empowerment: Reclaiming Your Life After Trauma
The Truth About Shame, Self-Worth, and PTSD Recovery
Host: Brad Schipke • Overcoming PTSD Podcast • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching
In this Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching session, Brad and his co-coach dive deep into toxic shame — the painful, heavy feeling that keeps so many trauma survivors stuck, hiding, and afraid to fully live. They start by redefining shame, not as proof that you’re “bad” or “broken,” but as a perception about your behavior that can be changed.
You’ll hear how shame feeds on secrecy and shadows, and why owning your struggles — addictions, explosive anger, codependency, overspending, food, TV, meds, anything — is the doorway to real change. Instead of letting shame keep you frozen, Brad walks you through what it looks like to stand up, call things what they are, and take your power back.
Throughout the episode, you’ll also see the power of community as members courageously share their own “thing” and experience the relief of being seen, accepted, and understood. Brad shows you how self-acceptance, vulnerability, and practical tools like the Protector exercise work together to release shame and move you toward genuine self-respect.
If you’ve ever thought, “I’m a bad person because of what I’ve done or what I still do,” this episode will help you separate your worth from your behavior, own your reality, and take that next step toward freedom.
How redefining shame as a perception (not a verdict) immediately loosens its gripWhy hiding addictive or “embarrassing” behaviors keeps PTSD and trauma patterns aliveHow owning your actions with honesty and courage becomes the first step to changeThe difference between shame and healthy responsibility (and why one heals and one harms)How to shift from “I’m a bad person” to “I’m a human who made mistakes and can grow”Why vulnerability in safe community melts shame and builds real self-esteemHow to use self-acceptance and new beliefs to stop absorbing other people’s judgmentsWhen deeper trauma work and tools like the Protector exercise are needed to heal toxic shameHow to turn your past shame into future strength and even help others healShame loses its power the moment you own your truth, accept yourself, and choose healing over hiding.
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To go deeper or work with Brad directly, visit: https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable
00:00 Introduction to Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching
00:36 Starting the Live Coaching Session
01:24 Today's Topic: Overcoming Toxic Shame
03:07 Defining and Understanding Shame
03:47 The Importance of Perception in Shame
07:42 Combating Shame with Self-Acceptance
09:56 Owning Your Actions to Overcome Shame
12:06 The Power of Vulnerability and Self-Love
13:00 Breaking the Cycle of Shame
15:56 Facing Shame Head-On for True Change
29:04 Deeper Dive into Overcoming Shame
29:37 Processing Tools for Deep Trauma
30:38 The Power of Owning Your Problems
31:52 Creating a Safe Space for Sharing
32:47 The Strength in Admitting Mistakes
33:52 Transformative Power of Acceptance
34:43 Owning Your Actions and Moving Forward
35:28 The Journey of Self-Acceptance
42:08 Age and Self-Worth
52:16 Community Announcements and Events
toxic shame healing • PTSD recovery • trauma healing journey • self-acceptance after trauma • overcoming guilt and shame • emotional regulation • nervous system regulation • trauma coping tools • addiction and PTSD • codependency healing • mindset shifts for recovery • owning your story • breaking negative cycles • recovery secrets daily coaching • overcoming embarrassment and worthlessness