Overcoming PTSD with Brad Schipke

Learn the proven system that’s helped 2,000+ trauma survivors reduce symptoms by 77.9% in just 4.5 months without therapy or medication 👉 https://overcomingptsd.com/

Host: Brad Schipke • Overcoming PTSD Podcast • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching

In this episode, Brad and Kaylene break down why so many trauma survivors feel overwhelmed, stuck, and confused about what to do next in recovery — and how simplicity can completely change that. Instead of trying to fix everything at once, Brad shares how focusing on just one key action each day became a turning point in his healing from rock bottom.

You’ll hear how to get clear on what you actually want from life and recovery, so decisions become simpler and less exhausting. Brad and Kaylene explore how to separate what truly matters from all the noise, expectations, and “shoulds” coming from other people, social media, and the world around you.

They also walk through the “three pillars of recovery” — mindset, routines, and processing — and show you how to use them as a simple roadmap when you feel anxious, triggered, or lost. By the end, you’ll have a practical way to cut out what isn’t working, focus on what actually moves the needle, and begin building a calmer, more intentional life as you heal.

💡 What You’ll Learn

How simplicity reduces overwhelm and helps you take consistent action in PTSD recovery

Why doing less of the wrong things and more of the right few creates faster trauma healing

How to clarify what you truly want so decisions become simpler and more aligned

A powerful future-self exercise (age 84) to minimize regrets and prioritize what matters

How to use the three pillars of recovery: mindset, routines, and processing

A simple question to identify whether you have a mindset, routines, or processing problem

Why eliminating certain habits, environments, or inputs can instantly create more peace

How to spot the “biggest levers” that give you the most progress for the least effort

Practical examples of simplifying your daily life, environment, and relationships

🧠 Key Takeaway

True recovery happens when you simplify your life down to the few actions that truly move the needle and commit to doing them consistently.

🔗 Next Steps

Subscribe for new weekday episodes from the Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching archive.

To go deeper or work with Brad directly, visit https://overcomingptsd.com/consultation.

CHAPTERS:

Topics Covered:

PTSD recovery • trauma healing • simplicity in recovery • overcoming overwhelm with PTSD • nervous system regulation • trauma coping tools • emotional regulation for trauma survivors • PTSD mindset shifts • trauma recovery routines • PTSD processing tools • 3 pillars of recovery PTSD • future self exercise trauma healing • eliminating triggers and stressors • simplifying life after trauma • recovery hero identity • beliefs as a trauma processing tool • boundaries and PTSD • practical PTSD recovery strategies

Learn the proven system that’s helped 2,000+ trauma survivors reduce symptoms by 77.9% in just 4.5 months without therapy or medication 👉 https://overcomingptsd.com/

Host: Brad Schipke • Overcoming PTSD Podcast • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching

In this episode, Brad and Kaylene unpack why it’s so hard to finish what you start when you’re living with PTSD or trauma—and what to do about it. From dirty dishes piling up in the sink to unopened bills and unfinished healing work, they show how “negative momentum” quietly builds until everything feels overwhelming.

Brad shares a raw story from early in his recovery when his house, routines, and emotions were all out of control—and the simple “hard reset” that helped him turn things around. You’ll hear how one decision point, fueled by pain and a little bit of hope, can completely change the trajectory of your future.

Together they break down the most common reasons trauma survivors lose momentum: emotional overwhelm, open loops, lack of routine, complexity, forgetfulness, and unhelpful beliefs about who you are. Then they walk you through practical tools—like brain dumps, chunking tasks, and using the Unbreakable Planner—to rebuild trust with yourself one small win at a time.

This is a calm but direct reminder that your life changes in tiny moments. One dish, one phone call, one vacuumed room, one day sober, one routine followed through. You’ll leave with a clear next step: choose one thing that would make today a great day—and go do it.

💡 What You’ll Learn

Why PTSD and trauma make it so hard to maintain motivation and finish what you start

How “negative momentum” builds from one unfinished task or avoided emotion

The simple “hard reset” process Brad uses to clean up open loops and regain control

How to do a brain dump so your mind can rest and your next steps are clear

Why routines fail when they’re too complex—and how to simplify them so they stick

How to chunk overwhelming tasks into tiny wins you can actually complete

A new way to think about discipline so it feels supportive instead of harsh

How to use the Unbreakable Planner to set up tomorrow’s success today

The power of choosing just one thing that would make today a great day

🧠 Key Takeaway

Your future changes the moment you decide to stop letting unfinished tasks and avoided emotions run your life—and start closing one small loop at a time.

🔗 Next Steps

Subscribe for new weekday episodes from the Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching archive.

To go deeper or work with Brad directly, visit https://overcomingptsd.com/consultation.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 – Welcome to Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching

Topics Covered:

PTSD recovery • trauma healing • finishing what you start • maintaining momentum in recovery • overcoming overwhelm after trauma • emotional regulation • nervous system regulation • trauma coping tools • open loops and brain dump • hard reset after PTSD setbacks • routines for PTSD • self-talk and motivation • chunking tasks in trauma recovery • sobriety and trauma healing • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching • Overcoming PTSD Podcast

Learn the proven system that’s helped 2,000+ trauma survivors reduce symptoms by 77.9% in just 4.5 months without therapy or medication 👉 https://overcomingptsd.com/

Host: Brad Schipke • Overcoming PTSD Podcast • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching

In this episode, Brad and Kayleen unpack a side of PTSD recovery that often gets ignored: having fun again. They explore why trauma can make life and relationships feel tense, serious, and heavy—and why you don’t have to be “fully healed” before you’re allowed to laugh, joke, and enjoy the people you love.

You’ll hear how PTSD turns simple moments (like lettuce in the sink) into full-blown conflicts, and how to shift from blame and defensiveness to ownership and curiosity. Brad and Kayleen walk through the “relationship equation” and show how changing your part of the equation can transform the whole relationship—without trying to control or fix anyone else.

They also talk about codependency, taking 100% responsibility without taking 100% of the blame, and how to stop dragging past pain into present moments. Most importantly, you’ll learn how to bring more lightness, humor, and play back into your life so relationships feel safer, warmer, and more fun again.

💡 What You’ll Learn

Why PTSD and trauma make relationships feel so serious and heavy

How to start having fun again even if you’re not fully healed

The “relationship equation” and how changing yourself changes the whole relationship

The difference between taking responsibility and taking all the blame

How to stop making everything personal and start assuming the best in others

Why you don’t really have “relationship problems,” you have individual problems you bring into the relationship

Practical ways to bring more laughter, play, and lightness into daily life

How to notice small moments of joy and let them build your new normal

First steps to shift out of codependency and back into your own “box”

🧠 Key Takeaway

You don’t have relationship problems—you have personal problems you’re bringing into the relationship, and when you change your part of the equation, the whole relationship changes.

🔗 Next Steps

Subscribe for new weekday episodes from the Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching archive.

To go deeper or work with Brad directly, visit https://overcomingptsd.com/consultation.

CHAPTERS:

Topics Covered:

PTSD recovery • trauma healing • lightening up after trauma • PTSD and relationships • nervous system regulation • emotional regulation • trauma coping tools • healing from relationship conflict • codependency and trauma • PTSD communication tools • relationship mindset shifts • taking responsibility not blame • overcoming hypervigilance • rebuilding trust and safety • bringing back fun after PTSD • trauma and emotional triggers • laughter and healing • overcoming people pleasing after trauma • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching • Overcoming PTSD Podcast

Learn the proven system that’s helped 2,000+ trauma survivors reduce symptoms by 77.9% in just 4.5 months without therapy or medication 👉 https://overcomingptsd.com/

Host: Brad Schipke • Overcoming PTSD Podcast • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching

In this episode, Brad breaks down a simple but powerful way to measure your PTSD or trauma recovery so it doesn’t feel so vague, random, or confusing. Instead of guessing whether you’re healing, you’ll learn how to track real numbers that show your progress over time.

Brad and Kayleen walk you through the difference between your overall “global” distress level and the more specific distress you feel around a particular trauma, memory, or belief. You’ll hear how Brad uses data in his own life and coaching to bring clarity, focus, and direction to the healing process.

They also introduce the idea of “believability” — how strongly you believe a new, healthier belief after processing — and why that matters just as much as reducing distress. Together, they show you how to pair distress and believability tracking so you know when a trauma is truly complete and when it’s time to move on.

By the end, you’ll have a simple tracking system you can start using today, even if you don’t know any processing tools yet. You’ll walk away with more focus, more motivation, and a clearer sense of what’s working in your recovery — and what needs more attention.

💡 What You’ll Learn

How to measure your overall PTSD or trauma distress on a simple 0–10 scale

The difference between global distress and distress around a specific trauma or belief

How to track the distress level of one specific trauma until it reaches near zero

What “believability” means in trauma healing and how to measure it from 0–10

Why focusing on one trauma or belief at a time speeds up your recovery

How to know when a trauma is fully processed and ready to be “checked off”

A simple way to track your numbers using a notebook, notes app, or Google Sheet

How consistent processing time directly impacts your rate of PTSD healing

How to use data to stay motivated, celebrate wins, and make smarter recovery decisions

🧠 Key Takeaway

If you want faster PTSD recovery, stop guessing — track one trauma at a time until its distress is near zero and your new belief feels like a 10-out-of-10 truth.

🔗 Next Steps

Subscribe for new weekday episodes from the Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching archive.

To go deeper or work with Brad directly, visit https://overcomingptsd.com/consultation.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 – Welcome to Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching and series context

Topics Covered:

PTSD recovery • trauma healing • PTSD distress scale • trauma symptom tracking • emotional regulation • nervous system regulation • trauma coping tools • PTSD processing tools • belief change in trauma recovery • measuring trauma healing progress • PTSD coaching • data-driven PTSD recovery • CPTSD healing journey • overcoming trauma triggers • mental health routines for trauma survivors • recovery metrics and goal setting

Learn the proven system that’s helped 2,000+ trauma survivors reduce symptoms by 77.9% in just 4.5 months without therapy or medication 👉 https://overcomingptsd.com/

Host: Brad Schipke • Overcoming PTSD Podcast • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching

In this episode, Brad and Kayleen walk you step-by-step through how to turn affirmations from something that feels cheesy or pointless into a practical, daily tool that actually supports PTSD and trauma recovery. Instead of using random “blog post affirmations,” they show you how to build statements that are personal, emotionally meaningful, and powerful for your specific healing journey.

You’ll hear the simple affirmation formula they use with clients: belief + reference + feeling. Brad and Kayleen break down what each part means, why it matters for a trauma-impacted brain, and how to use it to reshape core beliefs like “I’m not capable,” “I don’t deserve love,” or “I’m too broken.” They also talk about the difference between discomfort and pain, and why feeling “foreign” or awkward as you practice is actually a sign of progress.

Brad then shares how he and Kayleen built affirmations into their own routines, including a 90-day challenge, morning and evening journaling, and how those practices helped shift their self-talk long term. They also explore what to do when guilt, shame, or fear show up as you start feeling better about yourself, and how to connect this work with deeper processing tools like introspective healing and protectors.

By the end, you’ll have a clear, simple plan to start—whether that’s one affirmation a day or a full 90-day practice—and a realistic picture of how consistent affirmations can support nervous system regulation, belief change, and long-term recovery from PTSD and trauma.

💡 What You’ll Learn

How affirmations actually work in the brain and why they can support PTSD recovery

The exact formula for crafting powerful affirmations: belief + reference + feeling

Why generic “blog post affirmations” often feel empty and how to make them personal

How to attach real emotion and vivid visualization to your affirmations

A simple 90-day affirmation challenge you can plug into your morning and evening routine

How to turn a single phrase into a core belief you reinforce every day

The difference between discomfort and pain while doing this work (and what to do with each)

How to handle guilt or uneasiness when you start feeling good about yourself after trauma

How affirmations connect with processing tools like introspective healing and protectors

🧠 Key Takeaway

Affirmations only become powerful when they’re personal, backed by real experiences, and felt emotionally—belief + reference + feeling is what rewires trauma-driven thoughts.

🔗 Next Steps

Subscribe for new weekday episodes from the Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching archive.

To go deeper or work with Brad directly, visit https://overcomingptsd.com/consultation.

CHAPTERS:

Topics Covered:

PTSD recovery • trauma healing • PTSD affirmations • trauma affirmations that work • changing core trauma beliefs • emotional regulation after trauma • nervous system regulation • trauma coping tools • self-talk for PTSD • daily recovery habits • morning routine for PTSD healing • evening routine for trauma recovery • introspective healing • protector parts work • processing guilt after trauma • self-worth after abuse • overcoming shame in PTSD • belief change and neuroplasticity • 90-day healing challenge • Overcoming PTSD Podcast • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching

Want to coach with me? Book a free no pressure consultation call here: https://overcomingptsd.com/consultation

Learn the proven system that’s helped 2,000+ trauma survivors reduce symptoms by 77.9% in just 4.5 months without therapy or medication 👉 https://overcomingptsd.com/

Control Your Thoughts Before PTSD Controls Your Life

Host: Brad Schipke • Overcoming PTSD Podcast • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching

In this episode, Brad and Kayleen break down one of the most important foundations of PTSD and trauma recovery: controlling your thoughts before they control you. They explain how your mind is constantly running in the background, often wired by trauma to default toward negativity, fear, and self-sabotage.

You’ll learn how your “automatic programming” gets created by past experiences, and why that programming doesn’t have to be your future. Brad shares a simple robot-and-controller analogy to help you see that you are not your thoughts — you’re the one holding the controller, even if you haven’t been using it.

Kayleen opens up about how thought control was essential in her sobriety and healing from trauma. She walks through exactly how she talked herself out of urges, triggers, and negative spirals using one simple phrase and “future casting” her decisions.

By the end, you’ll have a clear, practical way to start reprogramming your mind with positive self-talk, affirmations, and tiny daily cues (like red lights or doorways) so your thoughts begin working for your recovery hero — not against it.

💡 What You’ll Learn

Why unmanaged thoughts quietly shape your PTSD symptoms, behaviors, and results

How trauma “programs” your brain to default to negative, fearful thinking

A simple robot-and-controller analogy to separate your true self from your thoughts

How to choose one powerful phrase (“You’ve got this” or “I love you”) to interrupt spirals

Practical examples of talking yourself out of urges, addiction patterns, and triggers

How to use future casting to make choices your future self will be proud of

Ways to use environmental cues (like red lights or mirrors) to practice positive self-talk

Why changing your thoughts first eventually makes positive behavior feel automatic

How daily mindset work supports long-term PTSD and trauma recovery goals

🧠 Key Takeaway

If you don’t intentionally direct your thoughts, your old trauma programming will — but you always hold the controller, and you can choose a new path starting today.

🔗 Next Steps

Subscribe for new weekday episodes from the Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching archive.

To go deeper or work with Brad directly, visit https://overcomingptsd.com/consultation.

CHAPTERS:

Topics Covered:

PTSD recovery • trauma healing • controlling your thoughts • negative self-talk and PTSD • trauma mindset shifts • positive self-talk for trauma survivors • PTSD coping tools • nervous system regulation • neuroplasticity and trauma recovery • affirmations for PTSD • addiction and sobriety after trauma • recovery hero identity • emotional regulation skills • self-love after trauma • practical PTSD daily routines • trauma-informed mindset coaching

Want to coach with me? Book a free no pressure consultation call here: https://overcomingptsd.com/consultation

Learn the proven system that’s helped 2,000+ trauma survivors reduce symptoms by 77.9% in just 4.5 months without therapy or medication 👉 https://overcomingptsd.com/

Mindset Bootcamp: How To Become The Hero Of Your PTSD Recovery Story

Host: Brad Schipke • Overcoming PTSD Podcast • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching

In this episode, Brad wraps up the Recovery Hero Bootcamp by showing you how to bring your recovery hero into your real, everyday life. Instead of letting your goals fade like old school lessons you barely remember, you’ll learn how to keep your future self front and center in your mind so healing becomes your default direction.

Using simple analogies like the old Garmin GPS and the brain’s “recalculating” system, Brad explains why you naturally forget even powerful insights if you don’t revisit them—and how to work with your brain instead of against it. You’ll see why doing the exercise once is helpful, but refreshing it consistently is what creates real change.

You’ll also learn practical visualization tools, daily prompts, and simple questions you can ask yourself in real-time moments of stress, conflict, or temptation. This is about turning your recovery hero from “nice idea on paper” into a living guide you can lean on when it matters most.

By the end, you’ll walk away with one clear action to weave your recovery hero into your routines so you stop settling for 10% of your potential and start moving steadily toward full recovery.

💡 What You’ll Learn

Why your brain forgets most things you hear once—and how to use that knowledge to support PTSD recovery

How to keep your “recovery hero” (future healed self) clear, vivid, and emotionally real

Simple daily visualization practices to embody how your recovered self thinks, feels, and acts

How to use the “What would my recovery hero do?” question in tough emotional moments

Ways to bring your recovery hero into conflicts, triggers, and everyday decisions

How emotion supercharges memory and how to attach positive emotion to your healing goals

The difference between learning, studying, and mastering trauma recovery tools

How to use your brain’s RAS (Reticular Activating System) to notice more opportunities for healing

A step-by-step suggestion for choosing one daily practice to keep your recovery hero alive in your life

🧠 Key Takeaway

Your recovery hero isn’t a fantasy version of you—it’s your true self uncovered, and every time you ask “What would my recovery hero do?” you take one real step closer to becoming that person.

🔗 Next Steps

Subscribe for new weekday episodes from the Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching archive.

To go deeper or work with Brad directly, visit https://overcomingptsd.com/consultation.

CHAPTERS:

Topics Covered:

PTSD recovery • trauma healing • PTSD mindset tools • future self visualization • nervous system regulation • trauma coping tools • daily healing habits • emotional regulation skills • Recovery Hero Bootcamp • overcoming PTSD naturally • trauma recovery coaching • brain rewiring for PTSD • reticular activating system and trauma • trauma-informed goal setting • practical PTSD recovery strategies

Want to coach with me? Book a free no pressure consultation call here: https://overcomingptsd.com/consultation

Learn the proven system that’s helped 2,000+ trauma survivors reduce symptoms by 77.9% in just 4.5 months without therapy or medication 👉 https://overcomingptsd.com/

Write Your Recovery Hero Story: A New Roadmap For PTSD Healing

Host: Brad Schipke • Overcoming PTSD Podcast • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching

In this Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching session, Brad and Kayleen walk you through a powerful “Recovery Hero” exercise designed to bridge the gap between who you are today and who you become after fully healing from PTSD. Instead of guessing your way through recovery, you’ll learn how to define your current self, your future healed self, and the specific path that connects the two.

You’ll be guided to step into the shoes of your future, fully recovered self and “look back” at how you got there. From that perspective, you’ll map out the stepping stones—habits, decisions, tools, and mindset shifts—that carried you from triggers, pain, and survival mode into peace, strength, and stability.

Brad and Kayleen also share how visualization, self-image, and your brain’s Reticular Activating System (RAS) help you program your mind for PTSD recovery instead of staying stuck in old patterns. You’ll see how to turn your life into a redemption story and start building real belief that healing is not only possible, but inevitable when you follow a clear roadmap.

By the end of the episode, you’ll have a practical challenge: write your own Recovery Hero story from “now” to your future self, so you can stop feeling broken and start living as the unbreakable version of you that’s already inside.

💡 What You’ll Learn

How to clearly define your current self versus your future “Recovery Hero” self

How to write your Recovery Hero story to bridge the gap between who you are and who you’re becoming

How to transform destructive coping (like drugs and alcohol) into healthy PTSD coping strategies

How to break huge recovery goals into clear, doable stepping stones

How to use visualization to program your brain for trauma healing and success

How the Reticular Activating System (RAS) helps you notice opportunities for recovery

How to include real-life obstacles in your story so you stay resilient instead of getting blindsided

How to rebuild belief in yourself when PTSD has made your future feel impossible

How to turn your life into a powerful underdog and redemption story after trauma

🧠 Key Takeaway

Your Recovery Hero is already you in the future—your job now is to write the story of how you got there and start walking it, one step at a time.

🔗 Next Steps

Subscribe for new weekday episodes from the Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching archive.

To go deeper or work with Brad directly, visit https://overcomingptsd.com/consultation.

CHAPTERS:

Topics Covered:

PTSD recovery roadmap • trauma healing journey • Recovery Hero exercise • overcoming PTSD symptoms • trauma coping tools • sobriety and PTSD • nervous system regulation • visualization for trauma recovery • self-image and PTSD • reprogramming the brain after trauma • emotional regulation skills • trauma recovery mindset • broken to unbreakable • daily PTSD recovery habits • healing triggers and flashbacks

Want to coach with me? Book a free no pressure consultation call here: https://overcomingptsd.com/consultation

Learn the proven system that’s helped 2,000+ trauma survivors reduce symptoms by 77.9% in just 4.5 months without therapy or medication 👉 https://overcomingptsd.com/

Designing Your Future Self After PTSD: Become Your Recovery Hero

Host: Brad Schipke • Overcoming PTSD Podcast • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching

In this Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching session, Brad and Kaylene walk you through the second step of the “Recovery Hero Bootcamp”: defining your future self. Instead of trying to force yourself into other people’s expectations, you’ll learn how to design the healed version of you who has walked through PTSD and come out the other side.

They explore why most trauma survivors struggle to answer the question “What do I really want?” and how years of people-pleasing, survival mode, and pain can make it hard to imagine anything different. Brad and Kaylene break this down into a practical exercise that turns your current struggles into a clear picture of your Recovery Hero.

You’ll hear real examples of how to invert your current habits, beliefs, and reactions into the traits of your future self, plus how to borrow specific qualities from people you admire without losing your own identity. This episode shows you how to treat goal setting as a creative, judgment-free brainstorm instead of another way to beat yourself up.

Finally, Brad explains why every big goal — especially healing from PTSD — requires a deep transformation, not just “trying harder.” You’ll walk away with a simple, doable action step to start defining your Recovery Hero today, and prepare for tomorrow’s session on bridging the gap between who you are now and who you’re becoming.

💡 What You’ll Learn

How to define your “Recovery Hero” as the fully healed version of you after PTSD

🧠 Key Takeaway

You don’t have to become a different person to heal from PTSD — you’re uncovering and growing into who you truly are beneath the pain.

🔗 Next Steps

Subscribe for new weekday episodes from the Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching archive.

To go deeper or work with Brad directly, visit https://overcomingptsd.com/consultation.

CHAPTERS:

Topics Covered:

PTSD recovery • trauma healing • future self visualization • recovery hero exercise • goal setting for trauma survivors • emotional regulation • nervous system regulation • trauma coping tools • overcoming people-pleasing after trauma • releasing suppressed emotions • PTSD mindset shifts • healing from dissociation • building self-belief after PTSD • trauma-informed coaching • practical PTSD recovery strategies

Want to coach with me? Book a free no pressure consultation call here: https://overcomingptsd.com/consultation

Learn the proven system that’s helped 2,000+ trauma survivors reduce symptoms by 77.9% in just 4.5 months without therapy or medication 👉 https://overcomingptsd.com/

Mindset Bootcamp for PTSD: Defining Your Current Self

Host: Brad Schipke • Overcoming PTSD Podcast • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching

In this Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching bootcamp episode, Brad and Kayleen walk you through the first, often skipped step of PTSD recovery: honestly defining your current self. Before you can become your “recovery hero,” you have to see who you are today with clarity, compassion, and zero sugarcoating.

Using a simple GPS analogy, Brad explains why recovery stalls when you don’t know your starting point. Together, they guide you to look at your actions, habits, emotions, thoughts, triggers, and beliefs without turning it into a self-attack or shame spiral.

You’ll also learn how to uncover your strengths—not just your struggles—so you can use them to fuel change instead of trying to “fix” everything at once. This episode gives you a practical 10–15 minute exercise you can do today to start transforming how you see yourself, your symptoms, and what’s actually possible for your healing.

By the end, you’ll see that you are not your trauma responses, and that change isn’t about becoming a different person—it’s about becoming more of who you really are.

💡 What You’ll Learn

How defining your “current self” becomes the foundation for PTSD and trauma recovery

Why awareness and honesty are the first non-negotiable steps toward change

A simple writing exercise to list the habits, actions, emotions, and beliefs you want to stop

How to recognize and write down your strengths so they can support your healing

The difference between objective self-awareness and beating yourself up

How to view your life like a GPS route: where you are now, where you want to go, and how to bridge the gap

Why feeling fear or seeing “insurmountable” challenges doesn’t mean recovery is impossible

How to separate your true self from your symptoms, triggers, and trauma responses

A practical way to use this list all week as you design your “recovery hero” identity

🧠 Key Takeaway

You are not your symptoms—honestly seeing who you are right now, with self-love instead of judgment, is the first step to becoming the recovery hero you’re meant to be.

🔗 Next Steps

Subscribe for new weekday episodes from the Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching archive.

To go deeper or work with Brad directly, visit https://overcomingptsd.com/consultation.

CHAPTERS:

Topics Covered:

PTSD recovery roadmap • trauma healing journey • recovery hero identity • current self assessment • PTSD mindset shift • trauma coping tools • emotional regulation for PTSD • nervous system regulation • overcoming trauma triggers • self-acceptance after trauma • breaking negative habits PTSD • beliefs and PTSD recovery • trauma recovery coaching • practical PTSD exercises • healing C-PTSD step by step