Overcoming PTSD with Brad Schipke

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/

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

In this episode, Brad and Kayleen dive into a topic that quietly affects almost every trauma survivor: how to stay true to yourself despite what other people think. When you’ve lived through PTSD or trauma, it’s easy to lose touch with what you want, what you like, and who you really are under all the fear, doubt, and people-pleasing.

Together they break down why trauma often leads to indecision, self-doubt, and constantly looking to others for approval — and how to rebuild the lost skill of self-trust. You’ll hear simple, real-life examples (captions on TV, Santa suits, pink walls, and zipline choices) that show how everyday decisions can become powerful reps in the “being-yourself” muscle.

Brad and Kayleen also explore the deeper side of this work: giving yourself permission to have opinions, desires, and preferences, even when they don’t match what others expect of you. They share how this shift not only supports PTSD recovery, but also attracts healthier relationships, more aligned success, and a life that actually feels like yours.

You’ll leave this episode with a very practical challenge you can start today to practice self-validation, make more honest choices, and slowly step off the fence so you can live as your true self — not the version that trauma tried to turn you into.

💡 What You’ll Learn

Why PTSD and trauma make it so hard to know what you actually want

How to start rebuilding the “self-trust muscle” with tiny daily decisions

A simple question you can ask yourself to reconnect with your true desires

How people-pleasing, “I don’t care,” and staying neutral keep you stuck in survival mode

Why being authentically yourself is a hidden key to success in trauma recovery and life

How to handle the fear of what others will think when you choose something different

Practical examples of choosing for yourself (from movies to furniture to big life moves)

How practicing self-validation leads to better boundaries and healthier relationships

A weekend challenge you can use to physically practice staying true to yourself

🧠 Key Takeaway

Healing from PTSD and trauma requires learning to trust yourself again — every honest decision you make for you is a rep in becoming your true self.

🔗 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 • staying true to yourself • authentic self after trauma • self-validation skills • people-pleasing and PTSD • rebuilding identity after trauma • emotional regulation • nervous system regulation • trauma coping tools • decision making confidence • overcoming fear of judgment • recovery hero identity • daily trauma healing practices • 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/

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

In this episode, Brad goes deep into addiction, sobriety, and what real commitment looks like when you’re healing from PTSD or trauma. They expand the definition of addiction beyond drugs and alcohol to include “sneaky addictions” like TV, social media, pornography, video games, spending, food, and even compulsive phone use that quietly erode your life.

You’ll learn why simply admitting “this is a problem” is a crucial first step—but not enough—and how to move into a clear, personal commitment to sobriety that actually holds when you’re alone, triggered, and no one is watching. Instead of doing it “for your partner, kids, or therapist,” you’ll see why the foundation has to be doing it for you.

Brad and Kaylene break down how to write a real commitment contract, create self-boundaries, and use pain from your past and imagined future to fuel change. You’ll also hear how healing the deeper trauma and processing the emotions that drive your behaviors runs in parallel with breaking the habit, and why becoming your own “recovery hero” transforms shame into genuine self-respect.

💡 What You’ll Learn

How to recognize “sneaky addictions” like TV, scrolling, porn, spending, or games that keep PTSD and trauma symptoms stuck

Why your sobriety commitment must be to yourself first, not to your partner, family, or friends

How to identify your “one biggest thing” and focus your energy on changing that relationship

A simple definition of addiction you can use to honestly assess your own behaviors

How to write a powerful commitment contract that uses past and future pain to fuel change

What self-boundaries are and how to design practical rules that keep you away from your triggers

Why breaking the habit and healing the trauma are two parallel but separate journeys

How to turn moments of craving into proof that you can trust yourself again

Why feeling proud of your choices—especially when no one sees them—is a core part of PTSD recovery

🧠 Key Takeaway

Lasting sobriety in PTSD and trauma recovery starts when you stop doing it for everyone else and finally decide, “I’m doing this for me because I deserve a different life.”

🔗 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 Introduction to Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching

Topics Covered:

PTSD recovery • trauma healing • addiction recovery • sobriety commitment • sneaky addictions and compulsions • alcohol addiction and PTSD • pornography and social media addiction • codependency and trauma • emotional regulation • nervous system regulation • trauma coping tools • recovery hero identity • self-love after trauma • self boundaries and limits • overcoming shame in sobriety • healing trauma triggers • PTSD mindset tools

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/

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

In this episode, Brad and Kaylene explore one of the most underrated foundations of PTSD recovery: patience. In a world built on instant gratification, they unpack why trauma healing doesn’t – and can’t – follow an overnight shipping timeline. Instead, they show you how to take a long-term view that actually brings more peace, less pressure, and better results.

You’ll hear a powerful reframe: recovery is inevitable if you keep taking action and don’t quit on yourself. Brad shares visuals like “limited trauma walls” and the miner story to help you see that, even when it feels like problems never end, there actually is a finish line – you just might not see it yet. Your only real job is to keep gently chipping away.

Kaylene brings this down to earth with real-life stories about messy moments, flooded bathrooms, muddy dog paws, and family dynamics – and how patience completely transforms those experiences. Instead of stress and self-criticism, you can bring humor, gratitude, and self-kindness into your daily life and healing work.

By the end, you’ll know how to stay patient with your processing sessions, your emotions, your relationships, your sobriety, and your timeline. You’ll walk away with a simple focus: one day, one mile, one wall at a time – trusting that if you stay consistent, full recovery is not just possible, it’s inevitable.

💡 What You’ll Learn

Why patience is a core pillar of PTSD and trauma recovery (not a “nice to have”)

How instant gratification culture secretly trains you to feel like you’re failing at healing

The “limited number of walls” analogy and how it proves recovery is possible for you

How to stay consistent with processing even when you feel like you’re not making progress

Why some trauma shifts quickly while other patterns take longer (and how to tell the difference)

How to bring patience into everyday life: relationships, kids, pets, work, and self-care

The role of self-talk in either fueling self-rejection or building self-compassion

How to handle emotional overwhelm without shutting down, numbing, or quitting

A simple way to focus on “today’s mile” instead of getting discouraged by the whole journey

🧠 Key Takeaway

Recovery becomes inevitable when you stop rushing, stay patient with yourself, and keep gently taking the next right step.

🔗 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 • emotional regulation • nervous system regulation • patience in healing • long-term PTSD recovery • trauma processing tools • releasing emotions • protector work • sobriety and trauma • addictions and recovery commitment • self-compassion in PTSD • overcoming self-rejection • coping with emotional overwhelm • recovery mindset • consistency in trauma healing • recovery hero future self • relationship healing after trauma • practical PTSD coping tools

Struggling with PTSD and ready to FULLY recover? Join my recovery program here (costs less than a single therapy session): https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable

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

In this episode, Brad and Kaylene walk you through a brutally honest question: is your routine actually working for you, or are you trying to live inside someone else’s schedule? Instead of forcing yourself into rigid “perfect morning routines,” you’ll learn how to design healing-friendly days that fit your energy, personality, and real life.

You’ll hear the three core routines Brad recommends for trauma recovery—morning, evening, and healing—and how each one serves a specific purpose in regulating your nervous system and creating momentum. They break down why so many survivors make routines miserable, overcomplicated, and impossible to sustain, then show you how to reverse that pattern.

Brad also explains the “habit-building timeline,” how willpower really works, and why starting smaller and more honestly can get you further, faster. This isn’t about being more disciplined or harder on yourself. It’s about building simple, enjoyable routines you can actually imagine doing for the rest of your life.

By the end, you’ll be able to look at your own routines with fresh eyes, remove the pressure, and take relaxed action toward a structure that truly supports your PTSD or trauma recovery—without sacrificing the people and things that matter most to you.

💡 What You’ll Learn

Why most PTSD and trauma survivors accidentally design routines that burn them out

The three core routines Brad recommends: morning, evening, and healing

How to tell if your current routine is truly working for you or for someone else’s goals

The “habit-building timeline” and why new routines feel hardest at the beginning

How to make routines simple, enjoyable, and sustainable for a lifetime

The role of honesty in setting realistic routines you’ll actually follow

How to use “relaxed action” to reduce pressure and still move forward daily

Why tiny, consistent actions can radically change your body, brain, and recovery

How to adjust your routines when life, energy, or circumstances change

🧠 Key Takeaway

Your routine should be simple, enjoyable, and designed for you—if you can’t imagine doing it for the rest of your life, it’s time to change it.

🔗 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 Introduction to Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching

Topics Covered:

PTSD recovery routine • trauma healing habits • morning routine for PTSD • evening routine for trauma survivors • sustainable healing routine • nervous system regulation • emotional regulation • trauma coping tools • habit building for PTSD recovery • relaxed action vs burnout • simple daily PTSD recovery steps • overcoming overwhelm in trauma healing • mindset for PTSD recovery • processing tools for trauma • long term trauma healing strategy • overcoming avoidance in PTSD routines • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching

Struggling with PTSD and ready to FULLY recover? Join my recovery program here (costs less than a single therapy session): https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable

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

In this episode, Brad and Kayleen break down a powerful but often overlooked part of PTSD recovery: the “lens” you use to interpret your life. They walk you through how every situation starts as raw data, and how your beliefs and perspectives shape that data into either hope or hopelessness, possibility or shutdown.

You’ll hear real stories from their own relationship and recovery journeys—times when changing a single belief or focus completely transformed how they felt, how they showed up, and the decisions they made next. Same circumstances, totally different experience, just by switching lenses.

At the center of this session is one simple question: “How can I?” Brad and Kayleen show how this tiny shift—from “this won’t work for me” to “how could this work for me?”—can open doors in your PTSD healing, relationships, routines, and daily challenges. They also preview upcoming sessions on routines, patience, and addiction so you can keep building on this new lens day by day.

💡 What You’ll Learn

🧠 Key Takeaway

You don’t have to change all the facts of your life to change your reality—change the lens you’re looking through and the path of your PTSD recovery changes with it.

🔗 Next Steps

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

To go deeper or work with Brad directly, visit https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable

CHAPTERS:

Topics Covered:

PTSD recovery • trauma healing • changing your lens • belief change and PTSD • nervous system regulation • trauma coping tools • gratitude practice for trauma survivors • mindset shifts for PTSD • emotional regulation • simple PTSD routines • recovery mindset • overcoming trauma triggers • how to heal from PTSD without therapy • daily PTSD coaching • trauma and relationships • perspective shifts in healing • overcoming negative self talk • practical PTSD tools

Struggling with PTSD and ready to FULLY recover? Join my recovery program here (costs less than a single therapy session): https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable

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

In this episode, Brad and Kayleen dive deep into grounding and mindfulness as core tools for PTSD and trauma recovery. Instead of relying on “canned” lists of exercises that rarely stick in real life, they show you how to turn everyday moments into powerful grounding practices you can use anywhere, anytime.

You’ll learn how grounding pulls you out of emotional chaos and back into the present moment so you can calm your nervous system, make clearer decisions, and feel more in control when you’re triggered. Brad and Kayleen explain why presence isn’t a switch that’s either on or off, but a muscle you can strengthen over time.

They walk you through practical examples—like using a ring, a cup of coffee, a shower, or even an almond—to activate your five senses, reconnect with your body, and train your brain to focus where you want it to go. You’ll also be invited to remember childhood and travel moments when you were naturally present, and learn how to bring that feeling back into your life now.

By the end, you’ll have three concrete action steps to start building daily mindfulness habits, create your own personalized grounding exercise for triggers, and steadily grow your capacity to stay calm, aware, and centered through the ups and downs of PTSD recovery.

💡 What You’ll Learn

🧠 Key Takeaway

Grounding isn’t about the exercise itself—it’s about training your mind to come back to the present moment so you can be in control, even when PTSD or trauma emotions feel overwhelming.

🔗 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 • grounding exercises for PTSD • mindfulness for trauma survivors • present moment awareness • emotional regulation tools • nervous system regulation • coping skills for PTSD triggers • sensory grounding techniques • daily mindfulness routine • trauma coping tools • live PTSD coaching • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching • Overcoming PTSD Podcast

Struggling with PTSD and ready to FULLY recover? Join my recovery program here (costs less than a single therapy session): https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable

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

In this episode, Brad and Kayleen break down the real first step of addiction recovery for trauma survivors: honest validation and acknowledgement. Instead of arguing over labels or diagnoses, they walk you through how to trust your own experience and call your “bad habits” what they truly are for you.

You’ll hear how seemingly “normal” behaviors like TV, social media, food, pornography, or video games can act just like classic addictions when you’re living with PTSD or unresolved trauma. Brad and Kayleen explain what’s actually happening in your brain with dopamine spikes, crashes, and why life can start to feel flat, empty, and unmotivating.

They also unpack why early sobriety often feels worse before it feels better, and how to “love the lag” between doing the right things and finally feeling the payoff. Through Kayleen’s personal story of getting sober in the middle of intense pain, you’ll see why waiting for life to calm down is a trap—and why facing pain without numbing is one of the most powerful things you’ll ever do.

By the end, you’ll have a simple starting point: identify one addiction or compulsion, validate it as a serious issue in your life, drive the pain it’s caused, and commit to just not using today. No perfection, no pressure—just honest momentum in the right direction.

💡 What You’ll Learn

How to tell if a “bad habit” is actually functioning as an addiction in your life

Why you don’t need a DSM diagnosis to take your PTSD addictions seriously

How dopamine spikes, crashes, and a lowered baseline make normal life feel dull

Why early sobriety with trauma often feels harder (and why that’s not failure)

How to “drive the pain” of your addiction so you finally take it seriously

A simple way to reset your brain and become “high on life” again without substances

How to stay sober through big emotional pain instead of using it as an excuse

The two-part recovery path: breaking the habit and healing the underlying trauma

Practical mindset shifts and self-talk you can use in the moment you want to use

🧠 Key Takeaway

You don’t need the world to validate your addiction—once you fully acknowledge it as a serious problem, you finally take back the power to change it.

🔗 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 • addiction recovery • sobriety journey • emotional regulation • nervous system regulation • PTSD and addiction • trauma coping tools • breaking bad habits with PTSD • dopamine and the brain • compulsive behaviors and trauma • overcoming numbing and avoidance • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching • validation and acknowledgement in recovery • how to stop using to cope with trauma • mindset shifts for PTSD healing • healing underlying trauma pain

Struggling with PTSD and ready to FULLY recover? Join my recovery program here (costs less than a single therapy session): https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable

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

In this episode, Brad breaks down why honesty is not just a “nice” character trait, but a foundational principle for healing PTSD and trauma. He explains how most survivors are never really taught what true honesty is—and how confusing it with self-criticism or shame can quietly stall your recovery for years.

You’ll learn the difference between being brutally hard on yourself and being accurately honest with yourself in a way that actually moves you forward. Brad shares personal stories and client examples of how radical self-honesty helped people set boundaries, face addictions, and finally admit how much something really hurt so it could be processed and released.

The conversation then moves into how honesty shows up inside processing work—especially with protectors, stuck emotions, addictions, compulsions, and flashbacks. Brad explains why your logical brain and emotional brain often disagree, and how honest emotional expression becomes the bridge between them.

By the end, you’ll see that honesty is not about confessing everything to other people—it’s about telling the truth to yourself so you can stop hiding from your pain, access the right tools, and become the kind of person who is genuinely proud of the work you’re doing to heal.

💡 What You’ll Learn

🧠 Key Takeaway

You can’t heal what you refuse to be honest about—once you tell yourself the truth, you finally have the power to change it.

🔗 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 • honesty in recovery • emotional honesty • nervous system regulation • trauma coping tools • PTSD processing tools • addictions and compulsions in PTSD • emotional regulation skills • flashback coping tools • trauma triggers and responses • self-compassion in PTSD recovery • protector work • releasing stuck emotions • recovery tools for trauma survivors

Struggling with PTSD and ready to FULLY recover? Join my recovery program here (costs less than a single therapy session): https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable

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

In this episode, Brad and Kayleen walk you through how to use daily goals and affirmations as a practical tool for PTSD and trauma recovery. Instead of fluffy “feel good” phrases, they show you how to anchor affirmations in real evidence and real emotion so your brain actually starts to believe them.

You’ll learn why routines are a core pillar of PTSD recovery and how goals and affirmations can sharpen your mindset, keep you focused on who you want to become, and accelerate all the work you’re already doing. Brad also explains why memory naturally fades and how to keep your healing front and center by revisiting your goals daily.

Together they break down a simple formula for powerful affirmations, how to connect them to the life you want, and how to stop living by what other people think you “should” want. You’ll hear a powerful reframe around age, possibility, and achievement—especially if you’ve ever worried that you’re “too old” to change.

By the end, you’ll have a clear, step-by-step way to define what you truly want, turn it into aligned goals and affirmations, and then lock all of it into an easy daily routine that supports long-term healing from PTSD and trauma.

💡 What You’ll Learn

Why routines are one of the three core pillars of PTSD recovery

How goals and affirmations work together to reshape beliefs and behavior

The simple A = B + R + F formula for building powerful affirmations

How to attach real-life references and feelings so affirmations actually stick

A practical way to define what you truly want (not what others expect)

How to set goals in different life areas that support trauma healing

Why you are never “too old” to change your life and heal from PTSD

How to tack new healing habits onto routines you already have

Ways affirmations slowly become your natural self-talk over time

🧠 Key Takeaway

Your beliefs create your reality, so when you consistently feed your mind aligned goals and emotionally grounded affirmations, you give your brain no choice but to start building the life you actually want.

🔗 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 • belief change after trauma • PTSD mindset shifts • trauma recovery routines • daily routines for PTSD • emotional regulation • nervous system regulation • trauma coping tools • goal setting for trauma survivors • self-worth after trauma • overcoming “I’m too old to change” • independent healing after PTSD • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching

Struggling with PTSD and ready to FULLY recover? Join my recovery program here (costs less than a single therapy session): https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable

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

In this episode, Brad and Kayleen dive into one of the biggest challenges trauma survivors face: feeling stuck, unmotivated, and unable to take action even when you know what would help. If you’ve ever stayed in bed, numbed out with food, TV, or games, or watched your day disappear in “waiting mode” before an appointment or event, this session will feel uncomfortably familiar—and deeply relieving.

You’ll hear Brad share honestly about a season of his life where he felt hopeless about the future, addicted to numbing behaviors, and trapped in brutal self-talk. Together, he and Kayleen unpack how he began creating motivation before he felt ready, and how taking tiny actions started to rebuild hope, self-respect, and momentum in his PTSD recovery.

The coaching then shifts into practical tools you can use right away: chunking overwhelming tasks into micro-steps, using “blinders” to stay in the present, reframing discipline as self-respect, and asking better questions like, “What’s one thing I can do right now to feel a little better?” They also explain the “seesaw effect” of recovery so you stop thinking a bad day means you’ve failed.

Finally, Brad and Kayleen connect motivation to deeper trauma healing—how processing, sobriety, and nervous system repair make motivation less of a daily battle and more of a natural byproduct of healing. You’ll leave with both immediate coping tools and a clear sense of why going to the root of your trauma makes everything easier over time.

💡 What You’ll Learn

Why waiting to “feel motivated” keeps PTSD survivors stuck in numbing cycles

How to use action to create motivation instead of relying on adrenaline or willpower

A simple chunking strategy to break overwhelming tasks into doable micro-steps

How to use “blinders” and self-talk to stop obsessing about later and stay in the present

Why hope can feel terrifying after trauma—and how to safely let it back in

The “seesaw effect” of recovery and why bad days don’t mean you’re going backwards

How addiction, avoidance, and constant numbing kill motivation and feed hopelessness

The difference between surface-level coping tools and deep trauma processing work

How discipline and keeping promises to yourself rebuild self-trust after PTSD

🧠 Key Takeaway

You don’t wait to feel motivated to take action—tiny actions taken with compassion create motivation, rebuild hope, and prove to your nervous system that a different future is possible.

🔗 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 Introduction to Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching

Topics Covered:

PTSD recovery • trauma healing • PTSD motivation • overcoming trauma numbness • emotional regulation • nervous system regulation • trauma coping tools • breaking addiction cycles after trauma • PTSD routines • self-talk for PTSD recovery • hope after trauma • recovery mindset • building discipline with PTSD • trauma-informed goal setting • one day at a time sobriety • PTSD and avoidance • how to stop isolating with trauma • practical PTSD tools • complex trauma recovery strategies