The Shattering Point: What Happens When Childhood Trauma Finally Breaks Through

Meet Andrea Leeb, a successful Manhattan attorney, writer, and high-functioning adult who learned the hard way that survival is not the same as healing.

Andrea’s childhood was marked by severe sexual abuse and an environment of agonizing denial—a trauma so deep that when her mother discovered it, she was struck with literal "hysterical blindness." For decades, Andrea buried the pain under a polished exterior, achieving success while secretly battling PTSD, panic, and crippling repression.

This raw, honest conversation is about the moment the façade shatters, the psychological rebirth that follows, and the universal power of telling your truth.

In this essential mental health session, we discuss:

• The Perfectionism Trap: Why striving to appear successful and "fine" is a powerful, yet destructive, trauma response that delays healing for high-functioning adults.
• The PTSD in Plain Sight: Andrea explains how her PTSD hid behind a successful career, and how to spot the subtle signs of trauma in your own life that you might be labeling as "anxiety" or "burnout."
• From Silence to Self-Awareness: The essential tools that fueled her "psychological rebirth," including trauma therapy, EMDR, and the power of boundary work.
• The Incest Survivor's Lifelong Impact: How growing up in a home defined by abuse, silence, and not being believed shaped every corner of her mental reality.
• The Power of Truth: If you're stuck in silence, Andrea offers a profoundly moving reminder that it is never too late to begin your healing journey and become the person you were meant to be.

This conversation is a living, breathing testament to the fact that healing isn't linear, but it is always worth the fight.

Press play to give yourself the mental health break you need.

Support the show

Be sure to subscribe to stay current.

Have a question for the host or guest? Want their freebee? Are you looking to become a guest or show partner? Email Danica at [email protected].

This show is brought to you by Coming Alive Podcast Production.

CRISIS LINE: DIAL 988