Healing the Hidden Wounds: Anna Runkle on Complex PTSD and Reconnecting After Trauma

This is StRest! In this conversation, Kerstin sits down with author, teacher, and trauma recovery coach Anna Runkle, widely known as The Crappy Childhood Fairy, to explore how childhood trauma rewires the nervous system—and how we can heal it. Together they unpack why emotional dysregulation isn’t a character flaw but a neurological injury, how trauma fuels disconnection and chronic illness, and why healing begins not with talking about what happened, but with retraining the body and brain to feel safe again. Anna shares her 30-year journey of recovery from complex PTSD—how she went from cycles of self-sabotage and despair to building one of the world’s largest online trauma-healing communities. She introduces her simple, free method known as the Daily Practice: a combination of written prayer, meditation, and nervous system regulation that has helped millions worldwide. You’ll learn how dysregulation affects decision-making, relationships, and health; what to do in the moment when you feel triggered; and how writing, rest, and movement can restore clarity and connection. Anna also discusses her new book, Connectability, which reveals the hidden ways trauma survivors isolate and how small, consistent “acts of connection” can help anyone feel like they truly belong again. UPCOMING EVENTS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Woman's Wellness Retreat | Montana, October 9-12, 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠https://shorturl.at/OF4W7⁠ SPONSORS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ancient Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - For 20% OFF, USE CODE: STREST20 | https://shorturl.at/XwYqS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waco Shoe Company | Revitalign⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - 20% OFF EVERYTHING, USE CODE: KERSTIN20 |https://shorturl.at/aXSWi ⁠⁠⁠Superpower⁠⁠⁠ - Sign up today! | ⁠⁠⁠superpower.com/kerstin⁠⁠⁠ PROGRAM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fast2Faith Fasting Program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -https://shorturl.at/qky9O CHAPTERS (00:00) Intro & today’s big question (00:44) What is complex PTSD (05:03) Disconnection and the hidden effects of trauma (08:30) Dysregulation and physical symptoms (15:45) The Daily Practice: writing, prayer, rest (17:17) Anna’s story and spiritual awakening (24:18) Healing through meditation and co-regulation (33:42) Discovering complex PTSD and building community (38:10) In-the-moment tools for re-regulation (52:40) Forgiveness, reconnection, and lasting peace Work with Kerstin ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Workshops & Events⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Join upcoming events & retreats. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Health Coaching with Kerstin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – 1:1 coaching for stress reduction & wellness. More About Anna Runkle Website: crappychildhoodfairy.com Book: Connectability: Heal the Hidden Ways You Isolate YouTube: Crappy Childhood Fairy Instagram: @crappychildhoodfairy More about Kerstin Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kerstin-lindquist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @kerstin.lindquist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Kerstin Lindquist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @Kerstin.lindquist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @kerstin.lindquist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices