Living with Complex PTSD: Nikki Everett on Surviving Violence and Finding Purpose Through Writing

On this episode of the Journey to Purpose Podcast, Nikki Everett shares her deeply personal journey through violence, the prison system, and complex PTSD — and the transformative power of writing that helped her find her way back to herself and her voice.Nikki speaks with raw honesty about the pivotal moment that changed the course of her life, the long and non-linear road of healing from complex trauma, and why writing became not just a coping tool but a calling. Her upcoming book aims to reach others who have lived through similar experiences, offering recognition, hope, and the message that healing — however messy and uncertain — is possible. Her conversation is a powerful reminder that everyone carries a chapter that changes them, and that chapter does not have to be the last word.Key TopicsNikki's experiences in the prison system and the moment that became a turning pointWhat it is like to live with complex PTSD — and how it differs from other trauma responsesThe transformative role of writing in processing trauma and rebuilding identityThe importance of acceptance and genuine understanding in the healing journeyReaching others through storytelling and why Nikki's book mattersAbout Nikki EverettNikki Everett is a writer and trauma survivor whose journey through violence, incarceration, and complex PTSD has given her a uniquely powerful perspective on healing and resilience. Through her writing and her forthcoming book, she aims to break the silence around difficult lived experiences and offer those still in the dark a light to move toward.Journey to Purpose is a personal transformation podcast featuring real conversations about mindset, trauma recovery, self-worth, spiritual awakening, resilience, and finding your life’s purpose. New episodes every week. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Of0Na1qWovS8Aw2X2FU8M 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philippa.bagley/ 🌐 Website: https://philippabagley.com/ Subscribe and leave a review — it helps others find the show.About your hostPippa Bagley is a clinical hypnotherapist specialising in burnout and sleep, and the host of Journey to Purpose. Based in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, she is passionate about helping people reconnect with what truly matters — and build lives and careers that feel genuinely sustainable. Pippa is also studying for an MSc in the Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health at King’s College London. Find out more at philippabagley.com