Unlearn the Trauma

When my mom died, I didn't just lose her. I lost the version of me who was supposed to grow up with her. In this episode, I talk about what childhood grief really looks like; not the kind people expect, but the kind that hides in silence, in nervous system responses, in the absence of memories that never had the chance to form. I explore the version of myself that never got to be, and what it's taken to become someone new. You'll hear the truths I've uncovered about survival mode, invisible grief, and what happens when the person who made you disappears too soon. I also imagined a conversation with my five-year-old self; and let's just say, she had some things to say about the version of us that stayed. Inside this episode: The ache of what didn't happen — and why that grief cuts deepest Why my body remembers more than my mind ever could A sketch about memory that's both hilarious and heartbreaking A listener letter about feeling unseen in childhood grief And the biggest unlearning of all: healing doesn't mean going back; it means becoming someone who never had a chance to exist This one is for anyone who's ever wondered who they might've been, if love had lasted longer. Come join our community: unlearnthetrauma.com/community And connect with me on IG: @UnlearnTheTrauma

Welcome to Unlearn the Trauma, a podcast about what comes after the worst day of your life, and how to carry it differently. In this first episode, I share why this space exists, who it's for, and what makes it different from other conversations about trauma and healing. If you've ever asked yourself, "Am I healed, or just not triggered today?" This is for you. You'll hear a little of my story, a lot of honesty, and what you can expect every Monday: storytelling, dark humor, hot takes, and the kind of conversations I wish someone had with me when I was still in the dark. This isn't about fixing you. It's about walking with you. And this... is just the beginning.

What if no one came? In this first episode of Unlearn the Trauma, I'm telling the story I've carried since I was five — the day I told my little sister to pack because I didn't think anyone was coming for us. It started with a dream about a missing child… and ended with a memory I hadn't put words around until now. I talk about hyper-independence, invisible wounds, and what it means to grow up before you're safe — including the moment I realized I wasn't being brave, I was just surviving. You'll also hear: – My reflections on Gabor Maté's insights into trauma – A sketch: The Lost and Found Department (for Children of Trauma) – A listener letter about blurry childhood memories and whether that means they're real If this episode speaks to something inside you, you're not alone. Join the community: https://unlearnthetrauma.com/community This one's for anyone who had to become the adult before they were ready — and the version of you that's still waiting for someone to come back.

I wasn't supposed to cry at kindergarten drop-off. But grief doesn't care about timing. In this episode of Unlearn the Trauma, I share the moment that undid me: the day my daughter walked into her classroom for the first time… and brought me face-to-face with the version of my life I never got to live. I thought I was fine. Healed, even. But standing in that hallway cracked something open; and suddenly I was five years old again, grieving the first day that never happened. This episode is for anyone who's ever looked "okay" on the outside while carrying grief on the inside. For the ones who thought they were past it; until life handed them a crayon drawing labeled "For Grandma" and reminded them what was lost. Inside this episode: – My story of grief surfacing during a milestone moment – Reflections on healing not being linear (with help from TikToks + hot takes) – A sketch: Am I Healed or Just Distracted? – A midnight mail letter about the fear of "going backwards" in healing Free Healing Resource: Download 3 Rules for Surviving the Unimaginable → unlearnthetrauma.com/healing-tools Come be part of the Unlearn the Trauma community: https://unlearnthetrauma.com/community This one's tender, messy, and real — just like healing.