Adult Child The Cost of Unresolved Trauma: Relapse, Parental Guilt & Chronic Pain w/ Erin Martin
Aug 27, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Erin Martin, a podcaster and mom, shares her journey from a high-control religious background to navigating recovery and motherhood. She reveals how unresolved trauma can resurface unexpectedly, often manifesting as chronic pain or relapse. Erin emphasizes the significance of therapy beyond the 12 Steps, and explores the profound impact parenting has on revisiting childhood wounds. The conversation also addresses the difference between mom guilt and mom shame, shedding light on how these feelings can hinder true healing.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Old Wounds Can Resurface Later
- Unresolved trauma often resurfaces years into recovery and can feel as raw as the first time.
- Andrea and Erin call this normal and part of a longer healing journey, not failure.
Age Correspondence Triggers Parenting Wounds
- Age correspondence can trigger unresolved trauma when your child hits the age you experienced trauma.
- That can cause oscillation between overprotection and emotional distancing from your child.
Relapse After Years Sober
- Erin relapsed in March 2021 after seven years sober amid COVID, chronic pain, and a medical crisis.
- She nearly died and later checked into a trauma-focused program to recover.