Scott Blackwood discusses healing traumatic pasts, impacts of relational and attachment trauma, CPTSD, shame, low self-esteem, social isolation, trauma responses, trauma in the gay community, and ways to heal past trauma. The episode aims to normalize trauma, release shame, and educate on trauma-informed approaches.
Trauma is not limited to war or rape and can stem from various experiences like neglect, bullying, or breakups.
Recognizing and addressing inner parts like protectors and exiles is crucial for healing from trauma.
Relational trauma can shape one's sense of self, leading to negative core beliefs and fear of failure.
Deep dives
Overview of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD)
In this podcast episode, Matt Lansidol, an intuitive life and spiritual coach, is joined by Scott Blackwood to discuss healing from a traumatic past and specifically focus on complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). They explain that trauma is an umbrella term that encompasses various experiences, and CPTSD specifically refers to relational or attachment trauma. They highlight that trauma is not limited to war or rape and can stem from neglect, bullying, or breakups. The speakers emphasize the impact of trauma on the brain, including the way it stores traumatic experiences, and discuss symptoms such as emotional dysregulation, changes in relationships, difficulty paying attention, negative beliefs, and somatic distress. They stress the importance of recognizing and understanding trauma and its effect on one's life, working with therapists or counselors, and offering self-compassion and forgiveness as part of the healing process.
Exploring Protectors and Exiles
The podcast delves into the concept of protectors and exiles, which are inner parts that individuals develop in response to trauma. These protectors may manifest as behaviors or coping mechanisms aimed at keeping the individual safe, such as dissociation, numbing, avoidance, or control. Exiles, on the other hand, represent wounded inner parts that hold pain and vulnerability resulting from the trauma. The speakers discuss the importance of recognizing and addressing these parts, understanding their significance, and offering self-compassion throughout the healing process. They also encourage listeners to seek support from professionals trained in trauma therapy to effectively navigate the complex journey of healing.
The Long-lasting Impact of Relational Trauma
The podcast highlights the lasting impact of relational trauma, such as bullying, neglect, or unmet needs in childhood or relationships. It emphasizes that trauma affects the brain and can lead to symptoms similar to ADHD or emotional dysregulation. The speakers discuss how complex trauma can shape one's sense of self, leading to negative core beliefs and fear of failure. They emphasize the importance of recognizing trauma beyond 'big T' events and validating one's experiences, offering support, and reframing trauma as a wound that can be healed through self-compassion, therapy, and inner work.
Understanding and Addressing Protective Behaviors
The podcast explores various protective behaviors that individuals develop in response to trauma, such as avoidance, people-pleasing, perfectionism, or dissociation. The speakers discuss the adaptive nature of these behaviors to cope with trauma and emphasize the need to approach them with understanding and compassion. They emphasize the importance of listening to one's body, recognizing triggers, and seeking professional support to address protective behaviors and work towards healing and growth.
Embracing Vulnerability and Extending Compassion
The podcast emphasizes the importance of embracing vulnerability and extending self-compassion throughout the healing process. The speakers share personal stories and experiences, highlighting the impact of trauma and the challenges of overcoming protective behaviors. They encourage listeners to create a space of self-acceptance, forgiveness, and love, and offer support to those who may be struggling. Overall, the podcast promotes the message that healing from trauma is possible, and that through self-discovery and professional support, individuals can transcend their past and embrace a more authentic and connected life.
In this episode Matt speaks with Scott Blackwood about healing their traumatic pasts. They talk about the impacts of relational and attachment trauma on their lives and how this led to Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), shame, low self-esteem and social isolation. They talk about how the unresolved trauma impacted their relationship with themselves and others and the steps they are taking to overcome this.
Here are some of the concepts they explored in this episode:
What is trauma?
What is CPTSD?
The Neurobiology and Nervous system impacts of trauma
Exploring how trauma shows up in us (trauma responses)
Our personal stories of relational/attachment trauma
The impact trauma has on the gay community
Ways to heal past trauma
Most humans experience relational/attachment trauma over the course of their lives and it is important to be trauma informed so we know how to be sensitive and compassionate towards ourselves and others as we navigate our own trauma healing journeys.
Our hope is this episode will normalize trauma, and release any shame or stigma around having unresolved trauma because it’s a lot more common than we think.
