The Trauma Recovery School

The Trauma Recovery School

Hosted by: Bonita Ackerman du Preez

The Trauma Recovery School Podcasts examines everyday anxiety that can affect most of us at some point in our lives, but did you realise your anxiety may have been caused by a specific traumatic event in the past?...

Episodes

#126 Why You Don't Feel Like Yourself Anymore | Trauma & Identity

Season #3

In this episode, we explore how trauma can influence identity, why the nervous system creates protective behaviours, and the difference between your survival self and your authentic self. You'll also learn why...
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#125 Why Trauma Lives in the Body | The Missing Piece in Recovery

Season #3

In this episode, we explain how trauma can become a long-standing survival response within the nervous system and why recovery is not simply about positive thinking or relaxation. You'll learn why regulation is built...
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#124 Why You Feel Unwell When Medical Tests Are Normal | Trauma & The Nervous System

Season #3

In this episode, we explore how trauma can affect the nervous system and why the body may continue responding as though danger is still present. You'll learn how survival responses can influence physical sensations,...
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#123 Why You Still Feel Stuck After Therapy | The Missing Piece

Season #3

In this episode, we explore why this happens. You'll learn how the brain naturally follows familiar neural pathways, why survival responses become automatic over time, and why lasting trauma recovery requires more...
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#122 Why You Still Feel Stuck After Therapy | Trauma Explained

Season #3

In this episode, we explore why trauma is more than a memory of the past. Trauma can influence how the brain predicts the future, how the nervous system responds to uncertainty, and how individuals relate to...
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#121 Negative Self-Talk & Trauma | What Your Brain Learned

Season #3

In this episode, we explore how trauma can influence the brain’s focus on protection, prediction, and threat detection. You’ll learn why criticism, self-doubt, and fear-based thinking can become deeply ingrained...
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#120 Why the voice in your head is not telling the truth.

Season #3

In this episode, we explore how the brain learns to use internal dialogue as a form of protection. You’ll learn why the inner voice often anticipates rejection, avoids shame, and constantly scans for risk, as well as...
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#119 Why high achievers living with trauma feel worse despite success

Season #3

In this episode, we explore how the nervous system can begin associating achievement with safety, control, and self-worth. You’ll learn why stillness can feel uncomfortable, why the body stays in motion even during...
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#118 Why High Achievers Burn Out | Trauma & Survival Mode

Season #3

In this episode, we explore how the nervous system can associate achievement with safety, validation, and control. You’ll learn why productivity can become a coping mechanism, how survival patterns drive overworking...
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#117 Why overthinking makes trauma & PTSD feel worse!

Season #3

In this episode, we explore how trauma can change the role of thinking, shifting it from clarity to protection. You’ll learn how the brain scans for potential threats, why mental overactivity becomes automatic, and...
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#116 Why Your Mind Won’t Switch Off | Trauma & Overthinking

Season #3

In this Episode, we explore how trauma can change the role of thinking, shifting it from clarity to protection. You’ll learn how the brain scans for potential threats, why mental overactivity becomes automatic, and...
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#115 Why You Feel Worse When Life Calms Down | Trauma Explained

Season #3

In this episode, we explore how the brain’s threat system remains active even when the environment is safe, and why calm can be misinterpreted as a signal that something is wrong. You’ll learn how survival patterns...
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