Toxic shame is more than just a feeling; for those with CPTSD, it is a survival strategy. In this episode of Healing Out Loud, Jack explores why we experience "collapse" instead of accountability, how our inner critic mimics our own voice to keep us safe, and why trauma recovery often makes shame panic before it settles.

We often think of shame as a moral verdict, proof that we are fundamentally "wrong." But your nervous system didn’t choose shame because you are broken; it chose it because it worked.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The difference between "I did something wrong" and "I am something wrong."

• Why we "over-own" other people's moods and mistakes.

• The "Internal Manager": How shame monitors our tone and edits our thoughts.

• Moving from self-judgment to internal integrity and curiosity.

• Why visibility feels dangerous after childhood trauma.

Shame thrives in isolation, but healing begins when we name the "survival mask" for what it is. If you’ve ever felt like you’re apologizing for existing, this conversation is for you.

Connect with the show:

• Host: Jack

• Topic: CPTSD & Trauma Recovery

• Keywords: Mental Health, Self-Compassion, Inner Child, Emotional Healing, Recovery.

In this episode of Healing Out Loud, I dive into the messy, complicated work of reclaiming my emotions after surviving sexual abuse. I talk about the rules I was taught as a kid, how to suppress, hide, and edit my feelings, and the ongoing tension that healing creates.

I share how therapy helped me start noticing and giving space to the parts of me I’d long been trained to hide, and why, even now, I refuse to let anyone dictate how I should feel.

If you’ve ever struggled with feeling “too much,” silencing yourself, or living under invisible rules about your emotions, this episode is for you. Let’s talk honestly, vulnerably, and out loud.

Website - https://aboutthatjack.com

The holidays can be beautiful, and brutal.

In this episode, Jack talks about navigating the season with CPTSD, where twinkly lights meet old triggers and quiet grief.

It’s a reminder that you can’t do the holidays wrong when you’re doing them honestly, and that protecting your peace is its own kind of joy.