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Why do high-performers crash after the war is over?
For thirty years, you functioned. You paid your taxes. You built a career. You raised a family. You outran the shadow. So why, now that things have finally slowed down, do you feel like you are falling apart?


In this inaugural episode of Four Names for Thunder, host Matthew Hearn explores the physics of delayed trauma. Just as there is a gap between the lightning flash and the thunder, there is a gap between a traumatic event and the emotional impact. For many men, that gap lasts decades.


We explore the "Busyness Defense"—the script given to Gen X and Boomers that told us to work hard and provide, using high-stress careers as a numbing agent to hide from our own pain.

In this episode, we cover:

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• The Physics of Lightning: Understanding why you are just now hearing the "Thunder" of events that happened decades ago.
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• The Busyness Defense: How we use work, parenting, and noise as a suit of armor to outrun the shadow.
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• The Crash: Why retirement and the "Empty Nest" are often the most dangerous times for survivors.
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• The Map: An introduction to the four stages of the journey: The Secret, The Shadow, The Crash, and The Voice.
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You are not broken. You are just finally safe enough to feel the impact.

Listen to the episode to begin the System Reboot.

Quotes from this Episode:

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• "I filled the gap with noise... fixing other people's broken bodies so I didn't have to look at my own broken spirit."
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• "For survivors like us, silence is not a gift. Silence is a threat."
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• "You cannot outrun a sound wave forever. Eventually, you have to stop for gas."
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Resources:

• Subscribe to The System Log on Substack: [https://substack.com/@matthewhearn]
• Join the private Facebook Group: [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585106797475]

Next Episode: We dive deeper into "The Secret" and the origins of childhood survival strategies.

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