From trauma to transformation — Adriene Caldwell shares the truth behind the word “Unbroken.”

In this moving conversation from the Overcome podcast, Adriene Caldwell, author of Unbroken: Life Outside the Lines, recounts her extraordinary journey through childhood trauma, foster care, and mental illness toward healing, resilience, and advocacy.

She discusses how a life defined by instability, poverty, and abuse evolved into a mission to reform systems that fail children. Diagnosed with depression and anxiety at 15, Adriene later learned that her true diagnosis was complex PTSD — a realization that reframed her entire story.

Chapters:

00:00:00 – Introduction to Adriene Caldwell’s Journey00:01:12 – Navigating Mental Illness and Therapy00:04:59 – Understanding Trauma and Its Impact00:10:08 – The Journey of Writing Unbroken00:19:24 – The Power of Vulnerability and Seeking Help00:25:07 – Overcoming Trauma and Moving Forward00:26:22 – The Validity of Personal Trauma00:27:55 – The Turning Point: Sharing My Story00:32:24 – Seeking Justice: The Impact of Foster Care00:34:50 – Life Axioms: Approaching the World Positively00:35:21 – Overcoming Personal Loss and Health Challenges00:39:05 – The Importance of Seeking Help00:42:05 – Stigmas in Mental Health00:43:38 – Workplace Mental Health Initiatives00:47:15 – Finding Purpose After Trauma00:51:43 – Embracing Mental Health as a Tool

Adriene’s story proves that trauma doesn’t define you — how you rise does.
Through candid reflection, she reveals the courage it takes to seek therapy, embrace vulnerability, and rebuild after unimaginable hardship. Her voice carries hope for anyone who’s lived through the unthinkable and still chooses to believe in healing.

📘 Learn more at UnbrokenCaldwell.com

Listen to more of Overcome - A Mental Health Podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/7hbxEyFwwdJvCFLWBNQQiD