In this powerful episode of The School of Resilience, Dr. Maria Bargeman delves into the common belief that full healing from trauma is impossible. She discusses the origins of this mindset, often rooted in environmental influences and past experiences, such as messages from clinicians, group therapy dynamics, and personal histories of emotional pain. Dr. Bargeman emphasizes how these factors can shape a person’s belief that healing isn’t achievable, especially when reinforced by authority figures or repeated exposure to narratives of ongoing struggle.

Dr. Bargeman explains that beliefs about our inability to heal often serve a protective function, shielding us from the repeated heartbreak of failed attempts at recovery. Some individuals may also cling to their identity as someone who suffers because it feels familiar and safe. This attachment to a painful narrative can feel necessary to preserve the validity of their past experiences, making the idea of healing seem like an erasure of what they’ve endured. Dr. Bargeman compassionately addresses how these beliefs, while understandable, can keep individuals stuck in a cycle of suffering.

As the episode progresses, Dr. Bargeman encourages listeners to gently untangle their sense of self from their painful experiences, recognizing that holding onto the past doesn’t change it but does impact their present and future. She highlights the importance of validating these beliefs with compassion rather than dismissing them outright. Through understanding and reframing our origin stories, we can start to cultivate a new narrative of hope and healing. Dr. Maria Bargeman, a seasoned trauma recovery specialist, is dedicated to empowering individuals to reclaim their lives. Learn more about her work at mariabargeman.com.

1. Beliefs About Healing: The belief that full healing from trauma is impossible often stems from environmental influences and past experiences, reinforced by authority figures and exposure to negative narratives.
2. Protective Identity: Many hold onto the belief they cannot heal because it serves as a protective mechanism, offering a sense of safety and validation for their past, even if it keeps them stuck in suffering.
3. Path to Reframing: Dr. Maria Bargeman advocates for gently validating and reframing these beliefs with compassion, creating emotional distance from past experiences to allow for a new, hopeful narrative of healing and empowerment.

00:00 The Possibility of Healing from Trauma

03:22 Understanding the Roots of Healing Beliefs

09:09 The Importance of Origin Stories in Healing

In this episode of The School of Resilience, Dr. Maria Bargeman introduces the "Four A's" strategy, a powerful process for navigating emotional hijacking and regaining control over unhelpful emotional patterns. The episode delves into how emotional wounds from the past can hijack the present and explores how awareness, allowance, affection, and action can help disrupt these cycles. Dr. Bargeman emphasizes the importance of recognizing our emotions, allowing them to exist without judgment, and responding with compassion before taking action to understand the root of the emotional trigger.

Dr. Bargeman references the work of Dr. Daniel Siegel and expands on his concept of "name it to tame it," arguing that while naming emotions is crucial, healing can only happen through conscious awareness. She walks listeners through each of the Four A's in detail, explaining how bringing awareness to emotional triggers, allowing feelings to exist, showing affection towards oneself, and finally taking action are vital steps toward emotional healing.

The episode concludes with practical advice on how to implement the Four A's in real-life situations. Dr. Bargeman encourages listeners to practice journaling or recording their thoughts during emotionally charged moments as a way to gather data and better understand their emotional patterns. Over time, this practice helps identify emotional triggers and enables individuals to provide themselves with the care and understanding needed to heal.

In the latest episode of The School of Resilience, Dr. Maria Bargeman delves into the complex yet essential process of healing emotional wounds rooted in past experiences. Building on the concept of "little t trauma" introduced in the previous episode, Maria explains how these often-overlooked micro injuries, particularly from childhood, can develop into chronic emotional patterns that keep us stuck in unhelpful behaviors and thoughts. She emphasizes that the key to breaking free begins with a shift from self-judgment to compassionate understanding.

Maria guides listeners through the necessary steps to revisit and heal the source of these emotional injuries. By differentiating between who we were when these wounds occurred and who we are now, we can begin to reclaim our true sense of self—one that is not defined by our past experiences but by our inherent resilience and emotional strength. This episode sets the stage for further exploration in the next episode, where Dr. Bargeman will provide tactical strategies to help you move forward on your healing journey.

Dr. Maria Bargeman is a trauma recovery specialist dedicated to helping women fully recover from trauma. As the creator of The Trauma Treatment Map™️, and with her extensive experience as a trauma researcher and educator, Dr. Bargeman provides invaluable insights into emotional healing. To learn more, follow her on Instagram @resilienttraumarecovery and visit her website at mariabargeman.com.

• Shifting Perspective: Healing begins with moving from self-judgment and condemnation to a place of compassionate understanding, recognizing that our emotional patterns make sense given our past experiences.
• Revisiting the Past: To heal, it's essential to revisit the source of our emotional wounds, not to stay stuck in the past, but to reclaim and redefine our sense of self, free from the constraints of what happened to us.
• Reclaiming the True Self: By teasing apart who we were during those traumatic experiences and who we are now, we can build a stronger, more grounded self that is capable of experiencing life’s full range of emotions in a healthy and balanced way.

In this episode of The School of Resilience, Dr. Maria Bargeman dives into the often misunderstood concept of trauma and its profound impact on our emotional well-being. She introduces the idea that trauma is not always the dramatic, life-altering event we typically imagine; it can also manifest as subtle, accumulated emotional injuries from our past. These "little T traumas," especially when experienced in childhood, can create deep-seated origin stories that shape how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. Dr. Bargeman explains that these narratives often resurface in adulthood, making it difficult to manage emotions, focus, and stay motivated.

Maria emphasizes the importance of understanding these origin stories and how they can trigger feelings of failure and inadequacy. She reassures listeners that their struggles are not a reflection of personal failure, but rather a result of unresolved emotional injuries that have been carried into adulthood. By reframing these experiences with compassion and understanding, individuals can begin to break free from the patterns that have held them back and start moving forward with greater resilience.

Dr. Maria Bargeman is a dedicated trauma recovery specialist. With her extensive background as a clinician and trauma researcher, she is committed to transforming the mental health landscape. To connect with Maria and learn more about her work, follow her on Instagram at @resilienttraumarecovery or visit her website at mariabargeman.com.

In this episode of The School of Resilience, Dr. Maria Bargeman delves into the concept of "mental physio" versus "mental bed rest," exploring how we can apply these ideas to our mental health. She draws a parallel between physical recovery after surgery and mental health recovery, emphasizing the importance of pushing through discomfort at the right times to regain emotional stability. Unlike physical health, where doctors use objective data to guide recovery, mental health decisions are often based on subjective perceptions, making it crucial to recognize when to push ourselves and when to rest.

Maria introduces two essential questions to help listeners assess their current mental state and decide on the best course of action. First, she encourages listeners to evaluate the stressors in their lives and find manageable ways to tackle them, even if it means breaking tasks into tiny, bite-sized steps. She stresses the importance of building momentum to avoid feeling stuck and to progress, even when it’s uncomfortable. Second, she asks listeners to identify what brings them joy or peace, and to intentionally incorporate these elements into their lives to foster emotional resilience.

The episode closes with a reminder to balance the focus on symptoms with the recognition of what is going well in one’s life. Maria’s practical advice empowers listeners to navigate their mental health challenges more effectively, offering a blend of self-compassion and gentle perseverance. Whether in the red zone, needing rest, or ready to take small steps forward, the episode provides valuable insights into maintaining mental wellness.

Dr. Maria Bargeman is a trauma recovery specialist. As a clinician and trauma researcher, Maria is passionate about helping to fix a broken mental health system. To learn more and engage with Maria, follow her on Instagram at @resilienttraumarecovery or visit her website at mariabargeman.com.

• Assessing Mental Health: Learn to distinguish between when to rest and when to push yourself in mental health recovery, akin to physical rehabilitation after surgery.
• Practical Strategies: Break down stressors into small, manageable tasks and monitor your progress to build momentum and avoid feeling stuck.
• Focus on Positives: Balance the focus on symptoms with recognizing what brings you joy or peace, and intentionally incorporate these into your daily life for better emotional health.

In this episode of The School of Resilience, Dr. Maria Bargeman and Tyler Jorgenson guide you through the journey of recovering from trauma. Maria challenges the common belief that trauma is a lifelong burden, assuring you that complete healing is within your reach. She emphasizes the importance of leaving the past behind so you can fully live in the present.

Maria also offers critique of some of the current mental health system's focus on external accommodations like safe spaces and trigger warnings. Instead, she encourages you to build self-regulation and internal resilience, taking charge of your healing rather than depending on others to create a safe environment.

Throughout the conversation, Maria offers hope and encouragement, reminding you of your inherent strength and capacity to recover. She believes that, with time and effort, you can move beyond your past and fully embrace the present.

• Recovery Is Possible: Anyone who has experienced trauma can recover and find healing.
• Importance of Resilience: Resilience is essential for navigating the challenges of recovery.
• Past vs. Present: Recovery means leaving the past in its rightful place to live fully in the present.
• Systemic Shortcomings: The mental health system's focus on creating safe spaces and accommodating triggers needs reconsideration.
• Self-Regulation: Internal well-being and self-regulation are key components of recovery.
• Hope and Belief: Believing in one's ability to heal is crucial on the recovery journey.

In this episode of The School of Resilience, Dr. Maria Bargeman and Tyler Jorgenson take a closer look at resilience, especially when it comes to trauma recovery. They challenge the traditional notion of resilience as "bouncing back quickly" from adversity and instead emphasize the importance of acknowledging individual experiences and strengths. They highlight the perseverance and determination needed to keep showing up for therapy and working toward healing. Their conversation also underscores the need for a balanced approach to mental health care that recognizes strengths and celebrates small victories. The episode ends with a powerful reminder to believe in your own ability to heal.

• Redefining Resilience: Resilience in trauma recovery isn't just about "bouncing back quickly" but also about showing up daily with perseverance and determination to heal.
• Unique Paths: The traditional definition of resilience doesn’t apply to everyone because not all want to return to a pre-trauma state.
• Balanced Mental Health Care: Mental health care should focus on strengths and celebrate small wins to create a more balanced approach.
• Belief in Healing: Believing in one's ability to heal is a crucial part of building resilience.

Dr. Maria Bargeman shares her journey of resilience and her mission to revolutionize trauma care. She specializes in trauma and PTSD and works in trauma recovery. Trauma is unfortunately very common in today's world, including adverse childhood experiences and cumulative trauma. Dr. Bargeman discusses the importance of addressing mental health and the potential trivialization of trauma. She also shares her personal experience in the mental health system and the lack of confidence in decision-making and hope for recovery. This experience led her to establish a new mission to provide better trauma care and support for individuals to move from surviving to thriving.