#48 Addiction, PTSD, and the First Brave Step To Recovery | Recovery Secrets Series
#48 Addiction, PTSD, and the First Brave Step To Recovery | Recovery Secrets Series

The Overcoming PTSD Podcast

Brad Schipke and Kayleen Wright discuss the critical first step in recovering from addiction and PTSD: honest validation. They explore how acknowledging personal experiences can lead to healing.

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56:47•3 Dec 2025

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About this podcast

The Overcoming PTSD Podcast

Overcoming PTSD

Join international PTSD recovery coaches Kayleen Wright & Brad Schipke each Monday as they cover all things PTSD. From relationships, anxiety, depression, and sleep problem to true full healing. Teaching you what you need to do to eliminate PTSD from your life completely and how to repair the damage it‘s caused. Kayleen personally suffered from CPTSD for 17 years and is now fully recovered and living the life people said was impossible. Kayleen dug out from the darkness of rock bottom, created a process to heal, and now shows people all around the world how to heal themselves through the Broken to Unbreakable program. Brad suffered the consequences of Kayleen‘s unhealed PTSD as well as his own PTSD and has too climbed out from the darkness of rock bottom. Together, Kayleen and Brad have not only healed all their PTSD symptoms but have also achieved sobriety from their addictions, repaired the damage PTSD caused their relationship, and created a life filled with joy, love, passion, peace, excitement and so much more. More than anything else in the world, Kayleen & Brad want you to know that you CAN heal your PTSD. They believe it‘s possible for everyone and are committed to making full recovery a reality for everyone who wants it. ”Even if you don‘t believe in yourself, we do. You can do this, and you do deserve this.” - Kayleen

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Episodes: 270

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Taking the First Step: Addiction, PTSD, and Recovery

Episode Overview

Acknowledge and validate your own experiences with addiction.
Understand that societal norms can obscure personal struggles.
Recognise how addictions alter brain chemistry over time.
Use pain as a motivator for change and healing.
Focus on small, incremental changes to achieve sobriety.

“"If you're not aware that it's an addiction or you're not calling it addiction and you're not being honest about it, you won't be able to fix it."”

How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? In the latest episode of The Overcoming PTSD Podcast, Brad Schipke and Kayleen Wright tackle the complex intersection of addiction and PTSD, shedding light on the first courageous step towards recovery. With a blend of humour and heartfelt honesty, they stress the importance of acknowledging and validating one's experiences, even if it means admitting to habits that might not fit traditional definitions of addiction.

Kayleen shares her personal battles with compulsive behaviours, highlighting how societal norms can sometimes mask the severity of these issues. Brad provides a visual explanation of how addictions alter brain chemistry, emphasising the challenging yet rewarding path to resetting one's baseline happiness. The duo encourages listeners to dig deep into the pain caused by their addictions, using it as motivation to pursue a healthier life.

By focusing on self-awareness and the power of small, incremental changes, this episode offers a fresh perspective on overcoming addiction and reclaiming control over one's life. Are you ready to confront your own challenges and embrace the journey to healing?

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