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Clean and Sober Radio
Gary Hendler and Mark Sigmund talk about how trauma and addiction are closely connected, sharing clinical explanations, personal memories and practical coping tools. The conversation touches on treatment options, family involvement and why addressing trauma can be crucial for long-term recovery.
55:19•4 Apr 2026
Trauma, Addiction and Recovery: Straight Talk on Pain, Healing and Hope
Episode Overview
- Trauma, including childhood abuse and frightening family events, is described as a major driver of later addiction for many people.
- Symptoms such as emotional flashbacks, nightmares and constant hypervigilance are linked to past trauma and may worsen once substances are removed.
- Trauma is described as “very treatable,” with EMDR, relaxation and breathing techniques, yoga, meditation and learning to self-regulate as key tools.
- Co-occurring mental health conditions like bipolar disorder and PTSD must be treated alongside addiction to reduce chronic relapse.
- Families are urged to seek their own support, avoid one-size-fits-all ‘tough love’, and use resources such as Al-Anon and professional counselling.
“Trauma is so sneaky because… a lot of times there’s emotional flashbacks, just emotions where somebody felt a certain way as a kid when this trauma took place and they get the same kind of feeling in certain situations when they grow up.”
What are the common struggles and victories in addiction recovery? Clean and Sober Radio tackles that question head-on by looking at how trauma and addiction can be tightly linked, all while keeping the tone conversational and human. Host Gary Hendler and co-host Mark Sigmund mix light banter with serious content, opening with current news about Tiger Woods and prescription opioids to show how substance problems cut across fame, status, and geography.
From there, they shift into their main theme: “Most of us have encountered, have experienced trauma, whether we realised it or not,” Gary says, setting the stage for a frank look at how painful experiences can fuel alcohol and drug use.
Mark, speaking as a clinician, shares that a very high percentage of people with addiction have childhood trauma, including sexual abuse for “male or female.” He explains that “trauma is so sneaky,” showing up as emotional flashbacks, nightmares, numbness and a constant sense of threat, even when nothing dangerous is happening. He also breaks down types of trauma and stresses that it is “very treatable,” highlighting EMDR and practical tools like relaxation, breathing techniques, yoga, and meditation.
The show is clearly aimed at people in recovery, their families, and anyone wondering if past experiences are still affecting them. Listeners hear real talk about co-occurring disorders like bipolar disorder, PTSD and depression, plus the costs of tough-love approaches that simply throw a loved one out of the house. Mark urges families to get their own support through groups like Al-Anon and individual therapy.
Throughout, Gary and Mark share bits of their own history, family comments that still sting, and moments of self-reflection that many in recovery will recognise. With hotline numbers repeated and repeated reminders that help exists, the episode offers both straight talk and reassurance. If trauma might be part of your story, could this be the nudge to look at it a bit more closely?
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