Is It Trauma?Is It Trauma?
Addict II Athlete Podcast
Coach Blu Robinson discusses how trauma underpins many addictions, explaining PTSD and complex PTSD, and sharing practical tools like exercise, grounding, connection and therapy. The episode focuses on replacing harmful coping with healthier habits and support to turn personal pain into a message of recovery.
48:23•5 Nov 2021
Is It Trauma? Coach Blu Breaks Down Pain, Addiction and Healing
Episode Overview
- Trauma is described as a major driver of addiction, with many people turning to substances to avoid pain from past experiences.
- PTSD is linked to single events, while complex PTSD relates to long-term, repeated trauma, often beginning in childhood.
- Exercise and rhythmic movement can help process trauma by engaging the body and supporting the nervous system.
- Connection with others, support groups, and volunteer work are presented as crucial antidotes to isolation after trauma.
- Grounding techniques, mindful breathing, healthy routines, and, where needed, professional therapy are encouraged to manage ongoing symptoms.
“"Your responses are normal reactions to abnormal events."”
This episode lines up on the start line with Coach Blu Robinson taking a frank look at one question: "Is it trauma?" He breaks down how painful experiences sit at the core of many addictions, explaining that "trauma is the number one cause of addiction and addiction dependence issues." Speaking as a therapist and long-time addiction counsellor, Blu walks through what emotional and psychological trauma actually is – not just car crashes and assaults, but bullying, unstable homes, medical procedures, grief, and even constant exposure to negative news.
What insights can experts and survivors share about addiction? He stresses that "your responses are normal reactions to abnormal events," which is a relief for anyone who's ever felt broken for still being triggered years later. The episode separates single-event PTSD from complex PTSD, where abuse or chaos lasts for years, especially in childhood.
Blu uses his own history of an unstable, abusive upbringing and even his tendency to be easily startled at home to show how trauma shows up in everyday life. You’ll hear practical strategies: getting moving through exercise, using grounding and breathing, connecting with others instead of hiding, and simple ways to support loved ones without forcing them to talk.
He also hints at future deep dives into EMDR, explaining how movement, like running with Team Addict II Athlete, can help unlock stuck memories and emotions. Blu keeps the tone real but hopeful, stressing that many people try substances because "for a certain amount of time, it does suppress and hide the pain"—until that coping tool turns into its own source of harm.
His message keeps circling back to the Addict II Athlete philosophy of "erase and replace": understanding trauma, removing harmful coping, and filling that gap with healthier practices and community. If you've ever wondered whether your addiction, anxiety or hyper-vigilance is actually about unresolved trauma, this conversation might spark some new questions—and maybe your next step.
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