Healing from Extreme Trauma: Susan’s Story of Strength and Transformation (Part 2 of 3)

Some stories leave you breathless. This is one of them. In Part 2 of our raw, deeply human conversation with Susan Snow , we continue exploring how trauma reshapes a life—and how healing is always possible with the proper support, tools, and truth. Susan opens up about living with PTSD, learning to trust again, and the small but powerful steps that began her transformation. Welcome back to Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads —your space for honest, gritty, and healing conversations around mental health. We’re proud to be the 2024 People's Choice Podcast Award Winner for Health and the 2024 Women in Podcasting Best Mental Health Podcast , with over 2 million downloads and counting. We’d love your feedback! Visit https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a to leave us a message or written input. "Healing is not an ego thing. It's the bravest, most necessary thing you'll ever do." — Susan Snow. Episode Summary: In this emotionally rich second installment, Susan Snow shares the real work of healing from complex PTSD , extreme trauma, and generational wounds. After a tragic and violent loss changed her world at 17, Susan opens up about her years-long battle with anxiety, insomnia, and panic—and how finding the right therapist finally gave her hope. This episode covers critical mental health topics, including trauma recovery , journaling for sleep , breathwork , emotional boundaries , forgiveness , and how to build a support system when you feel entirely alone. Whether you're just beginning your healing journey or helping someone else through theirs, Susan’s story is your reminder that hope is real—and transformation is possible. SEO Keywords : PTSD recovery, trauma healing, journaling and sleep, panic attacks, breathwork therapy, finding the right therapist, mental health podcast, grief recovery, trauma coaching, emotional boundaries, Susan Snow Meet Susan Snow Susan Snow is a courageous and heartfelt speaker whose life story shines as a beacon of healing and hope. At just 17, Susan’s world was shattered when her father, LAPD Detective Thomas C. Williams, was ambushed and murdered on Halloween night in 1985. That moment changed everything, pulling her into the depths of grief and trauma. In the years that followed, Susan faced PTSD, loss, and the long, complicated process of rebuilding her life. But instead of letting the darkness define her, she turned her pain into purpose. By embracing vulnerability and speaking her truth, she has shown that healing is possible—even after unimaginable events. Today, Susan is the Author of a profoundly moving book that reminds us of two powerful truths: life can change in an instant, and recovery is always within reach. Whether speaking on stage or connecting through virtual events, Susan doesn’t just share her story—she invites people into it. She creates space for others to see themselves, to grieve, to forgive, and to find their own resilience. Her signature talks, “Other Side of the Gun: Hope Through the Journey of Grief, PTSD, and Empowerment” and “Forgiveness vs. Forgetting,” go beyond inspiration. They offer honest guidance, compassion, and a roadmap for choosing hope over pain. Connect with Susan: Website: https://susansnowspeaks.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susan_snow1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/SusanSnow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@susansnow1lifecoach YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/susansnowspeaks2023 Key Takeaways: Healing is a personal journey , not a one-size-fits-all process—you must find the right therapist for your trauma. Journaling can be a game-changer in managing anxiety and improving sleep, especially when done before bed. Boundaries, forgiveness, and coaching are powerful tools in healing both yourself and your relationships. Actionable Items: Try expressive journaling nightly—write without censoring or editing, especially before bed. Practice box breathing or tapping to manage panic attacks and regulate your nervous system. Interview your therapist —ask about their specialties and be willing to walk away if it’s not the right fit. Episode Chapters & Timestamps: [00:00] Welcome + Recap of Part 1 G-Rex and Dirty Skittles introduce Part 2 of Susan’s story. [01:00] When Therapy Finally Worked Susan explains how a therapist specializing in trauma and PTSD changed her life. [06:00] Journaling to Sleep Again Susan shares how nighttime journaling helped her escape anxiety-induced insomnia. [09:00] Breathwork, Tapping & Nervous System Regulation Early tools Susan learned that helped control panic attacks and stress. [17:00] Rewriting Patterns: Coaching and Boundaries Susan’s mindset shift through coaching and powerful conversations about forgiveness. [23:00] From Pain to Purpose How healing led Susan to write her memoir and step into her life’s mission. [35:00] Facing the Fear of Telling Her Story Susan talks about the fear of publishing her book—and doing it anyway. References & Resources Mentioned: Susan Snow’s website: https://susansnowspeaks.com/ 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org Susan’s breathing and tapping techniques (Search: “box breathing PTSD” or “EFT tapping trauma”) Susan’s memoir (Link coming soon or available on her website) Subscribe, Rate, and Review! Don't miss the next part of Susan’s story. Subscribe for more inspiring conversations around mental health. Rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, or visit our site: https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews #MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #PTSDRecovery #HealingJourney #SusanSnow #TherapyMatters #MentalHealthSupport #TraumaHealing #CoachingForHealing #RealTalkMentalHealth #FindYourPerson #JournalingTherapy #BoundariesMatter #PodcastForHealing #MentalWellness #Grex #DirtySkittles #WomenInPodcasting #Podmatch #TraumaSurvivor *************************************************************************** If You Need Support, Reach Out If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference. United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca Worldwide: Find a Helpline Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub Stay Connected with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles Official Website: goesoninourheads.net Facebook: @shltthatgoesoninourheads Instagram: @grex_and_dirtyskittles LinkedIn: G-Rex and Dirty Skittles Join Our Newsletter: Sign Up Here Merch Store: goesoninourheads.shop Audio Editing by NJz Audio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.