PTSD and Beyond

Part 2: The Hard Truths about Healing

Healing is often painted as neat, linear, or easy. But the reality? There are truths most people never say out loud.

This second episode of our 3-part mini-series dives into the hard truths about healing — the myths, lies, and realities that shape the process but often go unspoken.

We’ll explore:

• Why feeling safe in your own body again is harder than anyone admits

• The myth of “tough-love” and why compassion and curiosity actually work better

• Why healing can feel lonelier before it feels lighter

• The uncomfortable truth about breaking cycles: it takes repetition

• The lie that PTSD recovery ends at a “finish line”

✨ Honest, unfiltered, and human — this conversation is about acknowledging the truths that free us from shame and help us move forward.

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with someone who could use a reminder that they’re not alone.

And remember, we’re better together, we’re stronger together, and take what resonates and GO BEYOND!

In Love and Healing,
Dr. Deb

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💌 Connect with us:

Website - Dr. Deb Lindh

Website - PTSDandBeyond

Etsy Store - MindfulEffectDesigns

Insta - @DrDebraLindh

Insta - @PTSDandBeyond

X (formerly known as Twitter) - @DebraLindh

Part 1: The Foundations of Healing

We’re kicking off a brand-new 3-part mini-series: 15 questions nobody usually puts out loud about healing.

In this first episode, I explore the foundations of healing — the underrated skills, the overlooked habits, and the lessons that carry us from surviving to thriving.

Together, we’ll talk about:

• Why listening to your body is one of the most underrated healing skills

• The hard truth that not every therapist, practitioner, or doctor is skilled or effective

• The mistake of treating healing like a checklist

• How reconnecting with heritage, food, and traditions can regulate and restore

• Why keeping promises to yourself builds trust and integrity

🌱 Reflection prompts included to help you apply these insights to your own journey.

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with someone who could use a reminder that they’re not alone.

And remember, we’re better together, we’re stronger together, and take what resonates and GO BEYOND!

In Love and Healing,
Dr. Deb

Listen, Subscribe, & Share:

✨ Remember to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode!
💬 Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs to hear this message today.
🌟 Leave a review—it helps us reach more people on their healing journey.

💌 Connect with us:

Website - Dr. Deb Lindh

Website - PTSDandBeyond

Etsy Store - MindfulEffectDesigns

Insta - @DrDebraLindh

Insta - @PTSDandBeyond

X (formerly known as Twitter) - @DebraLindh

The Story of the Semicolon: A Pause, Not an End

Every September, the world pauses to recognize Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and World Suicide Prevention Day. Awareness matters, but awareness alone is not enough.

In this episode of PTSD and Beyond, Dr. Deb shares the story behind the semicolon — a symbol of survival, continuation, and hope. From its beginnings with Amy Bleuel and Project Semicolon to its spread as a global movement, the semicolon reminds us: your story isn’t over.

Dr. Deb explores:

• 🌍 Suicide as a global public health challenge — one person dies every 40 seconds

• ✨ Why awareness campaigns matter, but what must change beyond ribbons and rallies

• 🌱 How the semicolon symbolizes small acts of hope and continuation

• 🧘 A guided mindful pause to breathe, reflect, and remember that one sentence is not the whole story

• ❓ Reflection questions to deepen personal insight and action

• 🤝 Practical steps you can take to notice, ask, listen, and connect when someone is struggling

• 💬 Supportive phrases that show how to “be a semicolon” for someone else

This conversation invites us to go beyond the question of why and instead ask: What would it take for someone to feel hope? To believe life is worth continuing?

📚 Global Resources

If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available worldwide:

• United States & Canada: Dial 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

• United Kingdom & Ireland: Samaritans – Call 116 123

• Australia: Lifeline – 13 11 14

• India: AASRA – +91 98204 66726

• South Africa: SADAG – 0800 567 567

• Worldwide: Befrienders International – befrienders.org

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with someone who could use a reminder that they’re not alone.

And remember, we’re better together, we’re stronger together, and take what resonates and GO BEYOND!

In Love and Healing,
Dr. Deb

Listen, Subscribe, & Share:

✨ Remember to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode!
💬 Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs to hear this message today.
🌟 Leave a review—it helps us reach more people on their healing journey.

💌 Connect with us:

Website - Dr. Deb Lindh

Website - PTSDandBeyond

Etsy Store - MindfulEffectDesigns

Insta - @DrDebraLindh

Insta - @PTSDandBeyond

X (formerly known as Twitter) - @DebraLindh

Not Toxic Positivity: The Healing Power of Seedthoughts

In this episode of PTSD and Beyond, Dr. Deb explores the concept of seedthoughts, the small but powerful phrases we carry inside us that shape our health, our healing, and our growth.

The term “seedthoughts” was coined by Barbara Hoberman Levine in her book Your Body Believes Every Word You Say. Levine discovered that the body can interpret everyday language literally, allowing phrases like “this job is killing me” to plant stress, pain, and even illness.

Brian Tracy, with whom Dr. Deb co-authored The Success Blueprint, shared a parallel approach. He taught that affirmations and intentional self-talk are “seeds” planted in the subconscious that grow into beliefs and outcomes. Where Levine warns us of the weeds, Tracy shows us how to cultivate the garden.

Together, their work offers both caution and hope and a path forward.

In this episode, Dr. Deb discusses:
• What seedthoughts are and how they affect mind and body
• How Levine and Tracy’s approaches connect and differ
• Why seedthought practice is not toxic positivity but rather a trauma-informed path toward healing
• The science behind seedthoughts, including research in neuroplasticity and psychoneuroimmunology
• Three practical exercises you can begin today to replant seedthoughts that support resilience and growth

Words are not just commentary. They are creation. By becoming aware of the seedthoughts we plant, we reclaim the power to shape healing and growth beyond trauma.

If this episode resonates with you, try one of the practices shared, reflect on the seedthoughts you carry, and share this conversation with someone who may need it.

And remember, we’re better together, we’re stronger together, and take what resonates and GO BEYOND!

In Love and Healing,
Dr. Deb

Listen, Subscribe, & Share:

✨ Remember to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode!
💬 Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs to hear this message today.
🌟 Leave a review—it helps us reach more people on their healing journey.

💌 Connect with us:

Website - Dr. Deb Lindh

Website - PTSDandBeyond

Etsy Store - MindfulEffectDesigns

Insta - @DrDebraLindh

Insta - @PTSDandBeyond

X (formerly known as Twitter) - @DebraLindh

Breaking Silence, Saving Lives: A Conversation with Cal Beyer

Breaking Silence, Saving Lives: A Conversation with Cal Beyer

In this episode of PTSD and Beyond, Dr. Deb sits down with Cal Beyer, Senior Director of SAFE Workplaces and a national leader in suicide awareness and prevention.

Cal’s story is one of purpose, perseverance, and impact. From his personal journey to his professional mission, Cal has dedicated his career to breaking the silence around mental health in the workplace and building safer, more compassionate cultures. His legacy work has touched industries, communities, and families; showing that safety is not just about physical hazards, but also about mental health, psychological safety, and the well-being of every worker.

Together, Dr. Deb and Cal explore:

• Cal’s personal story and what led him to this work
• How suicide prevention became part of his professional calling
• The role of leadership in breaking stigma and opening conversations
• Why SAFE Workplaces go beyond compliance to protect mental health
• How each of us can contribute to saving lives in our communities and workplaces

This powerful conversation is a reminder that when we break silence, we create space for healing, connection, and life-saving change.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In the U.S., dial 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to connect with support 24/7.

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with someone who could use a reminder that they’re not alone.

And remember, we’re better together, we’re stronger together, and take what resonates and GO BEYOND!

In Love and Healing,
Dr. Deb

Listen, Subscribe, & Share:

✨ Remember to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode!
💬 Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs to hear this message today.
🌟 Leave a review—it helps us reach more people on their healing journey.

💌 Connect with Cal:

Website - SAFE Project

Webinar on August 26, 2026 - SAFE Project (Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic) is excited to partner with the National Safety Council on a webinar on August 26th to honor #InternationalOverdoseAwarenessDay. Register here.

Email: cal@safeproject.us

💌 Connect with Dr. Deb:

Website - Dr. Deb Lindh

Website - PTSDandBeyond

Etsy Store - MindfulEffectDesigns

Insta - @DrDebraLindh

Insta - @PTSDandBeyond

X (formerly known as Twitter) - @DebraLindh

 

You Were Never Meant to Be Small

Some people will feel uncomfortable with your healing. Your breakthroughs, your successes, your post-trauma growth — they will stir envy, unease, and even jealousy in those who have not yet faced their own shadows.

And sometimes, they will try to dim your light so they can feel safer in their own.

In this episode of PTSD and Beyond, I’m here to remind you of a truth you may have forgotten — you were never meant to play small. You are not meant to be small. You are meant to be a light in the darkness.

If you’ve been feeling like your light has dimmed, this episode is for you. I’ll share my light with you, right here, right now, so you can breathe it in, feel it fuel you, and remember:

You were never meant to be small.

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with someone who could use a reminder that they’re not alone.

And remember, we’re better together, we’re stronger together, and take what resonates and GO BEYOND!

In Love and Healing,
Dr. Deb

Listen, Subscribe, & Share:

✨ Remember to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode!
💬 Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs to hear this message today.
🌟 Leave a review—it helps us reach more people on their healing journey.

💌 Connect with us:

Website - Dr. Deb Lindh

Website - PTSDandBeyond

Etsy Store - MindfulEffectDesigns

Insta - @DrDebraLindh

Insta - @PTSDandBeyond

X (formerly known as Twitter) - @DebraLindh

You Only Have to Be

Some nights aren’t for fixing, proving, or pushing through. They’re for loosening your shoulders, breathing a little deeper, and remembering you’ve already done enough for today.

In this episode, I invite you into a moment of rest — a space where you can set down the weight you’ve been carrying, even if only for a while. Together, we’ll remember that you are more than the pain you feel, and that it’s okay to simply exist, breathe, and be.

If you’ve been tired, hurting, or feeling like you have to hold it all alone, this is your reminder: you don’t. Tonight, you only have to be.

 

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with someone who could use a reminder that they’re not alone.

And remember, we’re better together, we’re stronger together, and take what resonates and GO BEYOND!

In Love and Healing,
Dr. Deb

Listen, Subscribe, & Share:

✨ Remember to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode!
💬 Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs to hear this message today.
🌟 Leave a review—it helps us reach more people on their healing journey.

💌 Connect with us:

Website - Dr. Deb Lindh

Website - PTSDandBeyond

Etsy Store - MindfulEffectDesigns

Insta - @DrDebraLindh

Insta - @PTSDandBeyond

X (formerly known as Twitter) - @DebraLindh

Why the Right Decision Can Still Feel Wrong

Why the Right Decision Can Still Feel Wrong

Have you ever made a decision you knew was the right one… but you couldn’t shake the lingering feelings that made you doubt yourself?

This emotional “lag” is more common than we think. Your logical mind can make a decision in seconds, but your emotional system...the limbic brain... works on a completely different clock. That mismatch can leave you feeling unsettled, second-guessing, or even wondering if you made a mistake, even when you didn’t.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why the head and heart don’t always match right away

• How our nervous system processes change and safety

• Why common “fix it fast” advice often doesn’t work

• The first step to working through the gap between decision and feeling

• How to give yourself permission to feel and function at the same time

If you’ve ever been caught in the space between logic and emotion, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on and why it’s not a sign you made the wrong choice.

Reflection Question:
Have you ever made a decision that was right for you but took time to feel right? What helped you bridge that gap?

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with someone who could use a reminder that they’re not alone.

And remember, we’re better together, we’re stronger together, and take what resonates and GO BEYOND!

In Love and Healing,
Dr. Deb

Listen, Subscribe, & Share:

✨ Remember to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode!
💬 Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs to hear this message today.
🌟 Leave a review—it helps us reach more people on their healing journey.

💌 Connect with us:

Website - Dr. Deb Lindh

Website - PTSDandBeyond

Etsy Store - MindfulEffectDesigns

Insta - @DrDebraLindh

Insta - @PTSDandBeyond

X (formerly known as Twitter) - @DebraLindh

Courage and Courageous Moments

“Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.” – Glennon Doyle

Courage isn’t loud. It’s not always a leap or a battle cry.
Sometimes—it’s a whisper. A moment. A breath. A choice to try again.

In this episode, we explore what it means to feel courageous—not perform it.
You’ll hear how joy isn’t the reward for perfection or assimilation, but a return to self.
We’ll talk about the neuroscience of safety and bravery, the myths of courage, and how small moments can be the bravest of all.

Whether you’re in the middle of a storm or just beginning to exhale again, this one’s for you.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
💡 The difference between doing courage and feeling courageous
💡 What Dr. Stephen Porges, Brené Brown, and Bessel van der Kolk say about safety, vulnerability, and joy
💡 3 trauma-informed ways to practice courage right now—no matter where you are on your healing journey
💡 That joy is not a reward—it’s a right

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with someone who could use a reminder that they’re not alone.

And remember, we’re better together, we’re stronger together, and take what resonates and GO BEYOND!

In Love and Healing,
Dr. Deb

Listen, Subscribe, & Share:

✨ Remember to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode!
💬 Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs to hear this message today.
🌟 Leave a review—it helps us reach more people on their healing journey.

💌 Connect with us:

Website - Dr. Deb Lindh

Website - PTSDandBeyond

Etsy Store - MindfulEffectDesigns

Insta - @DrDebraLindh

Insta - @PTSDandBeyond

X (formerly known as Twitter) - @DebraLindh

Achieving Clarity on Value with Somik Raha

In today’s complex and noisy world, making decisions that truly align with our values can feel impossible — especially when life has been disrupted by trauma, loss, or change.

This week, I’m honored to welcome Somik Raha, author of Invaluable: Achieving Clarity on Value, to the podcast. Somik offers a profound yet practical invitation: to pause, discover, and articulate the unique values already within you — and to integrate them into your decisions with intention.

Drawing on philosophy, poetry, citizen science, and moving stories, Somik shows us how clarifying our “values blueprint” not only brings peace and clarity to decision-making but also inspires us to live a life that feels authentic and whole.

🌱 In this conversation, we explore:
✨ Why trauma can disconnect us from our deepest values — and how to reconnect
✨ The role of reflection and storytelling in uncovering what truly matters
✨ How understanding your singular values blueprint transforms choices and relationships
✨ How to test, communicate, and live your values across work and life
✨ Why intentional decision-making is an act of self-respect and healing

About the book:
Invaluable: Achieving Clarity on Value fills an important gap in how we navigate decisions, offering a holistic framework that integrates your unique values into every choice you make — consciously and confidently. By the end, you’ll feel inspired to live a life that’s true to you.

🎧 Listen. Reflect. Share.

❤️ Share the Podcast:
If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with someone who could use a reminder that they’re not alone.

And remember, we’re better together, we’re stronger together, and take what resonates and GO BEYOND!

In Love and Healing,
Dr. Deb

Listen, Subscribe, & Share:

✨ Remember to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode!
💬 Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs to hear this message today.
🌟 Leave a review—it helps us reach more people on their healing journey.

💌 Connect with Somik:

Insta - @SomikRaha

Website - InvaluableBook.org

Book - Invaluable

💌 Connect with us:

Website - Dr. Deb Lindh

Website - PTSDandBeyond

Etsy Store - MindfulEffectDesigns

Insta - @DrDebraLindh

Insta - @PTSDandBeyond

X (formerly known as Twitter) - @DebraLindh

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