PTSD and Beyond

Part 1: From Why to Understanding

Welcome to a new three-part series on PTSD and Beyond: “From Why to Now What to What’s Next.”

“Understanding is not the destination, it’s the foundation. We honor the questions that brought us here, and we release the ones that keep us circling," ~ Dr. Deb Lindh, EdD

In this opening episode, From Why to Understanding, Dr. Deb invites listeners to explore the powerful and sometimes paralyzing question of “why.” Why did it happen? Why me? Why do I still feel this way?

The “why” is where healing often begins. It’s our mind and body’s way of searching for safety, meaning, and understanding after disruption. Drawing from decades of trauma research, neuroscience, and lived experience, Dr. Deb helps us see that the “why” has a purpose but it isn’t meant to be our permanent home.

This conversation helps listeners identify where they are in their own relationship with the “why,” offering reflective questions, gentle guidance, and validation for those who have spent months or years trying to make sense of their story.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why asking “why” is a natural human and neurobiological response to trauma and uncertainty
• How the search for meaning supports early healing (Janoff-Bulman, 1992; Herman, 1997)
• When the “why” becomes a loop that keeps us circling instead of moving forward (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2000)
• How understanding can become the bridge toward readiness and change (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004)
• Practical tools to identify what parts of the “why” bring clarity — and which parts keep us stuck
• A guided reflection to help you locate where you are in your process of understanding

If today’s episode resonated please 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

---

Healing with Grit under the First Supermoon in Aries (2025)

“Healing isn’t something we watch happen from the sidelines.
It’s an act of grit, devotion, and courageous participation in our own wellbeing,” Dr. Deb Lindh

This first supermoon of 2025 rises in bold, fiery Aries and it brings more than a beautiful night sky.

It’s an invitation to look at our healing with fresh courage.

In this special full-moon episode of PTSD and Beyond, Dr. Deb guides us through an inspiring conversation about how healing isn’t passive or casual...it’s an act of grit, action, and fierce self-devotion.

Together we explore:

• ✦ The key themes of this Aries Supermoon and what they reveal about the healing journey

• ✦ Why this moon calls us to move beyond toe-dipping and show up for ourselves in a new way

• ✦ Four powerful rituals you can do under the moonlight to release, move, and recommit to your healing

• ✦ Twelve thoughtful full-moon reflection questions to help you dig deeper in your journal

• ✦ A grounding full-moon affirmation to close the practice and carry with you in the days ahead

Whether we’re sitting under the moon, walking our dog, or journaling in a quiet corner, this conversation will help us connect to own inner courage and stay devoted to our healing path.

If today’s episode resonated please 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

---

Security and Growth: Honoring Both Needs in Healing

As we wrap up September and prepare to move from our last series, “Things We Don’t Often Say Out Loud,” to our new series, “From Why to Now What to What’s Next,” Dr. Deb invites listeners to pause at the threshold between past and future.

In this episode, we explore the guiding question:

“How can we honor both the need for security and the need for growth?”

Too often we believe we have to choose — to stay safe or to push forward — but healing asks us to carry both. Security isn’t a cage; it’s the ground that lets us step out, try new things, and return for rest. Growth isn’t a betrayal of safety; it’s the natural next chapter when we feel secure enough.

Drawing on key research and decades of lived experience, Dr. Deb discusses:

• Why safety and stabilization (Judith Herman) and predictable routines are the foundation for healing
• How Self-Determination Theory (Edward Deci & Richard Ryan) explains our natural drive for exploration once we feel safe
• The role of the Polyvagal Theory (Stephen Porges) in helping our nervous system shift from survival to curiosity and connection
• What post-traumatic growth research (Richard Tedeschi & Lawrence Calhoun) teaches us about finding meaning and new priorities after trauma
• Why self-compassion (Kristin Neff) strengthens our capacity to move between security and growth
• Practical ways to pair new steps with steady anchors — such as routines, rituals, supportive relationships, and grounding practices
• How to view progress as a bridge — not a leap — with one foot still planted in safety while the other steps forward toward growth

The episode includes a guided reflection to help you identify:

• The secure bases you can lean on right now
• The growth steps quietly calling to you
• The ways to weave safety into your forward movement

Ending with a Bonus Takeaway Quote:

“I honor my need for safety. I honor my desire for growth. I trust that these two needs can support each other. I can step forward while carrying my anchors with me.”

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

3-Part Mini-Series: 15 Questions Nobody Usually Puts out Loud about Healing

This special episode brings together all three parts of our mini-series: 15 Questions Nobody Usually Puts Out Loud About Healing.

Across these conversations, we explore the truths that don’t often get spoken — but that matter most in the healing journey.

In this full-length episode, you’ll hear:

Part 1: The Foundations of Healing

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

• The reality that not all providers are skilled or effective

• Why treating healing like a checklist backfires

• How reconnecting with heritage practices can regulate and restore

• The power of keeping promises to yourself

Part 2: The Hard Truths About Healing

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

• Why “tough-love” doesn’t heal — compassion does

• Why healing can feel lonelier before it feels lighter

• The truth about breaking cycles: it takes repetition

• The lie that PTSD recovery has a finish line

Part 3: The Breakthroughs & Shifts

• The difference between surviving and living

• How to stop numbing and start listening to yourself

• Why hacks don’t heal trauma, but consistency does

• Why grief and setbacks aren’t failure — they’re part of the process

• The single shift that changes everything: asking for support without apology

💡 Each section includes reflection prompts to help you personalize the insights and take action in your own healing.

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

Part 3: Breakthroughs and Shifts

In the final episode of this mini-series, we shift from hard truths into breakthroughs and shifts — the mindset changes and practical steps that transform healing from surviving into living.

We’ll unpack:

• The difference between survival and truly living

• Why listening to yourself requires ending the habit of numbing

• Why hacks don’t heal trauma, but consistency does

• Why grief and setbacks aren’t failure — they’re part of the process

• The single shift that changed everything: asking for support without apology

💡 These are the shifts that sustain healing, create momentum, and build resilience.

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

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

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

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