Overcoming PTSD with Brad Schipke

Struggling with PTSD and ready to FULLY recover? Join my recovery program here (costs less than a single therapy session): https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable
 
 
In this episode of the Overcoming PTSD Podcast, host Brad Schipke continues the Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching series with Part 2 of the Recovery Hero method: designing your future, healed self and bridging the gap from who you are now to who you become. You’ll learn how to define your Recovery Hero identity, write your Recovery Hero Story (as if it already happened), and use moment-to-moment visualization to make the same choices your future self would make.
Brad outlines the 8 milestones of full recovery—from control and calm to freedom and healthy relationships—then shows you how to translate those outcomes into beliefs, self-talk, habits, and daily decisions. You’ll also learn a simple “What would my Recovery Hero do?” prompt to use at decision points so your actions begin matching your identity—today.
What you’ll learn
How to define your Recovery Hero (future self) in practical terms: beliefs, self-talk, routines, boundaries, relationships.
The Recovery Hero Story technique: write it in the past tense (as if you already did it) to program your path.
The 8 markers of full recovery (control, energy, relationships, self-love, fully processed past, freedom, substance-freedom, calm) and how to aim your goals at them.
A moment-to-moment visualization cue (“What would my Recovery Hero do?”) to guide everyday choices.
Why small decisions compound into weeks, months, and a new identity.
Try this today
Write your Recovery Hero Story (past-tense, first-person). Describe how you handled hard moments, processed your past, and rebuilt habits.
Visualize Future-You for 3–5 minutes. Feel the self-talk, body posture, calm, and boundaries of your Recovery Hero.
At your next decision point, ask: “What would my Recovery Hero do?” Then do that—especially in small, ordinary moments.
About this seriesRecovery Secrets Daily Coaching was originally a private, paid coaching program. For the first time, 100+ sessions are being released free for podcast listeners. New episodes drop every weekday until the archive is complete—subscribe so you don’t miss one.
 
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction to Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching00:43 Defining Your Recovery Hero04:30 The Importance of Setting High Goals15:44 Visualizing Your Future Self21:20 Action Steps for Crafting Your Recovery Hero Story27:22 Q&A and Community Insights29:54 Visualizing Your Future Self30:26 Building the Next Version of Yourself31:49 The Power of Self-Reliance33:31 Setting and Achieving Short-Term Goals35:11 Understanding External Validation40:23 Discovering Your Core Self45:26 Processing Emotions and Releasing Attachments53:43 Upcoming Sessions and Final Thoughts
 
Topics Covered
PTSD recovery • trauma healing • recovery hero method • future self identity • identity-based change • writing your recovery story • self-talk and beliefs • habit design • visualization for healing • decision points • daily choices that compound • full recovery milestones • emotional regulation • boundaries and relationships • self-love and self-trust • freedom from substances • calm nervous system • Brad Schipke coaching • Overcoming PTSD podcast • Recovery Secrets Series

Struggling with PTSD and ready to FULLY recover? Join my recovery program here (costs less than a single therapy session): https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable
 
Visualization for PTSD: Build a Safe Space & Calm in Minutes | Recovery Secrets SeriesHost: Brad Schipke • Overcoming PTSD Podcast • Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching
Feeling stuck in fight-or-flight, ruminating, or bracing for worst-case scenarios? In this coaching session, Brad breaks down how to use visualization—specifically the Safe Space exercise—to quickly calm your nervous system, reduce anxiety, and create a reliable feeling of safety you can return to anytime. You’ll learn the 4-step framework for visualizing effectively, how to “recycle” real emotions into your imagery, and simple ways to pair Safe Space with other relief tools for panic, flashbacks, or post-nightmare recovery.
What you’ll learn
Why your brain responds to vivid imagination like a real event (and how to use that to your advantage)
The 4 steps to visualize anything: Allow → Imagine → Engage the senses → Let it flow
How to design your Safe Space (even if you’ve never felt fully safe)
“Recycling emotions”: pulling a positive feeling from a real memory into your visualization
When to use Safe Space (pre-sleep, during triggers, after nightmares, before tough conversations)
Pairing visualization with other tools (e.g., Butterfly Hug) for faster relief
Action step
Create your Safe Space today. Revisit it nightly to strengthen it, then use it on-demand when anxiety spikes.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction to Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching01:22 The Power of Visualization02:20 Harnessing Visualization for Healing03:20 Practical Visualization Exercise06:31 Scientific Evidence Supporting Visualization11:16 Steps to Effective Visualization21:00 Introduction to Safe Space Visualization21:08 Creating Your Safe Space22:00 Personal Example of a Safe Space23:00 Enhancing Your Safe Space24:04 Practical Applications of Safe Space24:48 Recycling Past Emotions26:21 Using Safe Space in Daily Life29:15 Visualization Techniques and Benefits29:46 Community Sharing and Insights40:03 Final Thoughts and Encouragement41:09 Conclusion and Next Steps
 
Topics Covered
PTSD recovery • trauma healing • visualization exercises • safe space technique • calming the nervous system • trauma relief tools • grounding through imagination • emotional regulation • anxiety and flashbacks • worst-case thinking • rumination and overthinking • nervous system reset • Butterfly Hug technique • post-nightmare recovery • relaxation skills for PTSD • trauma processing tools • Brad Schipke coaching • Overcoming PTSD podcast • Recovery Secrets Series

Struggling with PTSD and ready to FULLY recover? Join my recovery program here (costs less than a single therapy session): https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable
 
Title: PTSD Decision Points: How to Stop Reacting to Triggers and Take Back ControlHost: Brad SchipkeSeries: Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching
🧠 Episode Summary
In this episode, Brad Schipke breaks down one of the most powerful — yet overlooked — concepts in PTSD recovery: decision points.You’ll learn how every moment of emotional reactivity is actually a choice point — an opportunity to pause, breathe, and make a new decision that changes the direction of your day and your healing journey.
Brad explains how trauma wires the brain for reactive, emotional decision-making and how to retrain it to think adaptively and logically instead. You’ll discover the Goal–Problem–Solution (GPS) framework, learn to identify your keystone decisions, and understand how small daily choices compound into massive long-term change.
💡 What You’ll Learn
The difference between reactive vs. adaptive thinking
How to recognize decision points before triggers take over
Why 3 keystone decisions can determine the quality of your day
The GPS framework (Goal → Problem → Solution) for making clear, calm choices
How to reduce decision fatigue and build momentum in recovery
🔑 Key Takeaway
Healing PTSD isn’t about never getting triggered — it’s about mastering the moment between the trigger and your response.Every decision point is a chance to take your power back.
 
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction to Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching00:36 Understanding Emotional vs. Logical Thinking02:10 Reactive vs. Adaptive Thinking03:48 The Importance of Decision Points10:45 Keystone Decisions for a Better Day14:39 Navigating Internal and External Decision Points22:22 Decision Making Influences22:43 Simplifying Life to Reduce Decision Fatigue23:08 The Impact of Decision Fatigue on Judges24:09 Summarizing Key Points24:11 Engaging with the Audience24:58 Action Steps for Better Decision Making25:27 Keystone Decisions and the 80/20 Rule29:33 Sustainable Decision Making31:34 Balancing Logic and Emotion in Decisions35:17 Building Effective Routines38:13 Final Thoughts and Encouragement39:29 Conclusion and Next Steps
 
Topics Covered
PTSD recovery • trauma healing • emotional regulation • decision making and PTSD • reactive vs adaptive thinking • trauma response patterns • PTSD triggers • cognitive healing after trauma • daily recovery habits • keystone decisions • trauma coping tools • Goal-Problem-Solution framework • emotional control after PTSD • mindset shifts for trauma survivors • practical PTSD recovery strategies

Struggling with PTSD and ready to FULLY recover? Join my recovery program here (costs less than a single therapy session): https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable
 
If you struggle with PTSD or CPTSD, this episode will help you understand why acceptance is one of the most powerful trauma-healing tools you can develop.
Brad Schipke — founder of OvercomingPTSD.com and creator of the Broken to Unbreakable™ program — explains how most survivors unknowingly stay stuck by fighting reality, replaying guilt, and trying to control the uncontrollable.
In this episode, you’ll learn how to use the Yes/No Acceptance Test to instantly identify what’s within your control and what’s not, freeing your nervous system from the daily battle of resistance. You’ll also learn the mindset shift that turns acceptance into momentum, so you can heal faster and reclaim your peace.
💡 You’ll Discover
Why resisting reality keeps trauma symptoms and anxiety alive
The truth about acceptance vs approval (and how they’re different)
The “Can I change this?” question that ends shame and rumination
How acceptance helps your brain move from survival mode to healing mode
Practical ways to practice acceptance daily through awareness, journaling, and meditation
How to build the “How can I?” mindset that transforms helplessness into action
💬 Key Takeaway
Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up — it means taking your power back.When you stop fighting what you can’t control and focus on what you can, your nervous system relaxes, your clarity returns, and your healing accelerates.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction to Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching01:03 The Importance of Acceptance in Healing02:12 Defining Acceptance and Non-Resistance04:41 Practical Examples of Acceptance08:26 Controlling What You Can, Accepting What You Can't15:16 Empowerment Through Acceptance and Control18:04 Actionable Steps for Daily Acceptance22:50 Embracing Acceptance and Control24:28 The Power of Forgiveness26:41 Binary Thinking for Stress Reduction30:03 Understanding and Healing Trauma39:09 The Healing Journey: Steps and Insights40:27 Final Thoughts and Encouragement41:03 Podcast Outro and Coaching Information
 
PTSD acceptance, trauma recovery podcast, how to accept trauma, PTSD healing tools, emotional regulation, trauma mindset shift, letting go of guilt PTSD, PTSD self help, nervous system regulation, how to stop fighting reality, PTSD triggers and control, healing trauma naturally

Struggling with PTSD and ready to FULLY recover? Join my recovery program here (costs less than a single therapy session): https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable
 
In this limited series episode of the Overcoming PTSD podcast, Brad Schipke introduces Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching, providing over 100 sessions of strategies to help trauma survivors fully heal. This episode focuses on the importance of establishing a morning routine as part of PTSD recovery, emphasizing the three pillars: mindset, routines, and processing. Brad discusses the significance of tailored morning routines that include exercise, hydration, relaxation, and personal time. They explain that routines should be simple, flexible, and optimized for individual goals, stressing the importance of consistency and visualization. The episode also addresses common challenges for those with small children, offering practical advice for handling disruptions. Key takeaways include creating a personalized, sustainable morning routine and recognizing the continuous journey from healing to growth.
CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction to Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching00:39 The Importance of a Morning Routine01:25 Crafting Your Personalized Morning Routine08:41 The Goal of a Morning Routine19:19 Exercise and Hydration Tips24:28 Me Time and Self-Care24:50 Four Key Requirements for Well-being25:24 The Importance of a Consistent Wake Time27:39 Creating and Visualizing Your Morning Routine31:17 Adapting Routines for Different Life Stages32:57 Healing vs. Growth: Understanding the Transition39:00 Practical Tips for Parents with Young Children47:14 Summary and Final Thoughts

Struggling with PTSD and ready to FULLY recover? Join my recovery program here (costs less than a single therapy session): https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable
 
 
In this episode of the Overcoming PTSD podcast, host Brad Schipke introduces the Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching series, previously a paid coaching program now made free to listeners.
The session focuses on the concept of the 'Recovery Hero,' where listeners are encouraged to visualize their fully recovered future self and adopt the habits, thoughts, and actions needed to achieve this transformation.
Brad and his co-host discuss the importance of setting goals, overcoming negative beliefs, and making actionable changes to support healing from PTSD. They also address the challenges of confirmation bias, the impact of individual actions on relationships, and offer practical strategies to thrive in recovery.CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction to Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching00:36 Welcome and Session Overview00:55 Defining Your Recovery Hero02:54 Setting Goals and Overcoming Resistance08:23 The PTSD Identity and Separation12:57 Qualities of Those Who Heal vs. Those Who Don't17:24 Self-Reflection and Making Changes25:34 The Power of Small Changes26:31 Understanding Brain Habits28:28 Defining Your Current Self29:29 The Importance of Repetition31:15 Confirmation Bias Explained34:10 Groupthink and Independent Thinking42:32 Healing in Relationships45:49 Final Thoughts and Recap
 

Struggling with PTSD and ready to FULLY recover? Join my recovery program here (costs less than a single therapy session): https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable
 
Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching #5 — Sleep Optimization & Common PTSD Sleep Problems
Sleep isn’t just “rest”—it’s when your body repairs itself and your brain processes memories. If you’re healing from PTSD, optimizing sleep is critical. In this session, Brad and Kayleen share two sleep optimization checklists (behavior + environment) and walk through solutions to common PTSD sleep struggles, including nightmares and waking up anxious.
📑 Download the Sleep Optimization Checklist:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aj1iroflp9RJKxOk3lfT9POCRVbvzyHe/view
You’ll learn why sleep must be the foundation of your health, how consistent routines regulate brain chemistry, and why small changes (like removing screens, adjusting light, or even making your bed) have a massive impact. They also teach practical tools for when you can’t sleep, and give a step-by-step checklist for handling nightmares—so you can wake up calmer, clearer, and ready for recovery.
Key Takeaways:
Work your schedule around sleep, not the other way around.
Consistent bed/wake times train your brain chemistry.
Behavior + environment both matter for deep rest.
Tools like the butterfly hug, grounding, and progressive muscle relaxation can break nighttime anxiety loops.
Nightmares don’t mean you’re weak—they signal a brain skill you can redirect toward healing.
Action Step: Pick one item from the behavior checklist (e.g., set a consistent bedtime, fill out the Unbreakable Planner, or eliminate screens before bed) and implement it tonight.
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching00:36 Welcome and Session Overview01:47 Importance of Sleep for PTSD Recovery03:36 Benefits of Optimized Sleep07:35 Behavioral Checklist for Sleep Optimization20:46 Environmental Checklist for Sleep Optimization25:13 Common Sleep Problems and Solutions26:14 Bonus Tip for Better Sleep26:29 Processing Emotions to Fall Asleep27:46 Handling Nightmares Effectively28:31 Practical Tips for a Better Sleep Environment30:03 Exercise Hacks for Better Sleep31:35 Managing Inputs Before Bed32:49 Q&A Session34:10 Community Sharing and Final Thoughts51:04 Closing Remarks and Next Steps
Next Up: Monday — Creating Your Recovery Hero & Identity (defining the version of you who fully heals).

Struggling with PTSD and ready to FULLY recover? Join my recovery program here (costs less than a single therapy session): https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable
 
 
Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching #4 — Emotional vs Logical Thinking: From Reactive to Adaptive
In today’s training, Brad dives into one of the most overlooked parts of recovery: balancing your emotional and logical thinking. He explains why being “too emotional” makes you reactive, why being “too logical” causes you to ignore feelings that still control you, and how the real breakthrough comes when you master both.
You’ll learn why most people stay stuck in reactive mode (repeating the same response no matter the trigger) and how to shift into adaptive mode—where you slow down, think independently, and create custom responses based on reality instead of the past. Brad also teaches the simple GPS framework (Goal → Problem → Solution) to guide your thinking, plus two daily practices (meditation + journaling) to build awareness.
Key Takeaways:
Recovery requires both emotional mastery and logical clarity.
Too emotional → you react to everything. Too logical → you deny feelings but still get pulled by them.
The goal is adaptive thinking: custom responses instead of automatic reactions.
Use the GPS framework (Goal → Problem → Solution) whenever you feel stuck.
“No” and “I don’t know” are not acceptable answers—there’s always a next step.
Awareness tools (meditation/journaling) help separate you from your thoughts.
Action Step:When you feel triggered today, pause and take a breath. Remind yourself: “This isn’t life or death.” Then run through GPS: What’s my goal? What’s the problem? What’s one solution I can try right now?
Memorable Quote:“Your reality is created by how you interpret it—and that interpretation is always up to you.”
Next Up:Tomorrow’s session: Sleep Optimization—how to set up your environment for deep rest, handle nightmares, and calm your mind at night.
 
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching
00:44 Emotional vs Logical Thinking
01:47 Balancing Emotions and Logic in Recovery
07:43 Importance of Clear Thinking
12:33 Reactive vs Adaptive Thinking
18:36 Developing Awareness and Independent Thinking
32:42 Q&A Session
33:17 Reflecting on Survivor Stories
34:02 Understanding Trauma Responses
34:27 Balancing Logic and Emotion
38:27 Journaling and Emotional Awareness
40:03 Developing Self-Trust and Problem-Solving
57:02 Setting Goals and Self-Love
59:12 Conclusion and Next Steps