Overcoming PTSD with Brad Schipke
Overcoming PTSD with Brad Schipke
Overcoming PTSD
#108 Why Your Working Memory Is the Key to Full Recovery
50 minutes Posted Feb 25, 2026 at 12:30 pm.
Introduction and Welcome
Today's Topic: Processing Trauma
Understanding PTSD and Working Memory
Normal Event Processing
Traumatic Event Processing
The Cycle of Coping
Healing Through Processing
Letting Go of Negative Beliefs
Processing Emotions and Retaining Lessons
Long-Term Memory and Positive Recall
The Importance of Mindset and Routines
The Three Pillars of Recovery
Consistency in Healing
Processing Tools Overview
Community Social Hour and Final Thoughts
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50:12
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Show notes
Struggling with trauma/PTSD and need help? Join my private recovery community here and get my 9 best relief tools 100% FREE: https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable
 
This episode answers one of the most foundational questions in trauma recovery: How does PTSD actually happen, and why is it possible to heal? Brad and Kayleen break down the brain science in simple terms, using a relatable example of touching a hot stove to show exactly what goes wrong when an event becomes traumatic — and what needs to happen to fix it.
When you experience a normal event, stimuli goes into your working memory, your brain sorts the good from the bad, throws out what you don't need, and stores only the lesson in long-term memory. But when an event is traumatic, your brain skips the working memory entirely and shoves everything — the fear, shame, negative thoughts, raw emotions — straight into long-term storage. That's the glitch. That's PTSD.
The good news? Your working memory isn't broken. It's working right now. All you need to do is use processing tools to move that raw, unprocessed material back into the working memory so your brain can finally do what it was designed to do: sort the good from the bad, throw out the negative, and keep only the lesson. That's why healing is not just possible — it's inevitable if you keep taking action.
💡 What You'll Learn
How your brain normally processes events through the working memory
What happens differently when an event becomes traumatic
Why PTSD is essentially a "glitch" where your brain skipped a step
The endless cycle of trigger → run/numb/cope → back to storage
Why coping skills alone will never fully heal trauma
How processing tools move trauma back into the working memory
The three pillars of recovery: mindset, routines, and processing
Why healing is inevitable if you stay consistent
The four processing tools: introspection, protectors, challenging beliefs, and bilateral stimulation
🧠 Key Takeaway
Your brain isn't broken — it just skipped a step. Processing tools help you move unprocessed trauma back into your working memory so your brain can finally do what it's designed to do: throw out the negative and keep only the lesson.
🔗 Next Steps
Subscribe for new weekday episodes from the Recovery Secrets Daily Coaching archive. To go deeper or work with Brad directly, visit: https://www.skool.com/brokentounbreakable
CHAPTERS:
 
Topics Covered: PTSD recovery • trauma healing • how PTSD happens • brain science • working memory • long-term memory • processing trauma • coping vs healing • processing tools • bilateral stimulation • protectors • challenging beliefs • introspection • three pillars of recovery • mindset • routines • trauma processing • emotional release • why healing is possible