Emotional Numbness, Triggers & Childhood Patterns | #110

Michael talks about shutting down over Thanksgiving, emotional numbness, and the messy reality of grief. Louie breaks down triggers, embarrassment, childhood patterns, and why certain moments feel like personal attacks.

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In this week’s episode of Secondhand Therapy, we unpack the complicated mix of grief, emotional numbness, triggers, anger, and childhood conditioning that still shapes adult reactions. Michael opens up about spending Thanksgiving in bed, feeling emotionally shut down, and exploring why certain moments hit harder than others. Louie challenges him on avoidance, grief processing, and the stories we tell ourselves when intense emotions show up.

We also dive into:

• Why holiday grief hits unexpectedly

• Emotional numbness vs. dissociation

• Organizing grief so it stops overwhelming everything

• How embarrassment and shame block emotional release

• Anger, frustration, and “pretending” to be healed

• Nervous system triggers and why they feel like aggression

• Childhood patterns around attention and how they show up in adulthood

• Customer service, disappointment, and why small moments can activate big wounds

This is a raw, honest conversation about grief, emotional regulation, inner child responses, triggers, vulnerability, self-awareness, and healing,.

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