Childhood experiences shape us in ways we don't always recognize. Some memories stay with us forever, others become blurry or disappear, and some return in unexpected ways through flashes of memories, nightmares, fears, or reactions we don't always understand. In this episode, we're sharing more of our childhood stories and discussing how past experiences, trauma, and PTSD can continue to affect our lives today.

We'll talk about how childhood experiences influence our relationships, decisions, fears, and the way we navigate everyday life. We'll also get into the memories we carry, the ones we can't quite remember, and how the past can sometimes show up in the present when we least expect it. Most importantly, we'll discuss how we've learned to cope, heal, and find ways to move forward while recognizing the impact our childhoods have had on who we are today.

Coping Chaos is hosted and produced by KJ Cervi and Leia Williams. Audio mixed and edited by KJ Cervi. Our theme song is by Lucas Cervi and Leia Williams. Artwork is created by Lucas Cervi.

You can follow Coping Chaos on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok at Coping Chaos Podcast.

We have also started a Patreon where you can help support us and have access to exclusive content.

Please feel free to rate and review wherever you stream. Send us your questions, Stories and Chaos Corner moments to Copingchaospodcast@gmail.com

Therapy is often presented as a place to find support, healing, and understanding, but what happens when the experience leaves you feeling worse instead of better? In this episode, we share our negative experiences with therapy, including the challenges of finding the right therapist, accessibility barriers, and the lasting impact of feeling unheard or misunderstood. We talk about therapy trauma, the importance of finding approaches that work for different people, and the need for more accessible options, diverse therapeutic methods, and continued research into mental health treatment. Because while therapy can be life-changing for some, it isn't always a positive experience for everyone—and those stories deserve to be heard, too.

In this episode, we’re opening up an honest conversation about trauma and how it shapes the way we respond to the world around us. As two people navigating daily life with severe mental illnesses, we share our personal experiences with both past and present trauma, exploring how our minds and bodies react when we feel threatened, overwhelmed, or unsafe.

We dive into the four common trauma responses: fight, flight, freeze, and fawn—what they can look like in everyday situations, how they show up in our lives, and how our reactions can change over time. We also reflect on the differences between how we responded to trauma when we were younger and how we respond now, recognizing that every traumatic experience is unique, and so is each person’s response.

Through honest stories, shared experiences, and reflection, we explore the ways trauma continues to affect us, how our responses can evolve, and what it means to better understand ourselves with compassion rather than judgment.

Because sometimes, the reactions we struggle to understand today are the survival skills we learned yesterday.

A reminder: Every trauma is different, every response is valid, and healing looks different for everyone.

Coping Chaos is hosted and produced by KJ Cervi and Leia Williams. Audio mixed and edited by KJ Cervi. Our theme song is by Lucas Cervi and Leia Williams. Artwork is created by Lucas Cervi.

You can follow Coping Chaos on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok at Coping Chaos Podcast.

We have also started a Patreon where you can help support us and have access to exclusive content.

Please feel free to rate and review wherever you stream. Send us your questions, Stories and Chaos Corner moments to Copingchaospodcast@gmail.com