Truths About Trauma No One Told You | Anya Charnaud & Dr. Wai-Jia Tam | Dream Brave Podcast

If you’ve ever wondered, “Was what I went through really trauma?” Or felt ashamed that therapy means your faith is weak—this conversation is for you. For years, I told myself what I went through wasn’t bad enough to matter. Not war. Not abuse. Not the kind of “big T trauma” you read about. But then my body broke down—chronic pain, panic, tears that wouldn’t stop. It was only when I began to understand what trauma really is—not the size of the event, but the wound left inside—that healing finally began. In this new episode of Tender & Wild, I sit down with psychotherapist Anya Charnaud, who brings over two decades of experience in the NHS and private practice, to unpack: 🍃 What trauma really is (and isn’t) 🪆 Why Russian nesting dolls explain our inner child and reactions 🎣 The “fishing net” analogy for triggers 🚨 Why complex trauma is like a car alarm that won’t stop blaring 🙏 How faith and science can walk together in recovery You are not alone. You are not too much. And you are not beyond healing. ❤️ 00:00 – Welcome to Tender & Wild 02:13 – Meet Anya Charnaud: Existential Psychotherapy Explained 07:30 – Anya’s Journey into Trauma Work 11:01 – The Bell Jar Analogy: Don't Compare Your Trauma 14:02 – What Trauma Really Is 18:20 – The Impact of Dissonance and Congruence 24:19 – The Russian Doll Analogy: Healing Your Inner Child 28:45 – Understanding Triggers and Disproportionate Responses 33:45 – Simple vs. Complex Trauma 40:46 – Somatic Work: Why It's Essential for Healing 46:55 – Can Faith and Therapy Coexist? 51:00 – A Compassionate Step Towards Healing --------- Many people in the world have lost or buried their dreams. Kitedreams' mission is to change that. We hope this space re-inspires you to dream bravely and live boldly. Stay in touch with us: Web: www.kitedreams.org Wai-Jia's Blog: http://blog.kitedreams.org/ Wai-Jia's Instagram:   / drwaijiatam   Email: hello@kitedreams.org #Kitedreams #DrWaiJiaTam