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Unpacking the Pain: How Trauma Fuels Addiction with Guest Sean Ostendorf

Damon speaks with therapist Sean Ostendorf about trauma and addiction

What if the addiction wasn’t the root—but the response?

In this episode of The Recovered Life Show, host Damon Frank is joined by trauma therapist and EMDR specialist Sean Osterdorf to explore the hidden links between trauma, addiction, and the lingering emotional patterns that can persist long into recovery.

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Together, they unpack:

  • What trauma really is—and how it can quietly shape addiction

  • Why many people don’t realize they have trauma until after they get sober

  • How unresolved emotional pain becomes the fuel for cycles of dread, anxiety, and relapse

  • The role of EMDR in severing the emotional cord to past trauma

  • Why feeling “broken” is a lie—and how to reclaim your story

Whether you're just beginning your recovery or have been struggling for years and still battling emotional blocks, this episode offers practical insights and deep validation. Sean shares both clinical expertise and personal experience, reminding listeners: you’re not broken—you're healing.

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