Episode 10: Confirmation Bias Why Trauma Makes Your Brain Hunt for Proof You're Right (And How to Flip It)
Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace
Release Date: 01/14/2026
Episode 13: Complaining as a Coping Mechanism: What Your Nervous System Is Really Saying
Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace
In this episode of Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace, we explore a deeply human habit: complaining. Rather than labeling it as “negative,” we look at complaining through a trauma‑informed lens as a coping mechanism — a way your nervous system tries to communicate fear, overwhelm, or unmet needs. You’ll learn how constant complaining can reinforce negativity bias, confirmation bias, and low‑level stress in the body, and how neuroplasticity turns occasional venting into a default thought pattern. More importantly, you’ll walk away with a simple...
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Episode 12: Beyond the Myths: The Real Truth About Healing After Trauma
Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace
We’ve all heard the sayings — “Time heals all wounds.” “You just have to get over it.” “You can’t love someone until you love yourself.” But what if these common beliefs about trauma and healing are doing more harm than good? In this episode of Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace, trauma-informed life coach Naomi Stanchfield takes a gentle, informative deep dive into 14 of the most common myths about trauma and recovery. She explores where these ideas came from, why they persist, and what modern psychology and somatic science reveal instead. You’ll...
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Episode 11: From People-Pleasing to Peace - Escaping the Fawn Response
Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace
Do you say "yes" when your body screams "no"? Discover why people-pleasing isn't a flaw—it's the fawn response, a little-known trauma survival mechanism that kept you safe but now traps you in exhaustion, resentment, and lost identity. In this raw, trauma-informed episode of Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace, host Naomi Stanchfield shares her personal journey from childhood abuse to reclaiming her voice, breaking down the 7 interconnected people-pleasing patterns (like boundary struggles, excessive apologizing, and over-functioning), and delivering 9 practical somatic + CBT strategies to...
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Episode 10: Confirmation Bias Why Trauma Makes Your Brain Hunt for Proof You're Right (And How to Flip It)
Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to find “proof” that you’re unlovable, unsafe, or destined to be abandoned—while your brain somehow overlooks all the moments you were actually cared for and supported? That’s not you being dramatic or broken. That’s confirmation bias, and after trauma, it becomes a powerful filter that keeps you stuck in old pain. In this episode of Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace, Naomi unpacks how confirmation bias works in a trauma-impacted brain, how it feeds beliefs like “Everyone always leaves me,” and why your nervous system clings to...
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Episode 9: Stepping Stone Thoughts: Bridges from Trauma Lies to True Beliefs
Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace
Tired of affirmations that feel like lies? In this episode of Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace, trauma-informed coach Naomi Stanchfield reveals Stepping Stone Thoughts—her gentle, body-honoring adaptation of CBT's thought ladder. Discover why trauma-wired thoughts like "I don't deserve love" trigger anxiety spirals, how your body reveals believable next steps, and practical ways to build from pain to self-worth—one micro-shift at a time. Through personal stories, somatic check-ins, and examples like Sarah's relationship breakthrough, you'll learn to: Spot the CBT triangle...
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Episode 8: Negativity Bias: Why Your Brain Loves the Worst-Case Scenario (And How to Rewire It)
Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace
Do you struggle to remember the good times but replay every argument, mistake, or potential disaster on repeat? You're not broken—this is negativity bias at work, your brain's evolutionary survival tool that prioritizes threats over joy. In this expanded episode of Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace, we explore why negativity bias feels especially intense after trauma, how it fuels anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and even physical health strain—and most importantly, gentle ways to retrain your brain toward balance. From caveman survival instincts to modern-day spirals (like...
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Episode 7: Healing is a Journey: The Spiral Beyond "Fixed"
Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace
Healing Is a Journey: The Spiral Beyond “Fixed” Healing after trauma is so often sold as a finish line: one day you’ll be “over it,” never triggered, never overwhelmed again. In this episode, Naomi gently unpacks why that expectation keeps you stuck—and offers a much more honest, hopeful map. You’ll explore healing as a journey and a spiral, not a destination, so you can stop wondering “Why am I not better yet?” and start noticing the real progress you’re already making. Naomi shares her own story of chasing the “fixed” fantasy, then discovering the spiral of change:...
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Episode 6: Trauma-Informed New Year's Resolutions: Goals That Actually Stick
Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace
Trauma-Informed New Year's Resolutions: Goals That Actually Stick Tired of resolutions crashing after days or weeks? Trauma survivors face unique barriers—perfectionism traps, failure avoidance, decision fatigue, and time blindness that blur progress. Discover why traditional goals derail post-trauma and get your complete toolkit for 2026 success: values-aligned SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound), minimum viable steps for low-capacity days, brain-rewiring celebrations, and somatic body checks for nervous system safety first. Real examples: Transform...
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Episode 5: Stop Blaming, Start Thriving: Healing the Victim Mindset
Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace
Ever catch yourself thinking, “Why does this always happen to me?” or feeling like life is happening to you, not with you? In this episode of Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace, Naomi unpacks what victim mentality really is, how it often grows out of trauma, and why it can quietly keep you stuck in cycles of blame, resentment, and helplessness. You’ll learn how to tell the difference between trauma responses (your nervous system trying to protect you) and a victim mindset (a learned way of thinking and feeling about your life). Naomi shares parts of her own story, plus Sarah’s...
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Episode 4: Conceal, Don’t Feel: Unlearning Emotional Suppression After Trauma
Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace
From Numb to Noticing: Safely Reconnecting With Your Emotions Emotions are not the enemy—they’re survival tools. But if you’ve lived through trauma, your nervous system may have learned that feelings equal danger, leading to numbness, overwhelm, or a total disconnect from what you feel. In this episode of Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace, Naomi gently unpacks why so many survivors avoid their emotions and how this protective strategy shows up in the body, mind, and relationships. You’ll learn the real purpose of emotions like fear, anger, sadness, and joy, and how...
info_outlineHave you ever noticed how easy it is to find “proof” that you’re unlovable, unsafe, or destined to be abandoned—while your brain somehow overlooks all the moments you were actually cared for and supported? That’s not you being dramatic or broken. That’s confirmation bias, and after trauma, it becomes a powerful filter that keeps you stuck in old pain.
In this episode of Beyond Survival: A Pathway to Peace, Naomi unpacks how confirmation bias works in a trauma-impacted brain, how it feeds beliefs like “Everyone always leaves me,” and why your nervous system clings to those stories as a form of protection. You’ll hear a personal example from Naomi’s own life, plus relatable everyday scenarios in relationships, work, and friendships where this bias quietly shapes how you see yourself and others.
Most importantly, you’ll learn gentle, practical tools to start shifting it. Naomi walks you through:
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A simple CBT “proof list” journaling exercise to test your painful beliefs and collect evidence for new, truer ones
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Compassionate ways to honor how those beliefs once kept you safe, without letting them run your adult life
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Somatic practices like progressive muscle relaxation, resourcing (creating an internal safe place), and grounding movement to help your body feel the safety your mind is relearning
This episode is for you if you:
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Feel stuck in cycles of “I knew this would happen” and worst-case thinking
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Struggle to trust others, even when they’ve shown up for you
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Want to understand why your brain does this and how to gently retrain it without shaming yourself
By the end, you’ll have both language and tools to notice your confirmation bias in real time, question whether it’s telling the whole truth, and slowly teach your brain and body to look for evidence of safety, love, and support. One thought, one breath, one list at a time, you can move from surviving old stories to living in a fuller, kinder reality.