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The Courageous Survivor: Breaking the Chains and Redesigning Me
The Courageous Survivor: Breaking the Chains and Redesigning Me
Hosted by Paula Walters
The Courageous Survivor isn’t just a podcast—it’s a raw, unfiltered journey through the lifelong impacts of trauma, the messy process of healing, and the power of rewriting your own story.
I’m Paula Walters—a paramedic with over 20 years of experience, a survivor of child abuse, domestic violence, and near-fatal strangulation, and someone who has spent decades battling addiction, chronic illness, and the aftershocks of trauma. After years of being dismissed, misdiagnosed, and failed by the systems that were supposed to help, I began to ask hard questions—and I started the work of healing from the inside out.
This podcast is where I unpack it all. From the ways childhood dysfunction shaped my identity and relationships, to my struggles with brain injury, fight-or-flight autopilot, and hidden addictions to work, validation, and avoidance—I’m pulling back the curtain on what recovery really looks like when trauma rewires your brain and body.
But The Courageous Survivor isn’t just about me. It’s about all of us who have survived things we don’t talk about enough. And it’s about the urgent need to change how we respond to survivors—not just individually, but as a society.
This podcast is a call to action.
I challenge healthcare professionals, mental health providers, first responders, law enforcement, judicial systems, advocacy groups, and victim services to break out of their silos and come together. Survivors need trauma-informed, collaborative care that addresses the whole person—mind, body, and soul. We need systems that see us, hear us, and believe us.
Through honest storytelling, hard truths, and deep personal reflection, I’m here to spark hope, foster connection, and inspire both personal and systemic transformation. You’ll also hear from other survivors, professionals, and thought leaders who are doing the work of bridging trauma and wellness in real life.
Whether you're in the thick of your own healing journey, working in a role that supports survivors, or just beginning to understand how trauma impacts our world—this podcast will challenge you to go deeper, reflect harder, and take brave steps toward change.
Together, we are breaking the chains—and redesigning who we were always meant to be.
Subscribe and join me on this journey of self-discovery, healing, and transformation.
Disclaimer:
The content shared on this podcast and YouTube channel is intended for informational and inspirational purposes only. I, Paula Walters, am not a licensed medical professional, and the information provided should not be construed as medical advice. I am sharing my personal journey of healing—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual—based on my own experiences and the research I have found to be beneficial for me.
Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions regarding your health or treatment options. What works for me may not work for you, and it is important to find a path that is right for your unique needs and circumstances.
The Courageous Survivor: Breaking the Chains and Redesigning Me
The Silent Injury: Abuse, Brain Trauma & the Medical Blind Spot (Part 1)
Episode Summary:
In this powerful first episode of a two-part series, Paula Walters shares her deeply personal story to close out Brain Injury Awareness Month. She sheds light on “the silent injury”—the traumatic brain injuries (TBI) that often go unseen and undiagnosed in survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, strangulation, and human trafficking.
Drawing from her own experience as a paramedic, survivor, and advocate, Paula walks listeners through the years of unexplained symptoms, misdiagnoses, and frustration within a medical system that treated her like a mystery patient—while missing the root cause of her suffering: an invisible brain injury caused by a near-fatal strangulation.
Paula discusses:
- Why so many survivors are misdiagnosed with anxiety, depression, or autoimmune conditions
- How the medical system often fails to connect trauma history to physical symptoms
- The life-changing moment she felt seen and heard by Dr. Bill Smock in 2017
- Her path to healing through functional neurology
- The emotional toll of being dismissed and mislabeled for years
- Why we must ask deeper questions and break down the silos in healthcare
This episode is not just for survivors—it’s a call to action for healthcare professionals, therapists, and advocates to recognize the real and lasting impacts of brain trauma caused by abuse. Paula’s story is a reminder that many people aren’t “crazy” or “broken”—they’re injured and need the right kind of help.
If you’ve ever felt unseen, unheard, or stuck in the medical system, this episode is for you.
And if you work in healthcare or mental health, please listen with an open heart and share this message.
👉 Stay tuned for Part 2, where Paula will share what functional medicine and brain injury rehabilitation actually looked like—and how it gave her hope, purpose, and a second chance at life.
Connect with Paula:
🔹 Social Media: @PaulaDWalters | @TheCourageousSurvivor
🔹 Website: www.thecourageoussurvivor.com
https://thecourageoussurvivor.com/
Disclaimer:
The content shared on this podcast and YouTube channel is intended for informational and inspirational purposes only. I, Paula Walters, am not a licensed medical professional, and the information provided should not be construed as medical advice. I am sharing my personal journey of healing—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual—based on my own experiences and the research I have found to be beneficial for me.
Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions regarding your health or treatment options. What works for me may not work for you, and it is important to find a path that is right for your unique needs and circumstances.