Sleepwalking for 55 Years: How One Man Woke Up
03/20/25 • 49 min
The invisible wounds of childhood often shape our adult lives in ways we never recognize. In this revealing conversation, trauma coach Jim Bernardo shares his journey from successful technology executive to men's group facilitator and trauma recovery specialist, uncovering how our earliest messages create the neural pathways that determine our responses decades later.
Drawing from his graduate studies in behavioral psychology and his personal healing journey, Bernardo explains why most men initially claim they experienced no childhood trauma. Research demonstrates how differently we treat children based solely on perceived gender – expecting emotional stoicism from boys while encouraging emotional expression in girls. These seemingly small but repeated experiences literally wire circuits in the brain that persist into adulthood, creating automatic responses we often don't understand.
Perhaps most fascinating is Bernardo's perspective on language as the key to healing. "We don't describe our experiences with language. We create them with the language we give to them," he explains, illustrating how trauma recovery involves consciously reshaping our internal narratives about past events. While techniques like EMDR can help access buried emotions, the fundamental healing comes through giving different language to experiences that have controlled us from the shadows.
For men specifically, trauma often manifests as "covert depression" – presenting as irritability, physical symptoms, risk-taking behaviors, or disproportionate rage rather than recognizable sadness. Through his book "Echoes of Broken Skies" and his trauma coaching work, Bernardo helps men recognize these patterns and develop the awareness to pause between trigger and response – creating space for healing and preventing relationship damage caused by reactive behaviors.
Whether you're struggling with unexplained anger, feeling disconnected from yourself and others, or simply curious about the profound impact of language on our experience of reality, this conversation offers valuable insights into reclaiming your authentic self through conscious awareness and the deliberate reshaping of your personal narrative.
Gift For You!!! Murders to Music will be releasing "SNAPSHOTS" periodcally to keep you entertained throughout the week! Snapshots will be short, concise bonus episodes containing funny stories, tid bits of brilliance and magical moments!!! Give them a listen and keep up on the tea!
Hi, I'm Aaron your host and I would love to invite you to leave a review, send some fan mail or email me at [email protected]. Does something I'm saying resonate with you...Tell me about it! Is there something you want to hear more about...Tell me about it! This show is to provide value, education and entertainment and hopefully find its way to the WORLD! Share, Like and Love the Murders to Music Podcast!
www.StreamlineEventsLLC.com
www.DoubleDownDuo.com
@StreamlineSEE
@DDownDuo
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The invisible wounds of childhood often shape our adult lives in ways we never recognize. In this revealing conversation, trauma coach Jim Bernardo shares his journey from successful technology executive to men's group facilitator and trauma recovery specialist, uncovering how our earliest messages create the neural pathways that determine our responses decades later.
Drawing from his graduate studies in behavioral psychology and his personal healing journey, Bernardo explains why most men initially claim they experienced no childhood trauma. Research demonstrates how differently we treat children based solely on perceived gender – expecting emotional stoicism from boys while encouraging emotional expression in girls. These seemingly small but repeated experiences literally wire circuits in the brain that persist into adulthood, creating automatic responses we often don't understand.
Perhaps most fascinating is Bernardo's perspective on language as the key to healing. "We don't describe our experiences with language. We create them with the language we give to them," he explains, illustrating how trauma recovery involves consciously reshaping our internal narratives about past events. While techniques like EMDR can help access buried emotions, the fundamental healing comes through giving different language to experiences that have controlled us from the shadows.
For men specifically, trauma often manifests as "covert depression" – presenting as irritability, physical symptoms, risk-taking behaviors, or disproportionate rage rather than recognizable sadness. Through his book "Echoes of Broken Skies" and his trauma coaching work, Bernardo helps men recognize these patterns and develop the awareness to pause between trigger and response – creating space for healing and preventing relationship damage caused by reactive behaviors.
Whether you're struggling with unexplained anger, feeling disconnected from yourself and others, or simply curious about the profound impact of language on our experience of reality, this conversation offers valuable insights into reclaiming your authentic self through conscious awareness and the deliberate reshaping of your personal narrative.
Gift For You!!! Murders to Music will be releasing "SNAPSHOTS" periodcally to keep you entertained throughout the week! Snapshots will be short, concise bonus episodes containing funny stories, tid bits of brilliance and magical moments!!! Give them a listen and keep up on the tea!
Hi, I'm Aaron your host and I would love to invite you to leave a review, send some fan mail or email me at [email protected]. Does something I'm saying resonate with you...Tell me about it! Is there something you want to hear more about...Tell me about it! This show is to provide value, education and entertainment and hopefully find its way to the WORLD! Share, Like and Love the Murders to Music Podcast!
www.StreamlineEventsLLC.com
www.DoubleDownDuo.com
@StreamlineSEE
@DDownDuo
Youtube-Instagram-Facebook
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www.StreamlineEventsLLC.com
www.DoubleDownDuo.com
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Murders to Music: Crime Scene to Music Scene (Streamline Events and Entertainment) - Sleepwalking for 55 Years: How One Man Woke Up
Transcript
Ladies and gentlemen , welcome back to the Merges to Music podcast . My name is Aaron , I'm your host and you guys are in for another awesome show . Today . I've got a guest on the show . His name is Jim Bernardo and I've actually never met Jim , but in this crazy world of technology and Facebook and podcast groups , Jim and I connected there and we have a very similar story .
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