The First Wound Was Silence: A Truth About Trauma and Protection

🎙 Episode Title: The First Wound Was Silence: A Truth About Trauma and Protection

Podcast: The Trigger and The Truth

Host: Tina White

🎧 Episode Summary

In this deeply personal and powerful episode, Tina White shares her lived experience with childhood sexual assault and the silent damage it caused—not just to her voice, but to her sense of safety.

She unpacks a critical truth often overlooked in trauma recovery: you cannot heal in spaces where you do not feel safe.

Long before we can talk about love, growth, or thriving, we must first return to the basics—protection. Physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual safety are not luxuries; they are non-negotiables on the path to healing.

Tina invites listeners into a raw conversation about survival mode, the failure of caregivers, and the importance of building a foundation strong enough to support healing. With courage and clarity, she dismantles the myth that you can “just move on” without addressing the environments and relationships that keep you unsafe.

🔑 In This Episode, We Discuss:

• What happens when your voice is stolen by trauma
• The role of caregivers and what happens when protection fails
• Why safety must come before love, therapy, or personal development
• How survival mode blocks emotional and spiritual growth
• The difference between trauma treatment and trauma-informed timing
• What it really means to reclaim your safety

💬 Tina’s Truth Moment:

“You can’t heal in the same environment that made you sick. And you can't grow while you're bracing for danger.”

📚 Resources + Support Mentioned in This Episode:

Ujima The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community

• Ujima (The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community): ujimacommunity.org
• RAINN (National Sexual Assault Hotline): 1-800-656-HOPE or www.rainn.org
• The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk
• Therapy for Black Girls – www.therapyforblackgirls.com
• Safe Places for BIPOC Healing: Inclusive Therapists
• Mental Health America – Trauma Resources: www.mhanational.org
• Tina’s Toolkit: The Safety Audit Worksheet (Download available at thetriggerandthetruth.com/tools)

📩 Connect with Tina White

• Website: www.thetriggerandthetruth.com
• Instagram: @thetriggerandthetruth
• Submit your truth anonymously: thetriggerandthetruth.com/submit
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