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Breaking Isolation: Trauma, Truth, and Safe Community (Interview with Lynn) — Part 2

Breaking Isolation: Trauma, Truth, and Safe Community (Interview with Lynn) — Part 2

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 Title: Breaking Isolation: Trauma, Truth, and Safe Community (Interview with Lynn) — Part 2 Summary: The episode opens with the Announcer welcoming listeners to the Reap the Harvest podcast, reminding them this is part two of the conversation with Lynn, suggesting listeners may want to start with part one for context, and offering a trigger warning. A brief prayer is given asking for protection and peace.The conversation begins with Sherry Clausen addressing the experience of feeling “crazy.” She describes several layers to that feeling: disbelief that events happened, missing memories, family members who discredit the survivor, and the experience of different “parts” emerging. She notes the pressure to appear normal and professional in daily life. Sherry says that the likely intent of abusive programming was to make the person feel crazy so they would not pursue freedom. She reports that counselors sometimes gave labels that did not help, and emphasizes repeatedly that being in the Word (the Bible) and knowing truth was what helped her.The Announcer and Sherry discuss frequent forgetting: conversations, scriptures, and reading material often feel unrecalled, especially with Bible reading. Sherry contrasts this with reading fiction (which she retains better) and describes needing to reread Bible passages multiple times. She encourages not stressing over forgetfulness, to text trusted friends for reminders when needed, and to use written notes to manage professional responsibilities. Practical tips Sherry offers include keeping a notebook or making phone notes.The Announcer asks specifically about engaging with “parts” during moments of overwhelming distress or “flooding.” Sherry explains that when flooded she often does not know the trigger (and usually doesn’t), and at that peak nothing like reciting verses or following written steps will typically help. At that moment the most effective response for her is to cry out simply, “Jesus, help,” calling on the real Jesus and the Holy Spirit; sometimes saying “stop” can also be possible. She may text a friend (Sherry) to ask for prayer when she cannot form more words.Once the flooding deescalates, Sherry recommends debriefing: journaling, talking, and trying to understand what happened. She describes journaling as especially helpful for processing, even though she initially avoided it from fear someone might read private entries. She suggests discarding journals if that helps preserve privacy, and notes she typically keeps only one previous journal. Sherry emphasizes you do not need to debrief after every single event; pick what is helpful.They use a bell-curve metaphor for flooding: the rise to the apex can be fast or slow, and often the person does not notice they are on the upward slope until they are at the top. Sometimes the rise is sudden (“zero to sixty”) with no intermediate warning. Sherry says preemptive preparation is possible in predictable contexts (for her, family gatherings), but often you cannot anticipate the rise. After a flooding event, she advises choosing a verse that will stabilize and walk with you as you move forward.The hosts address guilt about not being able to maintain idealized spiritual practices. Sherry urges listeners not to feel guilty — God knows hearts — while also encouraging gradual engagement with Scripture. She recounts that she only began a consistent daily practice of being in the Word starting November 1 (two years prior to the time she referenced), and that deliverance experiences opened her ability to read the Bible more fully. She warns that abusers/programmers don’t want people in the Word because Scripture is truth, and describes how obedience verses had been twisted in her experience to enforce harmful control.Practical, gentle guidance for Bible engagement: start small (even two verses or five minutes), do not despise small beginnings, and offer what you can to Jesus. There is no required quota of verses to read. Sherry describes following a Bible-in-a-year plan for her current season but stresses that each person’s place differs. They recommend finding a Bible translation that reads well for you (examples mentioned: New Living Translation, Message, Amplified, ESV, King James noted as difficult for Sherry), trying multiple translations in a bookstore, and exploring formats (paper, app, audio) because different parts may respond differently. The Announcer notes the Bible app offers many translations. They encourage talking with a safe person about passages that trigger or confuse you.Throughout, the hosts give repeated practical suggestions: write things down for professional needs, keep a notebook/phone notes, text trusted people to pray, journal after flooding, pick a stabilizing verse, and find Bible formats/translations that work for you.The episode closes with Lynn (identified in the transcript) thanking and praising Lynn’s courage and transparency, noting her ...
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