Almost Awakened – Almost Awakened

What happens when trauma awareness turns into over-protection, and healing gets stuck in the identity of what harmed us? In this episode of Almost Awakened, Teresa Hobbs and Bill Reel unpack the concept of fragilization; the process by which individuals and cultures become organized around avoiding discomfort in the name of safety. Drawing from their work supporting people through religious trauma, deconstruction, and nervous system healing, Teresa and Bill explore how the instinct to protect ourselves can sometimes keep us trapped in patterns of helplessness. They discuss how to honor pain without becoming fused with it, how validation can restore dignity without reinforcing dependency, and why resilience requires learning to tolerate life’s inevitable discomforts. They also explore: How “trauma bonding” can become a comfort zone The difference between co-regulation and dependence Why denial breeds fragility How true strength comes from integration, not suppression The cultural consequences of fragilization: polarization and loss of resilience This conversation invites nuance, compassion, and empowerment, recognizing that honoring the wound is essential, but staying in it can keep us small. For those healing from high-demand religions or systems of control, it’s a reminder that real freedom isn’t the absence of pain, it’s the ability to hold both safety and strength as we grow. Join us at our NEW CHANNEL:  @almostawakenedpodcast3619  Join the conversation. Like, share, and subscribe to support this work. Donate to Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2 Join our Support Group – https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle Learn more about coaching at https://awakenandthrive.org Books Mentioned:“The Expectation Effect” by David Robson – https://a.co/d/aRCk3wy“The Coddling of the American Mind” by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt – https://www.thecoddling.com/buy

What happens when your church convinces you that your own memories, questions, and feelings can’t be trusted? In this episode of Almost Awakened, Bill Reel and Teresa Hobbs unpack the dark art of religious gaslighting — how high-demand faiths twist reality, dismiss legitimate concerns, and make believers doubt themselves under the guise of “God’s will.” We’ll explore: What gaslighting is and how it got its name Five real-world examples from Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Scientology, and more How leaders rewrite history, dismiss evidence, and blame the victim The deep psychological harm caused when faith makes you distrust your own perception Practical tools and therapeutic insights for healing from religious gaslighting If you’ve ever been told “you’re misremembering” or “your doubts are from the adversary,” this conversation will hit home. And if you’re working through the trauma of spiritual manipulation, we’ll share concrete steps to reclaim your reality, rebuild trust in yourself, and move forward with clarity. Support our work: If you find value in these conversations, consider donating: Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2 Need support? If you’re dealing with spiritual trauma, 1-on-1 coaching and support groups are available at https://awakenandthrive.org/ Join our Religious Transition support group  – https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle

In this episode of the Almost Awakened Podcast, Bill Reel and Teresa Hobbs explore why stillness can feel so uncomfortable, especially for those recovering from religious trauma, chronic stress, and nervous system dysregulation. Teresa shares a powerful moment between them as a couple when a simple request for soothing touch opened the door to a deeper mindfulness and somatic tracking practice. Together, they talk about why so many of us are constantly moving, fixing, distracting, or bracing… and how mindfulness can help us gently be with our sensations rather than run from them. They discuss: The science behind mindfulness and why it heals. How early life stress and religious programming affect the nervous system. What it means to separate the “story” from the “sensation”. How mindfulness can repattern trauma responses and support nervous system regulation. Mindfulness as a form of re-parenting and building secure attachment. This episode is raw, vulnerable, and full of practical insight, especially for post-Mormons, ex-vangelicals, or anyone rebuilding safety in their body and relationships after trauma. Teresa’s blog post on mindfulness: https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/post/rewiring-for-connection-how-trauma-informed-mindfulness-rebuilds-the-inner-architecture-of-safety Book on Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness: https://a.co/d/4tXisU2 Interested in trauma-informed coaching or somatic healing? Learn more at: https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com Whether you’re deconstructing religion, healing from chronic symptoms, or just trying to slow down… this episode offers a sacred tool to help you come home to yourself. Support the Almost Awakened Podcast and help us create more conscious content! Donate via DonorBox: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2 Join our Mailing List: subscribepage.io/MormonDiscussion Listen on Your Favorite Podcast Apps:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/almost-awakened/id1470786994https://open.spotify.com/show/59vB23bBAvNvdP74vIO3UT Follow Us: Instagram: @mormondiscussion @monarchintegrativecoaching TikTok: @mormondiscussion YouTube: @monarchintegrativecoaching‬ Visit Our Website: https://almostawakened.org https://monarchintegrativecoaching.com Contact Us: Bill Reel: MormonDiscussionsPodcasts@gmail.comTeresa Hobbs: monarchintegrativecoaching@gmail.com Mindfulness #NervousSystemHealing #ReligiousTrauma #SomaticPractice #AlmostAwakened

[Almost Awakened Ep: 191] What happens when obedience no longer defines you? In this episode, we explore the tender, disorienting, and ultimately liberating journey of shifting from a life shaped by external authority to one grounded in inner truth. We unpack how high-demand systems condition us to equate obedience with worth—and how, once that structure falls away, we’re left with a terrifying silence that’s actually a blank canvas. Together, we examine what integrity really means—not moral perfection, but alignment between who you are and how you live. With honesty, vulnerability, and practical insight, we guide you through the void, the rebuilding, and the quiet bravery of living in congruence with yourself—especially when it costs you belonging. This isn’t a call to rebellion. It’s an invitation to return to yourself.Help support Bill Reel & Teresa Hobbs in creating Awakened Resources and Content DONATE VIA DONORBOX! https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2Join our Mailing List – subscribepage.io/MormonDiscussion  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/almost-awakened/id1470786994  https://open.spotify.com/show/59vB23bBAvNvdP74vIO3UT Instagram: /https://www.instagram.com/mormondiscussion/ TikTok: @mormondiscussion https://www.tiktok.com/@mormondiscussion Mormon Discussion Merch store https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussionsMormon Discussions Website – https://mormondiscussions.org/ Contact Bill Reel or Teresa HobbsMormonDiscussionsPodcasts@gmail.com

In this powerful episode, we explore the fascinating—and at times unsettling—truth that your body can carry pain, anxiety, and illness long after the danger is gone. Through bizarre medical stories and neuroscience-backed insights, we expose how the brain can misfire protective signals, trapping us in cycles of suffering with no clear physical cause. But we don’t stop at science. We take a hard look at how religious trauma—especially from high-demand systems like Mormonism—can sabotage the nervous system, teaching us to fear our own instincts and stay hypervigilant in the name of obedience. From chronic pain to panic attacks to unexplained sickness, we reveal how trauma—spiritual or otherwise—can become embedded in the body… and how healing is possible. If you’ve ever wondered why you still feel unsafe, even when you’re “out,” or why your symptoms don’t match your diagnosis—this is the episode that connects the dots.

What happens when the very thing that was supposed to save you ends up breaking you? In this deeply personal episode of Almost Awakened, Bill and Teresa dive into the hidden wounds left by high-demand religions and spiritual systems. From shame-laced teachings to fear-based obedience, they unpack the symptoms of religious trauma and explore what healing actually looks like. With raw honesty and a touch of dark humor, they share their lived experiences—navigating everything from crushed intuition and performative worthiness to early marriages, spiritual gaslighting, and the long road back to self-trust. Whether you’ve deconstructed your faith or are just beginning to question it, this conversation offers language, validation, and hope. Because healing doesn’t mean finding new beliefs to cling to. It means coming home to yourself.Help support Bill Reel & Teresa Hobbs in creating Awakened Resources and Content DONATE VIA DONORBOX! https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2Join our Mailing List – subscribepage.io/MormonDiscussion  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/almost-awakened/id1470786994  https://open.spotify.com/show/59vB23bBAvNvdP74vIO3UT Instagram: /https://www.instagram.com/mormondiscussion/ TikTok: @mormondiscussion https://www.tiktok.com/@mormondiscussion Mormon Discussion Merch store https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussionsMormon Discussions Website – https://mormondiscussions.org/ Contact Bill Reel or Teresa Hobbs MormonDiscussionsPodcasts@gmail.com

Ep. 184 | Almost Awakened In this episode we explore how nervous system dysregulation affects your health, relationships, emotions, and identity—and how understanding this system can radically change the way you live and heal. Welcome to the reboot of the Almost Awakened Podcast—where big awakenings meet real-life healing. Bill Reel is joined by his new co-host, trauma coach Teresa Hobbs, and they are kicking things off with a deep dive into one of the most misunderstood—and most powerful—keys to personal transformation: your nervous system. But this isn’t just about science and stress responses. We’re talking relationships, emotions, identity, illness, and the invisible ways trauma shapes our lives. In this episode, you’ll learn: *What trauma actually is (hint: it’s not just what happened to you). *How your nervous system holds the key to healing and wholeness. *Why you might be stuck in fight, flight, freeze—or shutdown—and how to shift. *What co-regulation, Polyvagal Theory, and chronic symptoms have in common. *Simple, body-based tools to start rewiring your system today. Whether you’re navigating religious deconstruction, chronic stress, or just want to feel more alive and at ease, this conversation is your launchpad. Subscribe for weekly episodes on: Itunes, Google Play, Apple Music, Stitcher and FEATURED on YOUTUBE Hosted by: Bill Reel, Almost Awakened Podcast Founder Teresa Hobbs, Trauma Recovery & Mind-Body Coach, Monarch Integrative Coaching Dive in: https://almostawakened.org