When Chaos Feels Like Love with June Berlinger

What happens when the trauma you experienced as a child follows you into your relationships, your parenting, and every part of your adult life? In this episode, we are joined by June Berlinger, a nurse, survivor, and author, for an incredibly honest conversation about surviving abuse and finding a way forward. June shares what it was like to grow up surrounded by abuse, how those experiences shaped her self-worth and relationships, and why she found herself drawn to chaos and unhealthy relationships rather than the safety and kindness she deserved. We talk about the guilt and shame survivors often carry, how trauma can affect the way we trust and connect with others, and what it means to finally understand that the abuse was never our fault. We also talk about something that is so important: breaking generational cycles. June shares how becoming a mother changed her perspective, how she worked to protect her own children from the patterns she had experienced, and how years of counseling, support groups, education, and advocacy became part of her healing journey.  If you or someone you love has experienced abuse, I hope you'll listen to this episode knowing that you are not alone, your story matters, and there is hope beyond what you've survived. June has also created free resources for survivors and those who want to help them at RisingAboveTrauma.net, where you can find information from her book and additional support resources. Resources: Buy June's Book: https://www.risingabovetrauma.net/ June’s Website: https://www.risingabovetrauma.net/ Free confidential help is always available at victimconnect.org   If you have been a victim of a crime and would like to share your story, please contact us at [email protected]  — This podcast discusses real crimes and may include sensitive topics that could be difficult for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. The information shared in this podcast is for informational and storytelling purposes only and is not intended as legal advice.