In this episode of Alone and Unafraid, Thad sits down with Dr. Michelle Maidenberg, a leading expert on emotional avoidance and anxiety, to discuss her ACE Method—Acceptance, Compassion, and Empowerment. With over 30 years of experience, Michelle explains how emotional avoidance, especially common in military and first responder communities, prevents people from fully engaging with both negative and positive emotions.

They dive into the impact of trauma, both big and small, and how our physiological wiring plays a role in our tendency to avoid discomfort. Michelle also shares personal stories from her family's Holocaust survival and how that shaped her understanding of trauma and healing. She offers practical strategies for breaking through emotional avoidance, stressing the importance of self-compassion and values-based living to foster personal growth and resilience.

Listeners will gain actionable insights on how to confront emotional challenges, build healthier habits, and move toward a more empowered life. This episode is packed with wisdom for anyone seeking to better manage anxiety, trauma, or emotional blocks, making it a must-listen for those looking to improve their mental health and overall well-being.

Links:

Michelle Maidenberg |

Dr.Michelle Maidenberg (@drmichellemaidenberg) • Instagram photos and videos

(19)Dr. Michelle Maidenberg - YouTube

http://twitter.com/DrMaidenberg

Dr.Michelle Maidenberg | Facebook

(3)Michelle Maidenberg, Ph.D., MPH, LCSW-R, CGP | LinkedInCircumventing EmotionalAvoidance | MichelleMaidenberg | TEDxBU (youtube.com)

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Emotional Avoidance

02:59 The Impact of Generational Trauma

05:49 The Nature of Trauma: Big T vs. Little T

09:05 The ACE Method: Acceptance, Compassion, Empowerment

11:56 The Role of Self-Acceptance in Healing

14:51 Compassion: The Key to Self-Worth

18:03 Empowerment: Sustaining Change Through Action

21:14 Practical Tools for Emotional Well-Being

Keywords: emotional avoidance, anxiety, trauma healing, ACE method, Dr. Michelle Maidenberg, mental health, self-compassion, mindfulness, first responders,military mental health, emotional blocks, acceptance, empowerment