05 Understanding Male Pain: Deep Insights from an Expert Trauma Therapist

Episode Summary

What if the pain you've been carrying isn't just pain—but trauma? In this episode, veteran trauma therapist Eric Blommel breaks down what trauma really looks like in men and why so many miss the signs. We explore how trauma often hides under addiction, emotional shutdown, and toxic relationship patterns—and why knowing the difference between trauma and discomfort can change your life. Eric brings over 20 years of experience working with men and helps us understand what healing actually looks like, not just in theory, but in practice.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

- The difference between pain, discomfort, and trauma

- Why trauma often gets missed in men

- How trauma affects relationships and emotional regulation

- The connection between trauma and addiction

- What actually helps men heal from trauma

Guest Bio

Eric Blommel is a licensed professional counselor with over two decades of experience working with men, veterans, and trauma survivors. His clinical work focuses on helping clients recover from trauma, emotional suppression, and addiction. With a practical, no-nonsense approach, Eric equips men with the tools to understand what happened to them—and how to move forward. He’s also an experienced trainer and speaker, known for breaking down complex psychological concepts into relatable, actionable strategies.

Mentioned in This Episode

- Lisa Feldman Barrett – *How Emotions Are Made*

- Judith Herman – *Trauma and Recovery*

- Sebastian Junger – *Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging*

Fact Check and Clarifications

- Trauma and Addiction: Studies show an 80%+ correlation between trauma history and addiction. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6670348/]

- PTSD Definition: PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a diagnosable condition in the DSM-5. [https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/essentials/dsm5_ptsd.asp]

- Male Trauma Underreporting: Men underreport trauma due to cultural stigma and emotional suppression. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9314764/]

References

Barrett, L. F. (2017). How emotions are made: The secret life of the brain. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Herman, J. L. (2015). Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence—from domestic abuse to political terror. Basic Books.

Junger, S. (2016). Tribe: On homecoming and belonging. Twelve. Najavits, L. M., & Hien, D. A. (2013). Helping vulnerable populations: A comprehensive review of the treatment outcome literature on substance use disorder and PTSD. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69(5), 433–479.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for PTSD. (2023). PTSD and DSM-5. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/essentials/dsm5_ptsd.asp

Corrected APA References

Barrett, L. F. (2017). *How emotions are made: The secret life of the brain*. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Herman, J. L. (2015). *Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence—from domestic abuse to political terror*. Basic Books.

Junger, S. (2016). *Tribe: On homecoming and belonging*. Twelve.

Najavits, L. M., & Hien, D. A. (2013). Helping vulnerable populations: A comprehensive review of the treatment outcome literature on substance use disorder and PTSD. *Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69*(5), 433–479. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6670348/

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for PTSD. (2023). *PTSD and DSM-5*. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/essentials/dsm5_ptsd.asp

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