Hidden Trauma, Religious Control, and Realistic Recovery

 I’ll never forget the moment Jessica said, “Before I ever abandoned myself, I was abandoned by others.” That line was profound.

In this episode of The Angela Rose Show, I sit down with my friend Jessica Witmer, trauma coach and founder of Wild Olive Branch Coaching, to have a raw conversation on what realistic trauma recovery looks like.

Jessica grew up with 15 siblings in a high-control religious community where abuse, silencing, and survival became the norm. In this episode, we go there. The hard parts. The invisible wounds. The parts nobody wants to talk about in church. 

We unpack:
-How self-abandonment starts early in religious trauma
-How fear and shame are baked into obedience
-How abuse doesn’t always leave bruises—but always leaves impact
-The grief of discovering what was done to you was never your fault
-And how reconnecting with your body changes everything 

This isn’t surface-level healing. This is real. This is raw. This is recovery.

💬 Drop a comment if this resonates, you are not alone. Feel free to email Jessica or Angela Rose if you are looking for safe trauma recovery resources.
🧠 "If no one else believed you, I hope you still find the courage to believe yourself." ~Wild Olive Branch Coaching

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🔗 Connect with Jessica Witmer
Instagram: @wildolivebranchcoaching
Facebook: @jessicawitmer
Coaching & Support: Search Wild Olive Branch Coaching

🎙️ Follow Angela Rose:
Instagram: @angelarosemartin
Facebook: @angelarose
TikTok: @angelaroseshow

📢 If this conversation meant something to you, please like, comment, and share. It helps us reach more survivors and amplify these powerful stories.  

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