Trigger Warning:

In this week’s episode, we talk about trauma and reference a couple different types of traumatic events. Please listen with care and step away if needed.

In this episode of I Choose the Bear, I’m joined by Dr. Mallory Knipe, associate professor in the Master of Social Work program at Saint Mary’s University. With a doctorate in social work from the University of St. Thomas and a master’s from the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Knipe brings both clinical expertise and deep compassion to the conversation.

Together, we explore how trauma affects the body—what happens in your brain, why you freeze in moments of conflict, or why your body seems to “overreact” long after the danger is gone.

Whether you’re a survivor trying to understand yourself or a loved one trying to support someone you care about, this episode brings clarity to the question: “Why am I like this?”