He Survived Childhood Trauma and the Marines but Never Learned How To Feel Until Much Later

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The Dad Project

25 episodes

1 week ago

Real stories. Brave voices. The Dad Project is dedicated to celebrating and uplifting men, sharing their powerful stories of perseverance, love, and hope. By highlighting their unique journeys and the challenges they overcome, the project seeks to dismantle stereotypes and emphasise the importance of men’s mental health and emotional well-being. Through authentic storytelling, The Dad Project inspires understanding and compassion, fostering a community that values the strength and dedication of these fathers and encourages them to share their truths.

Mental Health

Health & Fitness

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Mental Health

Health & Fitness

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He Survived Childhood Trauma and the Marines but Never Learned How To Feel Until Much Later

The Dad Project

1 hour 31 minutes 12 seconds

2 months ago

He Survived Childhood Trauma and the Marines but Never Learned How To Feel Until Much Later

Chris Davies grew up in chaos. Violence, instability and emotional neglect shaped his early years and left deep marks he carried into adulthood. After his father died, he felt a strong pull to create legacy and purpose, so he joined the Royal Marines. The training, the identity and the intensity gave him structure, but it also deepened the emotional numbness he had learned as a child.

In this conversation Chris speaks openly about childhood trauma, Marines training, emotional shutdown and the long period of his life where he cut himself off from feeling. He explains how leaving the forces left him without identity or direction and how the breakdown of a relationship forced him to confront everything he had been avoiding.

Chris shares how men’s work, breathwork, grounding and nervous system awareness helped him rebuild himself piece by piece. He now supports men through the same journey, helping them reconnect with their bodies, emotions and strength in healthier ways.

This episode is raw, honest and deeply relevant to any man who has learned to stay numb in order to survive.

Themes

Childhood trauma
Royal Marines training
Emotional numbness
Identity loss after leaving the forces
Relationship breakdown
Nervous system regulation
Men’s work and breathwork
Masculinity and vulnerability

Why this episode matter

Many men learn to suppress emotion to survive trauma, the forces or difficult environments. Chris shows what happens when that silence breaks and how men can rebuild from the inside out.

(00:00:00) The Burden of Becoming Your Best Self (00:01:03) Introduction: Breaking the Silence on Men's Mental Health (00:01:38) The Black Sheep: Chris's Childhood and Early Wisdom (00:08:40) A Father's Death and the Search for Legacy (00:15:07) Joining the Marines: Purpose, Fear, and Brotherhood (00:17:55) Modern Masculinity and the Loss of Purpose (00:26:56) Combat in Afghanistan: Facing Death as a Valiman (00:29:52) Leaving the Military and Finding Breathwork (00:40:41) The Science and Spirit of Breathwork (01:02:46) Sacred Sons and Men's Work (01:12:15) Why Men Resist Healing (01:26:52) Breaking the Cycle for Future Generations

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Connect with Chris
Instagram: @the_chrisdavies/

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