Episode 34: "The Scent of Trauma: Reclaiming Control When Everything Feels Like Too Much"
You're in the grocery store and suddenly you want to abandon your cart and run. The networking event has you wanting to throw punches. Your family gathering sends you spiraling. And you have no idea why—you just know you can't handle one more thing.
What if your body isn't broken? What if it's doing exactly what it was trained to do—except the threat it's protecting you from doesn't actually exist anymore? This episode reveals the gap between trauma and sensory overload that keeps high-performing leaders trapped in fight-or-flight mode during normal activities. You'll discover the practical toolkit that helps you recognize when your nervous system is overreacting, and how to reclaim control without losing your edge.
Today on Hardcore and At Ease™, we're sharing a powerful stage talk from the 2023 Others Over Self® Leadership Conference featuring Air Force veteran Erin Dunn, who spent 30 years living with trauma before discovering strategies that actually work. This isn't clinical advice—it's survival intelligence earned through decades of trial and error.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction and Host's Opening Remarks
01:25 Understanding Sensory Overload and Trauma
02:47 Erin Dunn's Journey and Insights
05:12 Sensory Overload in Everyday Situations
25:51 Understanding Sensory Overload
28:51 Strategies to Manage Sensory Overload
32:58 Toolkit Essentials for Sensory Management
40:45 Empowering Your Nervous System for Sustainable Excellence
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL DISCOVER:
✓ The critical difference between trauma flashbacks and sensory overload
✓ Why crowds don't always trigger you, but sausage cooking can send you into meltdown
✓ Five practical strategies to manage sensory overload in real-time
✓ How to engage your parasympathetic nervous system on demand
✓ The toolkit that lets high-performers function in overwhelming environments
FEATURED SPEAKER:
Erin Dunn is a 10-year Air Force veteran who served as a journalist and special agent with the Office of Special Investigations. She lived and worked in seven countries, earned her law degree while deployed to Iraq, and has spent 30+ years managing trauma from the 1988 Ramstein Air Show disaster. She discovered the connection between ADHD sensory overload and trauma responses, filling a critical gap in how we talk about everyday functioning with trauma.
NEXT WEEK:
Episode 35: "Love What You Lead: Passion vs. Burnout in Leadership" - We all started our missions with passion. So why do so many leaders end up resenting the very thing they once loved? Discover how to restore that love without lowering your standards.
RESOURCES:
Hardcore and At Ease Framework: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13lPUVrMxMesRHgbSh98aFThku20aZMWf/view?usp=drive_link
Book Strategy Session: info@missionambition.org
Affiliate Disclaimer: I only recommend products I genuinely use. Full disclosure: https://othersoverself.com/affiliate-disclaimer/
Get the Gear:
📊 My Business Report: https://hardcore-and-at-ease.captivate.fm/biz-report
🎯 StoryBrand.ai: https://hardcore-and-at-ease.captivate.fm/storybrand-ai
📚 Business Made Simple: https://hardcore-and-at-ease.captivate.fm/bms
🚀 Flight School: https://hardcore-and-at-ease.captivate.fm/flight-school
📈 My Marketing Report: https://hardcore-and-at-ease.captivate.fm/marketing-report
Listen:
Apple Podcasts: https://hardcore-and-at-ease.captivate.fm/listen
Spotify: https://hardcore-and-at-ease.captivate.fm/listen
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbwdY5eMeQlCbUmUIAmiiedzPazjuPBxG
Website: https://othersoverself.com
Connect:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/missionambition/
Instagram: @TheShellyRood | https://www.instagram.com/othersoverself/
Twitter/X: @OthersOverSelf
Email: info@missionambition.org
Work with Shelly:
One-on-One Coaching | Personal Mission Statement Workshop | Team Training
Book discovery call: info@missionambition.org
Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help other mission-driven leaders find the show.
