When the Numbing Stops: Facing the Feelings That Trauma Left Behind

In this powerful episode of What Triggers You?, Stacy Pellettieri sits down with Mary Beth O’Connor—author of From Junkie to Judge and retired federal Administrative Law Judge to explore the profound connection between childhood trauma, addiction, OCD, and nervous system healing.

After enduring years of childhood abuse and neglect, Mary Beth turned to methamphetamine as a way to numb emotional pain her nervous system was never equipped to process. But getting sober wasn’t the hardest part. The real challenge began when the numbing stopped.

Together, Stacy and Mary Beth unpack what happens when buried emotions finally surface, why trauma leaves the brain and body stuck in survival mode, and how hypervigilance, anxiety, and even obsessive-compulsive behaviors can emerge as desperate attempts to regain a sense of safety and control.

Mary Beth shares her deeply personal journey through recovery, explaining how therapy helped her learn to tolerate emotional distress rather than escape it, gradually rewiring patterns that had been in place since childhood. Although triggers still arise today, she has developed the awareness and tools to recognize what is happening internally, regulate her nervous system, and let those moments pass without returning to addiction.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that healing isn’t about eliminating triggers—it’s about changing your relationship with them.

About Mary Beth O’Connor

Mary Beth O’Connor has been in recovery from methamphetamine addiction since 1994. She is also a survivor of childhood trauma and anxiety. Her award-winning memoir, From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction, chronicles her remarkable journey from addiction to becoming a federal Administrative Law Judge. Today, she is a national advocate for trauma-informed, evidence-based recovery and serves on the boards of several recovery organizations while educating professionals and the public about the many pathways to healing.

Learn more about Mary Beth:

• Book: From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction
• Website: junkietojudge.com
• X: @MaryBethO_
• Bluesky: @marybethoconnor
• LinkedIn: Mary Beth O’Connor

Mary Beth O’Connor From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction junkietojudge.com X/Twitter: @MaryBethO_ Bluesky: marybethoconnor Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-beth-o-connor-8aaa4b121/