Episode 7 - Triumph over Trauma with Suzy Ryan

By Jessica Garrison

Trigger warning: rape

Our guest this week is so charismatic and full of life that you will wish this episode was longer. Suzy Ryan digs deep with Melissa into her past, how her journey has evolved, and how she’s become the remarkable woman she is today.

The first step in Suzy’s journey was admitting she was a people pleaser. She had an insatiable need for people to adore her, and I think many of us can agree with this feeling, even to the point where we change our identities along the way to become what others will like. However, Suzy reached a point where she began taking care of herself as she authentically was and saw a huge transformation.

When people get used to you not having boundaries, there can be some pushback once you finally set them in place, and Suzy was no exception to this experience. She has so much power and grace within herself that she was able to change the narrative of her boundaries.

Suzy has come up with a mantra that she is “unoffendable,” and someone’s bad behavior should not reflect her own behavior, which I completely agree with. She explains this so well during the talking point of taking care of our emotional health as much as our physical health, and I agree that adapting her way of thinking is a great way to protect your emotional health, especially if there are some negative or toxic people in your life.

In supporting other women in living unapologetically, Suzy shares, “I would never be as hard on others as I am on myself.” This is another ideal that a lot of us can agree with. We should show ourselves as much kindness as we show others, and self-talk can be pivotal in these instances. Suzy also mentions the importance of self-talk throughout her episode, and it can be life-changing.

Suzy’s why is bettering herself and, in turn, that betters those around her. She shares a story during this segment about a day with her husband that really helps put things into perspective, especially when old trauma can show up in new ways. However, Suzy proves that we don’t have to let it control us.

While talking about living out of her own expectations, Suzy shockingly shares how she was raped at a very young age. She was able to write about this traumatic incident in her book, Saving Summer. She goes into further detail about how this shows up in her book, including a conversation she had with her editor. If this topic isn’t too triggering, I highly recommend listening and sharing.

Suzy has her own website if you’re interested in hearing more from her or reading her book. She also has been published in quite a few impressive mediums that are worth checking out as well. I can say with the utmost confidence that everyone can learn something from Suzy’s story, and she serves as a great reminder that you’re not alone in your journey, no matter when you choose to begin it.

Ways to Engage: Throughout the episode, Suzy says that she changed her mindset by becoming “unoffendable.” What did the word mean to you before listening to the episode, and what does it mean to you after listening? How can you implement this idea into your everyday life that can affect it for the better? Track your ideas and progress from this so you can look back and see how far you’ve come.