Oct. 8, 2025

1183: Guest Anna Runkle: The Crappy Childhood Fairy Part 1

1183: Guest Anna Runkle: The Crappy Childhood Fairy Part 1

In today's episode, Gina interviews Anna Runkle, the Crappy Childhood Fairy! Anna reveals much about her often traumatic life history and shares some of her most helpful tools for re-regulating the nervous system to find more peace and calm. Finding stability for our brain and nervous system now can have a substantial effect on our life both now and into the future. Listen in for Anna's interesting story and invaluable advice, find more peace and calm today!


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Chapters

0:26 Introduction to the Crappy Childhood Fairy

2:38 Anna's Journey Through Trauma

6:19 The Impact of PTSD

13:13 Techniques for Healing

19:05 Finding Peace Through Writing

22:42 Embracing the Hand We’re Dealt


Summary

Anna Runkle, known as the "crappy childhood fairy," joins the Anxiety Coaches Podcast to discuss her journey of healing from childhood trauma and her innovative approaches to overcoming the adverse effects of such experiences. With a significant online following, Anna has dedicated over three decades to helping those affected by childhood trauma, enabling them to lead happier, more fulfilling lives. Her forthcoming book, "Connectability: Heal the Hidden Ways You Isolate, Find Your People, and Feel, at Last, Like You Belong," focuses on overcoming feelings of disconnection—a common issue both among trauma survivors and those with normal childhoods. Anna highlights that many individuals crave connection and understanding but often feel isolated, leading to loneliness and strained relationships.


During the discussion, Anna shares her personal background of growing up in a commune with a mother plagued by addiction, which subjected her and her family to violence, poverty, and neglect. Despite these challenges, she managed to remain a high-functioning student throughout her childhood and early adulthood. However, a series of traumatic events in her 30s, including the death of her mother, a serious heartbreak, and a violent attack, left her with profound psychological effects, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At that time, the concept of PTSD was not well understood outside military contexts, leaving Anna feeling isolated and struggling with her mental health amidst overwhelming shame and fear.


In her conversation with Gina Ryan, Anna explains the significant misdiagnosis of childhood trauma symptoms, revealing her struggle with emotional dysregulation and her eventual journey to recovery. After initially finding therapy unhelpful, Anna serendipitously discovered effective techniques for managing her anxiety and depression through support from a friend who had also endured severe life struggles. These techniques, which included writing down her anxious and angry thoughts and feelings—effectively releasing them—and practicing meditation, became transformative tools for her.


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Gina🌺