23:58 Jackson: Miles, as we start to wrap this up, I want to come back to something that feels really important—the idea that people can reclaim their own story, even when their memories feel fragmented.
24:10 Miles: That's beautifully put, Jackson. And I think this is where the research we've been discussing becomes really empowering. Because once you understand that fragmented-feeling memories don't necessarily mean broken memories, you can begin to trust your own experience again.
24:24 Jackson: How does someone start to rebuild that trust?
24:26 Miles: I think it begins with recognizing that your responses to trauma—including dissociation—make sense. They weren't random or pathological. They were your brain and body doing their best to protect you in impossible circumstances.
24:41 Jackson: So instead of "Why am I so messed up?" it becomes "How did I survive?"
3:51 Miles: Exactly. And that shift in perspective can be transformative. When you start to see your responses as adaptive rather than dysfunctional, you can begin to appreciate your own resilience.
24:57 Jackson: And that includes dissociation?
2:56 Miles: Absolutely. Dissociation isn't a sign of weakness—it's a sign that your nervous system is sophisticated enough to create psychological distance when you need it. The challenge is learning when you need it and when you don't.
25:12 Jackson: So healing involves developing more choice around dissociation?
3:10 Miles: Right. Instead of dissociation happening automatically whenever things feel intense, you can develop the capacity to stay present when it's safe to do so, and to use dissociation consciously when you need that protection.
25:31 Jackson: That sounds like it would give someone a lot more agency in their own healing.
3:51 Miles: Exactly. And here's something else that's important—your story doesn't have to be perfectly linear or complete to be valid and meaningful. Even if your memories feel like scattered pieces, those pieces are part of a larger narrative of survival and resilience.
25:51 Jackson: So someone doesn't have to wait until they have perfect recall to start healing?
25:56 Miles: Not at all. In fact, healing often happens in the spaces between memories—in developing self-compassion, in learning to feel safe in your body, in building connections with others who understand.
26:08 Jackson: And the research supports this approach?
2:56 Miles: Absolutely. Studies consistently show that people who focus on building present-moment resources and developing healthier relationships with their internal experiences tend to have better outcomes than those who focus primarily on memory retrieval.
26:25 Jackson: So it's more about learning to live well with your experience than about fixing or changing it?
26:31 Miles: That's a profound way to put it. And I think that's ultimately what recovery looks like—not the absence of difficult memories or the complete elimination of dissociation, but the development of a kinder, more skillful relationship with your own inner experience.
26:47 Jackson: For our listeners who are on this journey, what would you want them to remember most from our conversation today?
26:53 Miles: That dissociation and memory fragmentation are not signs of brokenness—they're signs of a nervous system that knew how to protect you when you needed it most. Your healing doesn't depend on having perfect memories or never dissociating again. It depends on learning to trust yourself and developing the skills to navigate your inner world with compassion and wisdom.
27:13 Jackson: And that healing is possible, even when the path isn't linear?
20:01 Miles: Especially then. Because that's what makes us human—our capacity to find meaning, connection, and growth even in the midst of experiences that feel fragmented or overwhelming. Your story matters, exactly as it is.
27:32 Jackson: Miles, this has been such an important conversation. To everyone who's been listening, thank you for joining us on this exploration of trauma, memory, and healing. If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to hear your thoughts—what insights stood out, or what questions are you still sitting with? Until next time, be gentle with yourselves and remember that your experience, exactly as it is, is worthy of compassion and care.
28:00 Miles: Beautifully said, Jackson. Take care, everyone.