Episode 366: From Unthinkable Tragedy to Transformed Life: Finding Hope After Unimaginable Loss with Burton Fischler

2025-12-29

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In this deeply moving episode of The Addicted Mind, host Duane Osterlind sits down with Burton Fischler, author of The Gift: Trauma to Triumph. Burton shares a harrowing personal journey marked by unimaginable loss—the murder of his wife, Barbara, at the hands of her son who struggled with severe mental illness and addiction.Burton discusses how he navigated the dark abyss of PTSD and grief, eventually finding a path toward healing through writing, nature, and service. Now a substance addiction counselor, Burton explains the intersection of trauma and addiction and o...

In this deeply moving episode of The Addicted Mind, host Duane Osterlind sits down with Burton Fischler, author of The Gift: Trauma to Triumph. Burton shares a harrowing personal journey marked by unimaginable loss—the murder of his wife, Barbara, at the hands of her son who struggled with severe mental illness and addiction.

Burton discusses how he navigated the dark abyss of PTSD and grief, eventually finding a path toward healing through writing, nature, and service. Now a substance addiction counselor, Burton explains the intersection of trauma and addiction and offers a message of profound hope for anyone feeling lost in the darkness.

Key Highlights

A Tragic Turning Point: Burton recounts the heartbreaking events leading up to his wife’s death and the systemic failures that preceded the tragedy.
The Weight of Trauma: Moving beyond "talk therapy" to understand how trauma lives in the body and the reality of living with PTSD.
The Power of Writing: How documenting his journey for eight hours a day became a lifeline and a tool for self-discovery.
Gratitude vs. Joy: The shift from waiting for joy to practicing gratitude as a foundational step toward recovery.
Neuroplasticity and Choice: Understanding that while we cannot "think" our way into right action, we can act our way into right thinking by rewiring the brain through healthy habits.
The Wisdom of Trauma: Why Burton chose to become a substance abuse counselor and how his own pain allows him to connect deeply with his clients.

During the conversation, Burton emphasizes the importance of replacing negative feedback loops with positive ones. This process leverages the brain's natural ability to change.

Breaking Isolation: Moving from secrecy and shame to human connection.
Nature and Awe: Finding symbols of resilience in the natural world (like a flower growing through concrete).
Holistic Practice: Incorporating meditation, nutrition, and movement to support the "rewiring" of the mind.

Notable Quotes

"It is not joyfulness that makes us grateful. It's gratitude that makes us joyful." — Burton Fischler (referencing Brother David Steindl-Rast)

"If children after they fell did not get up and try again, we would have a world of people on their knees." — Burton Fischler

"There are two ways to look at life: one is that nothing is a miracle, and the other is that everything is." — Burton Fischler (referencing Albert Einstein)

Resources Mentioned

Book: The Gift: Trauma to Triumph by Burton Fischler
Poetry: T.S. Eliot
References: Viktor Frankl (Man's Search for Meaning), Gabor Maté, and Bill Wilson (AA).

Connect with Burton Fischler