E032: Rise After Silence with Dr. Anne Aspler
In this moving episode of the Rough Draft Podcast , host Sabrina sits down with ER physician, professor, author, and advocate Dr. Anne Aspler. Dr. Aspler discusses her upcoming memoir, Rise After Silence: An ER Doctor and the Patients Who Healed Her . Moving past traditional, sterile bios, she opens up about the complex duality of balancing a high-stakes medical career with a life as an artist, writer, mother, and survivor of childhood family violence and sexual assault. Together, Sabrina and Dr. Aspler explore the hidden realities of emergency medicine, the nuance of self-compassion, and why healing is an ongoing daily practice rather than a static destination. Key Topics The Frontline Reality & Rise After Silence : Dr. Aspler outlines her book’s structure—interweaving 10 frontline emergency room cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, and trauma with her own personal history. The Secret Lives Behind the Curtain: A rare look into the late-night intimacy of the ER, where patients often mask severe trauma behind seemingly routine physical symptoms. "An ER Doctor and the Patients Who Healed Her": How treating patients helped Dr. Aspler extend compassion to herself, breaking down the artificial wall between caregiver and survivor. Redefining Silence and Courage: Dr. Aspler explains that "rising after silence" doesn't necessarily mean going public; it can mean holding space for your own truth in a journal or private setting. Nuance, Shame, and Internalized Blame: The hosts discuss the pervasive shame surrounding sexual violence, the myth of the "perfect victim," and navigating trauma as both teenagers and mothers. Rewriting the Rough Draft of Strength: Moving away from high-functioning overachievement, compartmentalization, and hypervigilance as substitutes for actual emotional processing. Holding Complex Family Realities: Navigating intergenerational trauma, accountability, and reconciliation—learning to acknowledge both the harm caused and the capacity for human change without surrendering one's narrative. Resources & Links Mentioned Book: Rise After Silence: An ER Doctor and the Patients Who Healed Her by Dr. Anne Aspler (Releases October 6th) Amazon Canada - Amazon USA - Indigo Canada - Website: riseaftersilence.com | anneaspler.com Social Media & Substack: Search @DrAnneAspler or @AnneAspler on YouTube, Substack, and social platforms for brain health and healing content. Organizations: End Violence Everywhere Follow along on IG: @ thesabrinagreer @ fempower.pub




