The Dissociation House
I have Complex PTSD. I never talk about it, let alone in any detail. I mention some of my triggers in passing. I keep it generic. No one asks questions. I get triggered often. Weekly, sometimes daily. A door slamming, the cold water running over the plate I am...
Transforming Self-Harm into Self-Care
In bringing closure to self-harming expression, the process may inadvertently place inordinate emphasis on the symptoms. It happens when valuing the disorder overrides the underlying cause and the restorative healing properties that are within everyone. Can a person...Co-Occurring Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
In previous posts in this series, we have discussed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as though it occurs alone. Unfortunately, thinking that PTSD acts alone would be incorrect. Many other diagnoses that a person with PTSD can have include complex post-traumatic...
CPTSD – the Thief of Time
There is no word to describe the feeling. I tried time after time to define this knot of emotions. It is a task that is beyond my ability. I cannot find a singular word that describes the feeling. I keep looking but, for the moment I carry this undefined weight with...
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: The Line between Routine and Ruin
Your mother liked her figurines smallest to largest. Your friend chews food exactly 25 times before swallowing. Come to think of it, you do like your books stacked a certain way… We’ve all heard a phrase similar to “She’s OCD about her clothes” or “I’m real OCD about...Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Brain
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a life-altering condition that, according to the National Center for PTSD, affects approximately 8 out of every 100 people at some point in their lives. This article will uncover how, like complex post-traumatic stress disorder, the...
Flower Power
Today, I bought flowers for myself. They are five perfect little floppy tulips with careless streaks of red, yellow, and orange on a white background. Every time I look at them, I smile because I bought myself flowers! I didn’t buy them because I thought that they...
1,000 Easy Steps to Curing CPTSD
As anyone in recovery, books are a go-to source of help and healing. When I learned about CPTSD and my poster child status, I headed for Dr. Google to find some clarity and to do some home study. I was not encouraged by the results of my “CPTSD book” search; “Did you...