CPTSD: Learning Thief
Several years ago, when my life seemed more normal, I worked in public relations and corporate communications. I worked for several high-profile firms where, among other assets, employment consists of one key attribute: one’s ability to be precise and agile,...
The Shattered Encasement of Suicide Grief
TRIGGER WARNING: This blog discusses suicide My Mom’s suicide was the culmination of years of enduring painful emotional abuse and narcissism. There was no blood, just a strong gas smell from the lawnmower. A tarp is placed strategically on the concrete floor. Maybe...
Our Mental Health and Society
Mental health services in the UK have always been hard to access. In the past 5 years, they can no longer meet the increasing number of suffering individuals’ needs. The recurring question is, “Why are more people diagnosed with depression/ADHD/...
Reclaiming Serenity: Navigating Self-Care After a Flashback
Over the past couple of weeks, I have been talking about having flashbacks in the workplace, how to get grounded, and how to clean up the mess afterward. If you haven’t noticed, that is a lot of work and can be extremely exhausting. Additionally, there is deeper work...
Why Do Men Stay Too Long in Toxic Abusive Relationships?
Many men stay in toxic, abusive relationships (TAR) due to a variety of complex reasons and deep-seated fears. One primary reason is men’s tendency to view themselves as “fixers.” Men often cling to the hope that they can repair the relationship,...
I Wasn’t Born Hating Myself
The flashbacks were extra intense one night, and my internal anger was boiling over. As an adult, I have always lived alone, so my apartment was my little oasis (and also my torture chamber) where I could express my emotions without people noticing. Most of the...
An Attack on All Fronts: The Mind-Body-Soul Divide-and-Conquer Technique of Narcissistic Abuse (Part 2 of 4)
Part 2 of 4: I was being future faked In support groups for narcissistic abuse, a word that comes up often is servitude. It took tremendous logistical energy to be with my partner: in a year and a half, he stayed at my place twice. Otherwise, I was covertly expected...
The Strange World of Dissociation
What is Dissociation? Dissociation runs on a continuum from road hypnosis, daydreaming and losing yourself in a good book to Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and then to the extreme of Dissociative Identity Disorder. The experience is normal when you are lost in...