by Shirley Davis | Jul 11, 2022 | CPTSD, Self Care, Self-Acceptance, Trauma
Many people identify as having survived childhood abuse of some sort and, as a result, often lack self-compassion. Self-compassion is being kind and understanding with oneself instead of mercilessly criticizing and sitting in judgment of all your shortcomings. This...
by Heidi Fischer | Jul 8, 2022 | CPTSD, CPTSD and PTSD, PTSD
Originally published on The Mighty. This whole writing is basically a massive spoiler for all things “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and “Star Wars” in general. Please note that I enjoy explaining such things in a slightly cavalier way, so don’t come at me with pitchforks if I don’t...
by Roger Reynolds | Jul 7, 2022 | Guest Contributor, LGBTQ, Trauma
LGBTQIA+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning (one’s sexual or gender identity), Intersex, and Asexual/Aromantic/Agender (LGBTQIA+ or Queer). “A 2016 review of research found 17% of LGB adults had attempted suicide during their...
by Rebekah Brown | Jul 7, 2022 | Anxiety, Attachment Trauma, CPTSD, CPTSD and Narcissistic Abuse, Grief, Healing Codependency, Healthy Relationships, Trauma
How to Break A Trauma Bond I could hear the yelling outside despite the fact that I was in the house with the door closed. My husband was on a cell phone with my trauma-bonded abuser. They weren’t on speaker either. I could still hear every word. Cultivated over many...
by Sunny Lynn, OMC | Jul 6, 2022 | Anger, Anxiety, Attachment Trauma, Complex PTSD Healing, CPTSD and Inner Child Work, CPTSD and Narcissistic Abuse, CPTSD Survivor Stories, Guest Contributor, Mindfulness, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Self Care
Scapegoated! (as published in The Friday Edition of HeartBalm Healing at https://heartbalm.substack.com) For the adult who blames themselves – who see things go wrong around them and perceives the familiar feelings of self-blame, guilt, shame, and “it’s my fault”...
by Shirley Davis | Jul 6, 2022 | CPTSD, Self Care, Self-Acceptance
No one is harder on a survivor of complex trauma than the survivor. Survivors feel they are a burden, be unable to have a voice for themselves, or feel shame. Also, survivors often lack trust in who they are and believe no one is trustworthy. This article will focus...
by G Garcia | Jul 5, 2022 | Complex PTSD Healing, CPTSD, CPTSD Survivor Stories, Family Estrangement, Relationships, Self-Acceptance, Sexual Abuse
Trigger Warning: This blog contains sexual abuse I remember the legal process more than the trauma itself. I’ve come to appreciate that memory loss, a defense mechanism that I’ve had a love-hate relationship with for the past decade. I was young, sitting in a...
by Crazy Kevin | Jul 5, 2022 | Anxiety, CPTSD, Depression, Emotional Flashbacks, First Responders and CPTSD, Guest Contributor, Men's Mental Health, Occupational Mental Health & CPTSD
Emotions, losing control, not being yourself. I kept feeling like it was something I did. Something I could undo or fix so everything would turn out alright. Unfortunately, things kept getting worse… In the first week, no one knew what was wrong. The only thing...
by Heidi Fischer | Jul 5, 2022 | Complex PTSD Healing, Guest Contributor
This article was originally published on The Mighty. “Ted Lasso” is not a TV show that I would have chosen to watch on my own. In fact, until it was recommended to me, I somehow hadn’t even heard of it. It’s the stuff of delicious irony that I know myself well enough...
by Sylvie Rouhani | Jul 1, 2022 | ACEs, Guest Contributor, Hope, Recovery, Spirituality, Trauma-Informed
Impostor Syndrome occurs for all sorts of reasons and it pushes us to become extremely hard on ourselves. It also robs us of seeing ourselves: as human beings doing their best, just as they are. Thankfully, self-compassion can help us address the painful feeling of...