Trust or Not to Trust
Trust is an issue everyone struggles with in one way or another, no matter who they are or where they are from. It happens to us all from time to time when we are faced with a tricky situation. I’m talking about the trust between people. To rely on someone, depend on...Tidings of Comfort: How to Survive the Holidays Series
As the sun went down over the craggy desert mountains, I walked my little Chihuahua through my neighborhood enjoying the gorgeous sunset that is so unique to the southwestern United States. Broad strokes of color filled the sky as the lights inside the houses...
A New Year: Avoid The Trap of the ‘Holiday Season’
As we approach Christmas and another new year, it dawns on me that it will be another year without my family. Even though I do not want them to be around me it still hurts. We are told to love our families no matter what, that ‘blood is thicker than water’ but that is...Survivor’s Guilt
As survivors of abusive childhoods, we have all at some point suffered from survivor’s guilt. Some of us even feel a strong bond with our abusers, for others, those bonds are complicated and fragile. For weeks, months, or even years, we suffered under the hands...Peace on Earth: How to Survive the Holidays Series
“Peace on earth, goodwill to men” I have been a seeker of peace all my life. Not the kind that has to do with war, or being a peacemaker in desperate places. I have been a seeker of peace of heart. As a trauma survivor, peace of heart has been as elusive as...Animalistic Infantilization: Navigating a Rare Form of Childhood Emotional Abuse
Children are often raised to be emotional jesters or even emotional objects, but my upbringing represents an unconsidered scenario: being raised as a human stuffed animal. I never realized how harmful my upbringing was until I was nineteen years old and diagnosed with...4 Things I Wish I Could Tell My Younger Self About Trauma Recovery
This article was originally published on The Mighty. Photos of Heidi and her friend Rachel from over the years, used with permission. Way back in the olden days of the early 2000s, I sat a friend down and let her know I needed to speak with her about something...