How to Be a Friend
I stood on the platform in front of a three-tiered candelabra. I was 23 years old. It was my wedding rehearsal and like many weddings of that time, part of the ceremony was a unity candle. “When you come down the aisle tomorrow and up on the platform,” said the...How to Keep a Friend – Managing Conflict
Conflict panics me. Okay? There…I said it. I am the first to run for cover at the smell of conflict. Why? Because childhood trauma taught me to confuse the two. To me, having a conflict with someone means trauma. And so…avoiding conflict becomes the goal...
Where Angels Fear to Tread
Where Angels Fear to Tread! (as published in The Friday Edition of HeartBalm Healing at https://heartbalm.substack.com) We all have our stories, our wounds, and how we began, were molded, survived, and endured. These are important to honor and take time to understand,...A Change of Affection – Part III How To Break A Trauma Bond
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...