by LeeAnn Werner | Apr 23, 2024 | ACEs, CPTSD, Family Disease, Guest Contributor
*** TRIGGER WARNING: The following blog discusses violence against children *** Perception is king in a small town. If the family appeared normal in the public eye, all was well, regardless of what happened behind closed doors. It’s how my parents operated. Our...
by Jesse Donahue | Apr 22, 2024 | CPTSD, CPTSD and PTSD, Emotional Wellness, Guest Contributor
Stepping into the Shoes of Who You Are is a nice metaphor for coming to wear the shoes of who you are—perhaps for coming back to wearing… once again. Here I am, standing in the depression of a gut-ugly emotion-tinged experience and habitually wearing a cleverly...
by Roseanne Reilly | Apr 18, 2024 | CPTSD, Guest Contributor, Self Regulation
In the realm of well-being and healing, the term “self-regulation” often conjures images of calm and serenity. However, the depth of self-regulation extends far beyond the tranquil surface it might suggest. In this exploration, we delve into the profound...
by Susan Gold | Apr 17, 2024 | CPTSD, Guest Contributor, Toxic Relationships
Denial was a key component of my toxic family system. I could feel that big fat elephant in the middle of the living room. Most often, I chose to tip-toe around it. As an empath, I could clearly feel the tangible reality of the insidious storyline the denial would...
by Jesse Donahue | Apr 15, 2024 | CPTSD, Guest Contributor, Mindfulness
Obedience to the light, the authentic self-image felt from deep within, a calling. It is set against an illuminating seductive “delusion” developing, in a lifelong desperate striving to succeed, to become the ace in a gambler’s magic deck of cards… the false...
by Erena DiGonis | Apr 11, 2024 | CPTSD, Emotional Wellness, Guest Contributor, Mental Health Professional
In the therapy room, there’s a four-letter word that creates unease in my nervous system every time I hear it: “lazy.” Working with trauma survivors, I witness the fallout of abusive and neglectful households, and the last thing I want to hear is my...