by Jenney Clark | Mar 4, 2025 | Abandonment and CPTSD, Abuse, ADHD, Betrayal, Borderline Personality Disorder, CPTSD, CPTSD and Inner Child Work, Depression, Estrangement, Family Estrangement, Generational Trauma, Guest Contributor, Isolation, Rejection, Relationships, Self-Acceptance, Toxic Relationships, Trauma
Who am I? Growing up, I was a child with trust issues due to emotional and physical abuse. Then, at 18, I was assaulted on a date. Trauma often leaves invisible scars. While most physical wounds can heal, mental and emotional wounds run deep. I have faced many traumas...
by Elizabeth Woods | Feb 27, 2025 | ACEs, CPTSD, CPTSD and PTSD, Family Estrangement, Guest Contributor
***TRIGGER WARNING: The following post discusses sensitive issues including child abuse.*** Family is defined as “the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children” in the Merriam Webster online dictionary....
by Susan Gold | Feb 12, 2025 | CPTSD and PTSD, Family Estrangement, Guest Contributor, Mental Health Professional, Toxic Relationships
For much of my life and career, I found comfort in the surface narrative—moving through the motions, staying busy, and avoiding deep scrutiny. But now, as the cracks in conventional structures continue to widen, operating on autopilot and chasing distractions no...
by Sadie Montgomery | Feb 6, 2025 | Boundaries, Complex PTSD Healing, CPTSD, CPTSD and Narcissistic Abuse, CPTSD and Parenting, Estrangement, Family Estrangement, Guest Contributor, Toxic Relationships, Triggers
“Mom,” Harper started, “Grandma Clare sent me a text inviting me to dinner at her house for my birthday. Is that weird that she only invited me and not all of us?” Grandma Clare, my stepmother, is a narcissist. Over the past decade, I have set boundaries and distanced...
by Kechi Mourer | Dec 6, 2024 | CPTSD, Family Estrangement, Guest Contributor, Holidays
The holidays are an intense time of reflection for me. I used to have a big family—a big, loud, Hispanic family—we would gather for birthdays, holidays, and random Sunday dinners. My grandmother held the group together with love and community. Those days are long...
by STAR Network | Jun 20, 2024 | CPTSD and PTSD, Family Estrangement, Men's Mental Health, Mental Health Awareness, Parental Alienation, TAR Network
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,...
