by Rebecca Donaldson | Jan 22, 2021 | ACEs, Complex PTSD Healing, Dissociation and CPTSD, Family Estrangement
It’s been 13 years since I have been to the dentist. While I finally have insurance now, I fear going. How does someone explain to a doctor their reason for not going to the dentist for 13 years or never having had a pap smear? I prefer nobody to know my history. Even...
by Jess | Jan 15, 2021 | ACEs, Complex PTSD Healing, CPTSD and Narcissistic Abuse, CPTSD and PTSD, CPTSD Survivor Stories, Depression, Family Estrangement, Grief, Guest Contributor, Healing from Toxic Shame
Let’s talk about this untimely death situation. Well. This is a big topic that I’m not sure how to tackle, per se. Death is a new one to me. I’ve been relatively lucky that way. The death of the person who passed down most of our family trauma… that’s an even...
by Alice Kenny | Jan 13, 2021 | Complex PTSD Healing, CPTSD Survivor Stories, Family Estrangement, Guest Contributor
Once when I was in my early twenties, I confronted my mother. I matter-of-factly said, “You know, Mom, you beat me. You beat me a lot.” She replied, “I don’t remember that.” “Well, you did,” I pressed. “Maybe I slapped you once or twice.” So, that was her concession....
by Rebekah Brown | Jan 12, 2021 | Complex PTSD Healing, Emotional Wellness, Family Estrangement
I sat with several other children in the dark, dank little basement of the church where my father was pastor. Karen Wray, my Sunday School teacher, pointed to the classic drawing of Jesus welcoming the children. I pondered it for a long time. Nobody in my home greeted...
by Rebecca Donaldson | Jan 7, 2021 | ACEs, Attachment Trauma, Complex PTSD Healing, CPTSD and Inner Child Work, Family Estrangement
Though I wish we could, we don’t get to pick the families we are born into. We do, though, one day get to pick those who raise us. My life may not be typical, but it’s beautiful. I haven’t been home in over seven years, and that’s my choice. I’ve chosen to live a...
by J Bradley O | Oct 28, 2020 | Complex PTSD Healing, Depression, Emotional Flashbacks, Family Estrangement, Grief, Healthy Relationships, Holiday Stress, Mindfulness, Surviving the Holidays
Chilled and humid, the air sticks to my skin. The sky is thickly overcast, a shock after three warm days of sunshine. Is this the perfect background for my somber mood or the conditions that provoke it? October starts a long anniversary I don’t want to recall, much...
