Grief | CPTSDfoundation.org

8 Ways to Emotionally Support Yourself When No One Else Does

by Ellen Tift | Jul 2, 2026 | Abandonment and CPTSD, ACEs, Anxiety, Attachment Trauma, Complex PTSD Healing, Depression, Grief, Grieving

What can you do when no one is giving you closure, safety, or nurturing? Here are 8 needs trauma survivors have and what you can do to meet them yourself. Becoming Your Own First Responder Quinn sat on the edge of their twin bed, staring at their phone screen through...

“I Feel Like I Don’t Matter” Where Does This Belief Come From? (Internalized Worthlessness)

by Ellen Tift | Jun 11, 2026 | Abandonment and CPTSD, Attachment Trauma, Core Beliefs, Depression, Grief, Self-Acceptance, Suicide Prevention

For many, this profoundly sad notion is buried so deeply, we don’t even realize it’s driving our search for significance. Why do we believe this and how can we heal it? Internalized Worthlessness: When You Truly Believe You Don’t Matter Khalil stood...

11 Reasons to Never Be Embarrassed About Anything You Did as a Kid

by Ellen Tift | Jun 2, 2026 | ACEs, Anger, Anxiety, Attachment Trauma, Betrayal, Childhood Sexual Abuse, Flashbacks, Grief, Healing from Toxic Shame, Self-Acceptance

Your day’s going fine until BAM! You crumble in shame over a dumb thing you said when you were 15. Let’s talk about “shame flashbacks”, how they haunt complex trauma survivors, and how to break free. The Aftershocks of Childhood Shame: A Guide...

“I’ve Forgotten How to Live a Normal Life”: Understanding Functional Freeze After Trauma

by Ellen Tift | May 26, 2026 | CPTSD, Depression, Emotional Wellness, Grief, Isolation, Loneliness, Self Care

When basic tasks drain all your energy and what seems easy for others feels impossible for you, this isn’t weakness. It’s your nervous system protecting you. Here’s why it happens and how to heal. When Trauma Leaves You In Hibernation Mode Have you...

Do I Tell Them? Sitting with the Weight of Sharing Your Story with Your Parents

by Danica Alison | Jun 30, 2025 | Attachment Trauma, Boundaries, Building Resilience in Healing, Childhood Sexual Abuse, Complex PTSD Healing, CPTSD, CPTSD and Inner Child Work, Emotional Wellness, Family Estrangement, Grief, Guest Contributor, Healthy Relationships, Hope, Life Management Skills, Post Traumatic Growth, Recovery, Relationships, Self Care, Silent Bystander Parents

There comes a point on the healing journey when the question doesn’t whisper. It roars. Do I tell my parents?Do they deserve to know what happened to me?Would they believe me?Would they hold it with care, or would it break me all over again? If you’re here, standing...

When Grief Has No Grave: Rebuilding After a Childhood You Never Got

by Danica Alison | Apr 30, 2025 | Building Resilience in Healing, Childhood Sexual Abuse, Complex PTSD Healing, CPTSD, CPTSD and Inner Child Work, Emotional Wellness, Grief, Guest Contributor, Post Traumatic Growth, PTSD, Recovery, Self-Acceptance, Trauma

No one brings you a casserole when you’re grieving the childhood you didn’t have. There’s no funeral for the loss of safety or a sense of belonging. No sympathy cards arrive when the dreams you clung to slowly unravel. And no one tells you what to do when you...