When a Victim Doesn’t Know She’s a Victim: Survivor’s Guilt, the “Fawn” Response, Trauma Bonds, and Setting Boundaries
“I can’t forgive myself.” Daily, I uttered this phrase. When I said it, my loved ones were concerned. “But what do you need to forgive yourself for?” They’d ask, perplexed. For them, there was nothing I’d done that needed forgiving. The voice in my head screamed,...
Why Childhood Trauma Survivors Blame Themselves
In my forties, I was a part of a support group for survivors of abuse. Most of the women who attended were dealing with abusive partners. I was the only one sharing about childhood abuse, though I am sure nearly everyone there was a survivor of childhood trauma. We...
Safe Place
I have a wonderful therapist. It’s not your usual “talk therapy,” though. We do talk, and I have come to trust him implicitly. He has helped me heal from PTSD and complex relational trauma, and the transformation since I began working with him far exceeds phenomenal....
Understanding and Addressing Common Trauma Responses for Improved Well-Being
Trauma can be defined as any event that is deeply distressing to you, causing a significant impact on your emotional and mental well-being. While the experience of trauma is subjective and unique to each individual, there are common responses that can affect one’s...