The Antidote for Self-Criticism
Lately, I have received emails from readers who were critical of how they handled a particular situation at work that I wrote about. I’ve heard, “Well, I messed that up,” “I’m so stupid,” or “I suck at that.” My friend, Jennifer Kindera, would immediately call that...Animalistic Infantilization: Navigating a Rare Form of Childhood Emotional Abuse
Children are often raised to be emotional jesters or even emotional objects, but my upbringing represents an unconsidered scenario: being raised as a human stuffed animal. I never realized how harmful my upbringing was until I was nineteen years old and diagnosed with...Internal Family Systems: Panic at the Park- Discovering Trailheads to Heal Trauma
Perched on a stone wall between Starbucks and a fancy purse boutique, I peer over my phone. The Hollywood Tower of Terror glows in the distance as determined parents push strollers filled with exhausted toddlers, bubble machines, and sippy cups. They can’t leave...Five Ways to Heal Your Self-Esteem After Leaving an Abusive Relationship
The aftermath of an abusive relationship can be a challenging time. You may feel like you’re not good enough, that you deserve the abuse, or that you’ll never be able to find someone else. It’s important to remember that none of these things are...