Life doesn’t need to crash completely for you to feel “down on your luck.” A failed promotion, a work project that didn’t go as planned, or a missed opportunity can set you back months.

Maybe the boss is riding you each day for quicker results? Sometimes you just feel undervalued, and you want to throw in the towel.

When things at work feel tense, it’s hard to keep going, and you feel stuck. Sometimes your personal life blows up at the same time. Your husband might have a fall at work and earn himself an expensive trip to the ER.

Your kid breaks an arm at the wrong time of the month, and the insurance deductibles ramp up your spending. Anything can happen to turn a rainy day into a tropical storm.

The saying, “When life gives you lemons — make lemonade,” can leave a nasty aftertaste in your mouth. It’s easier said than done.

Many people live paycheck to paycheck, and it’s not easy to change jobs or routines when money is the driver behind our actions. There is no financial flexibility.

If something doesn’t feel right–then it probably isn’t. That nagging feeling inside tells us we need a change.

Are you paying attention to what your mind is telling you?

Think about your life, and what’s going on.

Are you happy at work? If the answer is no, consider your skills.

What are your strengths? Are you good with numbers, computers, people, or animals? Where do you see yourself in five years?

Think about your ideal job.

What would you like to do for a living?

If your mind is telling you something different from where you work, then maybe you need to start looking for new opportunities.

Pause–Take a mental health day and relax. Where does your mind go when you allow yourself to daydream?

Breathe — deep breathing and yoga are fantastic for regulating your nervous system and unwinding.

Ponder–Think about what you want from your career. Where is your mind taking you?

Choose–Look for job openings and new opportunities. Research a business loan if you are considering starting up your own company.

Do–If you believe it, then you will achieve it. Go for it.

I’m an MFA student, and I will graduate this spring. I should have graduated last summer, but I was forced to delay due to life/work commitments. It turns out that I’m not superwoman, and working full-time while supporting my family is not conducive to studying as much as I want. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day if I want to sleep at some point. Other people in my MFA program can devote more time to their thesis research because they don’t work as much as I do. Some weeks, I’ve struggled to read everything on the reading lists and turn in weekly assignments. I’ve gotten good grades, but I wanted to do more.

Do you ever feel like you want more?

The turning point for me came a few months ago when someone on the program realized that I was under pressure, and asked me the questions that I posed at the beginning of this article.

How are you doing? How is life treating you at the moment? Where do you see yourself in five years?

Imagining yourself in your dream job can do miracles for your mental health. If you can believe that you can achieve your dreams, then you are halfway there. The first step is to believe that you can.

Just one small step.

Once you see a clear step towards your goal, the day-to-day doesn’t seem as demanding.

You can handle everything better because you know that “right now” is not forever.

Your mind is your greatest friend when you think positively about your life. If you start thinking negatively, your mind turns against you, and everything starts to feel very hard and challenging.

Keep your chin up. and think of your goals and dreams.

Where do you want to be in five years? What’s holding you back?

My name is Lizzy. I’m a trauma survivor, a wife, a mom, a teacher, and an author.

If you like reading my posts, then please follow me.

For more about me: www.elizabethwoodsauthor.com

Support your fellow writer:

https://ko-fi.com/elizabe69245484

Here are a few links to my articles:

Looking for a Change?

https://medium.com/activated-thinker/looking-for-a-change-f391e85abbd7

A Search for Identity

https://medium.com/beyond-lines/a-search-for-identity-893df7c970c2

Are You Searching for Peace?

https://medium.com/illumination/are-you-searching-for-peace-cd54d76231c8

Are You Dealing With Burnout?

https://medium.com/illumination/are-you-dealing-with-burnout-374f774141b4

Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog post do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.

Elizabeth Woods

For more about me: https://www.elizabethwoodsauthor.com

Elizabeth Woods grew up in a world of brutal sex offenders, murderers, and inconceivably neglectful adults. Elizabeth is passionate about spreading awareness of what it is like to survive after trauma. She is the author of several books and has written her memoir, telling her childhood story: The Sex-Offender’s Daughter: A True Story of Survival Against All Odds, available on Amazon Kindle and paperback.

Elizabeth is also the author of “Living with Complex PTSD” and the Cedar’s Port Fiction series: “Saving Joshua”, “Protecting Sarah”, “Guarding Noah” and “Bringing Back Faith,” and “Restoring Hope,” available here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BCBZQN7L/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=7e223b5b-1a29-45f0-ad9d-e9c8fdb59e9c&ref_=ap_rdr&ccs_id=931f96e2-c220-4765-acc8-cc99bb95e8bd

www.elizabethwoodsauthor.com/

I had made it all the way from Europe to the United States, landing at JFK International Airport in New York City with a newborn baby in tow. I was a wreck. My husband, stationed in Germany with the Air Force, couldn’t get leave, so I boarded the seven-hour flight alone. Of course, the flight had arrived late, and I was stranded in New York overnight.

Exhausted, I finally located the United Service Organization (USO) office in the airport. They helped me navigate the maze at JFK and set me up with a hotel for the night. Terrified I’d oversleep and miss my connecting flight to Virginia, I did not rest. The responsibility of my first baby, the long journey alone, and the reason I was coming home towered like a dark, ominous wall.

My father had called to say my mother was having a “nervous breakdown,”  triggering my scapegoat conditioning to rear its ugly head. I had no choice but to go home. My father didn’t even need to ask; he knew my response would be automatic. Everything rested on my shoulders. It didn’t matter that I would have to make a transatlantic flight alone, or that I had just had a baby.  

I arrived to find my mother despondent, and that many of the cards I had so carefully crafted and mailed from Europe were unopened and thrown in the trash. 

It was the same old message: fix me, this is your responsibility, and by the way, nothing you do will be enough. No acknowledgment of my long journey, and barely a hello to my baby. This was the way it had always been, and how it would continue to be until my parents’ death. 

Such is the dilemma for survivors of childhood trauma. Damned if you do, and damned if you don’t, also known as the double bind. This is a core reason as to why the holidays can be so difficult for us.

Christmas and the holiday season trigger emotional collapse. We experience the return of old roles, old wounds, old obligations, and old versions of ourselves we worked so hard to escape.

The holidays don’t just stir memories. They awaken the parts of us that were frozen in time: the child or adolescent who once believed it was their job to hold the family together, rescue the adults, or absorb the emotional fallout.

And so every December, survivors all over the world feel dread they can’t explain, guilt they didn’t earn, and emotional activation that feels out of proportion to the reality of the moment.

If this sounds familiar, nothing is wrong with you.
Your nervous system is remembering.

Why does Christmas trigger childhood trauma so intensely?

1. Christmas is an attachment holiday–and attachment is where the trauma happened

Christmas is built around:

• family togetherness
• belonging
• stability
• warmth
• predictable love

But if your childhood home was filled with chaos, neglect, manipulation, or emotional abuse, Christmas becomes a mirror reflecting everything you never had.

This alone can trigger profound grief, dread, or emotional activation.

2. Frozen-in-time parts wake up

Trauma survivors carry younger “parts” inside them—child selves who never got to grow up because the environment was unsafe.

Christmas awakens those parts.

The smells, the music, the rituals, and the pressure all connect directly to childhood. Suddenly, you may feel:

• small
• helpless
• responsible for everyone else’s mood
• guilty
• anxious
• terrified of disappointing someone
• obligated to perform

You’re not regressing.
Your nervous system is remembering.

3. Old roles snap back into place

Every dysfunctional family assigns roles:

• The Scapegoat
• The Golden Child
• The Peacemaker
• The Invisible One
• The Responsible One

Even at 50 or 60 years old, walking through your parents’ door can make your brain revert to the role it learned at age four.

It’s automatic.
It’s somatic.
And it’s profoundly triggering.

4. Holiday guilt is a weapon in dysfunctional families 

Statements like:

• “You’re ruining Christmas.”
• “Family is everything—you owe us.”
• “If you loved us, you’d be here.”

These are not expressions of love.
They are tools of control.

And the holidays are when manipulative families use them most effectively.

5. Religious trauma intensifies everything g

If faith was used to:

• control
• shame
• silence
• manipulate
• pressure you into compliance

Then Christmas doesn’t feel holy.

A spiritual holiday becomes an emotional trigger.

6. The cultural myth of the “perfect family Christmas” deepens shame

Movies, commercials, and church services all push one message:

“Everyone has a warm, loving family at Christmas.”

Survivors think:

• Why couldn’t my family be like that?
• What’s wrong with me?
• Why can’t I tolerate them?

This shame is not yours.
It comes from the collision between reality and fantasy.

7. Even no-contact survivors feel the echo of old conditioning 

Going no-contact removes the danger.
However, it doesn’t immediately erase:

• guilt
• grief
• longing
• old neural pathways
• the fantasy that “maybe this year will be different

The holidays can stir these emotions even years after leaving the family system.

This is normal.

What You Can Do to Navigate the Holidays

1. Set boundaries beforehand

Decide ahead of time:

• How long you’ll stay
• who you’ll sit near
• What topics are off limits
• when and how you will leave

Boundaries are preventative medicine–not emergency care.

2. Stay in your adult self

Before you walk in, gently remind yourself:

• “I am an adult.”
• “Their reactions are not my responsibility.”
• “I can choose what I engage with.”

Your childhood instincts may activate, but your adult self is in charge now.

3. Spend less time than you think you should

Two hours can be healthier than an entire day.

Quality is more important than endurance.

4. Don’t be alone with the most manipulative people

This one simple choice prevents half of the emotional ambushes survivors experience.

5. Have an exit plan

You do not need permission to leave.

Your well-being matters.

How to Navigate Christmas If You’re No-Contact

1. Remember why you chose no-contact

Write it down if needed:

• the abuse
• the manipulation
• the gaslighting
• the emotional toll
• the years of harm

You didn’t leave because you were weak.
You left because you finally became strong.

2. Understand that guilt is conditioning, not truth

Guilt in dysfunctional families is:

• taught
• reinforced
• expected

Feeling guilty does not mean you did anything wrong.

3. Allow grief

Grief for the family you never had is not a sign that you made the wrong choice.
It is a sign your heart is healing.

4. Create new traditions

This rewires your nervous system.

New traditions can be:

• Rodeo on Christmas Day
• quiet dinners
• staying home in pajamas
• candlelight and prayer
• movies
• volunteering
• baking
• going out into nature

Your traditions don’t have to resemble anyone else’s.

On the surface, these lists seem simple. I know from personal experience how much suffering, sorrow, and struggle they represent. It takes time to recover from your holidays, and it takes patience to reclaim peace. You deserve to be able to defy trauma and find joy this holiday season–and all through the year.

Download “How to Spot ‘The One,’ A red flag/green flag roadmap for anyone who wants a love that lasts.” Use the hidden freebie link at:         rebekahlaynebrown.com/freebies

Sign up for my monthly newsletter at :    https://rebekahlaynebrown.com/

Photo by Tim Graf on Unsplash

Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog post do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.

Rebekah Brown

Rebekah Brown, a native of the south, now resides in the Great American West. Surviving a complicated and abusive family system makes her unique writing style insightful as well as uplifting. Rebekah is the proud mother of two and grandmother of four.

If you’ve read my blog for more than five minutes, you already know I’ve been on this healing ride for a long while. Long enough to have collected a whole scrapbook of “Oh wow, I finally get it” moments… and an equally thick stack of “what fresh hell is this?” ones.

You’d think by now I’d be used to what I can only describe as “the whiplash:” the emotional ebbs, the flows, and the rogue waves that smack you right in the face when you’re just trying to mind your business.

Hate to break it to you, but… nope. Still not used to it. Not even close.

When Every Emotion Shows Up Uninvited

The last 48 hours have felt like hitting some kind of emotional epicenter, as though every feeling I’ve ever had RSVP’d “yes” and showed up early. It’s blindsided me, if I’m honest. I still don’t know what to do with all of it. I’m just here, trying to breathe through the overwhelm and trying not to judge myself for having a nervous system that occasionally goes full fireworks display for no clear reason.

But this is the work, right? Showing up even when you don’t feel ready.

The Junk Drawer of Feelings We Pretend Doesn’t Exist

Sitting with what hurts instead of shoving it back into the drawer to deal with it later. We’ve all done it, right? Slid something painful into that imaginary junk drawer, intending to deal with it later–even though we know “later” could mean anywhere from next week to the next decade. And then one day that drawer bursts open like a pissed-off jack-in-the-box, and suddenly you’re knee-deep in feelings you did not schedule into your day.

That’s kind of what this week has felt like. As if the universe leaned over, tapped me on the shoulder, and whispered, “Hey, remember that unresolved emotional rubble you were hoping would sort itself out? Yeah… about that.” And listen, I try to be a good sport about healing. I try to roll with whatever comes up. But even I have to laugh when my nervous system decides to deliver all its notifications at once, like some chaotic emotional iPhone: You have 47 new feelings.

Cool. Thanks. Exactly what I wanted this Saturday.

My Nervous System’s Saturday Gift

And what’s funny is that none of the feelings I’m having are new. They’re all familiar regulars: fear, sadness, longing, and that weird anticipatory dread that pops up for no apparent reason, just arriving louder than usual. Like someone turned the emotional volume knob up to eleven and walked away, it’s a lot. And my instinct, the little old me who learned to survive chaos by shutting down, still says, “Push it down. Make it neat and tidy. Don’t feel all of that at once.”

The Old Instinct to Shut Down (And Why It Doesn’t Work Anymore)

But I can’t do that anymore. Every time I’ve tried, it’s ended in absolute fuckery. And that takes more out of me than sitting with the feelings, letting them be, and feeling them. So here I am, doing just that.

But what people don’t realize is that “sitting with it” sometimes looks like staring at a wall, drinking lukewarm tea, internally screaming, and wondering why healing doesn’t come with a handbook or at least a troubleshooting guide. I could use something like, “If you are suddenly overwhelmed by feelings for no apparent reason, please try turning yourself off and back on again.”

But no. All we get is the mess.

Healing Isn’t Neat, But It Is Honest

But at the end of the day, that’s the point. Because healing isn’t about becoming someone who never gets overwhelmed. It’s about becoming someone who doesn’t abandon themselves when they do. And let me tell you, that one stings a little. Because if I’m being brutally honest, the person I’ve abandoned the most over the years is me. I don’t say that to beat myself up, but to acknowledge the truth. When you grow up believing your feelings are “too much,” you learn to make yourself small. You learn to take up as little emotional space as possible.

Learning Not to Abandon Myself

But I’m not doing that anymore (or, at least, I’m trying really hard not to). So here I am, trying to stay with myself through all of this intensity. Trying to remind the younger parts of me that they’re not alone this time. To breathe instead of run. And trying to trust that there’s nothing wrong with me for having big feelings; there’s just a lot inside that finally feels safe enough to surface.

And maybe that’s what this emotional epicenter really is: proof that something inside me believes I can handle what’s coming up now. Proof that my system is opening, rather than breaking.

Messily. Loudly. Inconveniently.

But still opening.

For Anyone Riding Their Own Rogue Wave Right Now

If you’re here too, riding your own rogue wave right now, just know you’re not doing it wrong. Sometimes the heart cracks open not because you’re falling apart, but because something inside you is finally ready to be seen. And honestly? As brutal as it feels… that’s kind of beautiful.

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog post do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.

Jack Brody

Born and raised in Boston, Jack Brody has called New York City home for over 30 years. He’s a proud father to a teenage daughter, a survivor of childhood abuse, and someone who knows firsthand what it means to live with Complex PTSD.

Diagnosed six years ago, Jack has been on a deep healing journey, one marked by therapy, growth, hard truths, and unexpected resilience. As a men’s mental health advocate, he shares his story to remind others that they’re not broken, not alone, and never beyond hope.

Whether through his writing, podcast, or quiet conversations with fellow survivors, Jack’s mission is simple: to speak honestly about the hard stuff, and to show that healing out loud is not only possible, it’s powerful.

aboutthatjack.com/

What actually gets passed down

Trauma can alter the expression of genes. That is epigenetics. Stress, famine, displacement, and chronic fear can leave biochemical markers on DNA packaging that change gene function without changing the genetic code. What parents and grandparents endured not only shapes family habits. It can shape how a nervous system responds to threat, attachment, and safety many decades later. In a landmark study of Holocaust families, researchers documented shifts in methylation of FKBP5, a regulator of the cortisol system, in survivors and in their children who did not live through the original events. Comparable patterns show up in other contexts as well, including families affected by war, genocide, severe discrimination, natural disasters, and refugee flight. The point is simple. When people say trauma runs in a family, it is not just a figure of speech.

Inherited trauma rarely looks like a story

What passes forward is not always a narrative or a flashback. It often looks like a survival strategy that does not match the current environment. A child grows up in a safe home, yet cannot sleep unless every curtain is closed and every door is checked. A teenager treats disagreement like a death sentence, even in a respectful household. An adult keeps pushing away secure partners because the body has learned that calm usually comes before danger. These are not quirks. They are trained reflexes. They stay invisible until someone starts asking the right questions.

You do not inherit a diagnosis. You inherit the coping

CPTSD is not handed down like eye color. Defense patterns are. Silence is. Emotional constriction is. When trauma is not processed, it leaks into parenting through control, through chaos, or through inconsistency that leaves a child sensing danger without language to name it. Children repeat what works, even if it only worked in the old house. They pass it on not because they are broken, but because they were trained by example.

When pain gets ritualized

Trauma does not always announce itself. Sometimes it hides inside rules that are treated as virtues. Do not talk about feelings. Stay productive no matter what. Outsiders cannot be trusted. Keep the family’s business inside the house. Loyalty above all. The same mechanism hides domestic violence that nobody names. It hides animal abuse that neighbors avoid reporting. It hides generational child abuse that gets rebranded as strict parenting. In some families, stints in jail become a rite of passage rather than a warning sign. From the inside, these patterns sound like culture or tradition. Trace them backward and you usually find war, forced moves, addiction, shame, betrayal, or plain neglect. When trauma is not processed, it gets ritualized. It is repackaged as rules, reinforced as identity, and handed down as survival even when the danger is long gone. Dysfunction is often inherited pain on autopilot.

Breaking a pattern requires recognition, not avoidance

Moving on without naming the pattern does not change the pattern. It extends it. Real change starts with accurate labels. Name what happened in the family line, even if it was not your direct experience. Notice the default settings that make no sense in your current life. Choose deliberate counter-moves. Rest when the old rule says grind. Set a boundary where the old rule says keep secrets. Speak where the old rule says stay quiet. This is demanding work because you are not only adjusting your mood. You are rerouting generations of survival programming. That is heavy labor, not a slogan. It is also where the leverage sits. You are not obligated to carry the pain forward because it was handed to you. The future of the pattern is not fixed.

Final thoughts

If you feel like you were born carrying grief that did not start with you, or fear that does not match your lived history, you are not defective. You may be the first one who chose to hold up the mirror. You get to decide what continues and what ends.

References

Yehuda R, Daskalakis NP, et al. Holocaust exposure induced intergenerational effects on FKBP5 methylation. Biological Psychiatry. 2016;80(5):372-380.
Dias BG, Ressler KJ. Parental olfactory experience influences behavior and neural structure in subsequent generations. Nature Neuroscience. 2014;17(1):89-96.
Serpeloni F, Radtke KM, et al. Does prenatal stress shape postnatal resilience? Epigenetics and behavior in war-exposed Syrian refugees. Translational Psychiatry. 2017;7(7):e1185.

Photo by Sangharsh Lohakare on Unsplash

Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog post do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.

Dr. Mozelle Martin

Dr. Mozelle Martin is a retired trauma therapist and former Clinical Director of a trauma center, with extensive experience in forensic psychology, criminology, and applied ethics. A survivor of childhood and young adulthood trauma, Dr. Martin has dedicated decades to understanding the psychological and ethical complexities of trauma, crime, and accountability. Her career began as a volunteer in a women’s domestic violence shelter, then as a SA hospital advocate, later becoming a Crisis Therapist working alongside law enforcement on the streets of Phoenix. She went on to earn an AS in Psychology, a BS in Forensic Psychology, an MA in Criminology, and a PhD in Applied Ethics, ultimately working extensively in forensic mental health—providing psychological assessments, intervention, and rehabilitative support with inmates and in the community. A published author and lifelong student of life, she continues to explore the relationship and crossovers of forensic science, mental health, and ethical accountability in both historical and modern contexts.

www.InkProfiler.com

It’s a powerhouse of possibility,  and it’s also a paradox. It keeps us alive. Helps us create. Love. Imagine. It’s where the best parts of us live–the cleverness, the humor, the wild creativity, the gut instincts, and the empathy.

But it’s also where the trauma lives.
Where the fear lives.
Where the ghosts of what we survived are still pacing the halls.

A Hypervigilant Command Center

If you live with CPTSD, then you know that it’s not just a brain. It’s a hypervigilant command center. Always alert. Always scanning. Always assuming the next bad thing is just around the corner–even when life is calm.

When you walk into a room, you don’t just enter. You calculate. You assess. You map out the exits, read every face, and listen for tone shifts. You don’t even realize you’re doing it; it’s automatic.
Learned from years of needing to be ready, just in case.

Emotional Hijacking: When the Past Invades the Present

Then someone says something. Maybe it’s nothing–a joke, a pause, or a look that lingers a second too long. Boom, your body’s gone tight, your stomach drops, and your thoughts scatter.

Suddenly, you’re back in a memory you never meant to revisit.
Not fully reliving it, but emotionally hijacked by it.
The fear, the shame, the worthlessness.
All of it, flooding in as if it never left.

Ruminating in the Ruins

Your brain starts looping.
Was it me?
Did I mess up again?
Are they mad?
Am I too much? Not enough?
What did I do?

You start ruminating.
You replay the conversation.
You pick apart every word, every silence.
You fill in blanks with worst-case scenarios.

And you don’t even want to be doing it; it just happens.

You know it’s happening. You see it happening.
But knowing doesn’t stop it.

It’s as though your own inner monologue is unraveling you in real time.
And you’re powerless to stop the unraveling.

This Is What CPTSD Can Look Like

Not always flashbacks.
Sometimes, it’s a slow, invisible spiral that pulls you under with nothing dramatic on the surface.
Just a brain quietly trying to protect you… in all the wrong ways.

The Whispered Lies in the Dark

And sometimes, yeah, the thoughts get dark. Not always suicidal. But heavy. Bone-deep exhausted. The kind of dark where you lie in bed and feel like a failure for simply existing.
The kind where your brain whispers:

“You’ll never get better.”
“This is just who you are.”
“People only tolerate you.”
“You’re too much.”
“You’re alone in this.”

And if you’re tired or overwhelmed–or just raw that day–you believe it.

Even though you know it’s the trauma talking.
Even though you’ve done the therapy.
Even though you’ve read the books, taken the meds, and journaled your guts out.
You still believe the lie your brain is screaming at you.

The Hardest Fight: Your Own Mind

That’s what makes healing so hard.
You don’t just fight symptoms.
You fight your own mind.

And it’s not because you’re weak.
It’s because your brain adapted perfectly to survive what happened to you.
It just doesn’t know you’re safe now.
It doesn’t know the war ended years ago.

What I’m Holding Onto

But here’s the part I’m learning, what I try to hold onto when it all feels too much: This brain, this chaotic, overworked, trauma-stamped brain of mine… It’s still trying and still showing up and still learning.

It laughs.
It makes art.
It remembers weird 90s trivia.
It falls in love.
It gets back up, even when it swears it’s done.

It is, somehow, still mine, and still beautiful.
Not because it’s perfect.
But because it keeps going.

Tender. Tired. Trying.

Beautifully magnificent. And also:

Tender.
Tired.
Trying.

Maybe that’s the point. Healing doesn’t erase the trauma. It means we learn how to live with a brain that’s been through hell, and that we choose, every day, to love it anyway.

Photo by Camila Quintero Franco on Unsplash

Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog post do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.

Jack Brody

Born and raised in Boston, Jack Brody has called New York City home for over 30 years. He’s a proud father to a teenage daughter, a survivor of childhood abuse, and someone who knows firsthand what it means to live with Complex PTSD.

Diagnosed six years ago, Jack has been on a deep healing journey, one marked by therapy, growth, hard truths, and unexpected resilience. As a men’s mental health advocate, he shares his story to remind others that they’re not broken, not alone, and never beyond hope.

Whether through his writing, podcast, or quiet conversations with fellow survivors, Jack’s mission is simple: to speak honestly about the hard stuff, and to show that healing out loud is not only possible, it’s powerful.

aboutthatjack.com/

In the middle of what I would describe as emotional carnage

A lot of the support we seek for anxiety, whether it be a podcast, a blog, or a book, often comes from an educational/informative standpoint. This is very useful when we want to develop a better understanding of our emotional well-being and how we can restore balance. However, I have taken the brave steps to write while I am in the middle of what I would describe as emotional carnage.

As you might have seen, my website has a plethora of blogs, ranging from more entertaining to informative, educational, and spiritual. I use the word “brave” for myself, not least because I’m learning to shift my internal dialogue, using positive words of self-love. I also describe writing in this way as courageous because I do so with fear, uncertainty, and an element of flatness. That is the best way I can describe it. But I considered how it might feel if I were to read about somebody else struggling to survive severe anxiety and stepping up, showing up, and creating. I know that I would feel less alone. I would be inspired to take one step in front of the other, and I would witness another person transmuting their pain.

An incessant dialogue all about my past, my future, my right now

So here I am, on a Monday afternoon, having spent the morning working, and counting my exhalations between each patient, making a chanting noise as my breath leaves my body. I started the day tired, having woken at 03:00. I silently lay in my bed, fighting the tirade of panic attacks, each lasting approximately 30 seconds, before I managed to talk myself down (in my head!). Then I lay for 20 minutes, with a train of thoughts, and an incessant dialogue all about my past, my future, my right now, my lack of sleep, what time it is, was, will be, if I ever fall asleep.

If you didn’t have a headache, you might now. It’s incredible how focused and wired the brain is during fight/flight in the dead of night (another poem?). There are few certainties in life, but one is that sleep will not come when the traffic in your head is like the M1 during rush hour. Night-time is also the loneliest, as your perception deceives you into thinking that you are the only person awake. Of course, in reality, half the world is awake, miles and miles away.

I am convinced that there is a volume button somewhere that, when you have complex PTSD, is turned to max, making your thoughts fast, furious, and in stereo for no one but you. I think the fears I experience when I am dealing with insomnia are that I will not cope the next day. This then has a snowball effect, leading me to a week of not coping, then a month, to leaving my job, and falling behind on mortgage payments. Catastrophizing. My brain is highly skilled in this art, especially when it has nothing else to do. Meanwhile, I am desperately searching for a peaceful corner of my mind to sit in, breathe quietly in, and return to sleep.

Every time I think I have found this little space, when the panic has been abated, the pulse has settled, moments few pass, before I feel the hot water travel up my spine into my neck, my head pulsate, my chest tighten, my stomach knot and the thoughts come racing back, like a hose being switched on full blast.  I now can’t understand the theory that thought leads to emotion. Perhaps my subconscious mind is so wired to panic that there is a short circuit straight to raw terror.

I wanted to write this blog for myself and my website visitors. I am as much a learner as you all are with regard to healing trauma. I wanted to return to this article in a future self, and be reassured that I did cope. With the day, the week, and the month. Evidence. The logical brain can be activated during panic, with work and persistence. If it wires together, it fires together, so says my therapist about neuroscience.

The more I count my breaths during panic, and the more I chant during exhalations (as one example of bringing down anxiety), the more this behaviour will become the short circuit that I need the panic to default to.  This gives me hope, and it should for you, too. The more you activate new behaviours, new internal dialogues, the more you start to shift old belief patterns.

I have talked in my head, we all do! Remember the article about the voice in our head? I challenged its identity! Who cares who’s talking, as long as we change the script? For example, in the middle of the early hours, I told myself, “I am safe and this will pass, breathe until it does”. I kept saying this in my head. Eventually, it did pass. It came back. I repeated.

As I finish this piece of writing, I say to you all, I have no clue how many more panic attacks I might have in the next twenty-four hours or weeks. All I can say is that I am determined. I am fighting. I am facing each day. It is the hardest work I have ever done. It is the most I have ever felt. I don’t know what the future holds, but like I’ve written in so many blogs, we only have right now. Last night and this morning are as far in the past as a hundred years ago in terms of accessing these experiences.

Each day is new. Each morning we are new.  We can allow ourselves the hope of this newness. That we are a stronger version of the person we were yesterday. The challenges from the past have provided us with the skills we need now. Every day that we work on emotional regulation, we invest in the peace of tomorrow.  Sweet dreams.

Photo by Josh Hild on Unsplash

Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog post do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.

Grace Wilkinson

Mindfulness is a way to focus on your inner and outer self. To become aware of yourself in the moment by accepting your feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. It’s a way to slow down and exist in the moment and to pay attention to yourself.

Mindfulness is a great way to relax for anyone with a busy schedule, whether it’s work, deadlines, or family-related. It’s not just trauma survivors who need this. Anyone can benefit from mindfulness. The best thing is, it’s free! You can do it anywhere. (Well, almost).

Practicing mindfulness can be done through breathing exercises, meditation, and guided imagery. Anything that can get you to switch off for a few minutes and be YOU. Nothing else, just you. It’s a way of paying attention to everything that is you.

Take a beat and find a quiet space away from your computer and people. Choose to either sit or lie down, but make sure you are comfortable.

Start by closing your eyes and calming your mind. Try to focus on your breathing instead of that deadline next week or whatever is on your mind. Notice your face relaxing as you breathe. Try to relax your neck and shoulders if you can.

Think about this moment, right here, right now. Ask yourself gentle questions such as:

How are you feeling today?

Think about yourself without judgment:

Do you have any aches and pains in your body that bother you?

Accept your feelings as they are. Don’t try to problem-solve anything. Just stay in the moment.

Consider your physical sensations in this moment:

What can you feel, hear, touch, smell, taste?

Pay attention to your breathing as you go through this exercise.

If you have time, go through your body and feel every limb and extremity in turn by tensing them and then relaxing that body part.

Benefits of Using Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness regularly can help you reduce stress and anxiety. It can improve your mental health and well-being.

Mindfulness can enhance your ability to focus your attention on the present moment.

By practicing mindfulness, you learn to understand and manage your emotions better because you listen to your body.

Mindfulness can help you sleep better because it promotes relaxation and the calming of your mind.

Mindfulness can encourage and strengthen your understanding of your own thoughts, feelings, and behavior. You recognize how you feel much quicker if you practice mindfulness.

My name is Lizzy, and I’m a mom, teacher, author, and mental health blogger. I write for those who don’t always feel that they have a voice. For more about me, my books, and articles, check out my website: www.elizabethwoodsauthor.com

Support my writing, and buy me a coffee. I love a Cappuccino with chocolate sprinkles (Yes, because I deserve them.)

https://ko-fi.com/elizabe69245484here

Cover Image created with AI.

Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog post do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.

Elizabeth Woods

For more about me: https://www.elizabethwoodsauthor.com

Elizabeth Woods grew up in a world of brutal sex offenders, murderers, and inconceivably neglectful adults. Elizabeth is passionate about spreading awareness of what it is like to survive after trauma. She is the author of several books and has written her memoir, telling her childhood story: The Sex-Offender’s Daughter: A True Story of Survival Against All Odds, available on Amazon Kindle and paperback.

Elizabeth is also the author of “Living with Complex PTSD” and the Cedar’s Port Fiction series: “Saving Joshua”, “Protecting Sarah”, “Guarding Noah” and “Bringing Back Faith,” and “Restoring Hope,” available here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BCBZQN7L/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=7e223b5b-1a29-45f0-ad9d-e9c8fdb59e9c&ref_=ap_rdr&ccs_id=931f96e2-c220-4765-acc8-cc99bb95e8bd

www.elizabethwoodsauthor.com/

One such theory, originating from the Drama triangle, provides a framework from which to view interactions with others and the typical human reactions that are intrinsically linked.

The theory was designed by Karpman (1968) and describes human interaction via a trio of destructive interpersonal relationship patterns or characters: Persecutor (villain), Rescuer (hero), and Victim (damsel in distress).

I’m visualizing Rapunzel (victim) being rescued by the prince (hero), who is about to be slayed by the giant dragon (villain).  I’m sure there wasn’t a dragon in this story, and I don’t think dinosaurs were around then. It could have been a rabid dog, and in fairness, Rapunzel could as easily use her Smartphone and order a dragon slayer from Amazon, saving the prince from an inconvenience.  But we would have lost our hero!

The three key characters in the story can be applied in almost any situation. Take your mind back to a conflict, where you felt surrounded and overwhelmed. It could have been a family argument, or a work disagreement, or an argument about a parking space. All these scenarios can trigger destructive behaviors which are seemingly automatic, according to the theory, each one pushing the other participants into a default character.

What if I told you that awareness is the key to your escape from the drama triangle!  The theory is that if we work towards stepping out of the drama, we can find peace. If peace were a shape, it would be a huge love heart, and there would be no sharp edges!  The human interactions we encounter don’t always fall into this triangle of drama, but the importance is to recognize potential.

I recently had a total breakdown in the relationship with two of my siblings and for the first time (in my life, I think) I remained silent. My default (trauma) response was to step straight into villain, shouting, berating, and weaponizing my words. Don’t get me wrong, there were many times that this was warranted, and I had to stand up to be heard. However, in doing so, I sacrificed my peace. 

Have you heard of the phrase, “choose your battles”?

After four years of therapy, I learned which battles to let go of, ending a cold war with my inner child. My siblings continued battling, but as I stepped away, the triangle started to collapse, losing its sharp, brutal appearance. I watched as my sisters switched from victim (blaming me) to villain (attacking me) as letters came, reporting me to social services, to solicitors, followed by texts, first to me, then, when I remained silent, to my husband, then son, then sister-in-law.

The rule of a triangle is that all the angles combined need to add up to 180. I broke that rule. Equilateral fallout and isosceles chaos over!  The triangle eventually crumbled, but I admit, the debris that came after caused wounds, some still raw, others slowly healing. But I am proud, I reacted with intention, I slowed down my innate responses.

I spent years oblivious to my absence of impulse control. I was labelled fiery, angry, hot-headed, and fierce, but I want to take you back, as my therapist has done so many times, to my inner child. Imagine her, five years old, suddenly ripped from her home life, mother and family, taken away for eight months, then to be returned to a household of strange men, alcohol, parties, and violence.  That little girl will also show you her fear when placed in an orphanage, locked in her bedroom at night, sharing a bath with the other children, and being scolded for wetting the bed. Can you feel her anger at the world? Can you resonate with the injustice she experienced, the failure of adults and authorities to keep her safe?

That girl was not fierce; she was a warrior; she is not angry. She has anger. Towards the world. And she has the right to feel that way. I now validate her. She was never short-tempered. She was frightened that if she didn’t fight for safety, comfort, and attention, she would be neglected. So, she learned to battle her way through life. This was her survival.

At the age of almost fifty, desperate attempts had been made to force me back into the version of me that allows others to sidetrack their own accountability.  If I am the villain in their story, they are the hero. But I’ve closed the last page of that book and taken my story back. My journey was not theirs to judge, to label, to critique.  I am slowly understanding that I don’t need to fight to be heard or battle to have my needs met. I can do those things myself.  

You may find, as is the case with me, that when you start to heal and grow and forgive yourself of behaviors that no longer serve you, not everyone is ready. Others who are stuck in the drama triangle can only exist if you continue to play their villain. Bravery, accountability, acceptance, and growth are words too big to fit into the triangle.  

One of the saddest parts of healing is that you can’t take everyone with you. If, for years, you have been the villain in someone else’s story, how can they be the hero without you? If for years you have been the victim, unable to keep yourself safe, maintain safe boundaries, and suddenly you have built a fortress, they can’t be a rescuer without you.  So, you see, growth and healing can isolate you from those you have known all your life. This was the case for me.

But imagine the cold, hard soil after a cruel winter. All life seems to have frozen and died, but just as you start to tire of the bitter winter, a bud springs. Tiny at first, and then rising, like a timid hand, reaching to receive a kiss from the sun.  Before you know it, that bud is surrounded by fresh new flowers, all reaching together, petals opening to receive the spring of hope.

I hope this article has resonated and has provoked thought for more reading about the theory of the drama triangle. If you or anyone you know is suffering from mental health issues, or has a crisis requiring support, please ring your NHS GP, or local services, or ring NHS111 to find the number for your local crisis team. 

graceewilkinson.com

Grace Wilkinson, RGN, DN, NMP, Msc (Hons) Advanced Clinical Practice

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog post do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.

Grace Wilkinson

As a child, I trembled at the thought of my brother being drafted into war, picturing his desperate flight to Canada, hitchhiking in disguise to avoid the draft. The terror of conflict consumed me, its senseless carnage etching itself into my soul.

Decades later, my godson toyed with enlisting. I pleaded with him to reconsider, but at his boot camp graduation, I stood frozen, watching young, ebullient recruits chant of killing and conquest. Horror gripped me. 

I understand this is the purpose of boot camp training: to indoctrinate human beings into an unnatural state of being, of allegiance and obedience. 

It’s similar in our family ancestral line, our schooling (vs. education), our religious systems, and our social structures…

What if we trained these beautiful young recruits for peace instead…

And what if peace is our innate impulse…

I refuse to believe humans are born for war and rather envision that war is becoming obsolete. I suspect a darker force has conditioned us across millennia, twisting our nature. What if we broke free from this programming in every system that has touched our lives? What if we tuned into our hearts and unlocked our true potential through the quiet power of discernment?

This has been my journey in recognizing my toxic systems of influence and CPTSD triggers – going within and rewiring my inner systems. 

Please consider pausing to reflect: Where did toxicity take root in your life? School? Family? Work? Religion? 

Trace the moments when obedience to something wrong bent your path. Then, turn inward, claim your authentic choices, and stand tall. 

Your discernment is your power, your sovereignty, and your strength. 

Living true to yourself liberates you and ultimately can light the way for others to break free, too.

Susan Gold guides her clients to break free from toxic systems, empowering them to live authentically from the heart and embrace their innate intuitive abilities. Visit her website, https://www.susangold.us/, and YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@susangoldismagical, for free resources, including her inspiring new podcast, Gold Conversations. Tune in as guests reveal their transformative journeys—awakening from toxicity to thriving in alignment with their true selves.

Featured Image Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash

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Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog post do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.

Susan Gold

Contributor Susan Gold is an author and transformationalist. After growing up in a toxic family system, she now helps others through similar trauma, leading with heart and love. Her YouTube video posts are at: https://www.youtube.com/@susangoldismagical

In this article, I want to address the importance of self-care. I lived in denial for years because I kept telling myself that “I was just fine.” I didn’t seek or wanted any support because to get close to anyone would inevitably end in heart ache and that gnawing pain like tooth ache. I was not interested in opening myself up to any difficult conversations and people who wanted a piece of me but nothing to do with me. Some people in this world can be cruel and that affects me so much more in daily life than the deep hurts I suffer with generally from my past. I feel things so much more than others and I constantly hear people tell me to “just get over it,” “grow a set!” or “go get thicker skin.” It’s not the nicest to hear and I get where people come from when they say these comments. They are asking me to dig deep to a time when I felt safe and happy to get over a new situation, but the things that make me upset are constant reminders of where I have already been. It’s like being shot by thousands of tiny nails and not being able to fend off a single one. The emotional damage was done when my brain was still developing, and it is all I have ever experienced. When I hear people argue, fight or raise their voices at me – it all comes back, instantly! If you are not a survivor, this sensation feels like being dragged out of a warm bed and thrown into an icy ocean with wave upon wave attacking every follicle of your body at the same time. It is not a nice experience, and it is not something you can just “get over.”

It takes time. Time that we often do not have in our busy schedules. I cannot just plop in “emotional meltdown” in my calendar and take a sick day to recover. Life doesn’t work like that. So, I end up crying in the restrooms or at the end of a hallway or in an empty room where I try and mop up my own emotional meltdown off the floor as the tears stream down my face.

These are moments that happen to all of us survivors. Life gets tough and we need a do-over, a break from our busy schedules and just try and hit that reset button of our emotions. This is a time when you need to take time out for self-care. It sounds corny, I know. Why on earth do we need self-care? Well, we do need it. We crave it and our bodies will thank us for it when we give self-care a chance.  Self-care means that we take care of our mental, emotional, physical, environmental, spiritual, recreational and social parts of our lives. Here are some self-care moments to try when you are feeling emotionally challenged and life gets tough:

1. Breathing – Our very essence of our lives is breathing. Just taking five mins of being still and breathe…. It sounds silly but trust me, it works! I never believed in this simple task until I tried it. Take just five minutes out of your day and breathe…. Just breathe deeply in and out. If you need a visual you can use your hands by holding one finger at the start of the tip of your thumb on the other hand and breathe in as you move your fingertip down your thumb, breathe out up towards your index fingertip, breathe out down it and in as you go up the middle finger…. You get the idea! Do this finger breathing to the pinky and then back again to the thumb. Once you are back you will feel better. Your heart rate will have slowed down and you will have found a nice even rhythm of breathing.
2. Grounding – If you are really struggling with emotions and you cannot see the “trees for your tears are in the way,” then this is the self-care you need. Grounding simply means getting back to the moment that you are in. You simply use your senses. For example, think of 5 things you can see, four things you can hear, three things that you can touch, two things that you can smell and one thing that you can taste. I guarantee that once you have thought of all of those, you are well and truly back in the moment!
3. Sleep / Rest – Sleep is vital for our health and well-being. When we sleep our mind and bodies reset and rest. This is especially important if you are suffering from nightmares or disturbed sleep. Try a cup of herbal tea before bed and see if that helps you relax into sleep.
4. Exercise / Change of scenery – This is an excellent way to get rid of unwanted emotions and regulate your nervous system. I love to hike, and I go out in all weathers to the mountains or the forest, even the beach, which is a drive away for me. Exercising doesn’t always mean cardio activities. It can simply mean having a change of scenery but if you love to have a brisk work out – then why not? I love running and swimming and those are my “go-to” activities when I need it.
5. Music / The Arts – Music is something that is very close to my heart. I love listening to music and I also love playing my own music. I play the guitar and flute. Whenever I play my young son joins me on the clarinet and it makes us both laugh. Music can bring such joy to your life whether you just listen to it / sing or play an instrument. This is an excellent way to let go of emotions and allow the music to help you through a difficult time.
6. Water – Water is something we all take for granted but simply drinking water regularly can do miracles for your health, especially if you are feeling down. A simple shower or a bath can also help lift your mood. Why not take ten minutes after work and the kids are in bed and running that bubble bath? You will feel better after soaking and relax.
7. Journaling – This is the tool I used to get through an impossible childhood. I am a writer and an author. I write for myself and for people who have no voice. I journal and take my fingertips for a walk every day and it makes me feel happy and relaxed.
8. Hobbies – What makes you tick? What do you enjoy doing in your free time? The answer to that is the self-care here whether it is driving cars / knitting / carpentry or scouting to mention a few. The list is endless. Take some time out during your busy week and spend it the way you want to.
9. Yoga / Mindfulness / Meditating – These are two ways of relaxing that have been proven by many to work. Find a class near you and give it a shot! You’ll know if it is the right activity for you. I have found that it works well for me.
10. Family / Friends – These people are a vital part of your life. You need to stay connected to people, especially if you are like me and cut off your bio-family. People who love and care about you will want the best for you. Let them in when you are sad and emotional and allow them to comfort you and talk you through it. Take some time to arrange a coffee date with someone you know and chat for an hour. If coffee is not your thing then maybe a drink in a bar is?
11. Food – Eat healthy regular meals and keep drinking that water! A healthy diet will fuel tired muscles and help you through those tough days. If you don’t have time to eat lunch then maybe put an energy bar or a piece of fruit in your pocket, so you have something in your system.
12. Set goals – It is January and a perfect time to set some goals for the year ahead. Give yourself something to look forward to and work on that.
13. Positivity – Whatever you do, try and stay positive. The world is a negative chaos right now with far too much disasters and wars all round us. It is hard to take it all in. I want you to try and think of two positive things in your life to every negative thought. This has helped me.
14. Gratitude – Feeling grateful for the life we have can be hard especially when you are down. I want you to try and visualize a good moment. A time when you felt happy and focus on that. Even when life is tough, there are glimmers of goodness out there. Focus on those moments and be grateful for them.
15. Nature – Take a day and go someplace new or spend it somewhere you don’t normally do. If you like to do yard work, then go ahead. If you like to take the kids for a picnic on the beach, then that is where you go. Find time to go into nature.
16. Creativity / Crafting / Reading / brain games – Do an activity to get your creative side going. You will soon forget your emotional rollercoaster when you are occupied with a riddle.
17. Pets – If you have a pet, then spend some time taking care of it. Taking care of others are a great way to feel better.
18. Mental health / Therapy – Accessing therapy can be a life changer and help you feel better. Be open and give it a shot.

Give yourself a pat on the back if you make it all the way through my list of self-care. I am sure you will be feeling much better. Just remember that there is only one of you and you need to take care of you first, before anyone else. If you are a survivor, then the above self-care is vital to guide you through life. There is always another sunrise bringing with it endless opportunities. You are not alone!

My name is Lizzy and I am a survivor.

Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog post do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.

Elizabeth Woods

For more about me: https://www.elizabethwoodsauthor.com

Elizabeth Woods grew up in a world of brutal sex offenders, murderers, and inconceivably neglectful adults. Elizabeth is passionate about spreading awareness of what it is like to survive after trauma. She is the author of several books and has written her memoir, telling her childhood story: The Sex-Offender’s Daughter: A True Story of Survival Against All Odds, available on Amazon Kindle and paperback.

Elizabeth is also the author of “Living with Complex PTSD” and the Cedar’s Port Fiction series: “Saving Joshua”, “Protecting Sarah”, “Guarding Noah” and “Bringing Back Faith,” and “Restoring Hope,” available here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BCBZQN7L/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=7e223b5b-1a29-45f0-ad9d-e9c8fdb59e9c&ref_=ap_rdr&ccs_id=931f96e2-c220-4765-acc8-cc99bb95e8bd

www.elizabethwoodsauthor.com/