Mistakes and Magnification: A CPTSD Love Story
A few weeks ago, I left one job to take on a new full-time job, which didn’t work out. Simultaneously, I finished a series of graduate education courses I’d been taking. This combination of events abruptly left a gaping hole in my usually full schedule. I...
How Does Noticing Shame Make You a Real Adult?
Even Warthogs Feel Shame One of the first things that pops into my head when I hear the word “shame” is Pumbaa from The Lion King lamenting, “Oh the shame! Thought of changin’ my name!” A lot of us who carry deep shame from childhood trauma have probably also...
What is Dysfunctional Shame?
“Shame is the feeling of humiliating disgrace of having been violated. Shame tells you that you are bad.” (from Shelter from the Storm) It becomes challenging to correct for shame because it is rooted in a negative belief. For example, “I am unlovable, because [fill...
Untangling Emotions: Toxic Positivity, Self-Care, & Shame
What is Toxic Positivity, and how does it apply to Self-Care and Shame? Toxic positivity is the expectation, either by one’s self, others, and/or culturally, that even though a person’s emotional pain or difficult situation is overwhelming and/or uncomfortable, they...