by Susan Gold | Apr 17, 2024 | CPTSD, Guest Contributor, Toxic Relationships
Denial was a key component of my toxic family system. I could feel that big fat elephant in the middle of the living room. Most often, I chose to tip-toe around it. As an empath, I could clearly feel the tangible reality of the insidious storyline the denial would...
by Leah Erickson | Mar 26, 2024 | CPTSD, Guest Contributor, Shame, Toxic Relationships
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...
by Milena "Mila" Stankovic | Jul 25, 2023 | Dr. Jamie Huysman, Guest Contributor, TAR Tales, Toxic Relationships
Toxic parenting can have a devastating impact on children’s growth and development, and it’s a cycle that can be difficult to break. Toxic parents exhibit harmful behavior towards their children, such as neglect, abuse, or manipulation. The consequences of toxic...
by Milena "Mila" Stankovic | Jun 29, 2023 | Guest Contributor, TAR Tales, Toxic Relationships
What can you do? Toxic parents are often selfish, manipulative, and neglectful. Growing up with them can be a difficult experience, and it takes time to heal. Fortunately, you can learn how to deal with your toxic parents so you can feel better. Whether you’re...
by Madelon Wise | May 19, 2023 | CPTSD Survivor Stories, Guest Contributor, Relationships, Shame, Toxic Relationships, Trauma, Trust
I was 19 years old, barely out of high school, and trauma had eaten away at my psyche like burning frostbite. Colorado to Alaska, Alaska to Iowa. Iowa to Montana, Montana to Colorado, Colorado to Iowa. Wherever he went, my dog, Abraxas, and I followed. In January...
by Rebekah Brown | Mar 29, 2023 | Attachment Trauma, Boundaries, CPTSD and Narcissistic Abuse, Generational Trauma, Guest Contributor, Healing from Toxic Shame, Living with Disabilities, Parental Alienation, Toxic Relationships, Trauma
When you look at patterns within dysfunctional family systems, without fail, you will find the hallmark of a false narrative. The engine of the family system runs on untruths, half-truths, and constructed reality. And it doesn’t start where your story begins....
