by Sadie Montgomery | Feb 6, 2025 | Boundaries, Complex PTSD Healing, CPTSD, CPTSD and Narcissistic Abuse, CPTSD and Parenting, Estrangement, Family Estrangement, Guest Contributor, Toxic Relationships, Triggers
“Mom,” Harper started, “Grandma Clare sent me a text inviting me to dinner at her house for my birthday. Is that weird that she only invited me and not all of us?” Grandma Clare, my stepmother, is a narcissist. Over the past decade, I have set boundaries and distanced...
by Sophie Bishop | Jan 15, 2025 | Anxiety, Brain Chemistry, Building Resilience in Healing, CPTSD, Depression, Eating Disorders and CPTSD, Guest Contributor, Mental Health Awareness, Self Care, Self-Acceptance, Triggers
Social media is an integral part of our lives now, and while it offers many advantages, it also comes with risks. Research has shown that excessive exposure to social media can contribute to mental health issues and dissatisfaction with body image, which each fuel...
by Gabrielle Lynch | Dec 12, 2024 | CPTSD, Guest Contributor, Triggers
The term “watershed moment” seems to be shorthand in news articles reporting on notable abuse allegations that survivors advance instead of the abusers. If a young person speaks up, they meet countless opinions they probably could not fathom. Their “watershed moment”...
by Roseanne Reilly | Nov 6, 2024 | Anxiety, Brain Chemistry, CPTSD, Emotional Wellness, Trauma-Informed, Triggers
Trauma leaves deep imprints on our nervous system, often disrupting our ability to feel safe, connect with others, and regulate our emotions. The social engagement system, which encompasses our facial expressions, vocalizations, and body language, is crucial to this...
by Susan Pollard | Mar 12, 2024 | CPTSD, Emotional Wellness, Grief, Guest Contributor, Triggers
A Bit of Background on Grief: Many people think of grief as a reaction to the loss of a person, relationship, pet, or job. Grieving is a whole-body experience; both the body and the mind are involved. People may cry or feel sad, or they may become incredibly angry and...
by Elizabeth Woods | Jun 6, 2023 | Guest Contributor, Nightmares, Triggers
Nightmares can be terrifying and all-encompassing for an individual who has suffered child abuse. Nightmares are one of the symptoms of Complex PTSD. They can happen out of the blue without anything triggering them in our conscious brains. They just happen because our...
