Trauma-Informed Blog
New content weekly! Survivor Stories, Research Articles, Poetry, and more written by clinicians, coaches, survivors, and mental health professionals.
Remember...
Important Information About Our Content
Everything you find on this blog, CPTSDfoundation.org, or within our wider digital communities is created for educational and informational use only. No content shared here—whether by our staff or guest contributors—is intended to supersede or replace the clinical relationship you have with your medical or mental health providers. We are here to support your journey with information, but we do not provide medical advice or treatment. Guest opinions are their own and may not represent the views of CPTSD Foundation. Privacy Policy and Full Site Disclaimer, Terms of Service.
When Survival Is Your Safety
Honoring the Intelligence within Your Nervous System For those who have lived through high-stress childhoods and ongoing stress, survival is not just a response—it becomes a way of being,...
Afraid To Be With others? Afraid to be Alone? All or Nothing
Do you isolate from others, and feel safer alone? Or are you afraid to be alone, and choose to always be with company? It is likely that these behaviors are coping strategies you’ve developed, and today I’d like to talk about why, and what to do about them now that you’re an adult.
Grounding Techniques That Helped Me Reconnect With My Body
My Struggle with Disconnection In October 2023, I was diagnosed with severe borderline personality disorder (BPD), which can be linked to complex trauma (CPTSD). For most people, getting...
When the Past Cracks Open: Navigating Repressed CSA Memories in Adulthood
For most of my life, I had no reason to question my past. I had warm childhood memories, a solid understanding of who I was, and no indication that something darker lurked beneath the surface....
The Exhaustion From Healing Is Very Real
For those of us who have begun our healing journeys, we are all too familiar with what the impact of leaving survival mode means. It signifies a shift toward healing and a more balanced and...
Communication: A Tool to Break Down Trauma Barriers
Communication: 1: A process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior. Exchange of information. 2: Information communicated,...
The Duality Of Rebellion: Love, Loss, And Legacy
They say addictions come in all forms. They are a way to escape from a feeling we dont want to feel. Perhaps a dark hole of emptiness within us that we want to fill. Some time ago, the dead visited me in a dream. It was eerie and surreal. Never one to remember my dreams, this one somehow lingered.
CPTSD Must Be Better Addressed in DSM To Help Autistic People and Others
The next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) should better address Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), a serious mental health condition that is...
What I’ve Learned About Trauma Survivors in My Quest to Demystify CPTSD
After more than a decade of searching for answers within the traditional medical model, I found myself with more questions than when I started. Eventually, I realized that understanding Complex...
The Courage to Awaken
Waking up from toxic systems and the side effects they create demands courage. Upon reflection, you’ll spot the misaligned messages—ideas that never fit, gnawing at your gut yet somehow seduce...
The Hidden Signs of Unresolved Trauma in Everyday Life
Many trauma survivors are unaware that their everyday habits—such as over-apologizing, struggling with decision-making, or maintaining hyper-awareness of others' moods—may be linked to past experiences rather than personality traits. Research in behavioral psychology suggests that these patterns are often adaptive responses shaped by past environments. From chronic procrastination to an unconscious attraction to chaotic relationships, unresolved trauma can influence a person’s choices in ways they may not recognize. Understanding these subtleties is key to recognizing how past experiences continue to shape the present.
Coming into the Body (Part 2 of 2)
Part 2 of 2 (Part 1: https://cptsdfoundation.org/2025/03/20/coming-into-the-body-part-1-of-2/) Eugene Gendlin’s Felt Sense Process The practice of mindful felt sense is important for helping you...
What is Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
“Complex PTSD comes in response to chronic traumatization over the course of months or, more often, years. This can include emotional, physical, and/or sexual abuses, domestic violence, living in a war zone, being held captive, human trafficking, and other organized rings of abuse, and more. While there are exceptional circumstances where adults develop C-PTSD, it is most often seen in those whose trauma occurred in childhood”.
