Trauma-Informed Blog
New content weekly! Survivor Stories, Research Articles, Poetry, and more written by clinicians, coaches, survivors, and mental health professionals.
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Healing Shame When It’s a Cultural Norm
Inducing shame is endemic in so many of our cultures and is one reason why healing shame it is so very hard to accomplish. Recognizing how our cultures produce and support shame is the first step...
For The Living Memory of Children
Life is a bundle of experiences. This bundle inevitably grows and finds its way into a story. Every story has its twists and turns, ongoing passages, and closed chapters. Sharing our stories...
Self-Compassion and Childhood Trauma Recovery
Many people identify as having survived childhood abuse of some sort and, as a result, often lack self-compassion. Self-compassion is being kind and understanding with oneself instead of...
How ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Proves the Power of Connection in Healing Trauma
Originally published on The Mighty. This whole writing is basically a massive spoiler for all things “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and “Star Wars” in general. Please note that I enjoy explaining such things...
Many LGBTQIA+ People May Have CPTSD Symptoms and Don’t Even Know
LGBTQIA+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning (one's sexual or gender identity), Intersex, and Asexual/Aromantic/Agender (LGBTQIA+ or Queer). “A 2016 review of...
A Change of Affection – Part III How To Break A Trauma Bond
My abuser had accidentally revealed the truth.
Scapegoated!
I was a magnet for the truth and still am - it finds me wherever I am. It is not always welcome but I am grateful nevertheless, for something reliable and constant in my life that walks with me as a beacon of light, and authenticity; this beacon that has lit my way through the darkness on so many occasions and stages of my life.
Defeating Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with Self-compassion
No one is harder on a survivor of complex trauma than the survivor. Survivors feel they are a burden, be unable to have a voice for themselves, or feel shame. Also, survivors often lack trust in...
Here I Am
I remember the legal process more than the trauma itself. I’ve come to appreciate that memory loss, a defense mechanism that I’ve had a love-hate relationship with for the past decade. While I have not overcome my sensitivity to touch, or my tendency to shut down completely when I am faced with my fears, I have come to love the person I am. I am, a powerful reminder I have my own story to tell, one not dictated by anybody. I am a survivor. I am making my own path. I am driven and accomplished. I am.
Losing My Marbles
Emotions, losing control, not being yourself. I kept feeling like it was something I did. Something I could undo or fix so everything would turn out alright. Unfortunately, things kept getting...
How This ‘Ted Lasso’ Theme Relates to My Complex PTSD Healing Journey
This article was originally published on The Mighty. “Ted Lasso” is not a TV show that I would have chosen to watch on my own. In fact, until it was recommended to me, I somehow hadn’t even heard...
Impostor Syndrome and Self -Compassion
Impostor Syndrome occurs for all sorts of reasons and it pushes us to become extremely hard on ourselves. It also robs us of seeing ourselves: as human beings doing their best, just as they are....
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”.
