For most of us who have experienced complex trauma, the holiday season feels like walking on a tightrope. We are always one tiny wobble from falling into an abyss of pain, and that annihilation anxiety can take over our lives. This cycle of fear and avoidance can quickly become intolerable, and when that happens, we …
Folks with complex PTSD from chronic childhood trauma and those with PTSD due to traumatic events, such as a school shooting, have triggers. A trigger is anything that reminds them of a previous traumatic event. It causes a strong reaction, making them feel as if they were reliving the event all over again. Triggers are ubiquitous …
Perhaps you are someone who has experienced complex trauma – chronic inescapable circumstances where you felt unseen or misunderstood. If that resonates with you, you might have trouble finding yourself or knowing who you are. You are probably an expert at identifying what you’re not through the eyes of others. In this article, I’ll use …
Contrary to popular belief, intensive trauma therapy doesn’t have to mean digging deeper into the most painful parts of your life. Perhaps you’ve spent years in therapy exploring your problems only to feel like a hamster on a treadmill – working hard and getting nowhere. Traditional therapy often begins with an assumption that a problem …
It’s been clear to me for the past few years that the collective mental health in the U.S. has been a mix of mass trauma, depression, stagnation, powerlessness, existential anxiety, and even delusion. A recent survey showed that 88% of Americans are dissatisfied with the trajectory of our country, so regardless of one’s specific perspective, …
One of the primary reasons people become motivated to seek out therapy is due to some friction in their lives—in some unique way(s) to that individual, their experience is out of sync with their expectations, leading to anxiety and depression. There is often an element of powerlessness, and, to gain some power in the situation, …
In today’s fast-paced world, radical self-care is key to maintaining your physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health. Even small acts of self-care can help you recharge, lower your risk of illness, and be liberated from negative thoughts and behaviors. Self-care vs. narcissism In the U.S., we live in a culture that constantly bombards us with …
Should ACEs be used as a measure of childhood trauma? Not really. Often professionals in schools and the mental health field consider the ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) questionnaire as a place to start measuring whether a client has experienced complex trauma. I have heard people in the community — including both clients and professionals — …
We normalize and weave the dynamics of our childhood relationships and environment into our identity and personality, whether they are healthy or not. Some of us grew up in dysfunctional environments and created a framework that precipitates unhealthy adult relationships with ourselves, as well as with other people. As such, we are often drawn to …
