Meet Dee Clinic Director – Ellie Mental Health, Manhasset / Great Neck, NY Nendler “Dee” Michel, LCSW, CASAC-Advanced, has spent over 20 years guiding individuals through life’s challenges. Specializing in trauma, mental health, and substance use, Dee is known for his relaxed, conversational style and whole-person approach, helping clients feel seen, heard, and supported every […]
CPTSD CPTSD Recovery Flashbacks & Triggers Mental Health Relationships & Attachment Self-Care Trauma Triggers
When Trauma Hits Again: Living With CPTSD
Feeling “Off” For a while now, I’ve been feeling “off.” My nervous system has been stuck on high alert, and it’s been bugging me because I couldn’t figure out why. Nothing in my day-to-day life should be making me feel like this. And no matter what I tried, my breathing techniques, grounding, distracting myself, nothing […]
CPTSD CPTSD Recovery Emotional Awareness Healing Journey Mental Health Self-Awareness Therapy & Healing
Breaking Free from Emotional Control
Thinking Instead of Feeling: My Lifelong Habit There’s something I’ve always done, and frustratingly still do, even with all the tools I’ve learned in therapy: I tend to think my way through emotions instead of fully feeling them. Allow me to explain. I do feel things, yes. But I have a hard time actually releasing […]
Why CPTSD Makes Trusting Others Tough
Trust issues and CPTSD go together like peas and carrots. And it’s not because we’re naturally suspicious people; it’s because life taught us that trusting people is risky business. When you’ve been betrayed, neglected, or manipulated over and over, your brain learns that trust equals danger. When Your Body Doesn’t Get the Memo The problem […]
The Strengths I Gained Living with CPTSD
Living with CPTSD: The Daily Struggle Living with CPTSD can be debilitating. I have written a lot about the challenges it’s thrown my way, the many sleepless nights, the constant hypervigilance, and the emotional landmines that can appear out of nowhere. All things that can take over your life in ways you’d never imagine, and […]
Acceptance Childhood Sexual Abuse CPTSD CPTSD Recovery Healing Journey Mental Health Self-Acceptance Self-Worth
CPTSD and the Struggle for True Acceptance
Why Acceptance Feels Like Everything There are many things CPTSD makes harder than they should be. For me, one of the big ones is my need to be accepted, not necessarily liked. I get that people will either like me or not. What I really want is to be accepted for who I am, and […]