For most of my life, I thought my body was betraying me. The racing heart. The shaking hands. The hollow, floating feeling that showed up at the worst possible moments, like I was a ghost watching myself try to function. I’d tell myself, “Calm down. You’re fine.” But my body clearly hadn’t gotten the memo. […]
Learning to Be Alone (and Actually Liking It) As I get older, I’ve noticed something I didn’t expect. It’s not that I want or need people around me all the time. I’ve learned to enjoy my own company; I actually find a kind of calm in that. The fact I am introverted plays a large […]
When Growth Isn’t Enough for Others I was asked something recently that made me reflect a little: how do you reconcile with people who still won’t accept you, even after all the work you’ve done to heal and change? The simple answer is, you can’t. And that’s one of the hardest truths about growth. You […]
The Silence That Follows Trauma One thing I learned early in my own healing is that talking openly about it has the ability to suck the life out of the room. You mention your trauma, and suddenly everything goes quiet, like someone hit the emotional “mute” button. Then, when you try to lighten the mood […]
The Parts of You That Got Tucked Away It’s a strange concept, giving the parts of yourself a chance to speak after so long of being silenced. Trauma, fear, or just habit teaches you to tuck pieces of yourself away: the scared kid, the angry teen, and the goofy, messy adult. “Stay quiet,” they’re told, […]
Meet Lillian A Los Angeles–based therapist, Lillian Farzan helps young Californians from multicultural backgrounds build confidence, independence, and healthy boundaries, all while staying true to who they are. Through an inclusive and trauma-informed lens, she creates space where identity isn’t something to overcome, but something to honor. In this Q&A, Lillian shares insights on healing, […]
