For most of my life, I’ve struggled to accept the person I see in the mirror. But it’s never been about insecurity, not in the way people usually mean it. My discomfort with my appearance goes deeper than surface-level doubt. It’s rooted in childhood trauma, in abuse that left my body feeling like a prison. […]
The Word That Haunted Me, And Why I’m Taking It Back
Words have power. Way more than most people realize. I mean, think about it, we grow up hearing certain words all the time. Please. Thank you. Sorry. Love. We’re told these are the magic ones. The ones that open doors and smooth over rough edges. And sure, most of the time, that’s true. But what […]
Navigating the Storm: Living with CPTSD
Living with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) is no walk in the park. Some days, it can feel like a constant storm raging inside, making it hard to navigate through life. And it’s not a sound you hear, but a psychological beat that never seems to stop. The constant buzz of feeling unworthy, unlovable, and […]
The Quiet War: Living and Healing with CPTSD
It’s like living with CPTSD is walking through a mental minefield. One moment the ground is firm, and the next it gives way. Emotional blowouts are inevitable, and just when I’m okay, the ground beneath me gives way. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, Intrusive thoughts arrive like unwelcome guests at a party, puncturing the […]
Mother’s Day Was Hard This Year
Mother’s Day was hard this year, and I didn’t realize that it would actually be as hard as I found it. I lost my mom back in 2007, so, for me, grief and spending Mother’s Day without my mom hasn’t been something new. Since the loss of her, I have always bought her favorite Calla […]