There’s something that keeps circling back in my life like a boomerang made of emotional clarity, and it hits me a little harder every year: I can’t do surface-level shit. Of any kind. I’ve tried. Believe me, I’ve tried. I’ve smiled through small talk, nodded in the right places, and played the part like a […]
The Questions That Never Got Answers
I’ve generally been a curious person. I just like learning things. Researching, asking questions, seeing how things work. There’s a satisfaction to be found in pulling apart the mess and trying to put it back together in a way that makes sense, even if it only makes sense to me. But trauma doesn’t always come […]
Is Your Healing for You or the Algorithm?
Since I started this journey of being open about my trauma and sharing it, I’ve met some wonderful people, people who’ve taught me things and welcomed me into this messy, beautiful community of those of us trying to heal. One thing I have noticed, however, is that some people out there are healing louder than […]
Do We Have To Forgive To Heal From Trauma?
It’s important that this gets said: If you’re healing from CPTSD and you’re not ready to forgive the people who hurt you? There is nothing wrong with that. You’re just being honest with yourself. And it’s actually a brave thing to be. Forgiveness is one of those overused words people throw around when they don’t […]
Healing from Abuse: Why I Kept My Name
Let me start by saying something that might sound strange, I was named after the man who sexually abused me as a kid. And honestly? I never hated the name. That’s a hell of a sentence I never thought I’d be sharing at this point in my life, but here I am. That part always […]
Things I Thought Were Normal Until Therapy
I used to think I was just a guy with “quirks.” You know, overly cautious, emotionally avoidant, allergic to rest, suspicious of compliments, and constantly rehearsing conversations in my head like I was preparing for a deposition instead of a lunch date. Totally normal stuff… right? Turns out, no. Not really. Therapy has this sneaky […]