If you’re like me, small talk isn’t just boring; it’s torture. It feels forced, unnecessary, and exhausting. So imagine how I felt when I walked into therapy for the first time, ready to dump all my insides on some stranger who began with, “So… how’s your week been?” Talk about awkward. Especially if you’re not […]
How a Superman Body Spray Triggered a CPTSD Flashback
Yesterday, I time-traveled. Not in the cool, H.G. Wells, steampunk kind of way, but the CPTSD way. The no warning, no mercy, full-body flashback kind of way. The time machine? A body spray. Specifically, the Old Spice Superman limited edition. Yeah. A superhero-branded deodorant did me in. But this wasn’t about smelling fresh. This was […]
How I Manage Life with CPTSD (And a Lot of Sarcasm)
Living with CPTSD is the gift that keeps on giving. And by “gift,” I mean that weird mystery box you didn’t order; it showed up uninvited, and now you’re legally required to carry it with you everywhere you go. It’s like an invisible backpack filled with random triggers, unexpected flashbacks, and moments where you’re just […]
Finding Calm in the Chaos: My Journey with CPTSD
Somewhere along the way in my healing journey, I’ve stopped seeing myself as CPTSD personified. I don’t know the exact moment it happened; there wasn’t some grand epiphany or movie-montage-style healing moment. But slowly, quietly, I started seeing myself as… just me. As Jack. A messy, kind, resilient, funny, often-exhausted guy who happens to have […]
Letter to My Younger Self: A Message for Healing
I was asked to write a letter to my younger self in therapy this week, and I have spent some time thinking of what to write. It turned out to be a lot more difficult than I thought it would be, but I eventually came up with this. Hey, Younger Me, I know things feel […]
Learning To Love Myself For Who I Am
For many years, I believed deep down that I was unworthy of love, and that no one could ever truly accept me for who I was. I engaged in unhealthy behaviors to prove this belief to myself. I felt undeserving of love, particularly because of my history of childhood abuse. In my mind, there was […]