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 […]
The Departure Theory and CPTSD
(a.k.a., why “being left” hits like a freight train when you’ve got trauma on board) Let’s get this out of the way upfront: The Departure Theory isn’t something you’ll find in a psychology textbook. No citations, no DSM entry. But in trauma circles, especially among those of us navigating life with CPTSD, it comes up […]
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 […]
You Cannot Out Run Pain
Let’s be real honest right now. Yes, sometimes existing hurts. And I’m not talking about some ethical philosophical argument; I mean the physical and emotional hurt that is impossible to explain unless you have been there. If you have CPTSD, you know exactly what I mean. That heavy weight in your chest. The disconnect. The […]
The Mental Health Myth That Needs to Go
There are a ton of myths floating around about mental health. Some come from a good place, some are wildly off, and some just make you want to gently bang your head against a wall. But if I had to pick one to blast off into the sun, it’d be this: “You have to look […]
Healing for Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Let’s just get this out of the way: being a man who was sexually abused as a child messes with your head in ways that are hard to explain, and harder to talk about. I’m no therapist. Or self-help guru. I’m just someone who’s lived it. And if you have, you know that this kind […]