Living with CPTSD means you kind of get used to expecting the unexpected when it comes to what sets you off. You’d think triggers are always these huge, obvious, scary things, like a loud bang, a harsh word, or someone who looks exactly like that person from your past. But nope. Sometimes, what sets you […]
Where Does the CPTSD End, and Where Do I Begin?
I came across a question today that got me thinking: “Where does the CPTSD end, and where do I begin?” At first, I gave the kind of answer that felt honest enough. I tried to untangle trauma from truth, to draw a clean line between what’s mine and what got wired into me through fear, […]
CPTSD and the Trauma That Gaslights You
There’s no polite way to say this, but CPTSD is a mindfuck. It doesn’t just hit you with trauma. It follows up with a fun little side dish of self-hatred that convinces you the trauma didn’t even count. You survive something awful, sometimes for years, and instead of your brain saying, “Wow, that was terrible, […]
Healing Is Boring, and That’s the Point
I woke this morning and nothing was wrong. I had a good night’s sleep. It was the weekend and I had a chilled and relaxing few days to look forward to, but still, I was feeling like something was off. This has been happening a lot lately. And as unsettling as it is, there’s a […]
PTSD or CPTSD? A Simple Breakdown Without the Psychobabble
So, you’ve been down a WebMD rabbit hole, or your therapist dropped “CPTSD” into a session like it’s a totally normal acronym. And you have somehow found yourself here. Welcome. I write a lot about my own experiences living with CPTSD, and I want you to know you’re not alone, even if it feels that […]
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 […]