Must reads to recognize & heal complex ptsd
How to self-soothe in healthy ways vs. unhealthy coping
Many of us, when we try to self-soothe, have trouble understanding what we really need. We may have been primed since childhood to suppress or ignore our needs. So, when time comes to take care of ourselves, we’re at a loss to know what to do.
How to reparent yourself by grieving a lost childhood
If our parents were unreliable, abusive, neglectful, or worse, we fail to learn some basic life skills. We need to reparent ourselves to learn things like setting boundaries, healthy habits, emotional regulation, and relationship building.
Expectation and reality: what happens when they're out of alignment
The last time I felt unhappy I took a moment to consider why. What happened to create this feeling of disappointment? I realized my expectation and reality had become misaligned.
How to know if you're having a midlife crisis, women
We used to think of men when we talked about a midlife crisis. Now we know women also suffer through them, but the signs look different.
How to know if you were raised by a narcissist
Narcissists lack the most important components of parenting: empathy and compassion. If you were raised by a narcissist (or two) you’ll suffer the consequences of their deficiencies.
One year into the pandemic: why we need hope more than ever
One year ago my daughter and I sat in an empty downtown cafeteria-style restaurant, normally so full on a Friday night you could barely move.
How to overcome devastating impact of unmet emotional needs
Many of us had our physical needs met in childhood while suffering with unmet emotional needs. It’s only recently that the epidemic of childhood emotional neglect has been acknowledged, so most of us have suffered in silence.
What is toxic positivity and how to combat its tyranny over your life
Have you experienced toxic positivity? I first heard the term in a recent YouTube interview with psychotherapist Seerut Chawla.
How to stop hiding and start living your authentic life
It’s hard to stop hiding when you’ve been doing it most of your life. You might not even remember when you started or why.
5 Signs of childhood emotional neglect and how to break free
If you’ve suffered from childhood emotional neglect, you may not be aware of your trauma. You know something was wrong growing up but can’t put your finger on it.
How to overcome childhood trauma without therapy
I’ve invested dozens of hours and thousands of dollars into therapy. Since age 19 I’ve sought licensed therapists to help me work through my problems.
How to overcome self sabotage and master self discipline
Most of us struggle with self sabotage. Instead of sticking with something hard we settle for short-term pleasure. And deny ourselves the long-term satisfaction of reaching our goals.
How to overcome the impact of childhood trauma
For some, childhood evokes images of joy and innocence. For others childhood trauma has created memories of fear and insecurity.
How to overcome negative self talk through self compassion
Before I began my healing journey, negative self talk filled my head every waking hour of the day. The first time my inner voice said something encouraging to me, I froze because it sounded so unfamiliar.
How to overcome your fear of asking for help
It’s taken me a long time to discover that if I ask for help I’ll probably get it. Sounds simple, but for most of my life I avoided asking for help for a variety of reasons.