Therapists, Do You Believe Your Client Will Heal?
The subject of therapists believing their client’s needs to be heard by those who treat any type of mental health problem. This is especially true for a diagnosis as frustrating as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). This article will hopefully send a message to therapists and those living with dissociative...
Trauma and the Developing Brain
Childhood trauma does horrendous things to a child’s mind, body, and psyche. Why? What does it change in the developing brain, and how? This article shall explore neurotransmitters and how they affect the different brain regions of a child and how these effects can be felt into adulthood. We...
Polyvagal Theory and Healing from Childhood Trauma
Those who live with the after-effects of severe childhood trauma understand well how it feels to be continually on the lookout for danger. Some experience this as hypervigilance feeling unsafe no matter who they are with or where they are in life. Polyvagal theory does a wonderful job of...
Poly What? Understanding Polyvagal Theory
I apologize for not being here as much as I should but I’ve been very busy. I’m volunteering now three days a week and writing for the CPTSD Foundation, another group (both paid gigs), and writing grants. I’m excited to be so busy but my blog has suffered. Please,...
Poetry from the Heart
Sometimes a poem is written that grabs at the heart and won’t let go. Such is this poem that was written by a friend of mine, Jessica Baker. Jessica doesn’t have dissociative identity disorder but she does have a related problem borderline personality disorder. Both come from traumatic histories...
The Positive Side of Family Estrangement and Creating a Family of Choice
This series on family estrangement may seem to be a strange topic to cover during the holiday season. Yet, being separated from family during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s is a familiar occurrence for many survivors. The purpose of these articles is to offer support to all who come...
Why Do Family Estrangements Happen?
These pieces about family estrangement are part of a five-part series I am writing for the CPTSD Foundation owned by Athena Moberg where I write for their blog. This subject is important for this time of year. Shirley Family estrangement is a very grief-ridden and personal experience that family...
Why Do Family Estrangements Happen?
These pieces about family estrangement are part of a five-part series I am writing for the CPTSD Foundation owned by Athena Moberg where I write for their blog. This subject is important for this time of year. Shirley Family estrangement is a very grief-ridden and personal experience that family...
Family Estrangement, What is It?
All families have their squabbles and days when one member might not speak to another. However, there is one type of painful situation where the communication between family members stops; this is family estrangement. Often, family estrangement occurs when an adult child is learning to cope with and get...
Discussing Another Six Symptoms of CPTSD
We began last week looking at the symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). We learned together how life-altering the symptoms of this enigmatic disorder are to the everyday lives of those who live with them. Today we are going to survey more of the symptoms and how they...