Healing Trauma Through Inner Child Work
So far, in this series on the inner child, we have discussed inner children, and how, when they are wounded, they can affect adult life. We learned that every person has an inner child that is part of our psyche, that is a childish self, inside all of us....
Discovering Your Inner Child
There is much psychiatry does not understand about how our psyche works. Indeed, because psychiatric symptoms are mostly self-reported, there is little evidence that mental disorders exist. However, all humans recognize in themselves the urges and responses they seem to have that echo past experiences. This piece will...
The Trauma Bond and Healing from Narcissistic Abuse
Narcissistic abuse of children is extremely harmful to their mental and physical health. These kids grow up with mixed messages about who they are and suffer other consequences from never feeling they belong. This piece will focus on the trauma bond and the healing journey that children of narcissists...
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...