Tag: Trauma

We BOTH HAD TRAUMATIC CHILDHOODS Does that mean our relationship is doomed?

Trauma Couples

September 5, 2024

Not all relationships can work, even with the best of intentions. But coming from a CPTSD background does not mean your relationship is doomed. I would highly recommend working with a therapist to support you as you move into deeper …

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The Same Pain AGAIN

Feeling The Same Pain Again

July 18, 2024

Running from the pain won’t stop the pattern from repeating itself. Your subconscious is trying desperately to heal; it presents you with situation after situation until you pause and get curious. Not in a self-punishing way but in a compassionate, …

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Healing Dissociation Part 2 Dissociation is often a misunderstood and feared part of the system. Healing in a system with a big dissociated part means that we need to start with safety. Your life needs a foundation of current safety and a sense of felt safety in the space with your therapist. Creating this foundation can take a while, so it's important to be patient with the process. Look for a therapist who has some understanding of polyvagal theory and how your nervous system reacts.

Healing Dissociation Part 2

July 18, 2024

Healing Dissociation Part 2 Dissociation is often a misunderstood and feared part of the system. Healing in a system with a big dissociated part means that we need to start with safety. Your life needs a foundation of current safety …

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Is dissociation a life sentence? Because dissociation is a part of us that has developed to keep us safe in unsafe situations, when our environment is safe, we have the opportunity to begin to heal parts that dissociate, knowing that we are in a secure and nurturing environment.

Healing Dissociation Part 1

July 18, 2024

I like to think of dissociation like a firefighter. When an internal alarm signals danger, the firefighter wakes up, puts on its firefighting gear, rushes to the rescue, and does what it knows how to do: dissociate. In therapy, we …

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Exploring how we protect ourselves in the face of overwhelming or scary situations is essential. Naturally, we might react by freezing, fleeing, fighting, submitting, or seeking attachment.

Dissociation pt 9: How We Protect Our Selves

July 18, 2024

Exploring how we protect ourselves in the face of overwhelming or scary situations is essential. Naturally, we might react by freezing, fleeing, fighting, submitting, or seeking attachment.

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Resuming normal life post-trauma can be a vital step in healing, grounding us back in our daily routines and connections. However, when trauma is ongoing or deeply distressing, our psyche might create a protective layer, telling us, "It wasn't that bad," or "You're just too sensitive." This defence mechanism works tirelessly to suppress the trauma.

Dissociation pt 8; Resuming Normal Life

July 18, 2024

Resuming normal life post-trauma can be a vital step in healing, grounding us back in our daily routines and connections. However, when trauma is ongoing or deeply distressing, our psyche might create a protective layer, telling us, "It wasn't that …

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Is dissociation the result of trauma? Answered by a therapist with over 20 years of experience.

Is Dissociation the Result of Trauma?

July 15, 2024

Let me know in the comments if you find this dissociation series helpful in understanding yourself or someone you love. Wherever you are on your healing journey, big love to you, Jen

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How Dissociation is Often Misunderstood

How Dissociation is Often Misunderstood 

July 15, 2024

If you have any questions about dissociation, let me know in the comments. Love, Jen

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_Dissociation part 5 Dissociation is our mind's way of coping with overwhelming trauma. When too much happens too fast, our system can't process it all at once. It's like the trauma gets frozen in our minds and bodies.

Dissociation Part 5; Coping With Overwhelming Trauma

July 15, 2024

If you have any questions about dissociation, let me know in the comments. There are several posts on this topic Love, Jen

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Things I often hear as a trauma therapist: "It feels like I'm not really here," or "I feel like I'm watching my life from outside my body." - Feeling detached or disconnected from reality. "I can’t remember how I got here," or "There are holes in my memory." - Memory lapses or gaps. "I don’t feel anything," or "Everything seems dull and colorless." - Emotional numbness, where feelings are muted or absent. "Time seems to stand still," or "Rooms seem to change size." - Altered perceptions of time and space. "Sometimes I feel like I’m not myself," or "I don’t recognize the person in the mirror." - Identity confusion or a feeling of having different personas. "Everything around me feels fake," or "I feel like I'm in a dream." - Feelings of unreality concerning oneself or one's environment. "I can’t focus on anything," or "My thoughts are all over the place." - Difficulty concentrating.

Things I Often Hear as a Trauma Therapist:

July 12, 2024

Dissociation is real.  And it can interfere with daily life and your experience of being in your life and being connected to yourself and your life. If you have these experiences regularly it would be worth discussing with someone who …

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