As a therapist in today’s treatment climate, I work with many clients seeking recovery from narcissistic abuse. Terms like narcissism, gaslighting, and love bombing have become common in everyday language, yet for survivors, these words represent more than terminology. They … Continue reading The Illusion of Tomorrow: Future Faking in Narcissistic Abuse.
The term gaslight is both overused and misused in today’s society. It has become a buzzword utilized to describe ordinary disagreements when in fact it is part of serious mental health conditions and is highly synonymous with abusive behavior. It … Continue reading Living in The Gas Light: Understanding it’s Utilization in Narcissistic Abuse.
“Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future.” – Deepak Chopra There is a place within each of us that … Continue reading The Window of Tolerance. A Model for Emotional Regulation.
Originally posted on Contoveros:
Holidays ain’t what they used to be when you were a kid. Particularly, if you ended up in the military and spent some of your formative years in a war zone like the Vietnam War. I could not celebrate Thanksgiving… Continue reading Holidays are ‘downers’ for some of us vets
“We suffer from society’s shallow understanding. Disclosing one’s assault is not an admission of personal failure. Instead, the victim has done us the favor of alerting us to danger in the community. Openness should be embraced”. Chanel Miller. It is … Continue reading Removing Shame: “Know My Name” by Chanel Miller.
The pain in our world feels both big and broad today. As, I watched the morning news another young man has lost his life in police custody and another story surfaces of a young man who lost his life to … Continue reading Desensitization, Kindling for Emotional Defense.
I can’t sit still. That is crazy. If I sit still; I will feel. I will feel the pain of my complicated life. A life that began with the person or people in charge who were not able to sit … Continue reading Running From Still
“If I stay awake I won’t have nightmares”. “If I keep busy, I won’t think about the bad things that have happened to me”. “I can’t close my eyes, because If I do something bad will happen”. “If I stay awake, I will see if anything is about to happen to me”. These are just a few of the thoughts that may resonate with a person (adult or child) who has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and whose sense of safety in the world has been shaken. There are as many cognitive combinations as there are individuals. … Continue reading Sleep and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
It is not essential that you do not make mistakes. It is essential that you do. Learn from them, grow from them, do not repeat them, repair with others if they will allow this, forgive them if they cannot, and … Continue reading Every new day brings opportunity!
The darkest moment of your darkest day. This is the moment that defined your belief in you, your sense of safety in this world, the way you measure your worth. It is the moment that causes you to cope (whatever … Continue reading In that moment; a belief was born about your worth.
Perspective on Trauma 