I was unaware that I was suffering from Complex PTSD from two incidents of horrific sexual assault as a young teen. I launched myself into life and landed a fantastic job, but the symptoms I was suffering from caused me to sabotage my success. The night I met…

When I was 23-24 years old, I began cutting myself. I now know that this act was a cry for help from my 16 years old Arielle who had gone through two back-to-back terrible sexual assaults. She worked really hard to carry on with her life – landed an amazing job with…

For an exceedingly long time, my life revolved around my emotions, feelings and moods. I made most of my decisions from emotions and since I was suffering from Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD). Those decisions were often detrimental to my growth and…

If you would have told me that I had a “true self” when I was in the throes of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), I would have told you it was not possible – that you were lying and crazy! Today, I am constantly learning…

For over two decades, I suffered from the debilitating effects of PTSD and, as the trauma multiplied, C-PTSD. It (the C-PTSD) told me that I was fine and…

Having spent over two decades going from one trauma to another to another to another, I ended up with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD). During this time, I often did not have much money to buy food, so my basic nutritional needs were not met. Which also meant that my nutritional needs in relationship to C-PTSD were also not met. I did not even know that I had…

As I drove over the bridges this morning, I saw myself (Light Dances on Water – a name given to me at Invite Change), twinkling ever so delicately and glistening intensely. The lightness of the twinkling and the glistening light on the water describes how my heart feels…

I was wandering in the wilderness (of denial), so to speak, but when I looked in the mirror one day and decided to commit to myself a life worth living, I committed to that with…

I was very moved after reading Anna Kendrick’s interview on Armchair Expert Podcast by Dax Sheppard.

Many of us who are not celebrity actors think that we shame and blame ourselves for the abuse we endured because “we just do not have enough confidence” in ourselves. Or, if…

The loneliness and isolation I felt during my four-year abusive marriage was very intense. With each day I stayed in the abuse, I felt less and less like interacting with family members. I especially felt like isolating at holiday time because one is expected to feel cheery, reverent, and giving. I felt none of that…

When my life was hurtling down the train tracks for over two decades, I spent little time focusing on gratitude. It was not because I would not, it was because I could not. I had no idea…

When my life was in a downward spiral from untreated PTSD due to sexual assaults in my teens, I went without insurance coverage for years and years. This meant that I did not get routine mammograms to see if I had breast cancer. I also did not see an internist, dentist, or…

During my over two-decade long spiral downward, which included homelessness, I practiced some things from the definition below of ‘primary foods’ and ’12 steps to better health’ that could very well have saved me from…

I spent many years looking to others for my center – my identity – hoping that somehow, they would ground me and make me whole. As the years went by and my life continued to spiral out of control, I had no idea how…

From a young age, I had been a person whose heart went out for the ‘underdog’. I was kind and caring to classmates and animals. I enjoyed playing for hours…

The reason people who have experienced trauma do self care is because it actually counteracts or cancels the debilitating effects of…

Have you experienced trauma and are suffering from any or all of the following?

In our current climate, you will hear a lot of people mentioning the term PTSD. But what is it and how does it occur? I can tell you…