Recovery from the Pandemic Depends on How Safe We All Feel

We are collectively experiencing a traumatic event on a global scale. Some of us, because of past trauma, feel the effects more than others. All of us are impacted, to some degree. For some, this collective trauma may be a new experience. Some may notice that they feel more tired, less able to focus. Perhaps …

Big Goals are not Stand-ins for Love

I have an enormous goal. I've spent tens of thousands of hours honing my craft in order to reach it. I've spent even more on education and lifestyle changes to give myself the space, time, and know-how to accomplish it. I don't even want to count the lost wages (and benefits and retirement savings) from …

When Your Own Narrative is a Life or Death Issue

We all know how it feels when someone gossips about us. We've all been on the receiving end of sensitive information about someone else that's none of our business. We've all said something out of turn about another person. The sting of betrayal is hurtful and annoying, but for many, it's not a huge deal. …

Emergencies are Easy- Healing is Hard

A couple weeks ago, my daughter had a medical emergency. I was four hours away. My husband and I had just hiked in to a remote location, eager to spend a few days in silence and contemplation. It was also much-needed chance to re-connect with each other. The last few weeks had been especially busy, …

Abuse is not an Illness, It’s a Choice

One of the biggest mistakes I see victims of narcissistic abuse make is to feel sorry for their abusers because their abuser is "mentally ill." This is wrong. Narcissism is not the same as mental illness. While someone with a mental illness might inadvertently cause chaos around them due to their mental state, most of …

The Difference Between Trauma and Anxiety

I've been living with the effects of complex trauma for a long time, but for many years I didn't know what it was. Off and on throughout my life, I've struggled with what I thought was anxiety and depression. Or rather, In addition to being traumatized, I was anxious and depressed. All mental health is …