PTSD

Parenting is a profound journey, but navigating the many philosophies can be overwhelming. Understanding the basic models— authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved —is a crucial first step in building a healthy relationship with your child. While all styles have their nuances, one, in particular, carries a significant risk of emotional and psychological harm: Authoritarian Parenting . This blog post explores the different styles and dives into the deep, often

In 2011, I believed a partial hysterectomy would be the turning point in a long struggle with debilitating symptoms: crushing fatigue, persistent swelling, unexplained pain, rashes, and disruptive gastrointestinal issues, often accompanied by nausea. I imagined a future free from these burdens. Instead, my symptoms intensified, catapulting me into a medical odyssey that would span years and unveil a profound connection between my physical ailments and a history of unaddressed

”Re-enacting” my motorcycle accident The year was 1989 , and I was a junior at a Christian International boarding school in Taiwan . Our school sat in the country, surrounded by rice paddies, the air thick with dampness and the sound of cicadas. One night, crossing the dark street in front of the school with a friend, my world went from ordinary to chaotic in an instant. One moment I was walking; the next, I was opening my eyes after blacking out on the rough pavement on the

We all carry "baggage"—stress, unresolved conflicts, or pent-up emotions—that, left unchecked, create a psychological mess. The need to cleanse ourselves, to purge what is toxic, is a fundamental human drive. But what happens when you desperately need that emotional release, yet all your avenues for processing feel contaminated, inadequate, or compromised? It's a chilling modern dilemma: the urgent need for a clean slate, and the utter frustration of finding no clean tools fo

Imagine a single strand of hair, so light it's almost imperceptible. For most of us, its gentle touch on our skin goes unnoticed. But what if that minuscule weight, that feather-light contact, felt like a searing burn or a crushing pressure? For millions living with chronic pain and certain autoimmune conditions, this isn't a hypothetical nightmare, but a daily reality. This seemingly impossible scenario sheds light on the profound impact of an overactivated autonomic nervous

The words religious abuse  and spiritual abuse  are often used interchangeably, yet both describe a particularly insidious form of mistreatment. It’s an abuse that doesn’t just wound the body or mind, but strikes at the very core of a person’s identity and beliefs. This type of abuse frequently stems from dogmatic, control-oriented religion —a system engineered to dictate not only actions but also thoughts , creating an environment where abuse can flourish unchecked. The Auth

It can be baffling and deeply painful when someone we care about starts to withdraw. They might stop answering calls, avoid social gatherings, or seemingly cut themselves off  from people who love them. For those who have experienced trauma , especially complex trauma  (which is repeated or prolonged trauma), this isolation isn't a rejection—it's often a desperate act of self-preservation. The reasons behind this emotional wall are rooted in a deep disruption of their sense o

We often think of manipulation as a sinister, deliberate act – a master puppeteer pulling strings with malicious intent. But what if I told you that many of us, perhaps even most of us, engage in manipulation without even realizing it? We're not talking about calculated deceit, but rather a more subtle, often fear-driven dance that can unintentionally harm our relationships and our own well-being. Our deepest human desires – for connection, security, love, validation, and eve

We all want to feel seen, valued, and accepted—it’s a fundamental human need. But what happens when that healthy desire morphs into a relentless, all-consuming need? When your self-worth hangs precariously on the comments, likes, and opinions of others, you might be caught in the approval trap , where validation has become an addiction. This isn't just about occasionally enjoying a compliment; it’s an excessive need for external affirmation  that dictates your mood, your choi

The body is a complex system, and sometimes, the very mechanisms designed to protect us turn against us. This is the essence of autoimmune conditions , where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own healthy tissues. While the exact causes are multifactorial, a growing body of evidence suggests a powerful and often overlooked connection: the role of trauma  and chronic stress . Autoimmunity: A Body Under Attack Autoimmune diseases affect millions, and it's a stark r

You’ve likely heard the term “triggered” used casually—to describe being mildly annoyed, offended, or simply feeling a strong emotion about something. In the age of social media, it’s become a universal shorthand for emotional distress. But as a mental health professional, I want to clarify something important: a trauma trigger is much more than just being upset. It’s a specific, powerful psychological and physiological response rooted in a person’s history of trauma. Underst

Have you ever felt like your internal emotional world is stuck in the frantic, out-of-control spin cycle of a washing machine? That feeling of being violently agitated, dizzy, and completely at the mercy of forces you can’t stop—that’s often what emotional dysregulation feels like. Emotional dysregulation is the difficulty in managing the intensity and duration of your emotional responses. Instead of smoothly moving through a range of feelings, you get stuck in high gear. But