by Elisabeth | Jan 20, 2016 | Inner Children, Memory Repression, Relationships
Determined to Escape When I was 8 years old, I was determined. I guess that’s not surprising. I have always been determined. But at 8 years old, I was determined to solve problems that no child should ever have to solve. I was looking for a way out of my family. I...
by Elisabeth | Dec 9, 2015 | Memory Repression, Parenting, Relationships
As survivors, we work hard to minimize the impact of triggers on our daily lives. We learn approaches to stay present when the triggers come. And we try to avoid the triggers when we can. I have met survivors who attempt to avoid all triggers. Some stay locked away...
by Elisabeth | Dec 2, 2015 | Defenders, Relationships
The Hardest Part of the Journey For a long time, I thought the hardest part about trauma recovery was allowing the expression of past emotions. I fought and defended against them for most of my adult life in an attempt to avoid the inevitable. But once I allowed the...
by Elisabeth | Nov 25, 2015 | Parenting, Relationships
“I will not make the same mistakes my parents made.” It may be one of the most common sentiments in the world of parenting. But when we express this desire, it is often met with rolled eyes or some other doubtful response. Why is that? Deep down inside, I think we all...
by Elisabeth | Nov 4, 2015 | Defenders, Recovery, Relationships
The Inevitable Triggers This week, I was triggered while doing this work. This isn’t the first time and it won’t be the last. I always journal privately about my triggers. The writing is raw and emotional. It usually involves an inner part who is very unhappy. But...
by Elisabeth | Oct 28, 2015 | Parenting, Recovery, Relationships
An Expression of Joy I told a joke to my kids the other day. They were sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast, and I was making their school lunches. They take vitamins that are shaped like animals and they love to guess which animal the other child has. There...
