by Elisabeth | Feb 5, 2020 | Defenders, Recovery, Relationships
Toxic shame is one of the most detrimental epidemics in a world filled with childhood trauma. But it isn’t easy to see. It is often heavily defended by our dissociation, anger and futility. It is hidden under our defenses like anxiety, depression and addiction. ...
by Elisabeth | Feb 20, 2019 | Defenders, Dissociation, Memory Repression, Recovery
I watched The Dressmaker last night. The good news: it’s free with Amazon Prime right now. The bad news: it’s full of trauma triggers. There’s rape, murder, death, bullying, domestic violence, drugs, alcoholism, dementia, mental illness, religious oppression,...
by Elisabeth | Dec 6, 2017 | Defenders, Parenting
Powerlessness is one of the most damaging emotions coming from a childhood of complex trauma. It is the foundation of depression. It keeps us paralyzed. And if we don’t recognize it for what it is, it can lead to suicidal ideation and even suicide attempts. The...
by Elisabeth | Jun 29, 2016 | Defenders
Dear Karma Kid, I know you have heard it a hundred times, but your past doesn’t define you. And because you have heard it a hundred times, I am going to explain what I mean. You are not evil because you grew up amongst evil. You endured evil. You experienced...
by Elisabeth | Apr 6, 2016 | Defenders, Recovery
The Self Blame Last night, I was hit by a car in my dreams. While many dreams can be symbolic, this had been a reality in my life. I was hit by a car while running on a road when I was in 14 years old. Of course, the jerk driving the car tried to make it my fault...
