by Elisabeth | Dec 20, 2017 | Defenders, Freedom Fighters, Inner Children, Recovery
Desperation is a familiar feeling for those of us with complex trauma. Our goals can feel impossible and completely out of our control. That feeling of powerlessness has been around a long time and it didn’t disappear in adulthood. But that desperation is telling...
by Elisabeth | Dec 13, 2017 | Defenders, Freedom Fighters, Parenting
When my children were born, I knew that I would dedicate my life to helping them be safe, healthy and happy. I wanted my children to have a very different childhood than mine. I was willing to sacrifice anything for them. At the time, I didn’t realize that meant my...
by Elisabeth | Oct 18, 2017 | Dissociation, Memory Repression
Last week, I wrote about the horrible invalidation that comes with claims that dissociation is not real. But there is another belief about dissociation (and particularly Dissociative Identity Disorder) which leads to an underestimation of its prevalence. That belief...
by Elisabeth | Oct 4, 2017 | Defenders, Inner Children
Paranoia is one of the most stigmatized symptoms of complex trauma. It is often viewed as a sign of a serious mental illness. But the reality of paranoia is different. It is everywhere. I believe childhood trauma makes it a guarantee. Paranoia can be so many...
by Elisabeth | Sep 20, 2017 | Freedom Fighters
I have been introduced to my second superior part over the past week. Unlike my superior defender, this part is a rebel who wants to do her own thing. At first, I found it a bit amusing to listen to her talk about how much better she is than everyone else. But in...
