With Every Healing Step Forward, We Dismantle the Hold Trauma Has Over Us

The Friday Edition | No. 46

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With Every Healing Step Forward, We Dismantle the Hold Trauma Has Over Us

Living with Complex PTSD can feel like being trapped in a jungle of emotional triggers, fragmented memories, and a nervous system perpetually on edge. The depth and breadth of this condition are often misunderstood, leaving those who endure it struggling to navigate their healing journey in a world that doesn’t fully comprehend their pain. Yet, as many of us have learned along the way, within the heart of complex trauma lies an invitation to heal – not just survive – but to flourish with self-love and resilience.

Complex trauma taught you how to survive, but self-love will teach you how to live.

Complex trauma stems from prolonged abuse, neglect, and emotional abandonment – often beginning in childhood when the psyche and sense of self are most vulnerable. For many of us, growing up in environments filled with narcissistic abuse, emotional manipulation, or physical harm means that our earliest memories are fraught with confusion, fear, and a desperate need to survive. These experiences layer upon one another, creating a mosaic of pain that shapes the way we interact with the world.

The Hugeness of CPTSD & the Unraveling Layers of the "Onion of Self"

But the thing about survival is that it doesn’t stop when the abuse ends. Long after the abuser has left the scene, our bodies remain on high alert. We may find ourselves hypervigilant, constantly scanning for threats, struggling with trust, and feeling disconnected from our own emotions. Our brains, conditioned by years of trauma, cling to old survival mechanisms even when they no longer serve us.