Feats of Strength 💙 Trauma Healing

In learning to be kind to ourselves, trauma survivors may meet an unexpected hurdle – deep sadness, even anger.

It's a realization of the missing care & protection from our most vulnerable years. It's grief.

Just know: grief is a sign of self-compassion working. It's a sign of growth. ❤️‍🩹
#cptsd

In learning to be kind to ourselves, trauma survivors may meet an unexpected hurdle – deep sadness, even anger.

It's a realization of the missing care & protection from our most vulnerable years. It's grief.

Just know: grief is a sign of self-compassion working. It's a sign of growth. ❤️‍🩹
#cptsd

Recovery isn’t just ending self-cruelty—it’s recognizing it was never justified.

Self-cruelty that seems to “make sense” is often only an echo of old abuse resurfacing. Be kind to yourself, always. ❤️‍🩹

Yes! Its curious how folks (me included) interpret those pre-linguistic self-compassion "feelings" as either signs of weakness or extreme selfishness. We dismiss them as dangerous as opposed to necessary to our health and flourishing! Its a big shift in orientation.

Absolutely. Its funny how trauma will make big accomplishments seems so trivial. So much of recovery is not just addressing that, but also seeing small victories as signs of meaningful change. Those details, the everyday, mundane thoughts, matter.

Trauma Brain pushes the Hard Sell that since we aren’t living the lives we want now, then there’s no worth in trying to improve or salvage any part of it.

But remember, Trauma Brian only peddles in hot piles of garbage.

Just work on making the best recovery choices for today. Start small. ❤️‍🩹
#cptsd

Trauma Brain pushes the Hard Sell that since we aren’t living the lives we want now, then there’s no worth in trying to improve or salvage any part of it.

But remember, Trauma Brian only peddles in hot piles of garbage.

Just work on making the best recovery choices for today. Start small. ❤️‍🩹
#cptsd

Folks assume survivors of neglect & abuse are held back by fear. In fact, in many cases, we have a problem of conceivability, of permissibility.

It’s not that we're afraid to treat ourselves kindly – we never believed kindness was possible or allowed. Self-compassion is a revolutionary act.
#cptsd

I hear you. I know many don't have great experiences with sports, but the first time I ever felt part of a "family" was playing high school sports. It also showed me how teammates' families were so different than mine, supportive, encouraging, present. It was eye opening for a young kid.

Folks assume survivors of neglect & abuse are held back by fear. In fact, in many cases, we have a problem of conceivability, of permissibility.

It’s not that we're afraid to treat ourselves kindly – we never believed kindness was possible or allowed. Self-compassion is a revolutionary act.
#cptsd

Childhood trauma makes our lives so damn small, so limited in experience and vision. When other people feel like a threat, reading becomes in invaluable tool to open up our world.

"Read wide & deep. Read like your recovery depends on it." Amen. Read to build out our recovery world.
#cptsd

If I’ve ever had an “enlightenment” experience, it was finally realizing how shame shaped every part of my life, mostly invisibly. Such a trick of trauma! We don’t really see its effects at first!

Learning - realizing - I was *allowed* to be kind to myself, that I could replace self-cruelty with self-compassion, was such an important step in healing.
So happy for your growth, grateful to have you as an inspiration.❤️‍🩹

Childhood trauma makes our lives so damn small, so limited in experience and vision. When other people feel like a threat, reading becomes in invaluable tool to open up our world.

"Read wide & deep. Read like your recovery depends on it." Amen. Read to build out our recovery world.
#cptsd

Just looked it up, looks interesting. 🙏

🫂❤️‍🩹

Didn’t expect it, but the heart of the Selling Superman doc is healing from childhood neglect.

Addresses healing & recovery directly, some interviews with psychologist too. Sure its about comic books, but it handles abuse & recovery as main topic too. Def recommended.
#cptsd #recovery

Didn’t expect it, but the heart of the Selling Superman doc is healing from childhood neglect.

Addresses healing & recovery directly, some interviews with psychologist too. Sure its about comic books, but it handles abuse & recovery as main topic too. Def recommended.
#cptsd #recovery

I’m really sorry. Losing your wife is devastating, I can’t imagine how hard a day like this is for you and your kids. Wishing you all clarity and strength.

Be kind to yourself. Its so easy to get demoralized, but so often its just part of the process. ❤️‍🩹

When we get triggered & spiral or have a sh*t day, we gotta remember much of healing is just course correction.

Self-compassion & course correction.

We’ll feel like we’ve been shot back to the starting line, forgetting all we know & skills we’ve built. But this ain't true. Course correct.
#cptsd

When we get triggered & spiral or have a sh*t day, we gotta remember much of healing is just course correction.

Self-compassion & course correction.

We’ll feel like we’ve been shot back to the starting line, forgetting all we know & skills we’ve built. But this ain't true. Course correct.
#cptsd

Every survivor grapples with losing hope. For many, hope feels unsafe b/c it meant expecting care that never came.

IMO, recovery starts with curiosity: What do I feel? How does this point to my past? Curiosity doesn’t demand belief in a better future—only attention to the present.
#cptsd #recovery

Every survivor grapples with losing hope. For many, hope feels unsafe b/c it meant expecting care that never came.

IMO, recovery starts with curiosity: What do I feel? How does this point to my past? Curiosity doesn’t demand belief in a better future—only attention to the present.
#cptsd #recovery

Chronic abuse & neglect as kids means shame & other trauma responses in adulthood don't always feel like imminent crisis - they often feel like our inherent character.

Recovery begins with deep curiosity - especially how the past quietly shapes our everyday choices today.
#cptsd #recovery

🙌 Congrats! How awesome! 😎

Chronic abuse & neglect as kids means shame & other trauma responses in adulthood don't always feel like imminent crisis - they often feel like our inherent character.

Recovery begins with deep curiosity - especially how the past quietly shapes our everyday choices today.
#cptsd #recovery

Today's recovery affirmation:
I meet every moment of shame with self-compassion and every moment of doubt with curiosity & encouragement.

I cannot heal everything today, but I can influence small choices & every choice of self-compassion is an expression of trauma recovery. ❤️‍🩹
#cptsd #recovery

Great point. They're likely also the ones who have the strongest drive to perform "masculinity," which may make them the most dangerous.

💯 Healing comes from forgiving *ourselves* for not being old enough, strong enough, or wise enough to stop the abuse. We heal & "let go" by giving ourselves the care & protection we never received.