Survival, Resistance, and Andor.
Andor doesn’t offer comfort. It offers truth. But somehow, that truth is comforting—because it sees us.
Read More11 Pap Smear Tips for Trauma Survivors
Whether it’s something we need to do or part of regular maintenance, heading to the doctor for gyno stuff is no-ones favorite time. Add in our various traumas and it can become a difficult task. Here’s a few tips that I hope will help with a Pap Smear.
Read MoreMy story with Adenomyosis - Somedays discount code.
For years, I knew something was wrong with my body, but getting answers felt impossible due to CPTSD. After years of building trust with trauma-informed professionals navigating wait times, and getting lots of support - I was finally given a suspected diagnosis of adenomyosis—a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows into the muscle wall, causing extreme pain in my case.
For 25 years, I managed it (poorly) with painkillers, but relying on them worries me, and sometimes they barely help. So, I’ve been exploring other options. Pelvic physiotherapy with a trauma-informed practitioner is helping me manage pain and improve mobility, and
has been one of the only topical products (including prescription ones) that actually makes a difference. If you want to try Somedays, my code MHYXE gets you 15% off!
Neither is a cure, but if my pain goes from a 10 to a 6, that’s a big deal—and I’ve even had some pain-free months!
If your period pain is limiting your life, keep advocating for yourself. You deserve answers and relief.
4 Ways Collecting Helps Me Maintain my Mental Health
What do 90’s McDonalds’ toys, vintage ceramic rabbits, Lego sets, Star Wars memorabilia, and an enormous amount of Care Bears items all have in common?
They bring me joy… And I don’t care what anyone thinks about it.
Read MoreWhen Having a Trauma-Informed Doctor Is a Matter of Life and Death
There I sat, in a small room, and in walked you, the doctor. I’d shown up to the ER because I was having a mental health crisis.
Read MoreTribute to Jesica Neufeld 1985-2022
Written by Curtis Harman
Jesica Neufeld attended a presentation that the Schizophrenia Society's Partnership Program did for National Schizophrenia and Psychosis Awareness Day in May of 2013. The local media was there and interviewed audience members for the evening news. Jesica shared that she loved hearing these stories of recovery and wanted to join the team to share her story of recovery from schizophrenia. She said she could identify with the women and what they went through with their mental illnesses…
Read MoreThe Simple Question a Crisis Worker Asked Me That Helped Calm My Panic Attack
My thoughts come at me too quickly, too loudly — it’s as if my mind is shouting. At the same time, my heart is racing and I find it difficult to breathe. I grip onto the kitchen counter to stop myself from falling over.I am no stranger to panic attacks, so I know what is happening, but this time, it feels different. I cannot see an end in sight, which is what prompts me to remember that I need help.
Read MoreHow 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' Proves the Power of Connection in Healing Trauma.
This whole writing is basically a massive spoiler for all things “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and “Star Wars” in general.
…Understanding that Obi-Wan likely has PTSD is helpful because it portrays what I believe is an important lesson. I have some theories to share, and I promise it all links up. It’s my opinion that when it comes to trauma, a part of what causes so much pain is that it disconnects us from ourselves and others…
Read MoreIf Trauma Messed With Your Mind/Body Connection, This Tool Is For You
There are two questions I often don’t know what to do with.
“Where do you feel that in your body?”
and
“Can you describe that a little more for me?
My reply is typically a shrug of the shoulders.
Read MoreI Tried rTMS and This is What Happened
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or rTMS for short, has been around for quite a while. It is a mental health treatment that was developed in 1985. It hasn’t entered into mainstream practice in a lot of places just yet, but it is gaining popularity. Up until 2 years ago, I hadn’t heard of it either.
Read MoreIt Turns Out Mind-Body Connection Isn't All Just Nonsense.
I have lived most of my life thinking that deep breathing (and all its cousins) were something people had, collectively agreed to B.S. about. Not because they were being malicious, but due to some sort of worldwide agreed-upon fiction.
Read MoreThis is Me, I Am Triggered
Time stops.
My mind is now its’ own universe, everything else is foggy and distant. I feel too many emotions at once. They jumble around, bouncing off each other, competing for the top spot. I’m angry, sad, frightened, ashamed, and confused. I am in the danger of the past. My breathing is slow, almost imperceptible. My chest is tight and I’m running out of air. I feel trapped in place, unable to move. All reminiscent of back then.
Read MoreThis Different Way of Seeing My C-PTSD Flight Response Blew My Mind
I opened my eyes and the first thought that popped in my head was: “I do not want to get out of bed.” The classic morning refrain for us countless many. After 40 minutes of arguing with myself, I pushed my way toward my coffee pot. I then dragged out my yoga gear and propped open my computer. “Time for Zoom class,” I dutifully told myself, as I then clicked “join meeting.”
Read MoreHow This ‘Ted Lasso’ Theme Relates to My Complex PTSD Healing Journey
“Ted Lasso” is not a TV show that I would have chosen to watch on my own. In fact, until it was recommended to me, I somehow hadn’t even heard of it. It’s the stuff of delicious irony that I know myself well enough to recognize that even if I had come across this series, I can guess that I would have seen what looks like a goofy sports comedy and said, “pass.” I would have missed out. You see, “Ted Lasso” isn’t really about sports and while it’s certainly silly at times, it’s equally thoughtful.
Read MoreWhat It Actually Means When Someone Has Been ‘Triggered’.
Long ago, I was having a lighthearted argument with my roommate and another friend. Eventually, I found myself feeling fed up, and I moved toward the front door in a semi-annoyed attempt to exit the apartment. By the time I’d gotten there, the two of them had stood up and were jokingly blocking me from leaving.
Read MoreThis Complex PTSD Symptom Makes Trusting New People Hard
No matter who you are or what your situation is, making the choice to trust someone new can be a tricky part of life. It’s worth noting that trust does come easier for some, and for others it can be much harder. I personally fall into the second category and I certainly have my reasons as to why trust is difficult for me.
Read MoreThe C-PTSD Symptom You May Not Have Heard Of.
You likely have heard of the term “flashback” before. In reference to mental illness, it generally involves a person having an intense re-experiencing of a past trauma, as though it were presently occurring. In C-PTSD flashbacks may differ in that they do not focus on one particular event or memory…
Read MoreThe Difference Between PTSD and C-PTSD (and Why It Matters)
C-PTSD is similar in some regards compared to PTSD, but there are also some pretty big distinctions. These differences matter a lot for a variety of reasons, and I’d like to spend some time with you walking through why these differences matter…
Read More3 Common Mental Health Phrases We Should Have Retired Long Ago.
I am a mental health advocate, who does a lot of presentations. Often my conversations touch on the topic of stigma toward mental illness. I regularly refer to the language we use when talking about it, and how when compared to other illnesses it is regularly treated shamefully.
Read More6 Reasons 'Star Wars' Is Key to My Mental Health
I’m a mega “Star Wars” nerd. I have major depressive disorder. And the two are positively linked together in my mind.
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