Why a Narcissist can’t stand your happiness
One tell-tale sign of having been abused by a narcissist is feeling wary of your own happiness. That may sound strange or odd. Why would…
Category: Trauma
How early relationships can define reality – for better or worse
“In the end the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it.” – George Orwell 1984 I…
Self-sabotage: Overcoming the need to booby trap oneself
Self-sabotage is another term that blames the person doing it. The implication can be that people don’t have the ‘good sense’ to allow themselves success.…
Fear of Success: When It Feels Too Dangerous to Stand Out
‘Fear of success’ can occur in at least two ways. Some people truly desire success but fear failing. Others find the prospect of not failing…
Understanding “self-destructive” behavior from within
It can be head-scratching when someone is being harmed but does not flee to safety or otherwise protect themselves. We often assume that everyone wants…
Why being a “people pleaser” means you are a survivor
by Jay Reid Case illustration: John* was a successful 28-year-old software engineer. He explained that he lives his life through the eyes of others instead of…
Does guilt constrict your life?
Are you extra careful to not seem like a ‘show-off’, ‘know-it-all’ or ‘arrogant’? Do you keep most of your worries to yourself lest you ‘burden’…
The Importance of Feeling Understood – How Empathy Cures
Do you believe that you’re fundamentally different, weird, or impossible to understand? Are you terrified to share your opinion when you’re not sure if others…
Emotional Abuse: The Invisible Trauma
Do any of the following points apply to you? You take care of other people’s emotional needs but don’t expect them to take care of…
PTSD Symptoms: The Exaggerated Startle Response
by Jay Reid A telltale sign of trauma & how to cope Our bodies don’t lie when it comes to trauma. The nervous system gets…