“Why is my childhood still affecting me? Shouldn’t I be over it by now?” Amy, aged 37, asked me at her first therapy session. “I feel like I’m complaining,” she said ashamedly. “I’m sure other people have bigger problems — real problems. I feel silly coming to therapy to talk about getting over painful childhood …
Shouldn’t I Be Over My Painful Childhood by Now? Read More »
Cutting ties with your family is difficult–and not what most people want. But sometimes it’s the only way to save your sanity and heal the emotional pain caused by a “toxic* or abusive family. Cutting ties with toxic family members is an act of self-care. Not something you do because you’re mean or spiteful. It’s …
Cutting Ties with Toxic Family Members: An Act of Self-Care Read More »
Experiencing emotional abandonment in childhood can make us feel anxious, distrustful, ashamed, and inadequate – and these feelings often follow us into adulthood and make it difficult for us to form healthy, trusting relationships. In this article, you’ll learn how to begin healing the psychological effects of abandonment. What is emotional abandonment? Emotional abandonment means …
Healing the Psychological Effects of Abandonment Read More »
Emotional invalidation is painful. Sometimes it’s unintentional, but it’s a sign of emotional abuse when done repeatedly and intentionally. Have others minimized, shamed, or invalidated your feelings? Having your feelings diminished, ignored, or rejected is a painful experience for all of us – but even more so if you’re a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) or …
Emotional Invalidation: A Form of Emotional Abuse Read More »
This post contains an affiliate link, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through our links. There is no added cost for you. People with toxic behaviors (“toxic people”)* can make your life miserable. But you can reclaim your life! In this article, you’ll start to learn how to …
Do you have a troubled relationship with your parents? Are they demanding, critical, and manipulative? If so, they may have “toxic” behaviors. No one has a perfect relationship with their parents or in-laws. If you’re fortunate, you have a positive and healthy relationship with your parents most of the time. Unfortunately, for some people – …
This article focuses on how to parent when you’re codependent or have experienced childhood trauma. You can break the cycle of codependency by learning to parent differently. You can use these strategies even if you’re not a parent (or your children are grown). You can apply many of these parenting strategies to yourself. Yep! It …
Parenting When You Are Codependent: Breaking the Cycle Read More »
Codependency is most often the result of childhood trauma. But many readers have written to me, confused because they’re codependent and had a “normal” childhood. “I don’t understand why I’m codependent. I’ve read your posts, but I didn’t grow up in a dysfunctional family. How did this happen?” “Is it possible to be codependent if …
Codependents and people who grew up in dysfunctional families often struggle with self-care. But you can learn what true self-care is and how to tend to your needs. Do you struggle with self-care? Self-care is especially hard for those who grew up in dysfunctional families and/or developed codependent traits. Codependents struggle with self-care because they …
Treat Yourself Like a Toddler (and Other Tips for Those Who Struggle with Self-Care) Read More »
