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What My Trauma “Demons” Taught Me
I used to dread and loath when trauma demons from my past and present came for a visit. They’d come in the form of debilitating flashbacks, triggers, night terrors and nightmares, panic attacks, intrusive memories, and so much more. But then, I had an experience with one of these “demons” that changed everything. My daughter kept asking to go to the beautiful university gardens nearby. I avoided it and made excuses because I feared returning there. I knew it would trigger a suffocating amount of trauma demons. Even though I had graduated over a year prior, a paperwork issue arose that I needed to resolve. I did my best to…
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Self-Care Series: My Journey of Redefining Self-Care
If you feel that trauma has changed you and your needs, and you’re struggling to find what truly soothes you, feeds your soul and breaths life, stability and purpose back into you throughout fresh trauma and post-trauma, then keep reading. Maybe it will be of some help to you. I know what it’s like to be left reeling with and having to manage a trigger storm. I know what it’s like to find myself feeling mentally and emotionally foggy and drained. I know what it feels like to be drowning in the waves of emotional flooding and flashbacks. I know what it feels like to wake up from an uninterrupted…
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My #1 Body Shame
Someone close to me struggling with body shame asked me recently if I struggle with body shame at all. My initial response … “…nope…don’t think so.” Then after some reflection I realized I actually DO! And I honestly got excited because I know exactly how to conquer it! This abdomen … it doesn’t bother me that it’s not toned. I love my squishies. A lot! I’m proud of them and I’ve worked HARRRRRRRD to get a few rolls! And those stretch marks … I wouldn’t trade them for anything! It’s the hair. The pubic hair. All the way up to my belly button. In my early teens I was repeatedly…
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How I’m Living My Dreams
I’ve been pretty quiet and limited in my IG posts and stories again. But this time for good reason. I’m in London. Yes! I’M IN LONDON, FRIEND! As a young girl I remember hearing bagpipes and the feelings that washed over me made my heart swell and tears come to my eyes. Every. Time. I yearned and felt pulled to “go home” to the land of bagpipes, always feeling that tug when I heard the bagpipes. I remember the first time I heard an English (British) accent my heart again swelled and I felt longings to go to the land from where this beautiful accent comes. Fast forward to my…
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Christmas Time Healing Time
I’ve been fairly quiet lately. Just a few stories, “likes”, comments, and DMs here and there on Instagram. My very first holiday season as an “official” adult was one of the most traumatic times of my life. I had left home one morning on my bike, planning to go to work, attend classes (my first semester of college), go to work again, and then do my nightly home and farm responsibilities. Little did I know that leaving that morning with just my bike, the clothes on my back, and half my textbooks would somehow result in me never stepping foot in my childhood home again. When the unexpected moment of…
