Recent posts
#1
General Discussion / Re: Website or book recommenda...
Last post by SenseOrgan - Today at 02:33:49 PMWelcome here EB.
For me, reading Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker was a watershed moment. I highly recommend starting there. Also for partners. Especially knowing what an emotional flashback means can be helpful to understand what the other person is going through. If you're looking for sources that are aimed at support for partners, I honestly don't know a single one. I think that isn't covered yet.
Good luck!
For me, reading Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker was a watershed moment. I highly recommend starting there. Also for partners. Especially knowing what an emotional flashback means can be helpful to understand what the other person is going through. If you're looking for sources that are aimed at support for partners, I honestly don't know a single one. I think that isn't covered yet.
Good luck!
#2
General Discussion / Website or book recommendation...
Last post by EB - Today at 01:55:59 PMHello Everyone
I was diagnosed with c-ptsd earlier last year at age 63
It was obvious-I've been dealing with it forever.
I'm married almost 40 years and my partner and I are looking for appropriate websites or books for partners of folks living with c-ptsd.
Any suggestions???
Thanks in advance
I was diagnosed with c-ptsd earlier last year at age 63
It was obvious-I've been dealing with it forever.
I'm married almost 40 years and my partner and I are looking for appropriate websites or books for partners of folks living with c-ptsd.
Any suggestions???
Thanks in advance
#3
Recovery Journals / Re: Marcine’s journaling forwa...
Last post by NarcKiddo - Today at 12:35:29 PMQuote from: Marcine on January 01, 2026, 11:52:14 PMIntellectual understanding rings hollow.
That resonates. But sometimes it is all we have to fall back on until the emotional understanding catches up.
I found your post very powerful and moving.
#4
Recovery Journals / Re: Post-Traumatic Growth Jour...
Last post by NarcKiddo - Today at 12:25:09 PMHappy New Year to you, too!
I can see why you might want to discuss some topics in more detail in other areas of the forum rather than in your journal. That makes sense to me. You are correct that collectively we form a treasure trove and this forum has so much to offer everyone. Including those who just read but don't (yet) feel they want to say anything themselves.
I'm glad you have the opportunity to join a new CPTSD support group and I hope you make some good friends there. I'm interested that in an ideal situation you see your life developing in areas that have nothing to do with CPTSD. For myself, the initial reaction is the idea sounds good but every single part of my life is bound up in CPTSD somehow or other so I can't see how CPTSD can be left out of the equation. Perhaps I am misunderstanding you, and this may be one of those topics that would merit discussion elsewhere, though.
I can see why you might want to discuss some topics in more detail in other areas of the forum rather than in your journal. That makes sense to me. You are correct that collectively we form a treasure trove and this forum has so much to offer everyone. Including those who just read but don't (yet) feel they want to say anything themselves.
I'm glad you have the opportunity to join a new CPTSD support group and I hope you make some good friends there. I'm interested that in an ideal situation you see your life developing in areas that have nothing to do with CPTSD. For myself, the initial reaction is the idea sounds good but every single part of my life is bound up in CPTSD somehow or other so I can't see how CPTSD can be left out of the equation. Perhaps I am misunderstanding you, and this may be one of those topics that would merit discussion elsewhere, though.
#5
Ideas/Tools for Recovery / Re: Three Good Things Today - ...
Last post by NarcKiddo - Today at 12:07:25 PM1) I signed up for an activity I am scared of but think I will enjoy (go-karting). I have avoided this before due to the fear but am now giving myself a chance to do it, in the full knowledge that I can back out on the day, or get off the track mid-race if I find it too overwhelming and scary. I'm feeling quite proud of myself for being brave enough to take that risk.
2) A neighbouring house is empty but an upstairs window came open on New Years Day and has remained wide open. It is cold and there is no sign of the builders who have a sign up at the house. I rang the number today to report the window and they were very pleased I had reported it because it is not meant to be open.
3) I finally seem to be properly on the mend from a nasty virus I have had since November.
2) A neighbouring house is empty but an upstairs window came open on New Years Day and has remained wide open. It is cold and there is no sign of the builders who have a sign up at the house. I rang the number today to report the window and they were very pleased I had reported it because it is not meant to be open.
3) I finally seem to be properly on the mend from a nasty virus I have had since November.
#6
Recovery Journals / Re: The tipping point…
Last post by dollyvee - Today at 09:19:53 AMHey Chart,
I just want to clarify that I'm not encouraging you to let go of your fear. I think it's always something we will have in us, but perhaps our approaches on how to manage it will change with time. Maybe it's how does my fear shape the choices I'm making towards my health and well being, which might be directed by fear, or perhaps another way of putting it is child consciousness? For example, is the approach I'm taking now towards my health furthering the struggle I endured as a child, and not coming from a place of adult consciousness?
I hope you spend time with your little four year old. I can only imagine that a young boy growing up without a father would have to find ways and ideas of having to be "big and strong" with no weakness to exist in the world.
Sending you support,
dolly
I just want to clarify that I'm not encouraging you to let go of your fear. I think it's always something we will have in us, but perhaps our approaches on how to manage it will change with time. Maybe it's how does my fear shape the choices I'm making towards my health and well being, which might be directed by fear, or perhaps another way of putting it is child consciousness? For example, is the approach I'm taking now towards my health furthering the struggle I endured as a child, and not coming from a place of adult consciousness?
I hope you spend time with your little four year old. I can only imagine that a young boy growing up without a father would have to find ways and ideas of having to be "big and strong" with no weakness to exist in the world.
Sending you support,
dolly
#7
Recovery Journals / Re: Marcine’s journaling forwa...
Last post by SenseOrgan - Today at 08:20:30 AMTo me, it seems you are honoring your actual experience in this moment. You are siding with you. This is the practice of validating your worthiness, which you were born with. Unworthiness is a coat we had to wear to protect us. It never did fit us. No other coat will itself make us worthy either. The person wearing it always was, already.
That insight can be very painful, if it felt like a howling void to be the one underneath the coat in relation to others. The howling void ceases to be that in authentic, safe, connection.
You are making that possible by showing up the way you do. That takes courage. And it wouldn't happen without love and respect for the one underneath the coat.
That insight can be very painful, if it felt like a howling void to be the one underneath the coat in relation to others. The howling void ceases to be that in authentic, safe, connection.
You are making that possible by showing up the way you do. That takes courage. And it wouldn't happen without love and respect for the one underneath the coat.
#8
Recovery Journals / Re: Post-Traumatic Growth Jour...
Last post by HannahOne - Today at 01:04:53 AMHappy New Year, SenseOrgan!!
#9
Recovery Journals / Re: Marcine’s journaling forwa...
Last post by HannahOne - Today at 01:03:02 AMHooray for not squeezing yourself into a mask, Marcine! Confidence, or "faith with oneself," and self-respect, can't be found when we have to play a role.
I can feel the courage in your words. No platitudes will do.
Reading your words, I see goodness, honesty, power, and vulnerability, which is its own kind of power, the power of the raw truth. And insistence on nothing less.
May that direct experience of your own inherent worth be yours.
Confidence, or "faith with oneself," and self-respect, can't be found when we have to play a role. I can feel the courage in your words. No platitudes will do.
Reading your words, I see goodness, honesty, power, and vulnerability, which is its own kind of power, the power of the raw truth. And insistence on nothing less.
May that direct experience of your own inherent worth be yours.
#10
Recovery Journals / Re: Marcine’s journaling forwa...
Last post by Marcine - January 01, 2026, 11:52:14 PMSelf-esteem seems elusive to me.
Defined as: confidence in one's own worth or abilities; self-respect.
Yeah, nope... I've no idea what that really means.
I used to have a crafted, well-oiled mask of effectiveness, efficiency, niceness, self-sacrifice, soldiering on.
That mask does not fit me any longer. I won't squeeze myself into it.
This tender, squirming larva is exposed, sans armor.
Affirmations seem ridiculous right now.
Reminding myself of how far I've come doesn't hit home.
The fact that others believe in me, depend on me, are proud of me is no panacea.
Intellectual understanding rings hollow.
I seek a direct experience of my goodness. Of my inherent worth.
Some way to fill the howling void in the very center of me, that I've run away from since forever.
I squirm.
Defined as: confidence in one's own worth or abilities; self-respect.
Yeah, nope... I've no idea what that really means.
I used to have a crafted, well-oiled mask of effectiveness, efficiency, niceness, self-sacrifice, soldiering on.
That mask does not fit me any longer. I won't squeeze myself into it.
This tender, squirming larva is exposed, sans armor.
Affirmations seem ridiculous right now.
Reminding myself of how far I've come doesn't hit home.
The fact that others believe in me, depend on me, are proud of me is no panacea.
Intellectual understanding rings hollow.
I seek a direct experience of my goodness. Of my inherent worth.
Some way to fill the howling void in the very center of me, that I've run away from since forever.
I squirm.