Pandemic has been so stressful for so many of us and for others it has been traumatic. You may already have had a history of trauma as a child or adult and this difficult stressful time has been a “reinjury” ” Now that there is more movement forward in this pandemic situation you may have become even more aware of how this has effected you both inside and out as well as you may be longing to begin another level of moving forward with HOPE and to gain understanding of how your history of trauma has effected you and that you need to take time to HEAL but are not sure how to go about that.

As a trauma survivor it is so important to begin to feel safe in your body as when you experience trauma: which is anything so overwhelming that at the moment it is too frightening to process then the nervous system is holding the memories and feelings you could not process.. In an effort to protect yourself from feeling you may be in a shutdown or “frozen” state which makes it difficult for you to heal and become fully alive and safe in your body.

Are you feeling alone and defeated, emotionally shutdown? Do you lack compassion for yourself as you are consumed with feeling shame, blame and guilt?

If you are in a relationship with a narcissist then you know first hand how the painful effects of this abusive relationship and how it has taken root in your heart, mind, body and spirit.

You may never have had a secure attachment as a child...which means at the critical periods where trust and security and nurturance are essential:you did not have what every baby and child desperately needs in order to feel safe and loved.Your primary caregiver may have been avoidant or ambivalent or disorganized and as a result you grew up feeling anxious or depressed and alone as well as believing the lie that you "are less than".

So important to understand that forgiveness is not instant even when we make the choice to forgive: as there is a process that needs to unfold in your heart, mind and spirit. So many times this process is not understood and as a result the choice to forgive never comes to fruition.

In all of the years that I have been working with trauma survivors one theme comes up over and over and that is how much self hatred has been internalized. As children we are totally dependent on our caregivers and if you were abused, neglected, or abandoned: you very likely blamed yourself.

If you have experienced childhood trauma it is important understand how your history of trauma can greatly influence and open the door to being reinjured as an adult by being retraumatized in relationships.