Do you find yourself being your mom or dad’s go-to source of comfort when they are struggling with work or in their marriage? Have you always had a unique bond with one of your parents that resulted in you being their emotional confidant? Was taking care of your parent a burden that you felt unequipped for at such a young age? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, you might be a victim of [...]
Working With Your Inner Child for Trauma Recovery When you hear the word “trauma,” it may conjure up images of extreme, tragic, violent events. This makes sense, of course, but there’s plenty of room for nuance in the realm of childhood trauma. These experiences come in all sizes and dimensions. Anything that is physically or emotionally painful qualifies. It’s important to not downplay any such event. In the mind of a child, trauma takes many forms, [...]
Last time, we discussed the challenges and the importance of setting boundaries with toxic parents. It’s tough work but there’s more to it. Once those boundaries are set and enforced, you’ll have to come to terms with how you respond. Taking back control of your life is obviously a positive thing. But that does not mean it doesn’t have some emotional side effects. As you digest the changes (and deal with your parents’ reactions), you will [...]
It’s one of the most frustrating aspects of being a human. We can often be our own worst critic. Inside each and every one of us, there’s an internal monologue. It talks to us, guides us, warns us, and yes, it critiques us. This inner critic is a part of you but it is not you. The key to not letting a negative internal monologue dominate you is to understand who and what this inner [...]
When someone we love undergoes a crisis, our instant response is usually rooted in compassion. We step up in any way we can to let them know that we are there for them. In the process, we not only help a person in need but we enrich our own lives. A related paradox exists, however. Far too often, we seem unable to muster the same kind of treatment for ourselves, but it is crucial, especially [...]
