“As the partner to a trauma survivor, how do you do it? How do you keep going?” Funny. In the last two weeks, I have been asked this question three times. Maybe even weirder, I…
5 Little Ways to Keep Going as the Partner of a Trauma Survivor
Articles
Can the Partners of Childhood Trauma Survivors Experience Vicarious Trauma?
Can the Partners of Childhood Trauma Survivors Experience Vicarious Trauma? You would think the answer is obvious: “Yes,” and “Of course.” But a search for the term in conjunction with partners/ families and trauma shows few results.…
30 Eye-Opening Answers Why Adult Survivors Need Advocates
Why Do Adult Survivors Need Advocates? After all, adult survivors of childhood trauma look just like other adults. They talk like adults. They hold jobs, they volunteer, and they go to school. They have families. They…
Why the Advice How to Help A Survivor May Not Be Helpful for Partners
I’ve recently had a couple of articles sent to me about how to help a survivor if you are in a close relationship. The articles, written by clinicians, were clear, thoughtful and with a good…
What Happens in a Facebook Support Group for Partners of Survivors
“My partner has told me how isolating it is to suffer from her CPTSD she got from her ex. I know it’s tough for her to find support since psychologists are beginning to explore its…
How to Celebrate the Holidays When You’re Too Tired to Care
How do you celebrate the holidays when you’re too tired to care? It’s a very real question for me this year. Although not a new one. Yes, this year I am especially exhausted. In under…
The High Risk of Secondary Trauma for Families of Adult Survivors
I was at my second appointment with my new therapist. She asked, “Do you think you have secondary trauma?” I paused and answered: “Yes.” An online search of ‘secondary trauma’ pulls up information…
Why We Need Stronger Supports for the Families of Adults With Complex PTSD
One of the hardest things about supporting an adult with complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is the lack of support for the families. It’s not that there aren’t supportive people because there are. It’s not that…
Shame, Courage, and Saying Goodbye
If I knew the decision was right, why was I struggling? This August, we put our home up for sale. The plan: a relocation of 2,000 km to southern Ontario. The reason: to be closer…
A Survivor Shares Her Powerful Reasons Adult Survivors Need Advocates
Why Do Adult Survivors of Childhood Trauma Need Advocates? It’s a question I asked of readers a few weeks ago. Many wonderful–and heartbreaking— responses arrived, which I will share in an upcoming blog post. One…
Is There Such a Thing as a Restful Vacation when a Partner has PTSD?
Some of you know that I took the month of June (2017) off for some vacation time. I traveled to Victoria, BC to visit friends, spend time in nature, shop, and have fun! Sounds perfect,…