“How do you cope with fatigue as the partner to a trauma survivor?” a friend recently asked. To be honest, the question frightened me. Was I fatigued? Was it a problem? Was I coping? Was…
How to Cope with Fatigue as the Partner to a Trauma Survivor
Articles
Five Little Ways to Keep Going as the Partner of a Trauma Survivor
“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…
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 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…
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 Traumatic Stress 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 for mental…
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…
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,…
When You Need to Take Self-Care to the Next Level
“How do you practice self-care?” It’s a question I’m asked a lot. I have a list of answers. Exercise Enough sleep Keep extra-curricular commitments to a minimum Spend time outdoors Talk with friends either by…
Here are 20 Reasons Adult Survivors of Childhood Trauma Need Advocates
Adult survivors of childhood trauma need advocates. Why? Because adult survivors of childhood trauma are misunderstood, misjudged, and mistreated. They face an ongoing battle of shame, stigma, and disbelief–not just from individuals but from society.…