Oops! All Complex PTSD
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Things I Thought Were Normal But Are Actually Complex PTSD
Sometimes you heal a little too close to the sun and realize things you thought were normal and everyone did are actually a *feature* of a mental disorder you have from trauma. Isn’t that fun?? So fun, that you kind of don’t know what’s your individual personality and what’s triggers and responses to trauma, lol! But interestingly enough, our whole society is bad about emotional well-being and trauma and health, so it actually kind of *does* come full circle and IS normal, just in a way that’s bad where it shouldn’t be but no one knows except now you because you’ve gone too deep in your healing journey and there’s no turning back now. And you have decades to go!! Because it’s lifelong work :) But so, here are 14 things that maybe you too thought were normal but are actually diagnosable and a feature of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that you might not even be able to REMEMBER because when your brain is in survival mode it pauses all other autonomic processes, like memory formation! Cute!!!! (List guided by the very helpful and genius Pete Walker, from his website Pete-Walker.com. We love Pete!!)
Perfectionism
Okay so this one seems normal, you’re like-okay I know no one can be perfect, I don’t beat myself for not being perfect…or do you???? Do you know that you have a right to make mistakes? And making mistakes doesn’t make you a mistake? And every mistake or mishap is actually a chance to love yourself in the ways you were never loved before? And no one is capable of doing everything right all the time? That’s literally impossible??
2. All or Nothing, Black and White Thinking
This one is the tendency to go to extremes, things are either all good or all bad, I’m amazing I’m doing so great, I’m a failure and an idiot. I have so many friends I’m so loved, oh actually everyone hates me!! I’m bad!! Also for situations. One negative happenstance doesn’t mean I am stuck in a never-ending pattern of defeat! I don’t ‘always’ or ‘never’ do anything! Life isn’t like that!!
3. Self Hate, Self Disgust & Toxic Shame
Did you know shame is just blame turned inward? And that if you make a mistake or hurt someone that’s a normal part of life that happens to everyone and you can apologize once and mean it and that can be it? You actually don’t have to carry it for years as evidence you’re secretly a bad person? News to me!! It’s also not normal to expect to be happy all the time, so shaming yourself for having normal emotions like anger, sadness, fear and depression are you attacking yourself for no reason! Also, because this is a sickness, don’t attack yourself for attacking yourself!! This is why Buckcherry wrote Crazy Bitch. For you!!!
