One of the least discussed of the patterns we carry is hypersexuality after abuse, especially when it arises from the fawn response, a lesser-known trauma reaction. When fight, flight, or freeze aren't options, some individuals learn to appease. This coping strategy, often developed during or after abuse or neglect, can manifest later in life as hypersexual behaviour. While often misunderstood or judged, hypersexuality in this context is not about desire, it's about survival - at least on one level.

When you look closely at most religions, philosophical traditions, styles of psychological therapies, and even healthy friendship groups, you see that they all share the common feature of talking as a form of healing. The confessional, the therapist’s couch, the shared introspections, and the long phone calls all seem to serve the same core function: they act as an outlet, a way to let go of our troubles, a springboard for our ideas, or just an opportunity to process the complexities of life. There are of course differences in the beliefs, practices, and surrounding doctrine, but the practical reality is that healing comes when we talk.

Unless we act, our lives cannot improve.

Extensive knowledge, support or resources mean nothing if we do not employ them to our advantage. Yet there is a risk of falling into the trap of constant action. Always working and never playing. This kind of relentless pursuit of self-improvement is akin to attempting to sprint a marathon; initially you will outpace your opponents, but you will soon burn out. To some, finding this balance comes naturally. These people can moderate their workload and pace themselves over time, ensuring an optimal split between work, rest, and play. Unfortunately, this ability is not universal.

The inevitability of death is overwhelming.

What is the point? Why strive when our accomplishments do not last? There is some logic to this line of reasoning. The fact is that we are going to die. And given enough time, all memory and evidence of our existence will fade from humanity’s collective memory. Most of us will not even be remembered four generations from now. Do you know anything about your Great Grandparents other than their names? Do you even know their names? Why should our lives be any more permanent?

At the heart of true transformation lies the delicate balance between self-acceptance and the drive for growth. The truth is, self-love and self-improvement can and should go hand in hand, and you can learn how to love yourself whilst fixing yourself.

Embracing who you are in this moment, with all your flaws and strengths, is the foundation of inner peace.

Yet, acknowledging your worth doesn’t mean staying stagnant; it opens the door to steady improvement and near limitless expansion. By honoring yourself as you are, you also create space for the evolution of who you can become…

I have had tremendous success recently transcending trauma and healing complex PTSD with Internal Family Systems and wanted to share a deep unlock that I experienced today.

Below is a poem called ‘dear little part of me’ - it expresses the end point of an internal dialogue that I had with a young protective part of me…

Not all poetry feedback is equal, nor is it equally appreciated. It depends on what you write, who is offering the feedback, and the type of relationship you share.

I write poems about sex, sadness, and spirituality, thus my audience is broad and eclectic. I want to be read wildly by most everyone, except perhaps by my family, colleagues, neighbours, and acquaintances who may (read have) raised a few eyebrows at my work…

The body keeps the score alright - for me it’s my belly, specifically on the left side just below my belly button.  Deep trauma that gets triggered when I eat the wrong foods (or too much), when I stretch, when I work out my core and when I’m having body dysmorphia issues.

Before you can properly address a problem, you first need to accept that the problem exists.

This is true for all aspects of life, but in my experience, particularly true for addressing the impact of past trauma, and dealing with mental afflictions…

Reading is a healthy form of escapism. If you find a good book, or better yet an author that you connect with, you will have a tool to escape your current situation and draw you into a new one. This allows you to put aside your current woes, stressors and issues, to instead immerse yourself into a new world. True, this world may have challenges of its own, but from the vantage point of the reader, you get to safely experience another life…

I am not in a good way right now. My social anxiety is through the roof, I am struggling to look people in the eye, and I am having panic attacks while shopping. I find myself staring at a blank wall, for minutes on end, attempting to decompress from even the most mundane interactions or setbacks.

Why writing a web comic is harder than writing about trauma

I write down what was discussed, and any advice given. I do not want to leave the session and forget what was covered. I am paying for it after all, with my time, money, and mental state…

I moved out of home young in an attempt to escape the neglect and the perpetual fear that comes from having a drug dealer for a father. To survive, I lived off charity, government handouts, and part time work to get me through high school.