If you grew up feeling like you couldn’t rely on anyone, it makes sense that as an adult, you might operate like you don’t need anyone.

Hyper-independence, being so self-reliant that you struggle to ask for or receive help, often gets framed as a strength.

People admire it.

They call you “capable,” “driven,” and “strong.”

Narcissistic abuse doesn’t just end when the relationship does.

The damage lingers: self-doubt, emotional exhaustion, nervous system burnout, and a nagging feeling that maybe it really was all your fault.

It’s not.

Narcissistic abuse is one of the most confusing and damaging forms of emotional manipulation.

It doesn’t leave visible scars, but it deeply impacts your sense of self, making you question your reality, your worth, and even your ability to trust your own mind.

You know that feeling…That moment when you walk into a room, maybe a party, a meeting, even a family gathering, and suddenly, it hits.

“Everyone else seems to know something I don’t.

They belong here. I don’t.”

Lately healing the inner child has been trending on social media. Tik tok’ers and tik tok therapists are sharing tips and touting that the way to heal from trauma is to heal your inner child.

But, what exactly does that mean? Why is it important? Is it really that easy? (spoiler alert- it’s important and often not as easy as they say it is!)

Emotional neglect is one of the most overlooked but deeply impactful forms of trauma.

Unlike other forms of trauma, it’s not about something that happened—it’s about what didn’t.

Do you ever feel like your mind pulls you into a world of vivid stories or fantasies, leaving reality behind? Or do you ever find yourself so disconnected that everything around you seems unreal.

These experiences might seem similar, but they’re not quite the same.

Year-end reflection can feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve experienced trauma. It’s okay if traditional New Year’s prompts don’t resonate with you-they weren’t made with your experiences in mind.

This blog offers a softer, more supportive way to look back on your year.

Here at Reclaim Therapy, we know healing is a deeply personal, nonlinear journey. Growth doesn’t erase the pain, but sometimes, it can rise alongside it.

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) describes the changes people may experience through the process of grappling with trauma.

If you’ve experienced trauma and find yourself struggling with fragmented or missing memories, you’re not alone.

It’s common to feel confused or frustrated when some moments are crystal clear, while others are fuzzy or blank.

In the age of social media and self-help gurus, we're constantly bombarded with messages telling us to "just be positive" or "good vibes only."

While positivity can be beneficial, there's a dark side to this relentless optimism - toxic positivity.

Intergenerational trauma, also known as transgenerational trauma, is a phenomenon where the effects of traumatic experiences are passed down from one generation to the next.

The most common state of the human nervous system today is the freeze response.

This state can manifest on a spectrum, from a high-functioning freeze to a more collapsed, shut-down state.

Polyvagal Theory Explained Part 2

Neuroception: Detecting Signs of Safety and Danger in the Wake of Trauma 

Welcome to part II of “What Even is Nervous System Regulation Anyway?”. In my last blog post, I talked about the nervous system and why it’s gaining a lot of attention these days.

What even is “nervous system regulation”? It’s a bit of a buzz-phrase these days, thanks to social media, which has its benefits and challenges.

Relating to someone with a trauma history invites us to better understand the impact of trauma. Navigating our relationship with a trauma survivor invites us to more intentional ways of relating to them and ourselves.

If you identify as an Adult Child of an Alcoholic and/or Addict, you might be wondering… so now what?

Could therapy help me?