Living with the longterm effects of gaslighting.

Gaslighting, being gaslit, I'm sure we've all heard about it in some shape or form by now. According to the Oxford dictionary it is defined as "to manipulate (a person) by psychological means into questioning his or her own sanity." In layman's terms, basically Inception-ing (referring to the 2010 smash hit starring Leonardo DiCaprio) someone…

This post is totally not sarcastic at all…

ADHD is just so fun and quirky! I wish I could make those words wriggle and dance to really emphasize how enthusiastic I am. There are so many things about ADHD that are definitely silly and not at all annoying or debilitating. Let's talk about some examples, shall we? I wake up pretty much every…

Sweet dreams are made of cheese.

This morning, as I sat down on my couch with my book and breakfast, I was struck by a moment of powerful deja vu. I had glanced at the soft blanket I keep draped over the back of my couch and recalled a conversation I'd had with my friend, Thunder about it. In my mind's…

Managing trauma responses in times of joy.

As you've probably already gathered, I have been through a lot in my three decades of life. A number of these events have left me with permanent scars, both physically and emotionally. These emotional scars come with what we in the business like to call "triggers." In layman's terms, a "trigger" is something either conscious…

With no intention of letting go.

Maybe it's just me, but I hate endings. I don't like finishing books, especially ones that don't have a sequel or the sequel isn't written yet. I'm often left feeling melancholy after watching a good movie or TV show finale, no matter how happy the ending. I almost never drink the last gulp of tea,…