Complex PTSD Recovery [on Spotify] : We Are Traumatized Motherfuckers

So we all have a penchant for fear, it's a foundational aspect of PTSD. But what happens when our brain relay system is wonky due to those adaptations? 

Let's talk about the faulty DMN. How it throws us into disjointed memories, disables continuous autobiographical recall, explains poor sense of somatic (bodily) self, and interacts with those pesky sub-sensory threshold fear triggers. Reflect on this one, it'll explain a lot.

Related eps: DMN ep, entrapment series, developmental biology and disassociation eps across seasons

We know, trauma brains create patterns that can stall us out and keep us stuck. This is especially true when talking "relationships" of all forms. Unfortunately, leading many to feel permanently socially-tethered, personally incapable, and suicidal, instead.

Today, let's talk about how relationships often corrupt our lives, how to re-work them, and when it's time to say goodbye - all for recovery's sake. 

Related eps: relationship obligation series, covert abuse series, brain patterning series, filial obligaton series, self-limitation series

The time comes for all of us; the family call to duty. And then what. We know it's going to trigger unwanted trauma reactions. But resisting often feels futile, immoral, and socially-punishing.

Let's talk about the dangers of family re-immersion for a healing trauma brain and what we can do to protect ourselves before the filial phonecalls start. 

Related eps: filial obligation and entrapment series, family brain hijinx series, fawning series, brain operations series, social psychology ep

Perspective; A word with many meanings, depending on who's speaking it. Namely, the bane of, "that's just ONE perspective."

Let's talk about the real definition of the word, how it pertains to post-traumatic stress development, where attention vs. willful ignorance comes into play, and how no one can ever have your irreplicable perspective. Trust your guts, Fuckers. You know where you've been. 

Related eps: perspective series, time distortions series, covert abuse series, family brain hijinx series

Have you been struggling to make meaningful progress? Well, these global events don't help. Especially when they feel so... family-iar... to our trauma brains. 

Let's talk about the semi-accepted phases of trauma recovery - destabilization, processing, and integration. And how societal systems keep bringing us back to square one.

Related eps: "the rat cage" societal trauma series, refind yer Self series, inner work series

Ever doubt that "it was significant enough to count as t-word"? 

Well, the key word is significance. 

Let's break this down simply and talk about what really creates PTSD; our brains' subjective experience of fear and the meaning we give events (and ourselves) in the aftermath. 

Related eps: filial obligation and entrapment series, perspective series

We're back! Let's wrap up a year of in-depth trauma research and community insights with a new season. 

Ho-ho-ho, Motherfucker. I'll see you there. 

Convinced you aren't individually damaged, doomed, or destitute yet? Sick. But that comfort doesn't do much good if your brain, behaviors, and life don't change along with the perspective. 

Here are 10 steps for CPTSD recovery and your life redesign. Keeping in mind, "different strokes for different folks," "different gains for different brains." Let the experiment begin. 

See you on the other side, Motherfucker. 

For a lot more "moving forward" information and support... you know by now. Patreon.com/traumatizedmotherfuckers for the catalogue of podcast episodes so far, some videos, some worksheets, and access to the private Discord support community. 

Submit your recovery or struggle story any time - just send your recording to [email protected]. Reach a hand back for the Fuckers that follow. 

Cheers y'all, and thanks for the time you've given your brain. 

Jess

Do you edit your daily activities to feel "acceptable," to the detriment of your own wants, needs, and goals? Can you see yourself clearly from the outside, on one timeline? Do you have the power to "drop out" of your brain and observe its activities as a separate observer? 

Maybe not.

Today, we're talking about the loss of "Self" - the most flowery and easily dismissible of the CPTSD hallmarks... which might explain why we continually lose progress in trauma recovery. It's the key to keeping your brain, behaviors, and 'balance' on track. The cognitive task-manager that knows what you're here to accomplish. The center of human "purpose" and autobiographical experience. And the most elusive of the CPTSD recovery tools - especially when its been deemed "shameful" for so long. 

Let's talk about your Self. My favorite top-down and bottom-up tool for bypassing dissociation and keeping that brain in working order. 

Uh, lot more to say about this one. My Self has been a bit conceptually Self-obsessed, as it relates to neurobiology and plasticity. Check those detailed episodes out at patreon.com/traumatizedmotherfuckers and prepare to see your brain from a management-enabling distance that allows life-managing clarity. 

It might be the best thing you've ever done for your Self. 

Cheers Fuckers.

Jess

What's the difference between "being a good person" and sacrificing your whole life to support others? In most of our families and social structures... there isn't one. Which makes it pretty hard to name the problem, re-examine your instincts to serve, or stand up for your right to operate your own brain. 

Today, let's talk about one of the most ignored and normalized survival responses. Fawning. 

If history has anything to say - sorry to everyone who kickstarts a new round of therapy because of this conversation. It's been a commonly enlightening topic for revealing accepted, pervasive, trauma patterning. 

For a lot more talk on fawning, including some 2021 year-end wrapups that are coming out in January, hit up patreon.com/traumatizedmotherfuckers. Check t-mfrs.com if yer curious about the whole project, and to find visual versions of the shows. 

Cheers, MFucking Fawners. 

Jess