In this raw spoken word poem, Starving the Scream, poet and trauma survivor Kate Earley explores what it means to stay quiet to stay safe. This piece examines the invisible cost of being the “good client,” the “palatable patient,” the one who swallows her pain to preserve the comfort of others—including in therapy.

Drawing from personal experiences with complex trauma, dissociation, and emotional masking, this poem asks:

What happens when silence is mistaken for healing?

When survival means disappearing?

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to be composed instead of real, or if you’ve been told you’re “doing better” simply because you’re quieter, this episode will speak to you.

Copyright ©2025 Kate Earley

Music: Mère bien-aimée by Céline Aubin

Written May 4, 2025