On: Navigating Psychosomatic Illness in CPTSD Recovery
What a time to be sortof alive … as I lay in bed, clutching my guts, chronically moving because low blood pressure keeps numbing my limbs, breathing shallowly, and going through achey-breaky cycles of chills and sweats. My head is exploding. My insides have...
Why “you’re the problem.” Dishonest Harmony vs. Honest Conflict in Generationally Traumatized Families
https://www.upworthy.com/dishonest-harmony-boomer-parent Stumbled upon an article this morning that provided two excellent phrases for the CPTSD recoverer:1. Dishonest Harmony (What our families want), and2. Honest Conflict (What CPTSD rehab inspires and requires) If...Splitting (AKA – Reality-Obscuring Compartmentalization)
What do the Salem witch trials, serial killers, and extremist political figures have in common? Today we discuss “splitting,” the basis of fragmented personalities, abuse enablement, narcissism, tumultuous relationships, high-low self-esteem ala...Presentation Video! Splitting (AKA – Reality-Obscuring Compartmentalization)
Too sick for facetime. But here’s the most recent episode, cc’d and set to slides! What do the Salem witch trials, serial killers, and extremist political figures have in common? Today we discuss “splitting,” the basis of fragmented...
Back to Basics! Somatic Experiencing: Safety and self-Advocacy
Somatic experiencing can be a powerful tool for trauma recovery, but it’s crucial to approach it safely and with proper self-advocacy. This episode outlines five key considerations for engaging in somatic experiencing therapy: maintaining a slow pace, focusing on specific events, ensuring personal safety, addressing feelings of sadness and shame, and stabilizing before leaving therapy sessions. The importance of finding a trustworthy practitioner and creating a safe environment for processing trauma is emphasized. Additionally, the connection between somatic experiencing and embodiment practices is explored, offering practical suggestions for those not yet ready for formal therapy.
MFs Speak! Daniel and Somatic Experiencing
Somatic experiencing is a powerful therapeutic approach for trauma recovery that focuses on body-mind connections. This personal account highlights the effectiveness of combining visual imagery, emotional awareness, and physical sensations in processing trauma. The speaker emphasizes the importance of professional guidance and the potential for rapid, profound results. While somatic experiencing can be intense, it offers a unique way to address deeply rooted trauma responses. The integration of cognitive techniques, such as challenging self-limiting beliefs, with somatic practices creates a comprehensive healing approach. This testimony underscores the value of both top-down and bottom-up processing in trauma recovery.
self-Defense Notes & Article Excerpts SO FAR
This comprehensive overview of defense mechanisms provides valuable insights into psychological coping strategies and their impact on trauma recovery. By understanding the hierarchy of defenses, from immature to mature, individuals and therapists can better identify and address maladaptive coping mechanisms. The focus on action defenses and major image distortions offers a deeper understanding of how these psychological processes can affect mental health and interpersonal relationships. Recognizing these patterns is crucial for developing more adaptive coping strategies and fostering emotional resilience in trauma recovery.
Bonus Video! Narcs showing their ASS [Abuse-Supporting Stupidity]
This episode explores the concept of “abuse-supporting stupidity” in narcissistic behavior patterns. It highlights how narcissists often engage in self-sabotaging behaviors due to their reliance on immature defense mechanisms and lack of self-reflection. The discussion emphasizes that abusers unintentionally create a disintegrated psychological environment, affecting both themselves and their victims. Understanding this process can help survivors make sense of their experiences and reduce self-blame for staying in abusive relationships. Recognizing these patterns is crucial for healing and breaking the cycle of abuse.
Video+Transcript | self-Defenses Level 2: Major Image Distortions
In this episode, we delve into level two immature defenses, specifically major image distorting defenses. These psychological mechanisms protect individuals from anxiety by simplifying perceptions of self and others into all-good or all-bad categories. While these defenses may provide temporary relief, they often lead to negative consequences in relationships and can contribute to depression. Understanding these defense mechanisms can help individuals recognize patterns in themselves and others, potentially leading to more nuanced and healthier ways of processing emotions and experiences.
Transcripted Video! Back to Basics: Embodiment Tips and Tricks
`Somatic experiencing is a powerful tool for trauma recovery, especially for those with complex PTSD. This episode explores practical techniques for reconnecting with your body, including nature-based practices, mindful movement, and lifestyle adjustments. The podcast emphasizes the importance of finding safe spaces and personalized approaches to embodiment. By prioritizing body awareness and integrating it into daily life, individuals can process emotions more effectively, manage stress, and increase their window of tolerance. While challenging, these practices can lead to significant improvements in overall well-being and mental health.
Back to Basics: Embodiment Tips and Tricks
Somatic experiencing is a powerful tool for trauma recovery, especially for those with complex PTSD. This episode explores practical techniques for reconnecting with your body, including nature-based practices, mindful movement, and lifestyle adjustments. The podcast emphasizes the importance of finding safe spaces and personalized approaches to embodiment. By prioritizing body awareness and integrating it into daily life, individuals can process emotions more effectively, manage stress, and increase their window of tolerance. While challenging, these practices can lead to significant improvements in overall well-being and mental health.
Back to Basics: Somatic Experiencing
Somatic experiencing is a crucial component of trauma recovery, particularly for those dealing with Complex PTSD. This approach helps individuals reconnect with their bodies and process stored trauma responses. While cognitive approaches provide important context, true healing involves both top-down (mental) and bottom-up (bodily) processes. Somatic experiencing can be challenging and overwhelming, especially for those new to trauma recovery. It’s important to approach this work with professional guidance and to recognize that everyone’s journey is unique. By integrating somatic and cognitive approaches, individuals can work towards a more regulated and integrated system, allowing for more effective healing and personal growth.
Back to Basics: Somatic Experiencing Slides
Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a powerful approach to trauma recovery that focuses on reconnecting with the body and processing stored emotions. This slide deck offers an introduction to SE, explaining its importance in addressing trauma-related stress responses and the challenges beginners may face. It provides practical tips and experiments for incorporating SE into daily life, emphasizing the role of nature, movement, and self-care. By learning to listen to our bodies and honor our biological needs, we can work towards healing and improved well-being.
4.6. Acting out, Help-rejecting complaining, and Passive Aggression; The (most) Immature Defenses
This podcast episode explores immature self-defense mechanisms in trauma recovery, focusing on acting out, help-rejecting complaining, and passive aggression. It discusses how these behaviors develop from childhood experiences and persist into adulthood, affecting relationships and personal growth. The episode examines the functions of these mechanisms and their impact on emotional regulation and social interactions. By understanding these patterns, listeners can gain insights into their own behaviors and those of others, potentially leading to more effective coping strategies and improved self-awareness.
Extra Reading: Passive Aggression against the self (concealed self-sabotage)
In case you’re interested in learning more about self-passive aggression, here are a few helpful resources I found for the episode! Psychology Today: Self-Sabotage as Passive Aggression Toward the Self (Pt 5/5) Passive Aggression Toward the Self Mindfulness...
Video Version! Defense Mechanisms: Passive Aggression
“Concealed discharge of resentment / disappointment created by a lifetime of unmet needs.” Let’s talk about the depths of Passive Aggression… how it originates in childhood neglect… and how it helps absolutely no one to move forward while...
Defense Mechanisms: Passive Aggression
“Concealed discharge of resentment / disappointment created by a lifetime of unmet needs.” Let’s talk about the depths of Passive Aggression… how it originates in childhood neglect… and how it helps absolutely no one to move forward while...
Mindfulness/Meta-Cog Notes! Slides and PP
This comprehensive slide deck exploration of mindfulness, metacognition, and traumatic training offers valuable insights for trauma recovery. By understanding how our past experiences shape our automatic responses, we can begin to rewire maladaptive behaviors. Mindfulness and metacognition serve as powerful tools for neutral self-observation, allowing us to question ingrained beliefs and make conscious decisions aligned with our present reality. The concept of “traumatic training” helps explain how childhood experiences can lead to lifelong patterns, while also offering hope for change through mindful awareness and intentional behavioral recalibration.
Back to Basics: Defining “Mindfulness, MetaCognition, and Traumatic Training”
In our last BtB episode I used some poorly-understood words. Let’s define “Mindfulness,” “MetaCognition,” and “Traumatic Training” as we use a common example of a traumatic lesson-turned-maladaptive-habit that rails so many of...
Defense Mechanisms: Help-Rejecting Complaining
Endless energy to voice problems, no attempt to find solutions? It’s Help-Rejecting Complaining; the self-defense mechanism driven by resentment about unmet needs. Transcript: Hey fuckers! We are back to continue our discussion of defense mechanisms, starting...
Defense Mechanisms: Help-Rejecting Complaining | Video+Transcript
Endless energy to voice problems, no attempt to find solutions? It’s Help-Rejecting Complaining; the self-defense mechanism driven by resentment about unmet needs. Transcript: Hey fuckers! We are back to continue our discussion of defense mechanisms, starting...
4.5 Video for all! The Basics of Trauma Recovery
This podcast episode explores the fundamental concepts of trauma recovery, addressing the sources of trauma, the importance of self-reflection, and the process of emotional learning. It discusses how childhood experiences, generational trauma, and societal influences shape our behaviors and thought patterns. The episode emphasizes the need for self-awareness, recontextualization of past experiences, and the identification of personal needs. It also touches on the potential role of spirituality in healing and the impact of technology addiction on recovery efforts. The overall message encourages listeners to take an active role in their own healing process.
Defense Mechanisms: Acting Out II | Video+Transcript
Here’s the diagnostic criteria for “acting out” as a defense mechanism! Fig. 1 Defense Hierarchy Transcript: Hey fuckers. I know I said we were done with acting out and ready to move on, but no, I found this other part of the paper that I wanted to...
Defense Mechanisms: Acting Out II
PS – Here’s the diagnostic criteria for “acting out” as a defense mechanism! Fig. 1 Defense Hierarchy
Video+Transcript! Defense Mechanisms: Acting Out
Our first individual defense mechanism! Let’s talk about Acting Out (the immediate transmutation of emotion to action without considering consequences) and its functions. Fig. 1 Defense Hierarchy Transcript: Alright fuckers, we’re back to start talking...
Defense Mechanisms: Acting Out
Our first individual defense mechanism! Let’s talk about Acting Out (the immediate transmutation of emotion to action without considering consequences) and its functions. Fig. 1 Defense Hierarchy
Defense Mechanisms | Immature Level 1: The Action Defenses | Video+Transcript
Let’s start working our way through the self-defense mechanisms that define our relationships and lives. First up, the least mature level: Action Defenses. It might explain a lot about the people who raised you. Fig. 1 Defense Hierarchy Transcript: Greetings...
Defense Mechanisms | Immature Level 1: The Action Defenses
Let’s start working our way through the self-defense mechanisms that define our relationships and lives. First up, the least mature level: Action Defenses. It might explain a lot about the people who raised you. Fig. 1 Defense Hierarchy References: Di Giuseppe...
Narc Abuse vs. Capitalistic Abuse | Defense Mechanisms | Video+Transcript
As we start discussing defense mechanisms, a Fucker thinks about the tactics used by employers and employees… and how they feel “all too close to home,” making them extra potent sources of abuse. Fig. 1 Defense Hierarchy Transcript: What’s up...
FYI: Domestic Abuse Victims and Terminal Illness Patients | Law Opens New Doors for Penalty-Free Retirement Account Distributions
I’m not a financial adivsor, I can’t tell you what this new law means for you / your 401K… But I want to share this information for the abuse survivors among us who need a rapid cash influx to get out of a bad situation. Share the news, if you can....
Dunning-Kruger vs. Reality | Transcript
In this preview of new things already underway… As we talk about reality and processing, the Dunning-Kruger Effect comes to mind. Transcript Hey fuckers! Welcome back and happy June? How is it already June of 2024? My brain does not comprehend time very well...
Dunning-Kruger vs. Reality
In this preview of new things already underway… As we talk about reality and processing, the Dunning-Kruger Effect comes to mind.
REALITY TESTING (con’t of Type I and II Processing)
Picking up from our discussion of intellectualizing, rationalizing, narcs, and processing styles, let’s talk about REALITY TESTING. (The thing that keeps us from living via wildly inaccurate narrations). Why is it so challenging? How do we do it? And how do we...
(lack of) Nuance x CPTSD | Video+Transcript
Y’all wanted to keep talking “implications of narc research,” and ya’ve not been forgotten! Let’s talk Nuance and Subtlety vs. t-brains. Transcript: Hey, fuckers. Yeah, I am back, back, back again. So here we are with another unexpected...
How “Intelligent” are They Really? Type I and Type II Processing in Subtypes of Narcissists | Video+Transcript |
Narcissistic behavior and decision making: how smart ARE narcissists, really? How do they make decisions? And how do these thought processes differ between grandiose and vulnerable subtypes?
PS – Intellectualism –> Shoulding all over yerself | Video+Transcript
Did I forget to say something yesterday, or plan to make this most important point separately? Intellectualizing -> SHOULDING ON and SHUTTING DOWN your own experience. Video available to all! Good to see ya again. Transcript: Fuckers! Hello. I am back. Is it...
“So Fucking What?” | Narc-Integrity Supplement | Video+Transcript
So Fucking What Part 1 So Fucking What Part 2 Transcript: Well, hey there fuckers. Happy anniversary. This officially is four years of doing this podcast for me and for some of you four years of tuning in. I also have to say holy shit, that’s insane to...
The Dangers of Intellectualization and Rationalization pt 2 | Video+Transcript
We have returned, for personality disorder x defense mechanisms Pt II. The major finding of our last show was… self-defense mechanisms work in a way that we didn’t quite have our finger on before. Previously, my brain assumed that self-defense was about defending...
The Dangers of Intellectualization and Rationalization pt 2
The discussion continues! What’s the REAL purpose of these common self-defense tactics? Advanced fuckers can check out the video version, and see the transcript, here!
The Dangers of Intellectualization and Rationalization pt I | Video+Transcript
Transcript: This is a section that got left out of our last big research episode on Disintegrated, integrity-lacking, narcs. If you’ve been sitting around, thinking “do I have a fucked up personality organization akin to narcissism or worse?” here are some...
The Dangers of Intellectualization and Rationalization pt I
References: Caligor E: Narcissism in the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual. In Ogrodniczuk, J: Treating Pathological Narcissism. Washington DC, APA Book, 2013, pp. 63-79....
REPOST! Apply It | Repersonalization Pt II – A New Life for Your SELF | Video+Transcript
May I divert your attention to a video version of this post from SUV living after fleeing my family in 2021. ENJOY THE GROWTH and Cheers Fuckers Transcript: Hey there motherfuckers, it’s Jess. And isn’t this end of the pandemic something? Yeah, I can tell...
REPOST! **Re-ssociate. Re-find Your “Self” and Reclaim Your Life. Pt I | Video+Transcript
I thought this was a good time to revisit some powerful and highly ranked episodes from the past before we transition into talking about defense mechanisms. Let’s go back and recall the lessons learned during depersonalization recovery as we continue talking...
YOUR RESILIENCY | Video+Bonus Qs to give your self some motherfucking credit (pt 7)
Your self needs to see how it’s been strong and what wiles it has to this day, to offset your self-estimations that may inaccurately center around weakness and disempowerment, doubt and exhaustion.
Your self Authority, Authenticity, Integrity Pts 1-6 | Transcript+Video
Contents Part 1 – Introduction Part 2 – Self-sufficiency and Credit Part 3 – Self Authority Part 4 – Empowerment & Entitlement Part 5 – You are Human & Self Forgiveness Part 6 – Intrinsic Motivated Life Part 1- Introduction...
4.4. Pathological Structuring of Narcissists (Or, No Integrity without Integration)
This podcast episode explores the disorganized personality structuring of narcissists, explaining how their lack of integration affects their behavior and relationships. It discusses different levels of personality organization and how narcissists’ fragmented psyches lead to inconsistent and often manipulative actions. The episode draws parallels between narcissistic behaviors and childlike reactions, offering insights into why narcissists may seem unpredictable or intentionally deceptive. It also touches on the importance of self-integration in developing personal integrity and maintaining healthy relationships.
Narcs: NO INTEGRITY WITHOUT INTEGRATION pt II | Video+Transcript
Transcript Hi Fuckers! We’re back to talk about the structural disorganization of narcissists, and, therefore, the reasons why they haven’t a trustworthy bone in their bodies over any duration of time. It’s part two! If you’re starting here… I mean, do you, but...
“So fucking what?” Narc-Integrity Supplement (pt III)
The end of intellectualizing. Time to apply the knowledge we just gathered for our own narc dealings.