Are you struggling to navigate life after experiencing trauma or narcissistic abuse?

Do you feel lost, overwhelmed, or stuck in a cycle of emotional pain from past and current experiences?

You don't have to face this journey alone.

Discover recovery with holistic support and wellness, tailored specifically to those seeking healing and emotional relief.

Narcissistic Abuse Recovery is a trauma-informed approach that aims to help individuals to improve their sense of self-worth and well-being, establish healthy boundaries, and manage symptoms associated with past traumatic experiences from narcissistic/psychological abuse.

Trauma

Trauma is not just what happened to you. It’s also what didn’t happen to you. It’s a deeply painful experience that can alter how you see yourself, others, and the world around you. Trauma can feel like a shadow is casted over your life, coloring your experiences, relationships, and impacting every area of your life long after the traumatic event has passed. It is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that leaves an indelible mark on various aspects of human functioning. Understanding the effects of trauma requires acknowledging the multifaceted impact it can have on an individual, ranging from physical health to the complexities of psychological, emotional, social, and cognitive effects. It is equally essential, however, to understand that trauma is not a sign of weakness. Surviving a traumatic event requires incredible strength, resilience, and adaptability.

Healing from trauma is a journey of reclaiming your sense of self, safety, and power. It involves processing the traumatic experience, releasing the burden of shame and guilt, and developing a compassionate relationship with oneself. With the support of a caring guide, like a trauma-informed professional, individuals can learn to navigate their triggers, cultivate resilience, and create a life that reflects their deepest values and aspirations.

Understanding the Effects of Trauma

Physical Effects

Physically, trauma often manifests in the body through what is commonly referred to as somatic symptoms. It can trigger the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, initiating a fight-or-flight response that affects virtually all physiological systems. When the body remains in a heightened state of arousal, overtime it can lead to wear and tear on organs and systems. As a result of excessive and chronic exposure, ailments and severe health conditions develop, including but not limited to: heart disease, hypertension, chronic fatigue, obesity, and diabetes. In addition, individuals may also experience headaches, gastrointestinal problems, chronic pain, and an increased susceptibility to infections due to a weakened immune system.

One often-overlooked aspect is how trauma affects sleep patterns. Victims frequently suffer from insomnia or nightmares, disrupting the body's ability to repair itself during rest. This perpetual cycle depletes energy levels and impairs physical health further. In addition, trauma-induced behavioral changes like substance abuse or poor diet may exacerbate these physical health issues.

Cognitive Effects

Cognitively, trauma disturbs brain functions responsible for learning, memory consolidation, and executive functioning-skills essential for planning and following through on tasks efficiently while managing impulses. Survivors often face challenges with concentration and memory retention as their mind remains preoccupied with intrusive thoughts related to their trauma.

Psychological Effects

Psychologically, trauma rewires the brain's functioning. The amygdala becomes hyper-sensitive to potential threats while the hippocampus—responsible for memory processing—may shrink in size due to excessive stress hormone exposure. This imbalance can result in an altered perception of safety and persistent feelings of distress. It may also contribute to post-traumatic stress disorder (Complex PTSD or PTSD), characterized by intrusive memories, nightmares, hypervigilance, and avoidance behaviors.

Social Effects

Socially, trauma can be incredibly isolating. Whether, isolation is caused by withdrawing from family and friends due to mistrust or being isolated due to a narcissistic abuse smear campaign, relationships become strained when individuals struggle to communicate their experiences or when loved ones fail to understand or respond appropriately. This social isolation amplifies feelings of loneliness and alienation. Moreover, trauma survivors might find themselves trapped in environments where their traumatic experiences are misunderstood and/or stigmatized, further complicating their social interactions and support networks.

Additionally, trauma survivors might find it challenging to maintain employment or academic performance due to concentration issues or absenteeism stemming from their psychological state. Their social skills might also deteriorate, making it difficult for them to form new relationships or maintain existing ones.

Emotional Effects

Emotionally, traumatic experiences often leave deep scars that can lead to a range of negative emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, or guilt. These emotions can surface unexpectedly, triggered by reminders of the traumatic event or even without a clear cause. Individuals may struggle with emotional regulation, finding it difficult to soothe themselves or feel stable. These uninvited recollections flood their minds unexpectedly, pulling them back into the traumatic episode with vivid detail. The emotional distress caused by these experiences can be both exhausting and debilitating. In turn, this emotional turmoil can lead to irritability, emotional numbness, as well as depression and/or anxiety. A pervasive sense of helplessness can, also, lead to low self-worth and persistent fears that hover like a dark shadow over daily life. Those affected can develop feelings of hopelessness about the future or engage in self-harmful behaviors as a way to cope with overwhelming emotions.

"To effectively treat trauma, it is essential to integrate somatic interventions with holistic support systems while fostering a compassionate and nonjudgmental environment aimed at supporting survivors' recovery journey."

-Helen Denise

Support & Services

Brainspotting

Trauma-Informed Neuroscience-Based Support

There is hope for healing and peace.

The pain of the past does not have to define the present or future.

Reach out for support and begin your path to holistic healing today.