How to understand the freeze response and its purpose

Have you been in situations where looking back you should have felt intense fear but instead felt nothing? Did you minimize or deny rather than assess the circumstance accurately? This upside down response to threat is part of the freeze response. We often talk about the fight or flight response to threat, but the freeze …

How to not should on yourself while you heal

Tara Brach is a mindfulness teacher and psychologist who says when you should on yourself, you argue with reality. The word ‘should’ shows a lack of acceptance and a disconnection with yourself. I would add that it’s mean to should on yourself. I hear so many people on the healing journey who criticize themselves for …

How to know you have a narcissistic mother wound

When Christina Crawford wrote about her abusive mother, Joan, in Mommie Dearest, several celebrities came out in defense of the actress. Narcissistic mothers are good at presenting an image to the public that directly contradicts their behavior behind closed doors. This makes it difficult to receive support when you reach out for it. The cruelty …