CPTSD Overloads Your Nervous System (4-Video Compilation)

When you started talking about clutter i felt SO seen but then when you started talking about cars in the front yard and the broken wall turned into a doorway, i couldnt help but laugh my ass off hearing how many different ways it can manifest 😂 this video made me feel good and less alone thanks for that : )

Clutter .. I battle it every day..

You are the best therapist that ever was/is/will be. Thank you.

I continue learning, even at age 75. Thank you for doing this vital work. My therapist 28 years ago did a great job, but our understanding of CPTSD has grown so much. I'm grateful to keep growing because of your posts.

Very comforting to listen to your words while cleaning and decluttering for the plumber’s visit tomorrow. I haven’t had anyone in the house since the last time the plumber came! Thank you for being there and for all you do to help this community.

Over the weekend I got rid of clothes and papers I have kept for 15yrs when I was still with my partner. But I didn't just throw then out in a huff I wrote about how I felt and why I was throwing them out now. She moved on very quickly after me and I was stuck in a nightmare..until now..I have good days and bad days but I'm starting to notice the bad days more clearer now.

I had a narcissistic father and was until recently in a marriage with a narcissist for 18 years.. He only once said to me that he loved me. Once in 18 years. Only when I came to God my eyes were opened that this man doesn't love me, he loved the perks he got from me. I was trauma bonded to him for too long. We have teenage children. Son is after me and my husband doesn't and never did showed him any love. My daughter is after him and he is good to her(I won't say love because he doesn't know what love is). I was willing to forgive anything just for a image of a happy family. He didn't even work nowhere for longer than 2 months, occasionally. I payed for housing where ever we lived. Of course this marriage took a toll on me. I would just feel like someone is tearing my heart and lungs if I allow him to leave. I had so many symptoms, that multiplied recently. Even dreams. I dreamt of being in dungeons and stuff like that. I procrastinate and most days don't open mail because it is too much for me. Now that he is finally gone I am learning to do things. My biggest concern is that my daughter will have a horrible taste in men.

I was absurdly sick a few years ago my spine was deteriorating and i couldnt focus on anything anymore at all and i couldnt feel my body/feet anymore which i only realized was the case after i could feel them again while healing. That was so fcked up the despair is just crushing you into depression.

You don't know me, but you're describing me like we're having a personal conversation. I have tried for YEARS to find someone who understands me and what I'm feeling but gave up and resolved to just be that oddball that people stare at and whisper about (or so it feels). I feel like I can finally look back at myself with kindness and true understanding and gently work on finding my own peace aka liking myself. Thank you for sharing, this has been the most insightful, kind, gentle and caring conversation I've ever had.

I can’t be around people and am isolating which is bad .

Exactly,bc of my childhood trauma, I have a huge stress reaction.

I am either overwhelmed and crashing down or so tired that I feel numb and unable to think.

Those studies about cortisol levels and clutter have ALWAYS bothered me precisely for the reasons you’ve described, and I agree with you entirely regarding your observations of the correlations between stress and clutter! So, so happy to finally hear it expressed somewhere outside of my own thoughts! Also, your observation that it is essentially caused by Nesting Behaviour on overdrive is so interesting! I absolutely agree and it feels oddly liberating to hear it described like that. Interestingly, I’ve gone from one extreme to the other recently after a very stressful move. I had WAY too much stuff clothes, knickknacks, household supplies, everything, and I rarely cleaned to now, this past 6 months or so, becoming OBSESSED with decluttering and cleaning, to the point of thinking to myself just last night, “what am I going to do when I run out of things and spaces to clean? I guess I can start over, but will it be too soon?” It’s like it’s gone into overdrive in the opposing polarity. I think the Stuff made me feel safe before, but when it became an enormous hurdle in my life, Getting Rid of Stuff makes me feel safer now. But the neutral level of “calm and at peace” still seems out of reach.

She’s great at describing the problem. What’s the solution? How do you address nervous dysregulation?

I really appreciated your reaction to the free silverware and where you lovingly took the conversation. I have made far more progress with my clutter issues by forgiving myself and addressing the core trauma than I ever did by cracking the whip over my own head . This morning I pulled junk out of a junk locked corner in an out building. I was inordinately pleased to notice that many of the containers were already empty due to previous but forgotten efforts. My success starts with listening to people like you but it's me that is taking action and acknowledging my growth. Thank you!

I live in Sonoma, and imagined coming out to the square to see if I could recognize my tribe though I could not afford to participate.. My honey thought it very funny that I would be going out to find folks with ptsd, and so am doing costco instead. Ease and grace and many blessings you and the tribe in this endeavor.

Thank you for aiding me in understanding why I am alone and often wanting to die because so much has always been out of my control and still is. I am tired of being on the couch defeated and looking forward only to death. Maybe I can find a way out. Been fighting as an only child 50+ years of a Narcissistic mother. Relief that she is gone but she took it all with her. Been on disability since 1985 when I was 23 and having ECT in a psych hospital. Court took my parents and took life insurance and took all their assets. I'm alone and just can't justify keeping up the fight to stay alive.

Omg you know me!! I have sooo much to do but just am overwhelmed by everything that nothing moves forward..I’m physically and emotionally exhausted!🙏🙏🙏

I LOOOOOVE Mr. Rogers. He always calmed me. Still does.

Again, Anna, you’ve resonated. I still plan on buying your membership but I’ve too many debts presently.