As my birthday approached, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling growing inside me. Birthday depression crept in slowly at first but then brought with it flood of questions: “Have you done enough?” “Are you where you hoped you’d be?” “What are you even doing with your life?” Have you ever felt sad on your birthday? …
Birthday Blues Are Real: How to Cope With Birthday Depression Read More »
Grief is not a problem to solve. It’s a reality we must live through – sometimes loudly, sometimes quietly, sometimes both at once. When someone you love is grieving, it’s natural to want to support them. And yet when you’re grieving yourself, it can feel impossible to ask for support, let alone accept it. In …
What Grievers Really Need: How to Support Others and Yourself Through Grief Read More »
June is PTSD Awareness Month and as someone diagnosed with PTSD after an accident over four years ago, I know how crucial a strong support network is. I’ve been fortunate. My husband has stood by me, and my psychologist was exactly who I needed at the time. But I also know that not every survivor …
Heartfelt Messages for Loved Ones and Caregivers from Trauma Survivors Read More »
Mother’s Day can be bittersweet for so many of us. And living in England, where Mothering Sunday comes before Mother’s Day in my country and many others, makes it even harder. I lost my mum over a decade ago, and every year this day brings another wave of grief. Surely, celebrations should be about flowers, …
This Valentine’s Day I received one of the best presents – the hard copy of our book, ‘Rising Above: Stories of Overcoming’. I co-wrote the book with another nine women. We shared our hard stories of overcoming to let others know that they are not alone, and they too, can rise above. Read also ‘How …
Rising Above: My Story of Overcoming and Getting Published Read More »
Our world was turned upside down once again. We learnt that my mum, as I called my mother-in-law, had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Three months later, we lost her. This was now over a year ago. During that time, as I witnessed what my husband was grappling with, I also found myself reflecting on …
Navigating Grief: What It Is and How It Shapes Our Emotions Read More »
Poetry for Healing: Trauma and Beyond by Catherine Hannah | PTSD: My Story Project #016 Trigger warning Poetry for healing “Funny all the thingsthat conspire to put us inthat place, at that time”. This haiku is an introduction to my book, The Ballad of the Bunny and Other Poems: The Diary of a Car Crash …
It was the night before All Souls Day. As is often the case at this time of year, I found myself thinking about the loss of my mum. I could feel a lump in my throat and shaking in my stomach. And the question, ‘Why, God?’ was on my mind again. ‘Why does it still …
When Will My Life Go Back to Normal Again, and Does Grief Ever Go Away? Read More »
I Will Not Be Shaken by Danielle Maxwell | PTSD: My Story Project #016 Trigger warning I wanted to join these courageous people in sharing my story here on the PTSD: My Story Project because I feel that it is important to let other people know that they are not alone and that hope and …
I was walking home from the gym, lost in my own thoughts when the siren of a passing ambulance suddenly made me jump, as has been the case so often since my accident. The ambulance siren took me back to the immediate aftermath of my accident after I was hit by a van. However, this …
