“Passing the Trash” is a euphemism for the practice of schools brushing allegations of sexual abuse or misconduct against teachers or school employees under a rug. Often these individuals are offered agreements in exchange for their resignation stating that the school will not inform future employers as to the allegations…

Usually I find labels to be fairly inaccurate — pathologizing even — particularly ones that are proliferated by under-researched and overly generalized personality trait quizzes. But… sometimes they do have kernels of truth in them if taken with a grain of salt and viewed through the lens of skepticism. …

Nesting is a phenomenon documented in pregnant women where they develop an impulse to clean, organize and otherwise prepare for the birth of their babies. While it manifests differently from one woman to the next, the sudden burst of Marie Kondo joy-seeking is common enough to warrant its own label…

The first time it was suggested to me that I should invest in an adult toy was about six years ago. I had just disclosed my sexual abuse to my then-therapist and she knew I was extremely triggered by sex. Her solution was a version of extreme exposure therapy to…

My mom once told me that the reason she always wanted to have a child was so that at least one person would love her unconditionally. If I think of the implications of that statement both from the perspective of how lonely and unloved she felt and what an unbearable…

Gastroparesis is a chronic condition characterized by the inability of the stomach to fully empty. Symptoms can include nausea, upset stomach, bloating, gas, acid reflux, irregular blood sugar levels, and a constant sensation of fullness making it difficult for someone to eat a complete meal. Long-term effects of gastroparesis can include unintended weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, dehydration, and the development of masses in the small intestines called bezoars, which are essentially little pockets of undigested food that cannot make their way through the digestive system.

My entire life I’ve had what I can only describe as a type of dissociative amnesia. I have periods of my childhood in particular that I cannot recall at all. It always bothered me and made me feel like something was desperately wrong with me. I understood logically that trauma…

For the third time since starting therapy, my therapist has changed their office. I know it may sound silly to some people, but for trauma survivors, physical safe space is a big deal and hard to come by. My therapist’s office is like an oasis to me. I know where…

I took my first trip since February of 2020 last week to New York City. It was a whirlwind trip focused on seeing two shows, doing some sightseeing, and eating some great food. In the past, I’ve always loved to travel, but if I’m completely honest, I had a lot…