There are days when I feel like I’m moving forward — calm, grounded, even hopeful.
And then, without warning, a sound, a smell, or a glance can transport me back to a place I didn’t ask to revisit.
My body tenses.
My heart races.
Suddenly, I’m no longer in the present.
The Messy Reality of C-PTSD Recovery
This is what it’s like to live with Complex PTSD.
It’s not a straight line.
Not a checklist.
Not something you “complete” and move on from.
It’s:
- Messy
- Confusing
- Sometimes silent, sometimes overwhelming
- Full of loops, setbacks, and slow returns
For a long time, I judged myself for this.
“I should be further along by now.”
“Why is this coming up again?”
But slowly, I’ve come to understand:
Progress Doesn’t Always Look Like Peace
Sometimes progress is:
- Noticing the trigger and breathing through it
- Letting yourself cry, instead of shutting down
- Choosing to reach out, rather than isolate
- Getting through the day without numbing out
And yes, sometimes progress looks like just surviving.
That still counts.
Why I Started Traversing Trauma
I created Traversing Trauma to be a space where we can be real about what healing actually looks like.
Not just the breakthroughs.
Not just the “aha” moments.
But the in-between days:
- The ones where healing looks like getting out of bed
- The ones where it feels like you’re starting from scratch
- The ones where you just keep showing up, even when it’s hard
You Are Not Alone In This
If you’re here — navigating your own messy middle — I want you to know:
- You’re not behind
- You’re not broken
- You’re not alone
This isn’t a space for perfection.
It’s a space for permission — to heal in your own time, in your own way.
You are not broken. You are becoming.
Let’s keep walking this road together,
One gentle step at a time.
Side by side,
♡ Ness
Traversing Trauma 
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