How do you navigate the feeling that you'll never get past your trauma?? Feeling frustrated because of it.

Thank you for reaching out to us. I hear how heavy and frustrating this feels for you right now. You are not alone. Living with trauma can sometimes feel like carrying a weight that just won't lift, and it's completely understandable to feel discouraged and frustrated when it seems like it's affecting everything in your life.

You know those moments when it feels like everyone else is moving forward while you're still working through this? That's such a lonely feeling, and I want you to know you're not alone in experiencing this. Many survivors, including myself, have felt that same fear that the impact of trauma will always be there, always affecting our choices and relationships.

When you're in that place of feeling like you'll never move past this, try to be gentle with yourself. Think about it - your brain and body developed these responses to help you survive. They're not character flaws or signs that you're broken - they're proof of your strength and resilience, even though they might not feel that way right now.

Something that might help when these feelings get really intense is reminding yourself: "I'm not starting over, I'm starting from experience." Every time you work through a hard day, every time you reach out (like you're doing right now), every time you choose to keep going despite feeling frustrated - that's not just surviving, that's actively healing.

Have you noticed any tiny moments, even just seconds, where you've felt different? Maybe a morning where you woke up feeling a bit more like yourself, or a moment where you caught yourself feeling joy unexpectedly? Those moments matter. They're like little windows showing us that change is possible, even when it feels impossibly slow.

You're allowed to feel frustrated with this process. You're allowed to wish it was moving faster. And you're also allowed to celebrate the small steps, even if they feel insignificant compared to where you want to be. 

While I wish I had all the answers, what I do want you to feel after reading this post is just some hope that healing is possible. And that you are not alone. While your trauma may always play a role in your life, over time, its influence will feel less and less as you discover more about what makes you who you are.

Thank you for trusting us with this. We are here for you.