From Silence to Story: The Eight-Year Journey Behind My Memoir
Eight years ago, I sat down to write-not with a plan, not with an audience in mind, but with a heart full of memories and a need to make sense of them. My story had lived quietly inside me for years, tucked away in the shadows of trauma and survival. Writing became a private act of reclamation, a way to give shape to experiences I had long kept hidden. At the time, I didn’t know I was writing a memoir. I was simply writing to organize my thoughts and clear my head.
The Echo of Memory: My Journey with Anniversary Reactions
Almost every year, from mid-July to late August something stirs in me. My mind goes back to the day of the terrorist bombing, August 3, 1977. It’s more than just casual thinking and memories…it can disrupt my ability to function as I become hypervigilant, and anxiety ridden. I have difficulty concentrating, prefer to be alone, and don’t want to do much. This is known as an Anniversary Reaction, which is a resurfacing of trauma-related symptoms around the date when a traumatic event occurred. For those with PTSD, this can manifest as anxiety, insomnia, flashbacks, or emotional withdrawal. The body remembers—even when the mind tries to forget—and the season, date, or even sensory cues can trigger old wounds.
Turner–The Service Dog I Didn’t Know I Needed
Turner and I were inseparable. He was my performance dog, my companion and my protector. He understood my emotional states and recognized my anxiety better than I did. I could mask my emotions in front of people, but not with Turner. He gave me strength when I needed it most as he was always checking on me.
Understanding PTSD: Breaking Down the Overused and Misunderstood Term
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a term that has increasingly entered mainstream conversations, often used casually to describe stressful situations or lingering distress after a difficult experience. While awareness of trauma-related struggles is important,...
48 Years of Living with PTSD: An Insider’s Look
For 48 years, I have lived with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), shaped by a terrorist bombing that altered my world. From the outside, I appear functional—capable, present, engaged—but that surface-level normalcy hides the reality of an ongoing battle within....
Toxic Positivity
May is mental health awareness month---a time to start thinking about ways to support ourselves and people we know with mental health challenges. If you are experiencing mental health issues, you know how hard it is to express your feelings and concerns to others,...
On Being Brave
With my book coming out soon, I’ve found myself reflecting deeply on a word that others often use to describe me: brave. It’s a word that has never quite felt like it belonged to me, despite the number of times I’ve heard it. People who know my story say I embody...