To me it means finally being able to process and release the pasts trauma(s), largely through grieving, Reparenting, and movement. And to unlearn the defense mechanisms that once kept me safe but now hinder my ability to connect and thrive.

Finally having a safe place or a safe person

I don’t have to behave in a way I don’t want to no matter what my feelings are. I don’t need to suppress them, shame them, or turn them inward or outward to cause harm. I still get to feel TERRIBLE some days, but I don’t need to do anything that will make me feel bad about myself just because I feel terrible. It means I get to choose.

You can get to a better place. Healing is an illusion. We're forever healing and evolving. But we can be in a better place with CPTSD where we're not engulfed by our pain.

Not being in the middle of doing something & then it triggers a memory & next thing ur dealing with a serious of flashbacks that u don’t want & have no control over

Living and succeeding entirely for yourself and your own joy. A lot of people with CPTSD are people pleasers. I'm not saying people with complex trauma should become jerks. But life feels different when you start choosing what does and what doesn't WORK for you.

I’m healing from this and I’m finally able to be alone for long periods of time. I haven’t had a panic attack in a few weeks and am able to sleep, laugh and feel moments of peace again. My nervous system was shot and I was having nightmares for weeks. So I feel like I’m closer to healed now and it’s been learning to love myself and care about me more than I do about others especially those who hurt me.

Fear. I’m in a rough patch

Being less awful