Group homes are not the same as children’s homes
Trauma ., Healing . Heather Leih Trauma ., Healing . Heather Leih

Group homes are not the same as children’s homes

It's still unclear to me whether the explicit content from these books inflated my ego to the point where I felt competent in handling each moment that unfolded before me. To this day, I have no regrets about holding space for others in toxic and uncontrollable situations. After all, what can you or I do when things happen right in front of you at such a young age other than adapt and act? Two heads on problem-solving can sometimes be better than one.

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The Time Has Come - Short Film
Video & Film ., Trauma ., Marketing . Heather Leih Video & Film ., Trauma ., Marketing . Heather Leih

The Time Has Come - Short Film

As any GOOD marketer will ask before picking up any project, the first question should always be, “What it’s the point?”. The POINT of creating content for the people of Iran is to ensure that the full scope of the events is transparently laid out in a non-biased way. The POINT of creating effective content for the people of Iran is to ensure that the full historical story is at the forefront.

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“Try scented, it works better”
Healing ., Trauma . Heather Leih Healing ., Trauma . Heather Leih

“Try scented, it works better”

It wasn’t until a few sessions in that I started to realize why my therapist was giving me stickers with texture on them, bubbles to blow for more breathing, and Warhead sour candies for my purse. I had been living a disconnected life. Not just from my thoughts, but my body. I wouldn’t be able to go through the deep work we needed to unless I started to rebuild the connection to my sense of agency. I never realized how many times a day I held my breath due to the flashback of a memory or intrusive thought. With less breathing, more anxiety tends to build up.

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Unpacking the understanding of abuse and remedies
Healing ., Trauma . Heather Leih Healing ., Trauma . Heather Leih

Unpacking the understanding of abuse and remedies

Dissociating from your body feels better than burning in Hell. That’s one thing I know for sure. How else could you continue to walk through an unavoidable blaze? I did not grow up fully understanding that turning into pain is a choice. It’s a thoughtless, arousing choice. Children who grow up without awareness of themselves, or knowing how real love should feel, will find themselves in all kinds of situations they never imagined. Monsters really do exist in real life and they certainly don’t limit themselves to just staying under your bed or in your closet.

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“Your family couldn’t help take care of you?”
Healing ., Trauma . Heather Leih Healing ., Trauma . Heather Leih

“Your family couldn’t help take care of you?”

The clinician can never fully prepare you to what your life will be like with a mother that has “bipolar disorder”. They never tell you that the first slap never loses the sting. The first chase and cower around the house is the reason for why you try and pretend to run away. That you will look to eventually appease your abuser. That, even after the abuse is done, you will gravitate by some force, naturally, like breathing air, to similar people and situations, believing somehow the outcome might be different. You hope and you pray. You pray as though you truly have no control either way in the outcome. It is inevitable what is to happen to you. After all, life has only been happening “to” you for so many years.

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