Today, we’re talking about the complex and often unspoken experiences of those of you whose lives began with pain on the day they were born. Through a powerful listener story, we explore the impact of early trauma and the lasting effects it can have on your life.

We’re talking about the importance of understanding and healing from these early wounds.

Understanding Early Trauma: We unpack what it means to navigate life when your story begins with pain and how this shapes one’s identity.

The Freeze State: Discover what the freeze state is, how it manifests in daily life, and the importance of recognizing it in ourselves.

Dissociation and Sensitivity: Learn about the common experiences of feeling disconnected and how sensitivity can influence interactions and self-perception.

Don’t forget to consider Tuesday Group for additional support in your healing journey.

Mentioned in the show:

Sarah Baldwin Coaching

Sarah's You Make Sense Podcast on Apple

Dr. Peter Levine

Dr. Stephen Porges

Also mentioned in the show: Simple Scripts for Saying Hard Things: Scripts that help you navigate the hard conversation you might encounter in life, love, or work.

The holidays are here again, with all their big feelings and challenges.

Whether you're preparing for emotional manipulation or feeling the weight of grief, I’m here to support you.

To help you plan for the holidays ahead, I revisit our conversation from last year’s episode, "Mayhem and Mistletoe." Instead of repeating the same insights, I’m sharing this encore presentation to remind you of important strategies for creating a fulfilling holiday experience.

Recommended Journal Reflection: As you begin to plan the holidays for yourselves this year, I encourage you to reflect on this as your first step:If you could create the perfect holiday for yourself, with all things being equal…after all, your mother is always going to be narcissistic, what is the holiday you would design for yourself? Who would you need to be to have that kind of holiday? What would you have to do to preserve that kind of holiday?

Take your time with this prompt and create a clear picture of the holidays you wish to experience. This clarity will help you make decisions, communicate your needs, and set boundaries effectively.

Remember, you’re not alone in navigating this season. If you have questions unique to your holidays, send them in. I will cover them in future Friday chats from now until the holidays.

Email me: Heather@DaughtersNPD.com

If group support during this time sounds nice, here’s the link to join.

This week on Mayhem, we dive deep into the journey of discovering, knowing, and owning your true self after childhoods marked by maternal neglect and abuse.

I’m exploring with you what it means to live authentically and how to reconnect with the parts of yourself you may have lost in the wake of emotional neglect or people-pleasing patterns.

You'll learn how to break free from survival mode and start expressing your real personality, even when it's challenging.

Plus, don’t miss the free PDF of journal prompts to help you explore your authentic self further.

If you're ready for more support, join Tuesday Group where we dive into these topics as a community.