For people with CTPSD, personal conflict can be a major trigger. It’s important for those of us with CPTSD to work on learning healthier ways to deal with conflict, but also good for those around us to exercise empathy rather than shame us for it. Support matters a lot.

“It’s not a big deal. You should be able to handle this better” is something traumatized people hear a lot. But what those around us don’t understand is it’s often not what’s happening NOW; this is just a trigger reminding our traumatized brain of a dangerous past situation.

One of the most important tools we can have is someone we can be completely honest with about those triggers and what they bring up for us. Having a few empathic, non-judgmental loved ones is a lifeline for those of us living with trauma. Grateful for mine. We all deserve them.