digging through the freezers for lime-vanilla ice cream bars.

“How can things be okay when you keep making me look bad?” she screeched.

They feigned indifference when you told them you were successful. They actually were indifferent if you were merely normal. Everyone had their job and their side project and their speaking circuit.

If I hadn’t lost work.

People with complex PTSD see threats everywhere and are aggressive. They are more likely to be alcoholics, addicts, violent, impulsive, unpredictable.

I can’t go back in time just to make you happy and make your life perfect.

these negative emotions are not simply something to endure and erase. They are purposeful. Beneficial. They tell us what we need. Anger inspires action. Sadness is necessary to process grief. Fear helps keep us safe. Completely eradicating these emotions is not just impossible—it’s unhealthy.

I was stressing out about not being perfect at my relaxation class.

She told me that our bodies have a limited number of metabolic resources. We need a certain amount of sleep and water and nourishment in order to think, to learn new things, to produce the correct hormones. If we don’t get all of those things, our bodies are “running at a deficit.”