

“Emotional incest is yet another form of emotional abuse. Emotional incest commonly involves the reversal of the parent/child roles. When this occurs, the mother or father "parentifies" the child who is then manipulated to gratify the unmet childhood needs of the parent. This typically manifests as the parent pumping the child for the unconditional love that she should herself be giving.”
― The Tao of Fully Feeling: Harvesting Forgiveness Out of Blame
― The Tao of Fully Feeling: Harvesting Forgiveness Out of Blame

“There is often a close relationship between emotion and physical sensation. Physical sensations in the body often co-occur with feelings. Moreover, sensations of tightness and tension can develop as a defense against feelings. As unexpressed feelings accumulate, a greater degree of muscular tension is necessary to keep them under wraps. A child who is repeatedly punished for emoting learns to be afraid of inner emotional experience and tightens [armors] the musculature of her body in an effort to hold feelings in and to banish them from awareness. Holding your breath is a further manifestation of armoring. It is an especially common way of keeping feelings at bay, as breathing naturally brings your awareness down to the level of feeling.”
― Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving
― Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving

“Perfectionism. My perfectionism arose as an attempt to gain safety and support in my dangerous family. Perfection is a self-persecutory myth. I do not have to be perfect to be safe or loved in the present. I am letting go of relationships that require perfection. I have a right to make mistakes. Mistakes”
― Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving
― Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving

“We do not have to let other people’s irresponsible emotional expression alienate us from our feelings.”
― The Tao of Fully Feeling: Harvesting Forgiveness out of Blame
― The Tao of Fully Feeling: Harvesting Forgiveness out of Blame

“Perhaps there was no more detrimental consequence of our childhood abandonment than being forced to habitually hide our authentic selves. Many of us come out of childhood believing that what we have to say is as uninteresting to others as it was to our parents.”
― Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving
― Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving
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