The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, connection, and celebration. But for individuals with a history of trauma or Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), this time of year can stir up emotions that feel heavy, confusing, or out of place. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, irritable, shut down, or “not yourself” as the holidays approach, you are not alone. And importantly—you are not broken. Your nervous system may simply be responding to cues it learned long ago. Let’s explore...

Imagine this: a parent, already juggling the weight of everyday life, suddenly finds themselves in crisis—a job loss, a painful breakup, the anniversary of a childhood trauma. Their child is receiving therapy for developmental delays, and sessions continue, but the energy in the home has shifted. The parent seems distracted. They’re forgetting materials. They're cancelling appointments. They're nonresponsive to communication attempts. They're late. Eventually, they stop attending altogether....