Complex PTSD and Learning to Live With the Past with Stephanie Foo

Author Stephanie Foo joins Forrest to share her journey with Complex PTSD. They talk about what it was like to receive a diagnosis, the various techniques and modalities she used (and what really helped), the importance of social support, self-acceptance and self-compassion, difficulties with access and cultural competence in the mental healthcare system, intergenerational trauma, and motherhood. 

About Our Guest: Stephanie is a writer and radio producer whose work has been featured on This American Life, 99% Invisible, and Radiolab among other shows, and she’s the author of the truly wonderful book What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing From Complex Trauma.

Watch the Episode: Prefer watching video? You can watch this episode on YouTube.

Key Topics: 

0:00: Introduction and disclaimer

2:10: Stephanie’s experience in sharing her story

6:00: Features of CPTSD

7:50: What led Stephanie to seek help, and work as a coping mechanism

10:15: “The Dread” and healing through relationship

17:40: The effects of receiving diagnosis, and aspects of CPTSD that are helpful

25:45: Practices that helped Stephanie and incorporating them practically

33:45: Balancing showing up for other people and receiving care

35:15: Self-love, gratitude, psychedelics, and relationships

38:20: Two way repair and comfort receiving feedback

42:55: The need for reform to our mental healthcare system and who it serves

49:55: Societal trauma among first generation immigrants

53:30: More natural and communal frameworks for healing

54:30: Parenthood

57:00: Resources available on Stephanie’s website

58:15: Recap

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