The (Complex) PTSD Guy

Sharing photos as part of mindfulness, they're on my Complex PTSD Twitter page.

22 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Just sharing photos from my walk today, they are mostly mindful photos of the trees and ponds, because autumn in Illinois is really stunning especiall...

Coping with Change

21 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tips on how I cope with change, and how the many recent changes in my life are starting to calm down and I'm grateful I learned how to cope with them ...

Trauma and using massage to help

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How massage therapy has been a great tool for helping me with my trauma, and I give examples of this. Also I give tips on what to look for in a massag...

Realizing what really matters

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

My nerve being struck yesterday helped me realize that I should move away from things that don't truly serve me well and I realize how silly it was.

Follow up to last podcast and the importance of not assuming

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I wanted to follow up to the last podcast because I thought I might not have said the title of the book in the actual podcast audio, and I wanted to s...

Book recommendation related to trauma

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I recently came across a book by the actor Colton Haynes, it's a memoir titled Miss Memory Lane. He's very descriptive and honest about key forms of t...

Message of caution and a message of hopefulness.

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I wanted to give a few pointers on the importance of using caution if you happen to get to know people, from your support group, on a more personal le...

Better sleep, get into your Circadian Rhythm and more info

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I took a class, yesterday, on better sleep and the importance of getting back into your Circadian Rhythm. Other tips from the class and info from my T...

Living a Double Life, follow up to yesterday's podcast

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Wanted to give a more detailed explanation to a point I made yesterday, in order to make better sense of it. I hope this podcast goes through because ...

Key reasons why past relationships didn't work out for me

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I give three key reasons why past relationships didn't work out for me, and provide why I think I relate the way I do. Just because I don't think I'm ...

How cooking is beneficial for Complex PTSD

09 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I give specific examples of how cooking is beneficial, specifically for Complex PTSD. One of the biggest ways I think it brings calm and nurturing is ...

Emotional reactions

09 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Lately I've been contemplating sharing some deeper things on this podcast, more emotional things, but I need to make sure I'm sharing in a way that fi...

Importance of in-person support groups

08 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I give 5 key reasons why attending in-person support groups is beneficial, plus share a few personal details why I personally should continue to go to...

Bettering yourself

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Try not to give up and keep trying to better yourself. Hopelessness has impaired me over the years and I just have to keep trying and working with peo...

How to share that you have Complex PTSD

02 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What happened when I shared that I have Complex PTSD, I give a few different experiences and recommendations.

Environment and mental health

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Importance of being aware of your environment especially when you're struggling.

Helplessness and Complex PTSD

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How something as simple as taking a class can trigger feelings of helplessness and how I think that is a big part of Complex PTSD. So knowing it is a ...

Undermining

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What gradual, subtle abuse does. The insidious nature of undermining. Complex PTSD largely stems from this nasty behavior of being undermined, or can ...

Depression and getting out of it

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Some personal tips on how I get out of depression. These last few days I've really struggled with severe depression and I wanted to share what has hel...

Follow up on Self-destructive behavior

16 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I mention a book that I came across that is a workbook about self-destructive behavior.

Cults and long-term trauma

14 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How cults can be a breeding ground for neglect and abuse. My opinions on how to regain control and move forward.

PTSD drowns out the good times, tips

12 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Some tips on the importance of remembering the good times, when PTSD wants to drown them out (much like a bully in the classroom distracting everyone)...

Having a sense of purpose

10 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Importance of having a sense of purpose, and how giving back is a huge part of this.

Info I received today, support is out there

08 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You won't believe the message I received today, and it stemmed from something that happened 6 months ago and eerily related perfectly to the podcast I...

Perceived threats to moving forward in life

08 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Wanted to share a few odd things that reminded me of what tends to happen when I attempt to make changes in my life, particularly related to bettering...

Self-destructive behavior and the importance of having a support system for overcoming this.

06 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Three key things to help overcome self-destructive behavior (self-sabotage)... having a support group for the changes you are making, having healthy c...

Losing your sense of identity

04 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tips on what environments can trigger you to shut down and lack self expression, or lose sense of who you are. How to get back your identity, and some...

Importance of trust when it comes to financial stability

03 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Recent developments regarding financial stability and why trust is an important factor. Also mention how stress and hopelessness can hinder financial ...

Asking for help

02 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The importance of asking for help with things that you struggle with or need assistance with. How isolating hinders this. I give some recent examples ...

Important reminder to have the tools for coping with life's unexpected situations

30 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Reminder about the importance of nurturing yourself and how Complex PTSD can impair your money management.

Systemic and Systematic Abuse

29 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The frightening feeling that is systemic abuse, and something that recently triggered me regarding this (which I mention). Also a small reflection on ...

Recent developments/benefits of keeping a routine and sticking to it.

24 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

List of a few great benefits that have materialized recently in my life due to sticking to my routine, and the importance of keeping a calendar for yo...

The Holy Grail of relationships: Seek out someone with your own essence

21 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I think the Holy Grail of a joyful relationship is finding someone who has an essence that matches your own. I explain what I mean and the importance ...

Essence: The importance of embracing your true self

14 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I discuss the enormous importance of embracing your essence and how this allows you to enjoy life. There are six key qualities that I think come from ...

The "Incredibly Disappearing Memory": Denial and long-term abuse

09 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How denial plays a key role in long-term abuse, and that's what Complex PTSD is... long-term trauma. It creates the effect of focus being wiped away o...

15 Symptoms of Complex PTSD

03 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I list 15 symptoms of Complex PTSD and put them into 3 groups. By grouping them based on their similarities, I think it's easier to find possible solu...

Good Vibes: Health and Wellness

31 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Importance of putting out good vibes, showing people you care. Health and wellness is important to focus on and share, and it's just as important for ...

Catastrophic Thinking

28 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

My own experiences with catastrophic thinking and how I cope with it. I give specific examples of how I have thought this way, and I also noticed a pa...

Forethought and impulsivity

26 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

My opinions about how to be less impulsive and increase our forethought. I give a few examples of how bad I used to be about problem solving, strategy...

Giving back, volunteering, helping others:

23 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Helped support a local charity today, giving back to others in a specific way. It really helped me realize how to brighten someone's day with such sim...

Reminders for a distracted mind:

21 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I share a tip about a reminder, we could have in our home, to help if you struggle with a distracted mind in the evenings. I'm going to try it out thi...

Waking up to how bad the trauma really was: I call this "The Event"

20 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I give examples of what I did wrong, after I woke up to the reality of how bad my trauma really was growing up; I call this waking up "The Event". I p...

When people's behavior isn't making sense: Results from 7 days of journaling.

15 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Results from my past 7 days of journaling what the most overwhelming feelings popped up most often. The main thing was situations where other people's...

Gratitude and bonding with people

13 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Profound way of looking at life that I heard about yesterday and today. Learned how to live in the moment and bond with people by using gratitude. I e...

Condescending feedback

11 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do you receive condescending feedback? I explain why the stress/anxiety you feel around someone (which leads to an unfocused mind) can lead to putting...

Behavior rooted in short-term thinking, the effects and long-term solutions.

09 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How solving issues from a short-term thinking (impulsive) mindset has led me into current positions in my life (along with the feelings that come with...

Finding the right person to talk to, and moving forward

07 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Update related to finding answers to questions and how important it is to find the right person to talk to. I also share some new things I learned and...

Find your support group

05 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The importance of having a support group or various people who support you in different aspects of your life. I didn't do this on my own, I had to see...

The value of a sober perspective

04 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Getting some perspective that's long overdue regarding unhealthy habits, and getting some feedback regarding those divine moments I mentioned.

Shutting down? Lost sense of self? There's a word for it; STRESS

02 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Knowing the right word for why we shut down and why we feel a lost sense of self, that's half the battle. It's not just that trauma leads to these thi...

Divine moments I'm seeking answers to, after years of contemplating them.

30 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Recently reached out for guidance through a prayer request to understand two divine moments from a couple of years ago. I talk about what happened and...

Going with your gut and knowing yourself.

28 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Recommend a book about trauma and parent-child attachment. Importance of trusting your gut and knowing yourself in regards to therapy and engaging wit...

Writing poetry to help with trauma.

24 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I share how poetry has unexpectedly helped me get my grief off my chest and find solutions for my problems. I also explain how it helps promote long-t...

Ways to stop overanalyzing life

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Some activities to help stop overanalyzing your life and help relax.

Individualized Nurturing

21 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Different methods to help nurture yourself. Helps me to stay/get motivated.

De-stressing from the modern world by looking at the past differently.

18 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How looking at the past differently has helped me be less stressed about the stressors of the modern world.

Feelings of hate, entitlement, and feeling disenfranchised: Remedies from my own experiences.

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Remedies from my own experiences in regards to how to come to terms with feelings of hate, entitlement, and feeling disenfranchised. Importance of per...

Triggers that can cause feelings of incompetence

15 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I list some key triggers that can lead to feelings of incompetence. Important to remember that you may not be incompetent and you may just need to wor...

Negative attention and "Looking in the mirror"

11 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Talking about toxic relationships and the role we play in receiving negative attention and what positive attention looks like.

Struggles with learning/studying and remedies that have worked for me

09 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How trauma in youth can impact learning and studying throughout school years and into adulthood, and how negative and positive attention factor in as ...

Quick thank you and article from previous podcast

08 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I share the article from my last podcast and I say thank you to you the listener, this podcast has helped me stay focused and I hope it's helping you ...

Creating a routine that helps live with Complex PTSD

08 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Having a routine has helped me stay focused and keep distractions at bay. Keeping a calendar for bettering yourself, I think is really important for h...

Stress Remedies and Interpersonal Skills

06 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Article about improving frontal lobe function, and I talk about the importance of decreasing stress and how long-term decision making plays a role in ...

Invest in your future: Organizing yourself

03 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Follow up from the previous podcast episode. I talk about the importance of including investments in your financial planning and how a lack of this re...

Money and Trauma: How trauma impacts how you make and manage money

03 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I share an article, and talk about my own difficulties with managing money over the years. I've searched for an article on this topic for years and th...

The Breakthrough: The Grouchy Sober and The Summer Breeze

01 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Poem about the importance of gratitude.

Coping with Dysphoria

31 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do you struggle with second guessing yourself? Dysphoria can be a symptom of Complex PTSD. I give my own perspective on how I cope to maintain a sense...

Security and Relationships

30 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Security is one of the key aspects of our lives that is impacted by childhood trauma and I talk about how the desire for security plays a role in my o...

Negative attention and Complex PTSD: Learn to enjoy the simple things in life

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is negative childhood attention impacting you as an adult? I give my own thoughts on my own solution to seeking attention in negative ways, in your ad...

Ambiguity, CPTSD, and feeling disingenuous

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ambiguity leading to feeling disingenuous . How I think this can stem from fear of conflict related to childhood trauma. I also mention a show I'm bin...

Getting out of your environment and checking your Ego

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Getting out of your environment and trying something new may bring a smile to your face. Don't let your Ego spoil new experiences for you. I share som...

Fatigue, diet, and difference between sadness and depression

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Be cautious when making changes in your diet. I recently struggled with fatigue and sadness and was concerned it was related to my mental health but i...

Engaging with nature, and mindfulness

12 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I share a poem that I wrote recently. Help your mind focus by being more mindful with nature. This poem is inspired by a historical home and farm I us...

Roadblocks to betterment: Stay focused

10 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Recent roadblocks, and things I've realized, as I engage with my new approach to bettering myself. Talk about relationships, friendships, trust, savin...

Part-with resentment, cope-with triggers

02 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

By acknowledging that trauma is more than just the trauma, it's also the triggers, I think I have found an approach that is non-dismissive and therefo...

Be kind to yourself

28 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you tend to be hard on yourself, remember to give yourself a break. I decided to be kind to myself and share something that I had originally talked...

Decreasing Anxiety

26 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Advice on ways to decrease anxiety, based on things that have worked for me over the past few years.

Self-Defeatest Behavior, CPTSD and Dating

20 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Examples of my own self-defeatest behavior in the past, which stems from my CPTSD, and how I am approaching situations differently, particularly in re...

Logical Thinking, Complex PTSD and Emotional Thinking

13 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How, I think, that logical thinking is an important part of getting away from emotional thinking. Complex PTSD and emotional thinking seem to go hand-...

Friendships and Social Groups: Stop Isolating

12 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Recently have stopped isolating and sought social engagements. The positive results of seeing both of these situations from a new viewpoint. I've foll...

"Why Me?!?!" Mentality: Breaking the spell of Survival Mode

05 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"Why me" and "I'm being wronged" are the overwhelming feelings when we unknowingly approach life from a survival mode mindset. These are simply other ...

The myth of Job Security

05 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why I think the concept of job security is a myth that only stresses us out, and what I realized is a healthier and more realistic approach to finding...

Identity Crisis: Might be a good thing?

27 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Share from an article on why identity crisis might be a good thing. Talk about my own identity crisis I've been in lately. Big decisions can equal big...

Emotional Hijacking: 4 Remedies from article

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Remedies for when you feel emotionally hijacked. Similar to my short-term memory tornado from yesterday. Found an article with 4 remedies for this. Di...

What triggers you? Make a list with backups.

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Making a list of situations where I'm triggered, such as car problems, health insurance, accumulative tests, etc... This way I might see it daily and ...

Short-term memory "Tornadoes": Remedies for them

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Triggering situation that happened today and how I reminded myself of the remedies for it. Also, briefly mention a book by Joyce Meyer, "The Battlefie...

Intimate Relationships Cont'd: Get to know yourself beforehand.

22 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How growing up with a CrazyMaker can thwart our creativity in our youth, and how that can negatively impact our adult relationships by causing us to l...

Intimate Relationships and CPTSD

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This is one of the most challenging things for so many of us with Complex PTSD. I share my Golden Rules of what TO do when seeking a healthy relations...

Purging: Cleaning up my environment.

14 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A few notes on changes I've recently made, that have brought me joy. Having boundaries and cleaning up my environment in ways that work for me. Maybe ...

Review of a character who turns into her abuser.

11 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Single review of how the mother, Corrine, in the 1987 movie "Flowers in the Attic" turns into an abuser, just like her own mother.

Turning into your abuser? Don't let a "Thoughtless Teacher" fool you!

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Know that the lessons an abuser teaches you are/were taught by what I refer to as a "Thoughtless Teacher" because tying in abuse with teaching is coun...

I'm happier in life, and I share a few reasons why

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Short podcast about a few small things that I think have brought me a lot of happiness recently. Also mention what my next podcast will be about.

Saffy, Ab Fab, last review: New found respect for Sarah.

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

My thoughts: I think Saffy turns into her mother in certain ways, which is sad but very true to being raised by a narcissist. And Sarah (played by Nao...

Saffy review, continued

06 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

More on my views of why Saffy from Absolutely Fabulous is a good candidate for a youth who would develop Complex PTSD. Season/Series 4, First three ep...

Survival skills: Don't give up!

05 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Recent events that remind me to keep up on my survival skills. Don't let one bad apple ruin your day. Mention a survival training manual that I recomm...

Rose Colored Glasses and/or a parent being "Sick"

05 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

My thoughts on the role that wearing rose colored glasses and/or a parent who is "sick" (or both) play in a youths developing Complex PTSD. Upcoming p...

Pushing myself to learn new things, when normally I would get irritated.

02 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Stepping out of my comfort zone and building my ability to fix things I know nothing about. Briefly mention the book Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Mai...

Turning a negative into a positive!

01 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What happened in my life today that is a pet peeve of mine, and how I turned it into a positive. Also, today would have been my grandmother's 104th bi...

Saffy, Absolutely Fabulous review: Part 3

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Review of Saffy in regards to three episodes from season 3. Again, this is my own personal opinion based on my own Complex PTSD and my opinion of Saff...

Saffy, Absolutely Fabulous review: Part 2

27 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Further review of the character Saffy, from the comedy TV series Absolutely Fabulous, in relation to Complex PTSD. Why I think if this were a real per...