Candid Stories
Personal essays about complex trauma, coercive control, and the slow, messy work of healing — and the manipulators, scammers, and false gurus who make that work harder. Plus a bit of fun and adventure thrown in.
I'm not a psychologist or a licensed anything. I'm a reader, a researcher, and a person who has been through some things. Think critically, do your own research, and seek professional support when you need it.
If something here resonates, leave a comment. I'd genuinely love to hear from you!
The Key I Forgot: Escaping Was the Easy Part
A personal essay about leaving a five-year emotionally abusive relationship — the morning of the escape, the drive home, and why walking out the door was only the beginning. Part one of two.
Narcissistic Friends and Their Codependent Comrades
I wanted a better friend like I wanted a better mother, and although it was never my job to improve either of them, I felt the need to take on the challenge. Part two of two.
Fatal Friends: Recognizing a Narcissistic Friend After 17 Years
“Have you heard from Autumn lately?" I asked my sister, as we ate dinner across from each other. She sealed her lips and squinted her eyes, nonverbally signaling that I might not like what I was about to hear. (Part one of two.)
Don't Get Married: Twelve Years and a Pizza Shop
A long-haired, brown-eyed grunge rocker boy with the cutest smile stepped out from his shift, by the adamant request of his manager. Go talk to her and I'll give you the rest of the night off...
Fateful Affairs: Cheating on the Cheaters
A candid confession about emotional affairs, self-deception, and the pattern of seeking self-worth from the wrong people — written before I had the language to fully understand it.