About That Jack

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About That Jack Honest stories about trauma, healing, and being human. I write about living with CPTSD, mental health, and the weird, beautiful mess of figuring life out.

No toxic positivity. Just truth, humor, and hope.

🧠 Writer. Survivor. Overthinker.
đź“Ť NYC

How do you forgive yourself for things you did while trying to survive something you didn't understand?That’s the uncomf...
08/30/2026

How do you forgive yourself for things you did while trying to survive something you didn't understand?

That’s the uncomfortable part of healing from childhood trauma. You can understand why you behaved the way you did without pretending you never hurt anyone. You can take responsibility without deciding you’re a terrible person. And you can regret the past without spending the rest of your life putting yourself on trial for it.

I wrote about guilt, shame, regret, responsibility, and the strange process of learning to look back at yourself with a little more compassion.

Because maybe self-forgiveness isn't about deciding everything you did was okay.

Maybe it's about finally believing you don't have to keep punishing yourself.

Read: How to Forgive Yourself After Childhood Trauma

https://aboutthatjack.com/how-to-forgive-yourself-after-childhood-trauma/

Is BPD really just another name for CPTSD? I recently found myself debating that question, and it made me think about ho...
08/16/2026

Is BPD really just another name for CPTSD? I recently found myself debating that question, and it made me think about how much our diagnoses shape the way we understand ourselves. I was originally misdiagnosed with BPD and later correctly diagnosed with CPTSD, so I know firsthand how much that distinction can matter. BPD and CPTSD can overlap, and trauma can be deeply relevant to both, but that doesn't make them the same thing. More importantly, we shouldn't need to change someone's diagnosis before deciding they're worthy of compassion.

Read my thoughts on BPD, CPTSD, trauma, stigma, and why getting the right diagnosis matters.

https://aboutthatjack.com/bpd-vs-cptsd-why-the-difference-matters/

Regret has a way of keeping us trapped in versions of our lives that never actually happened. The things we wish we had ...
08/15/2026

Regret has a way of keeping us trapped in versions of our lives that never actually happened. The things we wish we had said differently. The choices we wish we could undo. The moments we’d erase if we could.

But healing isn’t about rewriting the past. It’s about learning to accept what happened, take responsibility for our part in it, and stop letting yesterday convince us we don’t deserve tomorrow.

Writing about CPTSD has taught me that vulnerability doesn't end when you hit “publish.” Sometimes, that is when it begi...
08/08/2026

Writing about CPTSD has taught me that vulnerability doesn't end when you hit “publish.” Sometimes, that is when it begins.

Every survivor’s experience is different. There are shared patterns, but no single trauma story. CPTSD is not a script, it is a journey that looks different for every person.

Behind every diagnosis is not just trauma. There is a whole person.

Read more: https://aboutthatjack.com/cptsd-every-healing-journey-is-different/

Have you found that vulnerability has been a difficult part of your healing journey, or has sharing your story helped you heal?

Have you ever wondered why emotional intensity can feel like love?For many people who experienced childhood trauma, rela...
08/06/2026

Have you ever wondered why emotional intensity can feel like love?

For many people who experienced childhood trauma, relationships can become confusing. We may mistake uncertainty, longing, and the fear of losing someone for connection.

Limerence can feel like love because our nervous system recognizes the pattern. But familiarity isn't always safety.

Healing from CPTSD means learning the difference between a relationship that activates our wounds and one that allows us to feel secure, valued, and truly seen.

In this article, I explore the connection between childhood trauma, CPTSD, limerence, and why healthy love can sometimes feel unfamiliar.

https://aboutthatjack.com/limerence-vs-love-after-childhood-trauma/

Writing The Space Between a Message and a Meaning wasn't just about telling my story. It was about giving a voice to exp...
07/26/2026

Writing The Space Between a Message and a Meaning wasn't just about telling my story. It was about giving a voice to experiences that so many people quietly carry.

This memoir explores Complex PTSD, trauma, healing, and the long journey toward understanding ourselves. If you've ever wondered why the past can still shape the present—or know someone who has—this book may resonate with you.

If you decide to read it, thank you. And if you think it could help someone else, I'd really appreciate you sharing this post.

https://aboutthatjack.com/book/

I never expected one of the hardest parts of publishing my memoir would come after it was finished.I thought the challen...
07/20/2026

I never expected one of the hardest parts of publishing my memoir would come after it was finished.

I thought the challenge would be writing the words.

I didn't expect the challenge would be allowing myself to be seen.

For many people with CPTSD, success can bring up complicated emotions. You can be proud of yourself and still feel overwhelmed. You can achieve something you've dreamed about and still find yourself searching for danger.

I wrote about that experience and why healing doesn't mean you never struggle again.

Sometimes healing is simply recognizing what is happening and reminding yourself: this moment is not the past.

I spent a lot of years learning how to survive. I thought healing would come from understanding my past, working through...
07/18/2026

I spent a lot of years learning how to survive. I thought healing would come from understanding my past, working through the pain, and finally making sense of everything I carried.

What I didn't expect was that some of my healing would come through something as ordinary as being a father.

My daughter never set out to teach me anything. She was simply being herself, growing, laughing, and showing me that life could be about more than just staying prepared for the next difficult moment.

This is about the lessons we sometimes learn from the people we love most, and how the smallest moments can help us find our way back to ourselves.

New post: https://aboutthatjack.com/what-my-daughter-taught-me-about-healing/

Publishing my book brought back old CPTSD fears I thought I had moved past.I felt exposed. Vulnerable. I questioned whet...
07/13/2026

Publishing my book brought back old CPTSD fears I thought I had moved past.

I felt exposed. Vulnerable. I questioned whether I had made a mistake by sharing my story.

But healing isn't about never feeling fear. It's about learning that fear doesn't get to make the decisions anymore.

I published the book anyway, and I’m proud that I did.

The Space Between a Message and a Meaning is my personal journey through trauma, Complex PTSD, healing, and learning to be seen.

Available now on Amazon.

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