In the wake of a devastating event—whether it’s a flood, hurricane, tornado, wildfire, or earthquake—the impact doesn’t end when the skies clear. The physical damage may be visible, but the emotional and psychological reverberations often continue for weeks, months, or even years. The recent Central Texas flooding brought this truth into sharp focus. Beyond the destruction of homes and landscapes, there’s a deeper, more invisible toll: the emotional weight carried by survivors, responders, and entire communities. The Layered Impact of Natural Disasters Disasters create a multi-dimensional aftermath: Physical destruction and displacement Loss of life, safety, and normalcy Increased vulnerability and trauma Environmental shifts and health risks And still—those are just the visible layers. What often goes unseen is the grief, shock, confusion, and personal disorientation experienced by those living through it. No “Right” Way to Respond In the aftermath, people process tragedy in differ...

  Have you ever had the sense that there was something bigger meant for you? Some unique impact you were intended to have while living this life? That quiet pull—toward meaning, contribution, and connection—can be what helps us weather the darkest seasons. It’s the sense that maybe all of this isn’t meaningless… maybe we can use it as the foundation for something deeper to emerge. That belief is what helped Viktor Frankl survive his time in concentration camps, as he describes in Man’s Search for Meaning . It’s the driving force behind ikigai , the Japanese concept of a “reason for being,” and it parallels what Buddhism calls Dharma —one’s sacred duty or righteous path. This isn’t a concept exclusive to one culture or belief system. It’s a thread that runs through many traditions, philosophies, and lived experiences. Whatever name you give it, purpose gives your life circumstances a bigger context. Rather than simply being about hardship, adversity can become part of a path to impa...

Studies show that belief is hard to come by when you’ve experienced repeated abuse and important for healing. "Adults who experienced childhood abuse are over 3 times more likely to develop negative core beliefs about themselves, including beliefs of worthlessness, helplessness, and unlovability." — Wright, Crawford, & Del Castillo, 2009; Beck Institute on Cognitive Therapy “Individuals with a strong belief in their ability to recover from trauma (self-efficacy) are up to 80% more likely to show significant improvement in PTSD symptoms during treatment.” — Benight & Bandura, 2004; Journal of Clinical Psychology There was a season when I didn’t like myself, trusted no one, and was on a path to self-destruction. Repetitive abuse had rewired my brain and convinced me I was broken. Today my nervous system is calm, my relationships are healthy, and Resolve to Rise exists to help others make the same journey—from “I’m broken” to “I’m resilient and able to heal.” The pivot...

If this sounds like you… You live with severe anxiety, severe depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or another serious mental illness (SMI). You’ve survived extreme—or even repeated—trauma. Your doctors focus on meds for mood, psychosis, or anxiety but rarely ask about your trauma If that’s your reality, this post is for you . The hidden numbers A multi-site study of community mental-health clinics discovered a staggering gap: 42% of people receiving care for SMI also met full criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) yet only 2% had PTSD written anywhere in their medical record.¹ When a diagnosis isn’t in the chart, it usually isn’t in the treatment plan. That means the trauma-driven symptoms continue on without intervention. And, yet there are so many effective treatments that can help. Continue reading... 

You’ve been doing the work. You’ve gone to therapy. You’ve read the books. You’ve made real progress. So why are you still getting triggered? It’s disheartening—maybe even disillusioning—to feel like you’ve come so far in your healing journey, only to find yourself dysregulated by something that seems small or out of nowhere. If this sounds familiar, know this: You’re not broken. You’re rewiring. And healing isn’t linear—it’s layered. Why Triggers Still Happen Even after significant healing, your nervous system may still be carrying the impacts of trauma —especially if the trauma was repeated or prolonged. This includes childhood abuse, emotional neglect, or relational trauma that disrupted your sense of safety and belonging. When life is calm, it’s easy to believe you’re “past it.” But a subtle reminder—an expression, tone of voice, a life experience, or external or internal sensation—can throw your body back into a state of defense . That’s because your brain and body learned to s...

  If you've ever felt overwhelmed in relationships—craving connection but pushing people away—you’re not alone. These experiences may not be about who you are, but rather what happened to you. For many living with Complex PTSD (CPTSD) , attachment wounds lie at the heart of the struggle. In this post, we’ll explore how CPTSD and attachment are connected, how early caregiver relationships shape adult attachment styles, and most importantly—how healing is possible. What Is Attachment and Why Does It Matter? Attachment styles are patterns of relating to others, formed during early childhood based on your interactions with caregivers. If those early relationships were safe, responsive, and consistent, you likely developed a secure attachment —the foundation for healthy relationships later in life. But when those relationships were neglectful, abusive, or unpredictable, the result can be long-term emotional dysregulation, fear of connection, and difficulties in trusting others—core fe...