In the Garden of Recovery
This article was posted on our original blog at Healing from Complex ptsd, February 12th 2021.
Certified Complex Trauma Recovery Coach
From Seed to Harvest: The Garden of Recovery from Complex PTSD
Thankfully, however, it doesn't have to stay that way. It really can get better, if we're willing to put into practice the strategies that we can learn right here in Healing From Complex PTSD.
So, let me illustrate this by using a garden analogy. In the beginning, we plant the seeds of healing as we begin learning about the trauma that we've experienced, its impact on us, and what we can do to overcome it. We water the seeds by making daily consistent steps towards healing, whether those efforts are large or small. We will also begin to weed out the trauma responses, a.k.a. maladaptive coping mechanisms, that we've long depended upon in order to survive, but no longer work for us.
As we grow and change, as we become stronger and more resilient, we begin to notice subtle differences in how we respond to the challenges that we will inevitably face. We will notice how much we've grown and the progress that we've made. We will feel more confident and self-assured. The seeds we plant today will bear fruit in its season. Our lives will begin to transform in ways that we probably could not have imagined just a short time ago.
From seed to harvest, our lives become more beautiful and abundant over time, and we begin to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Hello Fellow Seeds!
Maybe we are still in a hard shell,
Not able to break out and plant ourselves.
The environment hasn't been particularly friendly.
It's hard to want to come out of our shell,
When there is no water,
Which we so desperately need.
We know we won't grow if there is no sunshine,
Which we so desperately need.
So we have protected ourselves and stayed in our shell.
We are still a seed.
It's going to be painful to break out of our seed shell.
But we can see what happens when others do.
I see trees around me.
They are tall and beautiful,
And I feel like I'm in their shade.
But I am a seed.
I'm not a tree yet.
Or am I?
Maybe part of me is a tree already.
And I just THINK I'm still a seed,
So sometimes I ACT like a seed.
Because I'm a bit confused.
The environment doesn't work for me.
Not enough water, not enough sun.
It hurts to grow when there isn't enough.
Sometimes I lean towards the sun.
I'm worried I'm going to fall over.
Sometimes I get water,
So I soak it all up.
But I'm worried that I'm going to drown.
I'm confused.
Hey you over there,
I think I see something spouting.
Are you becoming a tree?
Oh, right, you don't know yet.
No pressure.
Just wondering.
You look like you are going to be something amazing.
In fact, you already are.
Wow.
Whatever I am,
I can still grow.
I can become great.
I just need the environment
To be what I need it to be.
To be what I need me to be.
Hello seed.
How are you today?
What do you need
To grow?
Courses
Let's Create Generational Change Together
To support this goal, Healing from Complex PTSD allows you to:
- Access professional education and business support from industry leaders
- Learn a results-driven approach to CPtsd recovery
- Discover a full library of ready-to-use tools and resources
Developmental Trauma Self-Check
Over the past 12 months, how many and how often have you noticed:
-
I work hard to hold it together in public, then crash in private.
-
I struggle to name what I feel until it overloads me.
-
I say yes to keep the peace, then feel resentful or empty.
-
I feel loyal to people who do not treat me well.
-
I lose time or feel foggy when stressed.
-
I avoid closeness or over-attach quickly, then panic.
-
I find it hard to trust my own judgement.
-
I feel shame when I try to set boundaries.
-
I need external approval to feel steady.
-
I push through fatigue instead of pausing.
How to use this:
0–3 items often: you may be using a few survival patterns.
4–7 items often: consider paced support to rebuild safety and choice.
8–10 items often: a trauma-trained professional can help you restore stability and connection.
Brain Impact Self-Check
Over the past 12 months, how often have you noticed:
-
My mind jumps to what could go wrong, even in safe moments.
-
I find it hard to remember recent details when I am stressed.
-
Decisions feel risky, so I delay or avoid them.
-
I forget good experiences quickly and dwell on the bad.
-
I feel numb or overwhelmed, with little in-between.
-
I lose words when emotions rise.
-
I misread neutral faces or tones as negative.
-
I struggle to notice body signals like hunger, tension or breath.
-
I do better when someone I trust is nearby.
-
I feel different “versions” of me in different settings.
How to use this:
0–3 often: some protective habits; gentle self-care may help.
4–7 often: consider trauma-trained coaching to build daily brain skills.
8–10 often: a paced, brain-based plan can restore clarity, memory and confidence.
For formal assessment, use recognised measures:
-
ACE-IQ or ACE-10 for adversity history (education only on public pages).
-
ITQ (International Trauma Questionnaire) for ICD-11 PTSD/Complex PTSD.
-
DERS for emotion regulation, DES-II for dissociation, PCL-5 for PTSD symptoms.
-
PHQ-9, GAD-7 for mood and anxiety; OSSS-3 for social support.
