Getting Past Survivor
Because “surviving” was never meant to be the whole story
If you’ve ever felt stuck replaying the same patterns — overthinking, people-pleasing, shutting down, or trying to prove your worth — you already know survival mode doesn’t end just because the danger did.
It lingers in the brain, shaping how you think, feel, and show up in life.
This space is about understanding how your brain learned to survive, how to rewire it, and how to live freely, fully, and intentionally.
You may have survived something big or small — but survival isn’t the end of your story.
Getting Past Survivor is about moving beyond those automatic patterns — fight, flight, freeze, or fawn — and into a life led by choice, not fear.
It’s the journey of letting go, retraining the mind, and becoming someone you can trust to treat yourself well.
If you sense there’s something beyond survival — even if you can’t name it yet — you’re right.
And you don’t have to do it alone.
💙 Helen
To read more about my story: The Reason for Getting Past Survivor
If you’d like to explore specific topics or themes — from self-trust to rewiring the brain
— visit the Getting Past Survivor Library.
It’s a listing of the blogs in my every growing collection, sorted into 6 healing pillars (w/ links):
💫 Self-Trust | 🌱 Self-Design | 🧠 Rewire Your Brain | 🤝 Relationships | 🎯 Tools & Sensory Awareness | 💬 Own Your Voice
Trusting Our Confidence
We don’t just fear our flaws — sometimes we fear our strengths. Confidence can feel unsettling when it’s new, but trusting it is where freedom begins.
Release Emotion, Gain Clarity
When emotion takes over, clarity disappears. Discover how releasing emotional charge—without losing feeling—restores balance and opens new possibilities.
Bullying and Mental Health
Bullying isn’t just a childhood problem — it’s a lifelong one. From the playground to retirement communities, its effects can quietly shape our confidence, relationships, and mental health. This piece explores how those patterns form, why the brain holds on, and what it takes to heal and reclaim your voice.
Everyone’s a Pawn
We all think we’re making conscious choices — but something else might be moving the pieces. This isn’t about manipulation; it’s about awareness.
It Wasn’t That Bad
When you tell yourself “it wasn’t that bad,” you’re not downplaying the past—you’re protecting yourself from it. Until one day, you’re ready to stop.
What About…?
We’ve all done it—blurted out, “But what about…?” when emotions run high. It feels harmless, but it’s actually the brain’s quick way of dodging discomfort.
Rewriting Reality to Feel Safe
Sometimes bending reality feels easier than facing the truth. But each time you choose honesty, even when it hurts, you strengthen the part of you that knows you can stand on your own. This reflection explores how self-protection can keep us stuck—and how truth, though uncomfortable, becomes the foundation for real safety.
Advice or Empathy?
Advice shows up fast—sometimes from us, sometimes toward us. It’s how the brain tries to create safety in uncertainty. But empathy offers something deeper: connection. This piece explores why advice feels so natural, what our nervous system is really asking for, and how to tell when to fix—or simply feel.
Between Holding On and Letting Go
Healing can feel uncertain when your brain mistakes change for danger. In that quiet space between holding on and letting go, your senses reveal how your unconscious protects you—and how to gently teach it that freedom is safe.
How Survivors Are Still Being Silenced
Silence doesn’t protect survivors—it protects abusers and the systems that dismiss our pain. From families to social media, survivors are told to stay quiet. But every time one of us speaks, the shame cracks and the cycle weakens. Your story matters. Your voice is enough.
Your unconscious mind is driving more than you think
Your unconscious mind is working behind the scenes, making choices long before you notice. In those hidden seconds, it shapes your actions, reactions, and even emotions. The good news? You can reprogram these automatic patterns and harness your mind’s power to create the life you actually want.
Raised by Love… and Control: The Adult Child of a Helicopter or Snowplow Parent
You were loved, but tightly guided. Hovered over. Protected. Maybe even managed. This isn’t about blame—it’s about the hidden cost of being overparented, and how to start trusting yourself now.