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
Rules, Traditions & Beliefs
From the moment we’re born, we are all given a set of rules, traditions, and beliefs to live by from the family or system we’re born into. But do they actually serve us? Use this set of questions on your journey of self-discovery.
Technology is a Stalker
You can run, but you can’t hide. Technology always has a way of getting through.
Perfect is the Enemy of Good - Voltaire
Perfection is the great cover up. “The more perfect a person is on the outside, the more demons they have on the inside”
Wanderlust
My mind raced…How could I go by myself?? But I knew that if I didn’t go, I’d be missing a chance of a lifetime!
The Classroom
Experiences are traumatic if it hurts enough, even if it’s not considered trauma.
The Empathetic Heart
Caregivers and survivors often take on more than their share of emotional weight. In this post, I share a client story about how grief and guilt collided—and how we used unconscious mind work to shift from a sympathetic heart to an empathetic one. If you’ve ever felt responsible for someone else’s healing, this is for you.
The History of the Unconscious Mind
Discover the backstory of the terms 'unconscious' and 'subconscious' when we talk about the part of the mind we’re unaware of. We'll break down where these terms come from, how they've changed over time, and what they mean for understanding your own thoughts and behaviors.
Midol, Part 2
In the heat of the moment, when I’m reacting to situations, it’s not Master’s Degree Helen talking, it’s Little Survivor Brain Helen defending herself. This wasn’t work, this was personal. This was life.
Midol, Part 1
One little phrase can impact us for decades . . . Here’s one of the most impactful I’ve experienced.
She Struggles to Break Free
Getting Past Survivor is the break free from cocoon to butterfly.
The Reason for Getting Past Survivor
Here’s where I begin to share … Why Getting Past Survivor? Why a Blog and Podcast?
Living Life As You
We live our lives based on other people's expectations from the moment we take our first breath.
Bird in a Gilded Cage
The metaphor of a bird in a gilded cage illustrates being trapped in a familiar yet constraining situation, where the bird is excited about freedom but returns to the safety of the cage due to fear and uncertainty. This symbolizes people's tendency to stay in comfortable situations even when they have the means to change them, out of fear of the unknown. To design an ideal life, self-awareness of one's values, goals, strengths, and weaknesses is crucial.
Stop Chasing Happiness—Start Living It
Ready to stop chasing someone else’s version of happiness? It’s time to reclaim your true Happy, align with what you really want, and live a life that feels light, warm, and completely your own.