Getting Past Survivor
Finally Be The Real You
There comes a point when surviving just isn’t enough.
You’ve made it through the worst—but life still feels like a holding pattern. You’re not falling apart, but you’re not thriving either. That quiet sense that something more is possible? It’s not wishful thinking. It’s truth. And it’s what this space is all about.
Getting Past Survivor was born from that very moment—when I realized I was no longer in crisis, but far from feeling whole. I’d lived through childhood abuse, relentless bullying, and a marriage that drained me. I had done a lot of healing — but something was still missing. And deep down, I knew something better was possible. So I went looking for it.
In the years that followed, my healing was tested in ways I couldn’t have predicted—especially when I lost the love of my life at 54. It was another kind of survival. But even through that grief, the work I’d done helped me keep going. And now, I help others do the same.
This space is a blend of blog and voice. Every post can be read, and many include audio so you can listen right here or on my podcast. Take in the words however they land best for you.
You’ll find:
🧠 Brain-based tools—NLP, hypnosis, and unconscious rewiring that actually work
❤️🩹 Real talk on grief, growth, and healing (the non-linear kind)
🌱 The messy, beautiful journey to becoming you again
💬 Support from someone who gets it—not to fix you, but to walk with you
If you feel like there’s something beyond the pain—even if you can’t name it yet—you’re right. And you don’t have to get there alone.
To read more about my story: The Reason for Getting Past Survivor
The Question is…What’s Next
You've put a huge amount of effort into healing yourself, but something still doesn't feel right.
Here’s what I've found with pretty much everyone I know who's experienced healing and other significant events their lives.
The Expanded Wheel of Life I refer to is shared in the link below.
The Opportunity of Chaos
Life is full of chaos. And that’s a bad thing, right? Or is it? Reframing what we perceive as negative into something that’s positive will shift your focus into finding the bright side of life!
Stress and the Holidays
From Thanksgiving through New Years, we can feel overwhelmed with holiday stress. In the process, our brains are preparing us for what it expects, similar to how it instinctively guides wild animals to find the food and water they need when the environment around them changes. So much is learned behavior and response that we don't need to keep holding on to.
The Map is Not the Territory
The map and territory are metaphors used to illustrate the difference between the actual world and our understanding of the world as we perceive it to be. The ‘map’ is our understanding of the ‘territory’ of reality, and we must be careful to remember that the map is not the territory! Let's talk about how distorted maps affect relationships so we can become more aware of how we're seeing the world. The more we understand our views, the more we can update our maps, the better we can relate to others and with ourselves!
Alone in a Relationship
Are you in a relationship - dating, married, friendship - and feeling disconnected as if you don’t exist? Are you feeling unvalued, unheard, or misunderstood? Is this a relationship you truly want in the first place? Mine wasn’t, but I couldn’t walk away…
Childhood Sexual Abuse & The Dentist
The dentist office is a scary place for most people I know. It’s even worse for survivors of sexual abuse. Here is some insight for both survivors, and professionals who serve them, so we can create a feeling of safety in the dentist chair.
Woobies
The Power of the Woobie
We don’t really know the power of stuffed animals and blankets when we first give them to our babies, but as babies are developing they are developing attachment to the objects around them and these woobies become much more than objects to babies. They’re comfort within that last a lifetime.
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
We talked about what she was feeling and I shared a comparison between an empathetic heart and a sympathetic heart.
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?