In this deeply personal episode, I share every story — all eight. Each one different, each one violating in its own way. This isn’t for shock value. It’s to show that sexual assault doesn’t always look like what we imagine — it takes many forms, and every one of them matters. This is me putting the responsibility where it belongs.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains detailed descriptions of sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised.

CPTSD isn’t just about trauma — it’s about what happens after. It’s the constant fight to regulate your emotions, the overthinking, the fear of abandonment, the exhaustion from always being on edge — even when nothing is technically “wrong.” In this episode of Said Out Loud, I talk about the day-to-day reality of living with CPTSD: what people don’t see, what it takes to function, and why your struggle is real even if others don’t understand it.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re broken or too much — you’re not. You’re living through something that changes how your brain works, and you’re doing the best you can.

Behind the scenes of CPTSD is a full-time job most people never see. In this episode, I talk about the hidden labor of healing — how even “easy” tasks can feel impossible, how hard it is to believe in yourself when trauma has rewired your brain, and why your struggle is valid. If you're tired and overwhelmed, you’re not broken — you’re just battling more than anyone realizes.