Author Archives: Shay Seaborne, CPTSD

About Shay Seaborne, CPTSD

Former tall ship sailor turned trauma awareness activist-artist Shay Seaborne, CPTSD has studied the neurobiology of fear / trauma /PTSD since 2015. She writes, speaks, teaches, and makes art to convey her experiences as well as her understanding of the neurobiology of fear, trauma theory, and principles of trauma recovery. A native of Northern Virginia, Shay settled in Delaware to sail KALMAR NYCKEL, the state’s tall ship. She wishes everyone could recognize PTSD is not a mental health problem, but a neurophysiological condition rooted in dysregulation, our mainstream culture is neuro-negative, and we need to understand we can heal ourselves and each other through awareness, understanding, and safe connection.

Unveiling the Dark Side of Healthcare: Navigating the Corrupt System and Seeking Justice

Abusers are attracted to medicine and psychology because the culture gives them easy access to multiple victims and protects them from accountability. The behavioral health industry benefits much by keeping us coming back for more crappy therapy and ineffective medications … Continue reading

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7 Years of Disbelief

For over seven years, I’ve been forced into the role of “my own best advocate.” This is because the people I turned to for care refused to understand what I need for recovery from severe Complex PTSD and quadrilateral Complex … Continue reading

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When Help Harms: How Welfare Humiliates the People It Supposedly Serves

I’ve had severe Complex PTSD nearly my whole life. In my young adult years, that meant a lot of financial instability. I tried my damndest to land and keep jobs, build a positive social environment, pursue education, keep my health … Continue reading

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Charlie Kirk’s Philosophy: A Neurobiological Perspective

Charlie Kirk’s ideas are under debate, and many people use his words to promote political agendas or cultural narratives. My goal is to consider his philosophy from an objective neurobiological view and its implications for human well-being.  From an Interpersonal … Continue reading

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Connection Is the Cure: Meet My Nervous System’s Needs

My nervous system is desperate for the kind of connection that feels safe. Because all my life, I’ve been chronically and acutely deprived of that safety. Sometimes it’s been extreme, other times less so, but never enough. When I had … Continue reading

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Psychiatry Hasn’t Cured Anything

Psychiatry hasn’t “cured” anything in the way most people think about cures. What it has mostly done is reframe human suffering into categories, attach labels, and then try to manage symptoms, usually through medication or behavior-based interventions. 💊   There’s … Continue reading

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The Seductive Trap of Success Hacks: The Vital Factors Tony Robbins, Tim Ferriss, and John Assaraf Bypass 

It’s not surprising that almost all the “success” influencers dominating social media and podcasts are men. Tony Robbins, Brendon Burchard, Tim Ferriss, Gary Vaynerchuk, Robin Sharma, Lewis Howes, John Assaraf, and Scott D. Clary have built massive followings telling people … Continue reading

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Why the Ego, Id, and Superego Do Not Apply

The ego, id, and superego are abstract inventions, not observable processes. What can be studied are phenomena such as attachment, defense mechanisms, resilience, meaning-making, and identity processes. These are evident in behavior, physiology, relationship patterns, and lived experiences. The psychological … Continue reading

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What is Institutional Betrayal and How Does It Harm Us? 

Institutional betrayal occurs when the systems or structures a person depends on for safety, care, or justice–such as hospitals, universities, police, or legal bodies–fail to protect them, or worse, participate in their harm. From an Interpersonal Neurobiology perspective, these betrayals … Continue reading

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The Therapist’s Mirror: How Lack of Self-Awareness Can Dysregulate Clients

A therapist who lacks the capacity for self-awareness and attunement may, at best, provide surface-level support, but they’re also likely to cause harm, especially to trauma survivors. Without the ability to co-regulate and deeply connect with their clients’ internal states, … Continue reading

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