Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
@swarpat.bsky.social
🧶📚🐈⬛🌱🍪🎮
Just bumbling around like good ol’ Pooh
AuDHD
Gender-nonconforming Bi 🏳️🌈
Accepting of everyone except the bigots
Just bumbling around like good ol’ Pooh
AuDHD
Gender-nonconforming Bi 🏳️🌈
Accepting of everyone except the bigots
Pinned
What was it Yoda said? Pass on what you have learned.
Applies in all sorts of situations.
Applies in all sorts of situations.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
One of the most common experiences of trauma survivors is that we've felt like we're a frustrating mystery to ourselves our whole lives-- & we've been made to feel ashamed for not understanding or being able to "control" our feelings & choices.
That is: for being human.
That is: for being human.
February 3, 2026 at 5:44 AM
One of the most common experiences of trauma survivors is that we've felt like we're a frustrating mystery to ourselves our whole lives-- & we've been made to feel ashamed for not understanding or being able to "control" our feelings & choices.
That is: for being human.
That is: for being human.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
"Taking responsibility" for our trauma recovery is not about "growing up" because we'll be "in trouble" if we don't. Bleh.
It's about getting realistic about what we do & don't control, inside & outside of us. It's about feeling grounded & empowered-- not stressed & exhausted.
It's about getting realistic about what we do & don't control, inside & outside of us. It's about feeling grounded & empowered-- not stressed & exhausted.
February 3, 2026 at 5:46 AM
"Taking responsibility" for our trauma recovery is not about "growing up" because we'll be "in trouble" if we don't. Bleh.
It's about getting realistic about what we do & don't control, inside & outside of us. It's about feeling grounded & empowered-- not stressed & exhausted.
It's about getting realistic about what we do & don't control, inside & outside of us. It's about feeling grounded & empowered-- not stressed & exhausted.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
Sustainable trauma recovery asks us to be unflinchingly realistic about media & entertainment that will retraumatize us without adding to our understanding of the world.
Remember that "they" want us hooked, scared, & outraged as much or more than they want us informed.
Remember that "they" want us hooked, scared, & outraged as much or more than they want us informed.
February 3, 2026 at 5:47 AM
Sustainable trauma recovery asks us to be unflinchingly realistic about media & entertainment that will retraumatize us without adding to our understanding of the world.
Remember that "they" want us hooked, scared, & outraged as much or more than they want us informed.
Remember that "they" want us hooked, scared, & outraged as much or more than they want us informed.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
Spoiler: abusive people & institutions will get angry & retaliatory when you don't give them the obedience, fear, &/or forgiveness they feel entitled to.
Yes, their anger can be realistically dangerous & consequential-- which calls for a plan, not a surrender.
Yes, their anger can be realistically dangerous & consequential-- which calls for a plan, not a surrender.
February 3, 2026 at 5:49 AM
Spoiler: abusive people & institutions will get angry & retaliatory when you don't give them the obedience, fear, &/or forgiveness they feel entitled to.
Yes, their anger can be realistically dangerous & consequential-- which calls for a plan, not a surrender.
Yes, their anger can be realistically dangerous & consequential-- which calls for a plan, not a surrender.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
Looking for some advice from artists, if any should happen to come across this...
What would you recommend as a set of coloured pencils for a teenager who is trying to get better at drawing by hand?
There's so many kinds and things I know nothing about, I wanna help her but feel super clueless.
What would you recommend as a set of coloured pencils for a teenager who is trying to get better at drawing by hand?
There's so many kinds and things I know nothing about, I wanna help her but feel super clueless.
February 3, 2026 at 1:20 AM
Looking for some advice from artists, if any should happen to come across this...
What would you recommend as a set of coloured pencils for a teenager who is trying to get better at drawing by hand?
There's so many kinds and things I know nothing about, I wanna help her but feel super clueless.
What would you recommend as a set of coloured pencils for a teenager who is trying to get better at drawing by hand?
There's so many kinds and things I know nothing about, I wanna help her but feel super clueless.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
Bumblebee with pollen ball comes in for a landing on a Pride of Madeira
#photography #art, #macrophotography
#flowers #bees
#photography #art, #macrophotography
#flowers #bees
February 1, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Bumblebee with pollen ball comes in for a landing on a Pride of Madeira
#photography #art, #macrophotography
#flowers #bees
#photography #art, #macrophotography
#flowers #bees
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
You & I were hurt. We had experiences we shouldn't have had, or should have been protected from or guided through w/ compassion & care. That wasn't our fault. Blaming & shaming ourselves for having been vulnerable won't change what happened-- or what we need to do now to recover.
February 1, 2026 at 10:13 PM
You & I were hurt. We had experiences we shouldn't have had, or should have been protected from or guided through w/ compassion & care. That wasn't our fault. Blaming & shaming ourselves for having been vulnerable won't change what happened-- or what we need to do now to recover.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
If you’re seeing this post, take a sec; breathe; blink blink blink; focus, two, three, four; and remind yourself of your goals, values, and mission today.
Great job. Scroll on.
Great job. Scroll on.
February 1, 2026 at 10:15 PM
If you’re seeing this post, take a sec; breathe; blink blink blink; focus, two, three, four; and remind yourself of your goals, values, and mission today.
Great job. Scroll on.
Great job. Scroll on.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
"Suck it up" is not a trauma recovery strategy. "You're more resilient & resourceful than you think, focus on your strengths" is closer to a strategy, but still isn't comprehensive.
Strategy realistically identifies a problem & envisions a sustainable arc for solving it.
Strategy realistically identifies a problem & envisions a sustainable arc for solving it.
February 1, 2026 at 10:15 PM
"Suck it up" is not a trauma recovery strategy. "You're more resilient & resourceful than you think, focus on your strengths" is closer to a strategy, but still isn't comprehensive.
Strategy realistically identifies a problem & envisions a sustainable arc for solving it.
Strategy realistically identifies a problem & envisions a sustainable arc for solving it.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
Even if you want to shift how you feel & function, you don't have to fundamentally change in order to "deserve" love or safety. You're worthy right here, right now, having changed exactly 0% of who you are. Change if you want to & if you choose to-- but know you don't "have" to.
February 1, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Even if you want to shift how you feel & function, you don't have to fundamentally change in order to "deserve" love or safety. You're worthy right here, right now, having changed exactly 0% of who you are. Change if you want to & if you choose to-- but know you don't "have" to.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
Trauma or addiction recovery might very well mean defying what your family or culture expects from you, in terms of your gender, your career, your lifestyle, even where you live. Remember that NONE of their expectations are as important as your safety & stability.
None.
None.
January 31, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Trauma or addiction recovery might very well mean defying what your family or culture expects from you, in terms of your gender, your career, your lifestyle, even where you live. Remember that NONE of their expectations are as important as your safety & stability.
None.
None.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
You can't tell a trauma survivor by looking at them, or how "successful" they are in their career, or how "together" they seem emotionally. Most of us have worked hard for YEARS to fly under the radar w/ our memories & wounds. I GUARANTEE you know more survivors than you think.
January 31, 2026 at 3:28 PM
You can't tell a trauma survivor by looking at them, or how "successful" they are in their career, or how "together" they seem emotionally. Most of us have worked hard for YEARS to fly under the radar w/ our memories & wounds. I GUARANTEE you know more survivors than you think.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
There is no such thing as "trauma processing" in the abstract. There is what YOU, specifically, need in terms of managing & detoxifying YOUR trauma memories-- which is separate from, but related to, rewiring the emotional & behavioral conditioning AROUND those memories.
January 31, 2026 at 3:29 PM
There is no such thing as "trauma processing" in the abstract. There is what YOU, specifically, need in terms of managing & detoxifying YOUR trauma memories-- which is separate from, but related to, rewiring the emotional & behavioral conditioning AROUND those memories.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
Validation & relating to ourselves w/ compassion & realism are ALWAYS front line trauma recovery tools. They're never the "wrong" tools to use, even if a situation requires additional self talk, focus, or physiology skills to effectively manage.
January 31, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Validation & relating to ourselves w/ compassion & realism are ALWAYS front line trauma recovery tools. They're never the "wrong" tools to use, even if a situation requires additional self talk, focus, or physiology skills to effectively manage.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
You don't have to believe the events of your life amount to "trauma" to benefit from trauma recovery tools, skills, & philosophies.
Don't let labels or categories-- which are rarely black & white anyway-- distract you from developing effective life management rituals.
Don't let labels or categories-- which are rarely black & white anyway-- distract you from developing effective life management rituals.
January 31, 2026 at 3:30 PM
You don't have to believe the events of your life amount to "trauma" to benefit from trauma recovery tools, skills, & philosophies.
Don't let labels or categories-- which are rarely black & white anyway-- distract you from developing effective life management rituals.
Don't let labels or categories-- which are rarely black & white anyway-- distract you from developing effective life management rituals.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
Budgeting, saving money, & getting out of debt are trauma recovery tools that many therapists won't be able to help you with, but which make a huge difference to your recovery arc.
They're also tools we're often extremely anxious to touch at first.
They're also tools we're often extremely anxious to touch at first.
January 31, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Budgeting, saving money, & getting out of debt are trauma recovery tools that many therapists won't be able to help you with, but which make a huge difference to your recovery arc.
They're also tools we're often extremely anxious to touch at first.
They're also tools we're often extremely anxious to touch at first.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
Remember today that your authenticity is a trauma recovery tool. Who you really are & what matters to you is super important as you navigate even the little moments today. Check in w/ & return to yourself, again & again, throughout the day.
January 31, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Remember today that your authenticity is a trauma recovery tool. Who you really are & what matters to you is super important as you navigate even the little moments today. Check in w/ & return to yourself, again & again, throughout the day.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
You can be getting perfectly competent psychotherapy, but still feel uninspired & unsupported. Trauma & dissociation are incredibly isolating, & we can get convinced we're to blame for feeling alone & inadequate. But it's not your fault-- and you're absolutely not the only one.
January 31, 2026 at 3:35 PM
You can be getting perfectly competent psychotherapy, but still feel uninspired & unsupported. Trauma & dissociation are incredibly isolating, & we can get convinced we're to blame for feeling alone & inadequate. But it's not your fault-- and you're absolutely not the only one.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
Something I've learned in my own trauma & addiction recovery is that tools without strategy are overwhelming & of very limited use. We can develop dozens of recovery tools, but without a blueprint that weaves them together & guides when & how to use what, we're cooked.
January 31, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Something I've learned in my own trauma & addiction recovery is that tools without strategy are overwhelming & of very limited use. We can develop dozens of recovery tools, but without a blueprint that weaves them together & guides when & how to use what, we're cooked.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
Wishing you all a peaceful #KaleidoSaturday.
January 31, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Wishing you all a peaceful #KaleidoSaturday.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
In English, adjectives seem to follow a specific order:
opinion - size - age - shape - color - origin - material - purpose - noun
We’re steeped in the pattern from birth, and apply it effortlessly.
opinion - size - age - shape - color - origin - material - purpose - noun
We’re steeped in the pattern from birth, and apply it effortlessly.
January 29, 2026 at 2:49 PM
In English, adjectives seem to follow a specific order:
opinion - size - age - shape - color - origin - material - purpose - noun
We’re steeped in the pattern from birth, and apply it effortlessly.
opinion - size - age - shape - color - origin - material - purpose - noun
We’re steeped in the pattern from birth, and apply it effortlessly.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
Let me assure you: no trauma survivor or addict in recovery is struggling right now because they just haven't gotten enough sh*t.
Giving someone more sh*t probably isn't the move that's going to get them into a better place, mentally or behaviorally.
Giving someone more sh*t probably isn't the move that's going to get them into a better place, mentally or behaviorally.
January 22, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Let me assure you: no trauma survivor or addict in recovery is struggling right now because they just haven't gotten enough sh*t.
Giving someone more sh*t probably isn't the move that's going to get them into a better place, mentally or behaviorally.
Giving someone more sh*t probably isn't the move that's going to get them into a better place, mentally or behaviorally.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
I understand you don't "want" to be angry. I don't want to be angry, either. But the easiest way to make anger or any other feeling infinitely "sticky" is to deny & disown when we're experiencing it.
Don't wanna be angry? Then embrace it. Smooch it. Get to know it. Validate it.
Don't wanna be angry? Then embrace it. Smooch it. Get to know it. Validate it.
January 22, 2026 at 11:26 PM
I understand you don't "want" to be angry. I don't want to be angry, either. But the easiest way to make anger or any other feeling infinitely "sticky" is to deny & disown when we're experiencing it.
Don't wanna be angry? Then embrace it. Smooch it. Get to know it. Validate it.
Don't wanna be angry? Then embrace it. Smooch it. Get to know it. Validate it.
Reposted by Patricia Swarbrick 🏳️🌈 🇨🇦
We can be overwhelmingly frustrated by our "fawn" & other trauma responses, we can hate 'em, we can commit to changing them come hell or high water-- but we STILL need to meet them w/ realism & validation when they happen. To affirm that we, & they, are not "crazy" or "bad."
January 22, 2026 at 11:25 PM
We can be overwhelmingly frustrated by our "fawn" & other trauma responses, we can hate 'em, we can commit to changing them come hell or high water-- but we STILL need to meet them w/ realism & validation when they happen. To affirm that we, & they, are not "crazy" or "bad."