Kelley O'Hanlon
@kelleycrow.bsky.social
Mental health therapist, devourer of books, overthinker, owned by cats, polyamorous. BLM/Trans Rights are Human Rights/Support WGA/Support Unions! she/her
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
America is a country that will test UBI hundreds of times, get the same radically positive results each time, and still look at it askance, but will also put untested robotaxis on the road because a billionaire threw a shit fit.
An Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees a staggering reduction in homelessness. The program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years, and at the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.
Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees staggering reduction in homelessness
The state program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years. At the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.
www.streetroots.org
December 3, 2025 at 6:27 AM
America is a country that will test UBI hundreds of times, get the same radically positive results each time, and still look at it askance, but will also put untested robotaxis on the road because a billionaire threw a shit fit.
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
No-strings-attached, zero-means-testing, no-questions-asked cash payouts have been proven, over and over again, to be the most effective form of charity/aid going.
It gets people in housing, and it saves the state money. We know this. It's fact, not theory.
It gets people in housing, and it saves the state money. We know this. It's fact, not theory.
An Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees a staggering reduction in homelessness. The program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years, and at the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.
Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees staggering reduction in homelessness
The state program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years. At the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.
www.streetroots.org
December 3, 2025 at 7:12 AM
No-strings-attached, zero-means-testing, no-questions-asked cash payouts have been proven, over and over again, to be the most effective form of charity/aid going.
It gets people in housing, and it saves the state money. We know this. It's fact, not theory.
It gets people in housing, and it saves the state money. We know this. It's fact, not theory.
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
Acknowledging our own feelings w/ realism & respect is way harder than it sounds when we've been conditioned by trauma to ignore & invalidate our emotional life. Give yourself credit & grace-- none of this "recovery" thing is easy, obvious, or fun.
Worth it, but not fun.
Worth it, but not fun.
December 1, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Acknowledging our own feelings w/ realism & respect is way harder than it sounds when we've been conditioned by trauma to ignore & invalidate our emotional life. Give yourself credit & grace-- none of this "recovery" thing is easy, obvious, or fun.
Worth it, but not fun.
Worth it, but not fun.
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
Self-punishment as a change strategy reinforces the idea we "deserve" to suffer for our mistakes-- thing is, trauma survivors are already suffering almost every day. If suffering changed behavior in positive ways, we'd be perfect & awesome by now.
Do you feel perfect & awesome?
Do you feel perfect & awesome?
December 1, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Self-punishment as a change strategy reinforces the idea we "deserve" to suffer for our mistakes-- thing is, trauma survivors are already suffering almost every day. If suffering changed behavior in positive ways, we'd be perfect & awesome by now.
Do you feel perfect & awesome?
Do you feel perfect & awesome?
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
Hey, trauma survivor reading this who was conditioned to believe you had to tolerate, ignore, or cover up the abusive behavior of a family member: that wasn't your fault. You deserved better from the people who should have protected you.
December 1, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Hey, trauma survivor reading this who was conditioned to believe you had to tolerate, ignore, or cover up the abusive behavior of a family member: that wasn't your fault. You deserved better from the people who should have protected you.
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
Every time we try to realistically tell ourselves "it's not our fault," Trauma Brain will be right there, sneering in our ear, "...or IS it??"
(No. Your abuse was not your fault. Full stop.)
(No. Your abuse was not your fault. Full stop.)
December 1, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Every time we try to realistically tell ourselves "it's not our fault," Trauma Brain will be right there, sneering in our ear, "...or IS it??"
(No. Your abuse was not your fault. Full stop.)
(No. Your abuse was not your fault. Full stop.)
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
Three evenings ago I read an article about using ice packs on the forehead to help beat insomnia. The original study was from 2011 IIRC. Apparently if you drop the temperature of your frontal lobe by a degree or so you trigger a cascade of sleepy time metabolic events.
November 29, 2025 at 5:24 AM
Three evenings ago I read an article about using ice packs on the forehead to help beat insomnia. The original study was from 2011 IIRC. Apparently if you drop the temperature of your frontal lobe by a degree or so you trigger a cascade of sleepy time metabolic events.
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
"If they get one nibble out of a thousand emails, that’s going to be a decent return for their trouble. And whoever nibbles is going to get scammed."
Yes, All Those Author Services and Book Club Emails Are Fake, and No, Don’t Send Them Any Money
If you’re an author, or honestly if you just happen to be standing near an author these days, then you have probably seen a flood of emails in the past couple of months promising you that who…
whatever.scalzi.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:23 PM
"If they get one nibble out of a thousand emails, that’s going to be a decent return for their trouble. And whoever nibbles is going to get scammed."
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
The dissociative & avoidant symptoms survivors often experience can be hell on our finances & other time sensitive tasks of daily life-- & that can, in turn, convince us our problem is w/ "responsibility" or "adulting."
But a trauma informed worldview understands it's not.
But a trauma informed worldview understands it's not.
November 22, 2025 at 4:55 AM
The dissociative & avoidant symptoms survivors often experience can be hell on our finances & other time sensitive tasks of daily life-- & that can, in turn, convince us our problem is w/ "responsibility" or "adulting."
But a trauma informed worldview understands it's not.
But a trauma informed worldview understands it's not.
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
Committing to our recovery, doing what we can do day by day to feel & function differently, does not mean it was our "fault" we struggled in the past. We're not ready, equipped, or supported to recover until we are.
Grace over guilt. Just do the next right thing.
Grace over guilt. Just do the next right thing.
November 22, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Committing to our recovery, doing what we can do day by day to feel & function differently, does not mean it was our "fault" we struggled in the past. We're not ready, equipped, or supported to recover until we are.
Grace over guilt. Just do the next right thing.
Grace over guilt. Just do the next right thing.
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
As we interrupt old patterns of self-talk & mental focus in trauma recovery, it's real important we not fall into telling ourselves the problem's been us "doing life wrong."
The problem was our CONDITIONING, which we did not choose-- & which we're actively working to change now.
The problem was our CONDITIONING, which we did not choose-- & which we're actively working to change now.
November 22, 2025 at 4:56 AM
As we interrupt old patterns of self-talk & mental focus in trauma recovery, it's real important we not fall into telling ourselves the problem's been us "doing life wrong."
The problem was our CONDITIONING, which we did not choose-- & which we're actively working to change now.
The problem was our CONDITIONING, which we did not choose-- & which we're actively working to change now.
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
Trauma recovery is not a "performance."
Work toward not giving a f*ck what your recovery looks like to anyone not in your skin.
Work toward not giving a f*ck what your recovery looks like to anyone not in your skin.
November 22, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Trauma recovery is not a "performance."
Work toward not giving a f*ck what your recovery looks like to anyone not in your skin.
Work toward not giving a f*ck what your recovery looks like to anyone not in your skin.
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
Hello queers and fears, it's almost Pride Month and I've got a gift for you:
the first six months of the 🏳️🌈2025 Queer Adult SFF List! 🏳️🌈
I'm organizing this by month so click on through!
the first six months of the 🏳️🌈2025 Queer Adult SFF List! 🏳️🌈
I'm organizing this by month so click on through!
May 29, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Hello queers and fears, it's almost Pride Month and I've got a gift for you:
the first six months of the 🏳️🌈2025 Queer Adult SFF List! 🏳️🌈
I'm organizing this by month so click on through!
the first six months of the 🏳️🌈2025 Queer Adult SFF List! 🏳️🌈
I'm organizing this by month so click on through!
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
Schumer would sell his soul to the devil for a box of Cheezits and a promise that Satan will totally think about torturing him less.
Democrats have been fighting for months to address America's healthcare crisis
For the millions who will lose coverage
For people with cancer who won't get the care they need
For working families who can't afford to pay $25K more a year for healthcare
We will keep fighting
For the millions who will lose coverage
For people with cancer who won't get the care they need
For working families who can't afford to pay $25K more a year for healthcare
We will keep fighting
November 10, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Schumer would sell his soul to the devil for a box of Cheezits and a promise that Satan will totally think about torturing him less.
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
Trauma informed professionals-- in any field, not just medicine or therapy-- intentionally support survivors in feeling & accepting that they have wisdom & skill inside them that their trauma responses have temporarily made them doubt or forget about.
November 5, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Trauma informed professionals-- in any field, not just medicine or therapy-- intentionally support survivors in feeling & accepting that they have wisdom & skill inside them that their trauma responses have temporarily made them doubt or forget about.
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
We often think of childhood familial abuse as the archetype of complex trauma-- but peer group bullying over years can absolutely check all the CPTSD boxes: it occurs over time, is functionally inescapable, is relationally focused, & injures our self-concept & attachment style.
November 5, 2025 at 9:53 PM
We often think of childhood familial abuse as the archetype of complex trauma-- but peer group bullying over years can absolutely check all the CPTSD boxes: it occurs over time, is functionally inescapable, is relationally focused, & injures our self-concept & attachment style.
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
Self-care is not as easy for trauma survivors as it may sound. We've been conditioned to deny our need for care ("needing" anything feels awfully vulnerable) & to prioritize others at our own expense.
Learning self-care can be like learning a new language as an adult-- awkward.
Learning self-care can be like learning a new language as an adult-- awkward.
November 5, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Self-care is not as easy for trauma survivors as it may sound. We've been conditioned to deny our need for care ("needing" anything feels awfully vulnerable) & to prioritize others at our own expense.
Learning self-care can be like learning a new language as an adult-- awkward.
Learning self-care can be like learning a new language as an adult-- awkward.
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
If we avoid basic self-care-- checking in w/ ourselves, speaking to ourselves respectfully & supportively, feeding ourselves & letting ourselves rest-- we're also avoiding communicating to our "parts" & inner child that they're valuable & safe. Which is the backbone of recovery.
November 6, 2025 at 2:28 AM
If we avoid basic self-care-- checking in w/ ourselves, speaking to ourselves respectfully & supportively, feeding ourselves & letting ourselves rest-- we're also avoiding communicating to our "parts" & inner child that they're valuable & safe. Which is the backbone of recovery.
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
Before we can talk about & process our feelings & experiences in trauma recovery, we often have to wrestle w/ this overwhelming fear of being seen. Survivors learned to be seen is to be vulnerable.
We can't just "let go" of that fear-- we have to meet it w/ respect & patience.
We can't just "let go" of that fear-- we have to meet it w/ respect & patience.
November 6, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Before we can talk about & process our feelings & experiences in trauma recovery, we often have to wrestle w/ this overwhelming fear of being seen. Survivors learned to be seen is to be vulnerable.
We can't just "let go" of that fear-- we have to meet it w/ respect & patience.
We can't just "let go" of that fear-- we have to meet it w/ respect & patience.
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
Yes, it sucks we didn't have the tools or support or safety to protect ourselves back then-- but we can care for the kid we once were right here & now, by working our trauma recovery w/ realism & self compassion today.
That kid inside our head & heart & memory still needs us.
That kid inside our head & heart & memory still needs us.
November 7, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Yes, it sucks we didn't have the tools or support or safety to protect ourselves back then-- but we can care for the kid we once were right here & now, by working our trauma recovery w/ realism & self compassion today.
That kid inside our head & heart & memory still needs us.
That kid inside our head & heart & memory still needs us.
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
You are not a pessimist or "downer" for struggling w/ hope. Of course trauma survivors struggle w/ hope. We're suspicious of it. We know it can make us vulnerable. We know it can be used against us.
But hope, properly understood & leveraged, can also be a powerful recovery tool.
But hope, properly understood & leveraged, can also be a powerful recovery tool.
November 7, 2025 at 12:01 AM
You are not a pessimist or "downer" for struggling w/ hope. Of course trauma survivors struggle w/ hope. We're suspicious of it. We know it can make us vulnerable. We know it can be used against us.
But hope, properly understood & leveraged, can also be a powerful recovery tool.
But hope, properly understood & leveraged, can also be a powerful recovery tool.
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
A wild part of trauma recovery can be realizing how we unconsciously use our body, from our facial expressions to our posture to our muscle tension, to manage threats we perceive in the environment.
And to think some people imagine trauma is just "in our head" or "in the past."
And to think some people imagine trauma is just "in our head" or "in the past."
November 7, 2025 at 1:46 PM
A wild part of trauma recovery can be realizing how we unconsciously use our body, from our facial expressions to our posture to our muscle tension, to manage threats we perceive in the environment.
And to think some people imagine trauma is just "in our head" or "in the past."
And to think some people imagine trauma is just "in our head" or "in the past."
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
CPTSD is going to try to convince you that your involuntary thoughts, feelings, & reactions "define" you-- but they don't. They are evidence of your conditioning-- no more, no less.
We are defined by our thoughtful, values-congruent choices, not our unchosen reflexes.
We are defined by our thoughtful, values-congruent choices, not our unchosen reflexes.
November 7, 2025 at 6:42 PM
CPTSD is going to try to convince you that your involuntary thoughts, feelings, & reactions "define" you-- but they don't. They are evidence of your conditioning-- no more, no less.
We are defined by our thoughtful, values-congruent choices, not our unchosen reflexes.
We are defined by our thoughtful, values-congruent choices, not our unchosen reflexes.
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
The fact that our brain likes order & wants to tell us coherent stories often works against us when we've endured sh*t for which there IS no coherent explanation.
Don't let your brain make up a story in which you're the villain just for the sake of having a story. (It will try.)
Don't let your brain make up a story in which you're the villain just for the sake of having a story. (It will try.)
November 7, 2025 at 6:44 PM
The fact that our brain likes order & wants to tell us coherent stories often works against us when we've endured sh*t for which there IS no coherent explanation.
Don't let your brain make up a story in which you're the villain just for the sake of having a story. (It will try.)
Don't let your brain make up a story in which you're the villain just for the sake of having a story. (It will try.)
Reposted by Kelley O'Hanlon
Validating our own anger isn't easy for survivors of verbal & emotional abuse. We're often worried that acknowledging our anger or aggressive feelings as legit & important might make us like "them."
Trust me: even angry, you are nothing like "them." Not in any way that matters.
Trust me: even angry, you are nothing like "them." Not in any way that matters.
November 8, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Validating our own anger isn't easy for survivors of verbal & emotional abuse. We're often worried that acknowledging our anger or aggressive feelings as legit & important might make us like "them."
Trust me: even angry, you are nothing like "them." Not in any way that matters.
Trust me: even angry, you are nothing like "them." Not in any way that matters.