Post-traumatic Stress Disorder – Tips from the Queen of Rejection®

Why I Feel Connected to the Menendez Brothers

Apr 30, 2025

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ct oI actually have felt a kind of a connection to Lyle and Erik Menendez ever since I was a panelist on the ‘Abuse or Greed’ Maury Povich show decades ago. I was able to discuss how it wasn’t just their anger about the years of sexual abuse by their father, but also the early…

When Rejection Leads to Self-rejection and Feels Like Shame

Feb 29, 2024

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Elayne Savage, PhD

The sting of rejection often morphs into self-rejection and shame. One way of dealing is reminding yourself “This is only embarrassment not shame”can make a difference in how we deal with the pain of taking something personally.

Trying to Feel Safe but Old Fears Keep Assaulting Me

Apr 30, 2023

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Elayne Savage, PhD

I like to think of myself as pretty fearless and gutsy but not so much with all the news of smash-and-grabs, assaults and shootings. My PTSD-like visceral response comes from old fears when I was a Child Protective Social Worker in San Francisco many years ago.

Broadsided by Antisemitism

Nov 30, 2022

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Elayne Savage, PhD

Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago dinner with White Supremacist antisemites Nick Fuentes and Kanye West brought back a PTSD visceral reaction remembering neighbors spitting at me, calling me a “Dirty Jew.” I was 7 years old. This resurgence of antisemitism is alarming and dangerous. And I’m very scared.

This Time the School Shootings are in Texas

May 31, 2022

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Elayne Savage, PhD

I can’t stop crying about the horrendous school massacre in Uvalde Texas. The long-term anxiety and depression experienced by these children and families will be overwhelming, including survivor guilt. A look at what causes this kind of rage-filled violence.

I Didn’t Know the Gun Was Loaded . . .

Oct 31, 2021

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Elayne Savage, PhD

I used to play with Daddy’s gun when I was a child. Now I cringe whenever i hear about a child shooting or killing another child or their parent or themselves. Freaks me out to realizeI could have been that child. Another unintended shooting – on the set of ‘Rust’ when the cinematographer and director…

Predatory Behavior, Bullying, Screaming and Smashing – Oh My

Apr 30, 2021

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Elayne Savage, PhD

Accusations of imbalance and misuse of Power and Authority by producer Scott Rudin who bullied and berated staff by out-of-control acts and Phillip Roth’s biographer Blake Bailey whose ex-students are reporting sexually predatory behavior back in 8th grade.

Traumatizing Experiences Can Bring On PTSD

Jan 31, 2021

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Elayne Savage, PhD

When the Capitol was invaded on January 6, many members of Congress and staff were traumatized by needing to evacuate and hide for hours.They will likely experience PTSD — especially if they thought they were going to die.

Gaslighting –– the Ultimate Alternate Reality

Aug 31, 2020

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Elayne Savage, PhD

Misrepresentations, untrue statements and flat out lies from both Conventions felt like gaslighting and manipulation. It was crazy-making because it reminded me of how my childhood perceptions were constantly discounted.

The Many Faces of Survivor Guilt

Mar 30, 2019

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Elayne Savage, PhD

Waylon Jennings and I shared the same haunting guilty thought for many years. Here are some of the various ways #survivor guilt shows itself – not just after tragedies but in the daily lives of some families.

Category: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder