I’m Ashley
Hi, I’m Ashley Dawn. I’m a mum, a partner to a wonderfully grounding man, a creator, an avid reader, and a decorated survivor who spent nearly four decades accumulating trauma like it was a competitive sport. Living with the grand trifecta of C-PTSD, ADHD, and fibromyalgia means my nervous system is essentially a faulty smoke alarm powered by coffee and sheer defiance.
I created Rising and Repeating – Cycles of this Phoenix to strip away the clinical jargon and talk about the full, messy spectrum of complex trauma—because as it turns out, you don’t just “get over it.” It literally rewires your brain, and I want to explain why. This is a cozy, sarcastic, and utterly unfiltered space for anyone attempting to rebuild a life from the wreckage—one laugh, dark joke, and daily survival win at a time. Pull up a chair.
What’s inside Rising and Repeating
- Rising and Repeating – Cycles of this Phoenix (what its all about)
- Rising from the Rubble: Phoenix cycle and how it taught me about C-PTSD
- PTSD vs. C-PTSD: The Spicy Remake No One Asked For
- Stollen Childhood: My brutal truth (minus real names and places)
- Escapes from the Chaos: Keeping me sane when my world wasn’t
And that’s just the start …
- Tactical EscapismRunning Away from Reality, One Hobby at a Time Let’s be honest: when you live with a brain that treats… Read more: Tactical Escapism
- Why The Phoenix…Rising from the Rubble – What the Phoenix Cycle Taught Me About Living with C-PTSD If you’ve spent any time navigating… Read more: Why The Phoenix…
- PTSD Vs C-PTSD: Spicy RemakeThe Spicy Remake No One Asked For!! Let’s talk about trauma. I know, super lightweight topic for a quiet afternoon, right? Put the… Read more: PTSD Vs C-PTSD: Spicy Remake
Content & Trigger Warnings
This blog is a raw, honest, and unfiltered space where I process living with Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) and trauma. Because of the nature of deep recovery, my writing frequently touches on heavy, adult topics, including the physical, emotional, medical, and sexual impacts of prolonged trauma.
Themes frequently discussed across this blog include:
- Sexual Trauma, Abuse & Reclamation
- Childhood grooming, sexual assault, and rape (including experiences at ages 15 and 22)
- Processing sexual trauma, consent, agency, and navigating C-PTSD within BDSM/kink as a framework for healing
- Relationship & Interpersonal Abuse
- Medical abuse, control, and manipulation by an ex-partner
- Struggling with self-advocacy, setting boundaries, and trusting your own voice after systemic control
- Severe verbal, physical, emotional, and financial abuse
- Childhood & Developmental Trauma
- Severe physical, emotional, and verbal abuse by caregivers
- Neglect and extreme/punitive punishments by parents
- Parental infidelity and unstable domestic environments
- Sibling abuse and severe bullying
- Complex Trauma & C-PTSD
- Emotional flashbacks, nervous system dysregulation, and hypervigilance
- Suicidality, self-harm, and suicide attempts
- Substance use, drug and alcohol abuse
- Chronic Pain & Medical Trauma
- Fibromyalgia, physical exhaustion, and somatic pain symptoms
- Navigating healthcare spaces and overcoming medical gaslighting/abuse
- Neurodivergence & Mental Health
- ADHD, executive dysfunction, burnout, and imposter syndrome
- Toxic Family Dynamics & Boundaries
- Estrangement, gaslighting, narcissistic family patterns, and strict boundaries
Your peace of mind matters here. To help you navigate this space safely, every individual blog post will feature a specific, detailed trigger list at the very top before the article begins. That way, you can make an informed choice on whether a particular post is right for your nervous system today. Take what helps, leave what doesn’t, and always prioritize your safety first.
UK mental health, crisis, and trauma support
A Note for International Readers
Please note that I am based in the UK, so the crisis lines, charities, and supportive resources I have provided directly below are located within the United Kingdom. If you are joining us from anywhere else in the world, I invite you to share your supportive thoughts or ask questions here in my comments section; however, for professional help, please seek out your own country’s specific mental health advocates, charities, or crisis lines.
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