15/11/2025
Most people move through life carrying two versions of themselves.
One version is the one the world sees —
the capable one, the busy one, the one who jokes, works, parents, tries, survives.
The version that looks “fine.”
But the other version is the one no one sees…
and that’s the one that tells the real story.
In that hidden version live all the quiet battles:
the overthinking,
the people-pleasing,
the scanning for danger,
the apologising for things that weren’t your fault,
the shutting down when emotions feel too big,
the comparing yourself to everyone else,
the feeling “not enough” even when you’re doing everything you can.
For many, this isn’t personality —
it’s Complex PTSD.
It’s what happens when the nervous system has spent years trying to stay safe.
And here’s the important part:
these patterns aren’t who you are.
They’re who you had to become.
The good news is that the nervous system can heal.
At Chapter House, we have specialists trained in trauma-focused approaches like EMDR — a therapy that helps the brain finally process what it’s been holding onto, so the triggers lose their power and the body can breathe again.
Gemma Cresswell-Nash, our CBT & EMDR therapist, works gently and effectively with adults who are ready to understand their patterns, soften their reactions, and rebuild a sense of calm and confidence.
P.S.
That hidden version of you — the tired one, the overwhelmed one, the one carrying too much — deserves support too.
If any of this feels familiar, we’re here when you’re ready.
