Tameka AndersonBehavior Coach | Creator of the THRIVE™ Framework & CALM Method™ at Cultivate Potential Strategies

name sounds familiar? 😮 #trauma #healing #parenting

19 Nov 2025 · 2 min

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1:35

In this spoken monologue, the creator personifies childhood trauma as a controlling "friend" who entered their life early and dictated many aspects of their emotional world. They describe a codependent relationship where trauma influenced their play, meals, happiness, creative pursuits, romantic choices, and social circles, often leading to feelings of distress. The speaker recounts turning to therapy, where weekly sessions helped them confront and release this oppressive companion, fostering personal growth and self‑discovery. A biblical reference to Isaiah 61:1 frames the healing as God meeting the broken‑hearted and freeing captives. The narrative concludes with a direct warning to parents: do not expose children to or enable the patterns of this "friend," emphasizing that trauma itself is the domineering, cruel presence to be avoided.

Chapters

I had a friend— scratch that, she was merely a companion— who came into my life at an early age and quickly became my captain. I'mma tell you all about her like Usher said, these are my confessions. I was codependent and adapted to her overwhelming presence. We would play hide and seek together. We shared meals like Chick-fil-A said, it's my pleasure. She was there when I was happy. Then almost immediately, I would begin to feel crappy. She was there when I discovered my love for the stage. Then out of the corner of my eye, I began to notice she seemed enraged. She was there when I had my first crush and found creative ways to tell me, girl, you doing too much. She forced me to find friends that made her most comfortable, and I would always comply because my God, was she insufferable. I wanted to be free, so she chose my boyfriends for me. Then shortly after them, I would dismiss that pattern of men was so ghetto, like What we doing, sis? Enter therapy. Each week I speak and release that friend and found more of me. Isaiah 61:1, God meets us brokenhearted and sets the captives free. I know you're wondering by now what kind of friend is so domineering, controlling, and cruel. I'ma tell you her name, but I have one rule. Parents, please do not introduce your littles nor play into her game because this friend, this Well, trauma is her name.