Mental Illness Happy Hour #774 Hitting A Therapy Wall - Anna Runkle aka The Crappy Childhood Fairy
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Nov 14, 2025 Anna Runkle, also known as The Crappy Childhood Fairy, is a writer and speaker who shares her insights on overcoming complex PTSD. In this engaging conversation, she discusses her unconventional upbringing in a Berkeley commune and how it shaped her resilience. Anna reveals the limitations of traditional talk therapy, her journey of self-discovery through writing practices, and the importance of community support. She also touches on the debates surrounding CPTSD and emphasizes practical tools for healing, highlighting empathy and daily practices that foster authentic connections.
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Growing Up In A Chaotic Commune
- Anna Runkle grew up in a Berkeley commune with drug use, sex, and neglect that normalized unsafe adult behavior around children.
- She found refuge in curious teachers and science, which gave her resilience despite the chaos.
CPTSD As A Neurological Injury
- Complex PTSD can be primarily a neurological injury that makes regulation and relationships hard, not a moral failing.
- Naming CPTSD reframed Anna's symptoms as common consequences of neglect, which relieved shame and guided treatment.
Assault, PTSD, And A Turning Point
- After her mother died Anna suffered a street assault that left her with a broken jaw and acute PTSD symptoms like dissociation and suicidal thoughts.
- Writing and a specific offloading practice offered rapid relief where hours of talk therapy had failed.
