Welcome to Back from the Abyss. I'm Dr. Craig Hecock.

This is the final story of season five. In two weeks, Chris and I will wrap

up the season with the fishbowl. I see today's story as a case study in resilience. Now,

I've long been fascinated with resilience, how and why some people emerge from traumatic

childhoods and go on to become psychologically healthy

adults. In particular, I'm even more drawn to stories of how people raised with chaotic

or abusive or neglectful mothers can grow into kind, loving, and connected adults.

Christina grew up with a tumultuous and mentally ill mother, an older brother who

decompensated into psychosis and frightening aggression, and just one healthy family member, her father.

We explore both the wounding of having a desperately ill parent, as well as the profound

gift of having another parent able to provide love and support.

Christina suffered terribly from these maternal wounds, but she was also able to finally emerge as a

healthy, grateful, wise, and deeply caring adult. Initially drawn to nursing, she eventually

transitioned into working as a psychiatric nurse

practitioner, which I think has been her true calling all along.

She just needed to work through the unfinished business of her childhood so she could then

help others with their mental and emotional despair.

The story is in two parts.

First, Christina shares her story, then she and I go meta and explore the behind-the-scenes

preparation for this episode.

Two of the themes that emerge in the latter part are storytelling as integration and

vulnerability as part of healing.

...