Easter Eggs, Family Feels & PTSD: When Holidays Aren’t So “Happy”

Holidays like Easter come with pastel colors, brunch plans, and Instagram-perfect family photos. But if you’re someone living with complex PTSD, this time of year might feel more like emotional whiplash than a warm, fuzzy celebration.

Wait, Why Is This So Hard?

Complex PTSD usually comes from ongoing or early-life trauma—often in family settings. So when Easter rolls around, complete with family expectations, religious themes, or pressure to “be cheerful,” it can stir up old stuff you thought you'd filed away years ago. Suddenly, you're not just choosing between deviled eggs or carrot cake—you're managing flashbacks, anxiety, or a deep ache you can’t quite name.

Common Easter Triggers Can Include:

• Family gatherings that bring up unresolved pain

• Religious traditions that don’t feel safe or authentic anymore

• Feeling left out if your life looks different than others’ highlight reels

• The pressure to “show up” when you barely feel like yourself

So… What Can You Do?

First of all: you're not broken, you're not overreacting, and you're definitely not alone. Some ways to take care of yourself this Easter:

• Give yourself permission to say no (even to grandma’s famous ham)

• Make your own rituals—yes, chocolate counts

• Stay grounded with things that soothe you (music, movement, art). Music has always been an intentional ritual for me. Here is one of my favorite for grounding.

• Reach out to safe people, or even just your pet

• Most importantly: be kind to yourself

Your healing doesn’t take a holiday—but that doesn’t mean you can’t find moments of peace, laughter, or even joy on your own terms.