Aware NL

04/02/2026

Awareness and acceptance makes the world a kinder, less scary place to be.

Something you may not know about me…

I have lived experience as someone who is AuDHD ♾️. (For those who don’t know, that’s autism and ADHD combined)

I thought I wasn’t just “sensitive”. I thought it was “just trauma.”

I knew I wasn’t like most people I know, but couldn’t really explain how I felt everything so deeply. The good and the bad. Everything seemed to be amplified by 1000xs compared to everyone around me.

I tried over the years to explain how my feelings weren’t just in my “gut” or my “chest” as some people would describe it. I felt emotions deep down to every cell in my being.

As an empath and complex trauma survivor, this was just how my life was. And although the signs and symptoms of trauma intersect with autism and ADHD - I knew there was something much more profound in who I was.

So today, I embrace neurodiversity and my authentic self….. and this has changed everything. 🩵

awarenessiskey

03/29/2026

Pause for a moment… before the scroll, before the pressure, before the “𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦.”

What if today wasn’t about pushing yourself—but about 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮? (Because let’s face it, if you’re a trauma survivor, this is one of the most difficult things to achieve sometimes)

For many of us, Sundays don’t feel calm. They can bring anxiety, overwhelm, or that quiet sense of unease. And that’s not a mindset problem, it’s your nervous system asking for support.

These affirmations are not about forcing positivity. They’re about creating 𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮, 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣…. right where you are.

💙 I move into this day at my own pace, allowing myself to feel safe and supported.

💚 I offer my mind gentleness, my body calm, and my heart compassion.

💜 I can hold uncertainty while also creating moments of safety for myself.

🩵 I give myself permission to notice small moments of ease, without forcing anything.

🤍 I am allowed to grow and heal in ways that feel safe for me, one step at a time.

🔔Let this be your reminder: 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 “𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞”.

Save this for when your nervous system needs grounding. Share it with someone who might need permission to slow down today.

And tell me—what does “feeling safe” look like for you today?

03/27/2026

Most people don’t realize how much trauma is shaping their everyday life… 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙞𝙩.

Hi, I’m Denise—founder of Aware NL, Trauma Awareness Educator, and Certified Trauma Recovery Coach.

And Aware NL didn’t come from a business idea… it came from 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

After navigating complex trauma, mental health challenges, and the ripple effects they have on the body, mind, and relationships, 𝙄 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙖 𝙜𝙖𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨.

Not in 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦… but in 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨. The intention to be “trauma-informed” or “trauma-aware” is it emerging in many industries, but intention is so much different from understanding.

Because trauma isn’t just something that happens to us.

It’s something that lives in our nervous system, shows up in our behaviours, and impacts how we move through the world.

I’ve seen firsthand the impacts of trauma in my own personal life and in workplaces.

I’ve also witnessed the impact in lack of understanding trauma and how it has affected individuals in our workplaces - from leaders to employees to clients, patients, students, etc.

That’s WHY I created Aware NL.

To help individuals, workplaces, and communities become more trauma-aware.

And to create safer, more supportive environments, and actually have the awareness and understanding that puts them on a path to both life and workplace wellbeing.

This work is not just professional. It’s personal. And it’s deeply needed.

If you’ve ever wondered:

“𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙙𝙤 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙮?”
“𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙨𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙?”
“𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙄 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙣?”

You’re not broken.

You’re responding exactly how your nervous system was wired to protect you.

And there is a path forward…..with the right awareness and support.

✨ If this resonates, I invite you to follow along, sign up for my period 𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 (𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦), visit my website (𝙬𝙬𝙬.𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙡.𝙘𝙤𝙢), or reach out to learn more about working together.

03/16/2026

Not everyone’s brain experiences the world the same way — and that’s not a flaw. It’s diversity.

It’s Neurodiversity Celebration Week (March 16–20) — a time to recognize that differences in how our brains work are a natural part of being human.

Many neurodivergent people — including those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, PTSD, and other neurological differences — move through systems that weren’t designed with them in mind.

At Aware NL, trauma awareness and neurodiversity go hand in hand. ((auDHD complex trauma survivor and entrepreneur here 🙋🏻‍♀️))

Because when we understand the brain, the nervous system, and lived experience, we create safer spaces, more compassionate workplaces, and stronger communities.

Neurodiversity isn’t something to “fix.”
It’s something to understand, support, and celebrate.

Take a moment this week to learn something new about neurodiversity — and reflect on how you can help create spaces where different minds are welcomed, not judged.

03/05/2026

“She survived.”

But survival doesn’t mean the nervous system forgets.

Her body still startles at loud noises.
Her heart races when voices get raised.
She shuts down when conflict feels unsafe.

She notices everything.
She carries memories in her sleep.
Sometimes the safest thing still feels like being alone.

Yes, she survived.

But survival often looks like a nervous system that is still trying to protect her.

Trauma doesn’t just live in the past.
It shows up in the body, in reactions, in the ways people try to stay safe.

And understanding that changes how we support people - ourselves, others, our communities, and our workplaces.

Awareness changes everything.

“She ‘Survived’……

She is ME.

Trauma Awareness Educator ~ Trauma Recovery Coach with Lived experience

Denise Tapper Blake
— Aware NL

03/04/2026

There’s a particular kind of grief that can come with a late diagnosis.

Realizing that the things you were blamed for…
the traits you tried to hide…
the parts of yourself you worked so hard to “fix”…

were never character flaws to begin with.

Sometimes clarity doesn't come until years after the struggle began. With clarity can come relief, anger, sadness, and validation all at once.

If you’re untangling what your past might have looked like with the right support, that process deserves patience and compassion.

You were never broken.
You were navigating without the right map.

Support is available when you’re ready.

03/02/2026

Everyone talks about resilience like it’s a personality trait.

It’s not.

Resilience is relational.
It’s nervous system-based.
It’s built in safe connection.

You were never meant to bounce back alone.

At Aware NL, we talk about resilience in a trauma-aware way — grounded in biology, compassion, and sustainable well-being.

If you’re tired of white-knuckling your way through stress, this is your reminder:

Support isn’t weakness.
It’s regulation.

And regulation builds resilience.

❤️

03/01/2026

Home is a feeling. Home is within. That’s where healing begins.



From the book detoxify

02/26/2026

🎨🫟🖌️

Registration is now OPEN!

ASNL is excited to offer another round of beginner-friendly painting classes for adults. Each week, participants will explore a variety of thoughtfully selected painting projects while building skills and confidence in a relaxed, supportive environment. Sessions are guided by ASNL’s resident artist and creative facilitator, Terra Wadman, who provides step-by-step instruction while also encouraging participants to develop their own creative style and independence.

Date: Thursdays, starting March 19th
Time: 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Location: Elaine Dobbin Centre for Autism, 70 Clinch Crescent

All supplies are provided, including paints, brushes, canvases, and aprons — just bring your creativity and enjoy the process!

SAVE THE DATE - Registration Opens February 24th @ 10 am

PLEASE NOTE: This registration does not ensure your place in the project; intake meetings will be arranged for final selection.

For more information, please contact: twadman@asnl.ca or rhogan@asnl.ca

Register Here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=t_74vYLkLESzUiOSnycP1N3xLiiUh31Ls2Dmj6GXSxhUOFNGSkhHVUpORUtXU0xRRlNOU1pNWVVVRy4u&route=shorturl

02/14/2026

Love coms in many forms. Love yourself a little more today (and everyday) regardless of your “relationship status”.

Posts from some of my favourite accounts ❤️

02/09/2026

Emotional safety is one of the most important things in a relationship.

Without it you won’t feel safe. Relationships without safety can never have stability.

Just a reminder for those who have been blamed for being the issue for making a relationship unstable.

Ask yourself: Did you feel emotionally safe with that person?

If the answer is NO, then there’s a 99.9% chance that you were NOT the issue.

Their inability to provide an emotionally safe place for you to express your feelings creates an unstable environment- and let’s face it, who can or wants to endure that?

Love doesn’t require staying somewhere with someone who does not feel safe.