Foo’s supportive husband who provides a loving and stable presence, first introduced in Chapter 9 as a potential romantic partner.

The alias for Foo’s main therapist during her formative years who initially diagnosed her with C-PTSD, though their relationship is later strained by withheld information.

Foo’s great-aunt and a formidable yet caring presence in her life, known for her resilience and for showering Foo with love during visits to Malaysia.

Foo’s eldest aunt, she endured family trauma due to historical unrest in Malaysia and was one of the few relatives to attend Foo’s wedding.

The director of the Center for Child Trauma and Resilience who offers insights into C-PTSD and supports Foo’s understanding of her condition through recorded counseling sessions.

Foo’s complex relationship with her father, a tech worker in Silicon Valley, highlights issues of emotional dependency and abandonment following her parents' divorce.

Foo’s mother, originally from Malaysia, is depicted in the memoir as an abuser who projected her own traumas onto Foo, complicating Foo’s understanding of maternal love.