Trauma Survivors and Medical Care
For many of us, a routine doctor visit may be a benign proposition, but for trauma survivors, the experience can feel terrifying, and may often be avoided at all costs. While trauma is experienced throughout the lifespan, the healthcare community continues to struggle with learning ways in which trauma affects an individual's health, relationships, utilization of the healthcare system, and ability to adopt health-related recommendations.
Is My Employer a Trauma-Informed Workplace?
Parts & Presentations: Complex Trauma & Dissociation of the Self
When Schools Miss the Impact of Childhood Trauma
What is Developmental Trauma?
Developmental trauma is a particular way that your brain developed to try and protect you as a child that has a lasting impact on your nervous system, the way you see the world, and the way you see yourself and others.
Staying Connected and Self-Care during High Stress
We’re in a current phase where the entire world is experiencing high levels of stress, panic, and uncertainty. We don’t know how long this will last or how it will impact us individually and in our communities. It’s in times like these that it’s most important to stay connected, stay in community, and take extra care of ourselves. So how do we do that when we know that distancing is what will help protect us and those around us?
The True Birth Experience: Looking at Maternal Mental Health and the Real Issues That New Moms May Face
While we often hear about how wonderful and joyous having a baby is, people rarely talk about the difficult feelings that accompany bringing a new life into this world. Many women report that the reality of becoming a mother is inconsistent with how they believe it will be. Being open about the possible challenges and experiences is essential to decreasing shame and feelings of isolation in new parents. Understanding the difference between feelings associated with adjusting to motherhood versus more serious symptoms is essential in ensuring those who need help the most receive the support they require.
The Impact of Trauma and Stress on the Body
Every day, we experience a variety of different stresses. Sometimes they feel more manageable and we can effectively cope with them. And other times they stay with us, exhaust us, and continue on through to the next day. Week. Month. Year. All of our daily stresses add up and we end up experiencing varying degrees of symptoms because of them.
Trauma Related Dissociation: A Response to M. Night Shyamalan’s Latest Thriller, “Split”
I recently viewed the trailer of Shyamalan’s new movie, “Split.” Based on the trailer, the premise of the movie and its main character distort the truth about Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which was once known as Multiple Personality Disorder. DID is a legitimate, painful and severe traumatic stress response. However, I believe that the movie’s depiction of its character with DID and dissociative responses is not accurate and unfortunately adds to the confusion, judgment, and shame around experiencing the kinds of trauma that create dissociative experiences.
The Anniversary Effect
The anniversary effect, or anniversary reaction, is a set of unsettling feelings, thoughts or memories that occur on the anniversary of a significant experience.
Depleters and Replenishers
There are different kinds of stressors and each one is going to impact you in a different way. No matter the type of stress, whether it’s running late for work and rushing through your morning or experiencing a sudden change or loss- your mind and body are being impacted and resources depleted.
The Secrets We Keep
Whatever your secret traumas are, they can only be healed by acknowledging their existences, and being heard and validated in a safe place. This can be one of the most terrifying things to do, and finding the right support at the right time with the right person is an important first step in breaking the silence.