The essence of trauma is the responses to the event when our brain and body's window of tolerance is overwhelmed.
Informational Article: Children’s Normal Sexual & Relational Development
By sexual development, I'm discussing the development of children's relationship to sex, sexual behaviors, relationship to their body, and relationships with others. This will help you to understand what is normal for children to do when it comes to sex and how parents can best guide them.
Informational Article: Implicit Memories and Memory Systems
Implicit memories are memories that we carry unconsciously and cannot be actively recalled as stories or facts. They are the groundwork our lives are built on and influences our relationships, responses to stress, behavior, arousal, and skills.
Coping Skills: Obsessive Thoughts
Table of Contents What Are Obsessive ThoughtsSkills in The MomentBreak The SpiralTrauma SkillsKatniss SkillAffirmationsSomatic Skills2 to 1 BreathingSensory Integration ToolsProgressive Muscle Relaxation Radical Acceptance Long Term Skills What are obsessive thoughts? Obsessive thinking is an inability to control and cope with recurring, distressing thoughts, and images. The process may be mildly distracting or absorbing. Obsessive … Continue reading Coping Skills: Obsessive Thoughts
Informational Article: Hyperarousal & Hypoarousal
Hyper and hypoarousal are the two dysregulated states of the autonomic nervous system. These states are connected to the Fight-Flight-Freeze-Fawn/Fold response. "Fight & Flight" are states of hyperarousal, "Freeze" is a split response and "Fawn/Fold" is a state of hypoarousal. Arousal refers to the level of stress and type of activity our central nervous system … Continue reading Informational Article: Hyperarousal & Hypoarousal
Coping Skills Masterposts: Panic Attacks, Flashbacks & Dissociation
Table of Contents The BasicsBreathing SkillsCalm Breathing2-to-1 BreathingGrounding SkillsStatements of PresenceBody EngagementBody Scan5-4-3-2-1 SkillB.O.L.R.A.IGrounding ObjectsKatniss SkillBilateral StimulationBilateral TappingMeditative WalkProgressive Muscle RelaxationMisc. Coping SkillsMovementSplash Cold WaterDistraction The Basics Feel emotions & have thoughts. When we deal with flashbacks and panic attacks we tend to want to make the emotions go away or immediately stop the anxious … Continue reading Coping Skills Masterposts: Panic Attacks, Flashbacks & Dissociation
Advice: Healthy Boundaries
The Basics: Let’s start with the basic aspects you can frame healthy boundaries around. Your SpaceYou have the right to personal space, the basics of not having people touching you but also your room. You can have a personal bubble and have places in your home that are only yours. Space is important and hard for … Continue reading Advice: Healthy Boundaries
Symptom Explainer: Dissociation
Defining Dissociation General Dissociation: Dissociation refers to the natural mechanism our brain has to disconnect us from our surroundings and ourselves. This is sometimes as a benign reaction but severe dissociation is associated with trauma and other mental illnesses. Every Person has the capacity for dissociation and many experiences some degree of the skill like … Continue reading Symptom Explainer: Dissociation
Diagnosis Primer: Borderline Personality Disorder
Criterion, aetiology, relations to other conditions, connections to trauma and neurology. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Also known as Emotional Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) is a personality disorder that affects identity, impulse control, relational issues and emotional understanding. In the general population, there is a diagnosis rate of 1.6-2.7%. (Lenzenweger, Lane, Loranger, & Kessler 2007; Tomoko, … Continue reading Diagnosis Primer: Borderline Personality Disorder
Informational & Opinion Article: The Cycle of Abuse
The cycle of abuse needs to be understood as it really is, not as a fate for all victims, an excuse for perpetrators or catch-all explanations of the culture of abuse we live in.
Survivors Healing Survivors 