The very word “drugs” comes with a negative connotation to anyone who hasn’t done them or been addicted to them. To the few who have taken drugs in their lifetime, abused them, or been addicted to them, the word means something different. Here, we mean drugs as in illicit, illegal drugs, the kind that theyRead More
The holidays are often a let-down for many people who are struggling with recovery already. Perhaps they experienced conflict with family or were seeking support when they got met with a cold shoulder. It is never easy to walk into family functions where there is no certainty of triggers and cravings staying away or peopleRead More
Family dynamics come in all shapes and sizes. Each family member plays and fulfills a specific role, one of which is “the Black Sheep”. If you believe you or someone in your family is struggling with the psychological and emotional trauma of being the black sheep, look for these signs and symptoms. There is someoneRead More
People all have different personalities and are going to show them at some point. Whether they are angry, sad, frustrated, tired, or any other range of emotions, it is hard to be around someone who is up and down and all over the place emotionally. This is why it makes it hard to deal withRead More
Relaxation is something that should come to us naturally. Unfortunately, trauma is not a natural part of our lives. Quite the contrary, trauma in our lives is as unnatural as it can be. We expect life to have its ups and downs. We don’t expect trauma to take us to the most extreme of downRead More
In our recent blog post, we talked about the void trauma leaves behind and how we can find ourselves on an endless quest to fill that void. We can find ourselves in addictions of all kinds and other problematic behaviors. We can find ourselves with mood disorders, personality disorders, and health problems we don’t feelRead More
Imagine not being able to relax your whole life, living day to day desperately wishing you could just relax. You’ve tried everything in your power you possibly can to just let it all go and not have a care in the world. It never works. Relaxation becomes a new stress in your life because youRead More
It’s the itch which can never be scratched, the void which can never be filled, the emptiness which can never be resolved, and the pain which never seems to heal. Trauma is like a quantum eraser. A part of our lives, moreover, a part of ourselves, is taken from us. Until we can work withRead More
Americans work harder, longer, more strenuous hours with less vacation than nearly every other country in the world. We are notoriously stressed, sick from stress, and stressed about the fact that we are sick. When we are living with unresolved, untreated trauma, our stress is increased exponentially. Stress inhibits our immune system and increases inflammation,Read More
Recently, we discussed how trauma can start in the womb. The fetus absorbs everything experienced by the mother including her emotional states. Research in recent years has found that the fetus absorbs more than emotions, but the chemical reactions emotions can produce in the body and vice versa. Stress is more than an emotional experience.Read More