Amber Keating, LCSW

This offers up important distinctions between and other MH conditions.

We Can't Keep Treating Anxiety From Complex Trauma the Same Way We Treat Generalized Anxiety "Many effective strategies that treat anxiety and depression don't work for trauma survivors."

A helpful whale shark says don't forget your water today!

ℹ️🌿 TAKING UP SPACE: DO YOU LET YOURSELF BE SEEN AND HEARD?

There may be a few reasons why someone does not feel able to take up space. Perhaps they grew up in a household where they were shut down a lot. Maybe they have been criticized for being “too loud” or “too needy.” Regardless, not feeling like you can take up space can hold you back in life. Taking up space can be a sign of healthy strength and confidence. It allows you to be seen and heard and manifest your gift to the world. This article will address how this psychological blockage comes to be and how we can change it.

Read full article:
https://eggshelltherapy.com/taking-up-space/

Glennon Doyle FTW, as per usual.

A traumatic stress reaction consists of *natural* emotions and behaviors in response to a catastrophe, its immediate aftermath, or memories of it.

These reactions can occur anytime after the trauma, even decades later.

The coping strategies that victims use can be understood only within the context of the abuse of a child.

The importance of context was made very clear many years ago when I was visiting the home of a Holocaust survivor. The woman's home was within the city limits of a large metropolitan area. Every time a police or ambulance siren sounded, she became terrified and ran and hid in a closet or under the bed.

To put yourself in a closet at the sound of a far-off siren is strange behavior indeed—outside of the context of possibly being sent to a death camp. Within that context, it makes perfect sense.

Unless we as therapists have a good grasp of the context of trauma, we run the risk of misunderstanding the symptoms our clients present and, hence, responding inappropriately or in damaging ways.

- Diane Langberg PhD

yep

Who else is feeling this? I may not have clear answers for our global stressors, but I have a big heart and lots of support to offer. We can explore your answers to life’s way-too-big questions.

If you are the one in your family who feels it all. I see you and I’m here for you.

Pain travels through families until someone is ready to feel it." -Stephi Wagner

And these feelers, they are your shamans, your priests and priestesses, your healers. You call them mental health patients and label their power as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and the like.

But these are the ones who are born with the gift of Feeling. Because as we all know, you can't heal the pain that you refuse to feel.

You are not lazy or crazy. Your body-brain is dysregulated due to trauma.

Why Trauma Survivors Shouldn’t Think They Are ‘Lazy’ "Let's expose that lie, shall we?"

Which one do you need to read today?

SMART Recovery as a 12-Step Alternative After coming home from the psychiatric hospital, FOLX contributor Frank Vidal (he/they) embarked on a Twelve-Step journey to kickstart his drug recovery. However, resentment grew within him when he challenged the program and sponsor. This is the story of how he found SMART Recovery as an alternative...

ℹ️🌿 THE TOXIC INNER CRITIC OF COMPLEX PTSD |

Most of us have an internal voice that can be skeptical, shaming, or not supportive. The voice can cast doubt and inhibit us from trying a new task or being curious about new experiences.

So, what is different about the toxic inner critic associated with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? And why is it so difficult to redirect its purpose?

Read full article:
https://medium.com//the-toxic-inner-critic-of-complex-ptsd-3e28dd48d46b

Image credit Lisa A Romano
www.lisaaromano.com

The body remembers what the mind wants to avoid.

Cortisol is a vital element in our bodies and plays a big role in the body’s stress response by shutting down unnecessary functions like reproduction and the immune system, in order to allow the body to direct all energies toward dealing with any stresses it encounters.

These functions of cortisol are supposed to be short-lived, just long enough to deal with the offending stressor. Unfortunately, with PTSD & C-PTSD, the system remains in a stressed state, and so do the deranged levels of cortisol (too high in some people, and too low in others).

The mind and body connection is very much real, and when you start to suffer mentally, your physical wiring also starts to ‘short-circuit’. The prolonged exposure to these unbalanced levels hormones as a result of PTSD and C-PTSD and can cause some unexpected, and very inconvenient physical problems such as:

- Your skin may scar more easily
- Your ears might ring
- You might gain weight around your tummy
- You might develop digestive issues like bloating, gas or IBS
- You might get frequent joint and muscle pains
- It can be difficult to gain muscle
- Your feet and hands might be icy cold
- You might yawn more
- Allergies may flare up, or you may develop new ones

Find out more about how PTSD and C-PTSD can physically affect your body in our blog article here: ptsduk.org/10-unexpected-physical-symptoms-of-ptsd/

These are just examples of some of the physical symptoms you may encounter as a result of PTSD or C-PTSD - what have you noticed in yourself?

Find out more about how cortisol and PTSD & C-PTSD are linked (And how you can balance cortisol levels) here: ptsduk.org/the-link-between-cortisol-and-ptsd/

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PLEASE NOTE: These symptoms listed can also be an indication of other conditions - so if you experience any of these symptoms, you should speak to your GP to rule out anything more serious.

Years of repeated exposure to physical and emotional abuse inevitably taught many survivors to develop a heightened defense mechanism that walls them in and makes them feel unsafe in a relationship.

Longing for a romantic connection can be particularly challenging for survivors and their partners as their defense mechanism may be easily set off by conventional expressions of endearment and affection like physical touch and sexual intimacy.

A history of traumatic experiences has taught the brain to miscontrue advances of love, care, and fondness as danger signals.

Available treatment procedures often focuses on addressing the neurobiological aspects of trauma. In this regard, survivors and their partners or loved ones need to be intentional about practicing compassion in difficult and challenging times.

One of the symptoms of complex trauma is toxic self-blame which happens when survivors blame themselves. Blaming oneself for the shame of being a victim is recognized by trauma specialists as a defense against the extreme powerlessness we feel in the wake of a traumatic event.

Self-blame continues the illusion of control that shock destroys but prevents us from the necessary working through of the traumatic feelings and memories to heal and recover.
When children experience trauma, they often are not allowed to feel or confront the full range of emotions they feel, including anger, rage, betrayal, rejection, etc.

If not properly addressed, this repressed feelings and the attendant self-blame can follow them into their adolescence, adulthood, and manifest in numerous emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal problems.

ℹ🌿 HOW WE FIGHT, FLIGHT, FREEZE AND FAWN IN DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS: ADAPTING A LEARNING MINDSET |

When our sense of self depends on being “right,” challenging information from opposing viewpoints is often seen as a threat. Instead of being able to listen and respond thoughtfully, we automatically react. I think these reactions can be categorized into the same categories used when neurobiologists talk about how humans respond to more visceral threats (like 🐻 and 🧛🏼!): fight, flight, freeze, and fawn.

https://lindsaybraman.com/fight-flight-from-conflict/

If you struggle with , perhaps that’s connected with your childhood experiences.

ℹ️🌿 HOW ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACEs) IMPACT ADULT ANGER |

Adverse childhood experiences influence cognitive and emotional development.

Read full article:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/overcoming-destructive-anger/202106/how-adverse-childhood-experiences-aces-impact-adult-anger

I wish this wasn’t our reality, but here we are. I carry your heart with me 💕

Over here walking my talk. I’m not just selling snake oil; I practice the things I recommend to my clients. What’s your self-care today? www.thetappingsolution.com

Please join me in welcoming Savannah to Pacific Marriage & Family Therapy Network!

All of us here at Pacific MFT Network are so excited to introduce and welcome the newest addition to our group practice, ✨Savannah Okada✨. Our social media team had the chance to meet with her one-on-one and chat a bit about her experience as a therapist. Here are a few words from Savannah. 🛋

"I enjoy working with clients who are in the process of discovering themselves and may be experiencing life stressors and transitions. Many of my clients are navigating cultural obstacles, sudden changes to life plans, assimilation challenges, self-esteem, and healthy boundaries. Together, we explore their behaviors, which can be problematic, so we understand or create more adaptive and functional ones. In their journey for authenticity with me, clients may feel relief from their stress, anxiety, sadness, or depression.

In daily life, clients may experience invalidation within their relationships and seek to be seen. I meet my clients where they are, so they feel safe and understood. I believe everyone has a unique worldview, which is worthy to be recognized. From this sense of understanding and safety, the work to process past experiences, coping skills, and relationship patterns.       

While working with me, clients can expect to be recognized for who they are and gently challenged in order for change to occur. Through the therapeutic process, my client may feel relief from the original reason that brought them to therapy.

I am so excited to work with clients, who are improving their lives and see the small and big victories in their life."

Savannah Okada AMFT #130826 & APCC #11062

Savannah is currently accepting clients.  To learn more about her schedule and availability, call/ text/ or email her at Mobile: 424-226-2651

Email: [email protected]