What is a Trauma Trigger? A trauma trigger is a psychological stimulus that prompts recall of a previous traumatic experience. The stimulus itself need not be frightening or traumatic and may be only indirectly or superficially reminiscent of an earlier traumatic incident, such as a scent or a piece of clothing. Triggers can be subtle […]
“You’re crazy – that never happened.” “Are you sure? You tend to have a bad memory.” “It’s all in your head.” Does your partner repeatedly say things like this to you? Do you often start questioning your own perception of reality, even your own sanity, within your relationship? If so, your partner may be using […]
Anxiety is commonly described as having both mental and physical symptoms. The distinction between mental and physical anxiety is important because different tools are required for addressing physical symptoms (what we label autostress) and mental symptoms (what we label anxiety). Anxiety is best described as the unhelpful thinking patterns we experience when our mind fixates […]
Step One: Grounding Many people live with daily pain and constant stress, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. They feel out-of-sorts–not centered, strong, or solid. Doctors often can’t find the cause and resort to prescribing medications that produce side effects like fatigue, poor mood, gastro-intestinal upset, and headaches. In addition, conditions like chronic fatigue, pain, and anxiety […]
Borderline personality disorder is an illness marked by an ongoing pattern of varying moods, self-image, and behavior. These symptoms often result in impulsive actions and problems in relationships with other people. A person with borderline personality disorder may experience episodes of anger, depression, and anxiety that may last from a few hours to days. Recognizable […]
The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly. Buddha The Six Dimensions of Wellness, developed by Dr. Bill Hettler, co-founder of the National Wellness Institute, a […]
In times of stress this proverb has been of great support, thought I would share. There is a Chinese Proverb that goes something like this… A farmer and his son had a beloved stallion who helped the family earn a living. One day, the horse ran away and their neighbors exclaimed, “Your horse ran away, […]
“Everyone knows that the yielding overcomes the stiff, and the soft overcomes the hard. Yet no one applies this knowledge.” ― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching We all express ourselves differently, but the irrational beliefs that upset us can be placed under three major headings. Each of these core beliefs contains an absolutistic must or […]
“There are many spokes on the Wheel of Life. First, we’re here to explore new possibilities.” ― Ray Charles The Wheel of Life Exercise Directions: The eight sections in the wheel of Life represent harmony. They encourage us to consider all areas of life. Regarding the center of the wheel as 0 and the outer […]
“Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths.” ― C. H. Spurgeon Signs and Symptoms Generalized Anxiety Disorder People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) display excessive anxiety or worry, most days for at least 6 months, about a number of things such as personal health, work, social […]