When traumatic events occur in the lives of people, they often become stuck in survival mode. Instead of having room in their lives for the love and nurturing of others, they tend to spend their lives fighting off enemies that remain unseen. This is one of the tragedies of trauma. In addition, when the mind [...]
Once a trauma occurs, victims see the world very differently than they used to. This is at least partially due to the fact that the nervous system begins working differently in the body. Stephen Porges, a researcher at the University of Maryland, coined the term neuroception to explain how well someone evaluates danger and safety, [...]
As you know, the brain has many functions. However, its primary function is to ensure your survival. Your brain is tasked with this job even when the situation seems bleak, and even under the worst of conditions. There are a few things that need to occur in order for your brain to do its job [...]
Prior to the 1990s, scientists would measure brain chemicals as a way to help them understand brain activity. They soon realized that this method wasn’t complete, and it was almost like studying gasoline as a way to understand how a car’s engine worked. Neuroimaging is a technique that allowed them to actually see what was [...]
It’s interesting to note how many trauma victims tend to come to life or even revert back to times that come close to them reliving their traumatic experiences. In a way, it almost seems as though there is a bit of pleasure that occurs from doing so. This might be seen in cases like: A [...]
Scientists have been looking at brain wave activity for years for the purpose of developing treatments for various disorders. For example, ADHD in children can be measured by observing electrical activity in the frontal lobe of the brain. In people who have been through traumatic events, brain wave activity can also be observed through the [...]
Anyone who has ever experienced trauma knows that it leaves holes in its wake. These may be holes of: Not being wanted Not being seen Not being able to speak the truth about what you were facing Not being able to feel loved Not being acknowledged When you can’t find the words to express how [...]
It’s important to learn how to live with the memories of the past when you’ve faced a traumatic event in your life. It is possible to do so without feeling overwhelmed by them, and many people are able to move on and heal with the right kind of treatment. However, there is a greater challenge [...]
When you have suffered through a trauma, it’s very common to feel helpless in the moments when the traumatic event occurs. That helpless feeling is often something that lingers for years to come unless healing takes place. More often than not, helplessness can manifest itself in the body as muscle tension, or as sensations of [...]
It’s possible that you’ve heard of EMDR as a method that is frequently used by trauma therapists, but you’re not really sure what it is or how it works. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy that might seem to be a bit strange at first. In fact, when it was [...]