First, let’s start with a clinical definition of self-harm so we can be on the same page.
Self-harm (self-harm and self-injury are terms used interchangeably) is typically described as a way of hurting oneself on purpose in a way that is generally socially unacceptable (as opposed to tattoos or piercings) that is done to
I live with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Both are difficult disorders to live with and make life very complicated for both myself and my family. Through psychyotherapy I have learnt strategies for learning how to cope with my complex ptsd.
Understanding DID:
Part of the experience of a traumatic event is a disconnect between the brain and the body. This disconnect or dissociation can become established as a pattern that continues to happen occasionally in response to triggers long after that person has survived the trauma.
However, it’s really important to become connected to your body and its
Trauma is statistically underreported, not talked about enough, and, as anyone working on the addiction field will tell you, it’s everywhere.
PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. We often associate the disorder with combat vets returning from deployment deeply disturbed by events that have transpired overseas. We often picture irritable old man scanning his living
Despite the fact that we’ve come a long way in our culture regarding the de-stigmatization of therapy, it still seems as if reaching out and asking for professional help is the last option for millions of people.
There’s a list of strategies that come before therapy:
People seek therapy to get help making an important personal change, by their choice or urged by loved ones.
Maybe you are being proactive and preparing for a happy event such as a wedding or a new baby, and you want to get off to a strong start.
Maybe you are struggling with a relationship, a diagnosis,
For many people raised in abusive, neglectful, or dysfunctional families, the message “you made your bed, now lie in it” is a common life philosophy taught and promoted throughout childhood. It’s a message typically passed down from one generation to the next, particularly when there was prior victimization or helplessness.
This mindset gets normalized
We can change how we feel by changing how we think. Affirmations may help break the habit of negative thinking. Negative thinking is often a major contributing factor in chronic anxiety, depression and the feelings of frustration, outbursts of rage, or being “stuck,” all of which are normal responses to unresolved trauma.
From ancient, traditional Yoga
It was warm and breezy that afternoon in a forest nestled in the hills of New Jersey. The girls were bustling around, tiny boxes in hand, eager for the festivities to begin. It was an epic moment: this celebration of freedom was an appropriate end to a week-long journey chock-full of tears, laughter, outbursts of
I started making myself throw up when I was 15.
I was raped the year before and kept it a secret, stuffing it deeply inside and keeping it down with self-hatred.
That, along with being in a religious community that wasn’t aligned with whom I really was, as well as being completely out of touch with myself,
