Posted on July 14, 2018 by MJ
I have devoted a lot of space on this blog to writing about PTSD, C+PTSD, and healing from trauma. I’ve been honest about my own journey towards wholeness. What I share here is an attempt to elucidate the emotional experience behind C+PTSD in specific…
Category: abuse in families, anxiety, Complex PTSD, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, Healing, human trafficking, mental health, PTSD, traits in victims, traumaTags: anxiety related to trauma, Complex PTSD, generalized anxiety, healing from PTSD, hypervigilance, mindfulness and trauma, PTSD, trauma, trauma recovery
Posted on December 22, 2017 by MJ
I want to talk about negative core beliefs and dissonance–and perhaps a way to challenge them effectively. Bear with me as I get there. I have written a lot about my last two years in therapy with a neuroscientist. I didn’t know initially that…
Category: Complex PTSD, coping strategies, mental health, personal development, PTSD, Recovery, therapy, traits in victims, traumaTags: biologically based trauma, challenging core beliefs, cognitive dissonance, healing from PTSD, maladaptively processed memories, malignant core beliefs, target behaviors, therapy
Posted on November 25, 2017 by MJ
For my non-American readers, Thursday was Thanksgiving here in the States. It is a big deal. It marks the beginning of The Holidays–a season of high stress, joy, high consumerism on display, dread, meaningful religious observations, turmoil, GERD, Mariah Carey on loop, and so…
Category: anxiety, Complex PTSD, domestic violence, encouragement, Healing, mental health, panic attacks, personal development, traumaTags: anxiety disorders, coping with anxiety, domestic abuse, enjoying holiday season, healing after divorce, panic attacks, PNS, SNS, stress during holidays, Thanksgiving
Posted on November 11, 2017 by MJ
I have recently been reading a lot of material on the endocrine system and neurology. Why? Anatomy and Physiology II. Brain, brain, brain, brain. What I’ve learned, aside from more than I ever expected to know about hormones, is that distress of all kinds…
Category: Complex PTSD, coping strategies, Healing, mental health, Moving Forward, personal development, Recovery, traits in victims, traumaTags: catastrophizing, habenula, healing, healing from PTSD, learned helplessness, neuroscience, outlier events, Storytelling Brain, Time Perspective Therapy, trauma, What if
Posted on September 17, 2017 by MJ
I walked into my therapist’s office in March 2015 with a mind to figure out what was wrong with my marriage and, thereby, me. I told him that I knew something was happening to me that was probably not good, but, seeing that I…
Posted on September 3, 2017 by MJ
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like people knowing about my deeper, darker trauma history. I don’t like people knowing that I ultimately ended my marriage because of domestic violence. It goes without saying that I don’t like people knowing that I…
Posted on June 3, 2017 by MJ
I wanted to write something germane to your life and process. Something that might speak to you. To anyone. To everyone. Perhaps this might. I go to therapy every Tuesday. I like to think that I’m ‘getting it done’ whatever ‘it’ is, but, as…
Posted on November 29, 2016 by MJ
This idea came to mind yesterday as I was beginning to dread my next EMDR session. EMDR itself is fine. It’s the time in between sessions that I truly dislike. My brain has gone into hyperdrive, and traumatic memory after traumatic memory is pouring…
Posted on September 5, 2016 by MJ
My last post was about PTSD. I tend to jump around topically a bit simply because I’ll wake up in the morning sometimes with an idea in my head and think, “Oh, that would be interesting to write about.” The topic of PTSD, however,…
Posted on August 29, 2016 by MJ
Saying ‘no’ is good. I seem to rarely do it, but I’ve heard other people tell me this. I am kidding. Sort of. I really find out just how good saying ‘no’ is particularly when I said ‘yes’ but really wanted to say ‘no’. Do you know…
I wasn’t sure who would read my previous post on the experience of getting triggered (Getting Triggered). I can’t find much helpful information on it to be honest. The online article from 1in6 from which I cited was actually one of the best articles I’ve…
Posted on August 7, 2014 by MJ
I live in Minnesota. I overheard someone say once that we work for our seasons. That’s an oddly funny thing to say, but, if you live here, then you’ll understand the meaning in that sentiment. As a seasonal change approaches, the current weather patterns…
Category: abuse in families, co-dependency, Complex PTSD, Denial, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, emotional abuse, Healing, marriage, PTSD, Recovery, relationships, therapyTags: abuse, Complex PTSD, distress tolerance, emotional flashbacks, emotional neglect, mindfulness, narrative approach, PTSD, self-abandonment, therapy