Tag Archives: mental health

The Cuckoo’s Nest lives

Four years ago this month I was in a cuckoo’s nest! I’ve been working on trauma recovery for over 20 years. Unfortunately, some of the worst damage to my nervous system occurred through the so-called “standard treatment” for PTSD when … Continue reading

Posted in Mental Health, Nervous System, Neuroscience, Safe Medicine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Can’t we just run away from our trauma?

Can’t we just ignore or run away from our trauma? I tried! I quit my whole other life. Fledged my young adult children, sold and gave away my stuff, fixed up the house, sold it out a major loss, and … Continue reading

Posted in Mental Health, Safe Medicine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Open letter to Delaware Division of Professional Regulation

A medical procedure begins with consent. Without consent, it is not medical treatment. It is abuse. The state police said the licensing board determines whether the surgeon’s non-consensual cutting of my genitals was a crime or medicine. A medical procedure … Continue reading

Posted in Activism, Predatory Doctors, Safe Medicine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Don’t “flip your lid,” down-regulate!

How does regulating the nervous system help sufferers of trauma and chronic stress? What is the “window of tolerance” and how can we widen ours? What happens in our brains when we “flip our lid” and how can we avoid … Continue reading

Posted in Mental Health, Nervous System, Neuroscience | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The myth of self-regulation

Healing from trauma requires co-regulation with regulated nervous systems, particularly for those who experienced Developmental Trauma, which most often occurs in relationships. We are MADE to co-regulate. Wired for it. Co-regulation is a biological imperative. That means we cannot survive … Continue reading

Posted in Nervous System, Neuroscience | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

America’s “standard treatment” for childhood trauma: more abuse and neglect

If you had “good enough” parents you were blessed with a fairly regulated nervous system, integrated brain, and secure attachment style. These contribute greatly to a sense of well-being from which health arises and a good life can unfold. If  … Continue reading

Posted in Mental Health, Nervous System | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The capacity to make good decisions

The capacity to make good decisions is among many aspects of self that are dependent on sufficient nervous system regulation. Beyond a certain point of dysregulation, we lose our ability to feel love, joy, peace, gratitude, and beauty inside us. … Continue reading

Posted in Mental Health, Nervous System, Neuroscience | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My “Patient Story” is up at Patients Rising

“I am motivated by the unconscionable harm I received when I asked for help with Developmental Trauma. I saw the same thing had happened to most of the people in that ward: early trauma in a chronically toxic childhood environment … Continue reading

Posted in Activism, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Anger is a Secondary Emotion”

“Anger is a secondary emotion,” a watercolor I painted 3 years ago, about 3 weeks after my ordeal in the ER and mental hospital. Anger is often an indicator of a violation. This one was enormous. Although I painted well … Continue reading

Posted in Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Open Letter to A. Snortz, Psy.D.*

I write this on the third anniversary of our final office visit. You probably forgot that day. I have not. To refresh: my GAD was back up to critical, I told you I had increasing suicidal ideations and thought it … Continue reading

Posted in Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment