Tag Archives: mental health

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

Follow me on Facebook for more info on stress/trauma/PTSD/CPTSD

When you follow my TraumaAwareAmerica page on Facebook you can receive and find great info, tips, tidbits, insights, art, news, humor, and more about stress/PTSD/Complex PTSD and recovery, neurobiology, and mental health in general. Be sure to join the TraumaAwareAmerica … Continue reading

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

Turn Around Your Stressful Triggers with the Alexander Technique

My friend and Alexander Technique instructor, Imogen Ragone, and I share an idea from her BodyIntelligence work and the Alexander Technique has helped me “turn around” one of my most stressful triggers – hyperacusis and synesthesia stemming from trauma. We … Continue reading

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

14-Step Neuroscience-Based Recovery from Complex PTSD

Having lived with Complex PTSD (more accurately, Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Injury, or PTSI) my entire life and studied the biology of fear for several years, I’ve come up with a neuroscience-based recovery plan: 1. Recognize that I was powerless during … Continue reading

Posted in Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

SGB for PTSD

Since Sept 2020 I’ve had 20 Stellate Ganglion Blocks (SGBs) as a treatment for my Complex PTSD  and quadrilateral Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). This minimally invasive and largely safe treatment has been used to treat PTSD for about 10 … Continue reading

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

Coregulation saved my father’s funeral

My father–whose behavior made him a monster to me–was buried with honors at Arlington National Cemetery in September. I spent weeks readying. I bought dress slacks, pulled together an outfit, worked through my fears, and intensively practiced three lines of … Continue reading

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

“Instead of addressing the underlying issues”

“Women described being misdiagnosed or given painkillers instead of addressing underlying issues. One woman lost her child traumatically. Another had to experiment and eventually diagnose herself because her doctor was no help,” the newspaper noted, regarding Black women in our … Continue reading

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