Tag Archives: #TraumaAwareAmerica

“What do I do with my anger and rage?”

In our culture, we’re taught to not be angry, to calm down, and to “overcome” our anger, the emotion that alerts us to violations. Cruelty and contempt from caregivers is a serious violation. It’s no wonder survivors of severe abuse … Continue reading

Posted in Interpersonal Neurobiology, Mental Health, Nervous System | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Physician reviews as justice

Posting a review of a bad healthcare experience is one of the very few options for neglected and abused service users to create accountability. The healthcare system is woefully lacking in safety and accountability mechanisms to the extent it offers … Continue reading

Posted in Activism, Corruption, Healthcare, Patient Safety, Predatory Doctors, Safe Medicine, Truth to Power | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Physician empathy is a powerful healthcare intervention

As a trauma survivor who has studied Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) for five years, I have learned that empathy is vital to human well-being, especially after trauma, and that, neurophysiologically, I need empathy. It helps integrate the brain, which helps the … Continue reading

Posted in Activism, Healthcare, Interpersonal Neurobiology, Kindness, Nervous System, Neuroscience, Patient Safety, Safe Medicine, Thriving | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

ChristianaCare Patient and Family Relations’ Disregard for Patient Needs and Safety

I wanted to pursue a serious grievance regarding a ChristianaCare medical experience that caused me significant and lasting harm. I received communiques that are unhelpful, and mostly gobbledygook. I only received the vaguest assurance of any resolution of the harmful … Continue reading

Posted in Activism, Healthcare, Mental Health, Patient Safety, Safe Medicine, Truth to Power | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The courage it takes to speak up against sexualized violence

I often hear that I am courageous for speaking my truth about sexualized violence in my life and its prevalence in America. Yeah, I know. But what is this courage really about? I’m not courageous because I speak my truth. … Continue reading

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The importance of decisive action

Sometimes I’m frustrated that my body needs every freaking thing in little bits! Evidently I’ve overused my hands and wrists messing with clay. And I’m driven to make one more niche. But my body says stop. So I need to … Continue reading

Posted in Activism, Fun & Magic, Mental Health, Nervous System, Neuroscience | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Psychology’s pathologizing terms, evidence of a shame-based paradigm

Psychology’s pathologizing terms hint at the underlying toxic paradigm, which says the therapist is the Great Healer and the client/patient is the Broken Thing That Needs Fixing. Some of the worst pathologizing and shaming terms: “Disorder” presumes there’s something wrong … Continue reading

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Humans as social animals

Human beings are inherently social animals, but, unfortunately, the ability to properly function as a social organism takes a certain set of resources, of which many of us were robbed or never allowed. Proper human functioning is nearly impossible for … Continue reading

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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

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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

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