March 2020

With the headlines about Covid-19 shouting, "it's the end of the world," I'm sure you are all feeling *slightly panicked right along with me. This is a scary time for America and the world. There is a lot of uncertainty, and it is entirely reasonable to feel anxious and afraid. If you are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, you can find help here. I am writing to share my hope. When faced with tragedy, we can succumb, or we can rise. I am going to choose to rise every.single.time and I hope...

Living with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) is very challenging. It affects every aspect of the lives of those who suffer under its symptoms. In this article, we are going to examine together with a brief synopsis of CPTSD and how this disorder creates difficulty in forming and maintaining intimate relationships. An Overview of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder CPTSD isn’t yet in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the Bible used by...

Jennifer Burns will be the special guest on "Breaking the Silence with Dr. Gregory Williams" this Sunday evening, March 15th at 8 pm Central Time. Jennifer will be sharing your personal story of trauma and pain during her childhood. Jennifer will also be sharing one of the things that helps her deal with her anxiety and stress is art. She creates beautiful works of art now and this has become a great therapy for her. "Breaking the Silence with Dr. Gregory Williams" is heard each Sunday...

By The Times Editorial Board, Los Angeles Times, March 8, 2020 Imagine a woman named Monica. She trudges up the steps toward the courthouse door but stops short, overcome by a feeling of dread. Each time she’d walked through that door in the past she’d had to leave behind something of value before she could walk out again. Once it was the money for next month’s rent, because she had to pay a traffic fine. And then it was her apartment itself, because she was too many months in arrears. And,...

By Hannah Miller, CNBC, March 10, 2020 KEY POINTS The World Health Organization acknowledged that the coronavirus is causing stress in the global population. The organization published mental health tips that include specific advice for health-care workers, caretakers of children or older adults, and people in isolation. The guidelines were developed by WHO’s mental health department and provide considerations for the general population. [ Please click here to read more .]

By Trudy Lieberman, Center for Health Journalism, March 5, 2020 It’s hardly a secret that health care is a dominant theme this election season. It has been the subject of almost every Democratic debate, fodder for political pundits, and top of mind for voters. Exit polls in the early primary states indicate “Medicare for All” motivated large numbers of voters. Last summer well-known Harvard health policy and polling expert Dr. Robert Blendon prophesized that the election hot topic would be...

By Emily Tate, Public Broadcasting Service, March 10, 2020 In the living room of his mother’s apartment, a threadbare two-story unit next to the train tracks, Ryder pulls out bulky plastic toys from a bin and wonders aloud about how they work, smiling toothily, mumbling along to “Baby Shark” and occasionally popping another fruit-flavored gummy into his mouth. Although he maneuvers from one activity to the next with the energy and ease of a typical tyke, Ryder, at age 4, has been exposed to...

It is no secret that many Americans have gone through past trauma. Many people believe that only certain people have gone through trauma such as only people who have served in a war or those who have gone through mass shooting. These are only two examples of trauma, there are actually a lot more situations in which people experience trauma. Some examples are: childhood sexual abuse (CSA), violent or toxic relationships, childhood abuse like neglect or violence, and any time a person has felt...

Rhiannon is your guide back to yourself. As a bodywork therapist, she focuses on healing chronic pain and the physical after effects of trauma. She helps you to change your relationship with your body so you have a solid, safe foundation to go out and change the world.

State Senator Harriette Chandler: “You are in the trenches, in the weeds and in the field, this is your issue,” emphasizing that all the parties that came to the table in that room had a role in helping Massachusetts become a more trauma informed and responsive state.

By Amanda Merck, Salud America!, February 26, 2020 Communities are increasingly concerned about the rise of poverty, homelessness, trauma, and opioids among children and families. However, few states address these issues by investing money in Head Start programs, which are proven to strengthen families, promote school readiness, and improve child health. The good news is that lawmakers in 14 states are investing over $400 million each budget cycle for local Head Start and Early Head Start...

There is one ACE in particular that can result in a child experiencing 8 additional ACEs measured in the ACE Study. That particular ACE is having a parent who abused alcohol or other drugs or was addicted to alcohol or other drugs. As someone with 40+ years of experience coping with various loved ones who drank too much and 16+ years of work studying the scientific research on brain development, ACEs , alcohol use disorders , and the family member's experience , this fact is especially near...