Tagged With "Facing my demons"
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In the beginning....
I faced an extremely traumatic event in 2017. It made me review my life. From midnight to 6 am in the morning, I saw my whole life before me and all the trauma. Layers upon layers of trauma beginning from childhood My brain connected all my life experiences with what I had learned to recreate insight into who I was. And then I knew that I had been defined and confined to a life as a victim to the years of trauma I had faced and did not resolve. My facade crumbled as I ripped my mask from my...
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Recovery is our journey to healing......you have to keep searching until you find
Recovery from trauma is extremely hard when you don't know what you are recovering from and why you would even want to recover. To recover you have to know what it is that has caused you harm and understand what you have done to deal with that harm. It is very hard to do it by yourself. You need the support of others. You need to find someone who resonates with you and that means you have to search for that person. After 34 years of searching, I found my princess, a counsellor. I know...
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Before ACES there was the work of Dr Bessel van der Kolk
This book arrived on my mobile phone via my local library. As I listened to this book, many, many, many things that Bessel shared resonated with me. Warning some people will get retriggered.... I did. I cried because suddenly I found someone who understood my journey. I needed to get informed to find another path to take on my journey - This book helped to inform me It was the right path for me https://www.overdrive.com/media/1438715/the-body-keeps-the-score
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Presence With @ www.wertknowing.com ~ ImagiNATION
This arrived in my inbox. I am subscribed to Jodi Wert's Blog. Here's a link to the most recent blog post @ Wert Knowing: imagiNATION ∞ Presence With (includes a video with subtitles / CC). Jodi shares a powerful message - Presence and Solidarity begins with self Her focus may be for Early Childhood. Her knowledge is valuable to us all. Watch this video with an open heart and open mind. The reason I like Jodi's blogs. She presents information in an accessible way. Jodi uses the power of...
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Through the mud we rise
I I stumbled across this Ted X talk by Michelle Esrick. For me, it was so profound that it reverberated through my soul. It resonated with me. This was my journey too. Sometimes we stumble upon treasures when we are searching for our truth This video clip inspired me to stand up and speak out for trauma-informed practice across all of our great nation, New Zealand. Michelle Esrick is the producer of Cracked Up - The story of Darrell Hammond I will be creating a post about that because...
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Welcome to ACE and Trauma-Informed New Zealand
Kia ora, I was born and raised in NZ and I live in Papakura which is located in South Auckland. I am a mother of four beautiful children and grandmother of three granddaughters with more to come. I am Maori (indigenous people of NZ) and whakapapa to Ngati Kahu ki Whangaroa Ngati Kahu ki Whangaroa is in the Far North of the North Island of NZ A very beautiful place with beautiful beaches including Taupo Bay, the area from where my whanau (family) come from. ACE and Trauma-informed NZ is a...
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Black words on white paper. You need both to see the message
There are a few people out there, Who assert their power Over me To win. It saddens me That I too Have to assert my power To be seen and heard As an EQUAL
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Nick Larson, leadsinger for Próxima Parada ~ Healing trauma through music
This morning I joined a ZOOM with ACES Connection. The topic was healing trauma through music. Our guest speaker was Nick Larson (Lead singer and songwriter) from the band, Próxima Parada. Nick uses music to communicate his feelings and to seek clarity. His music is a conduit of his emotions, his interpretation of his lived experience and the experiences of others as he moves through his journey of healing. Through this process, he finds clarity and understanding of his emotions and life...
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Baby Courts ~ A way forward for our vulnerable children and their whanau in NZ
I joined a Zoom meeting with ACES Connection covering the topic Baby Courts in Florida. Baby Court heals multigenerational trauma by bringing together the science of child development into decision making for infants and toddlers who have been removed from their homes. It also works to prevent children from moving into the child welfare system. Both Mimi Graham and Judge Lynn Tepper speaks about Baby Court Their contact details are: Judge Lynn Teppler: ltepper@jud6.org Mimi Graham:...
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Ignite your curiosity
I have joined a number of ZOOM meetings hosted by ACES Connection which have exposed me to the work of many people who have inspired and motivated me. My thinking has been challenged, extended and expanded. My curiosity has been ignited I have been filled with hope and energised to share that hope to others We must acknowledge that we only know what we know If what we know does not feel like the truth then we must seek the truth If what we do does harm to ourselves or others then we must...
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Trauma-informed judicial system in NZ and across the world
Kindness in court: a novel approach by Victoria Greening Link this to my previous post regarding Baby Courts is evidence that there is a change in the mindset of those in the judicial sector. Is that happening in NZ? Is it happening fast enough? Act early, Act fast Our children depend on it
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Asthma, eczema, allergies, boils ~ It may be more than you think
When under stress, I suffer from boils, eczema, rashes, allergies and eczema Many people dismissed my symptoms They considered me a "hypochondriac" Look at the infographic Now I understand why it is so important for me to learn how to be calm If you are a parent of a child who has boils, eczema, asthma and allergies Take action and teach your child how to calm themselves Create an environment where the child feels safe And build a relationship with that child so they know they are loved,...
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Luma Mufleh's Ted Talk: Don't feel sorry for refugees ~ believe in them
I recommend this for you to see this Ted Talk: Don't feel sorry for refugees ~ believe in them Luma shares her life journey in a powerful way. She shares valuable comments "Don't ever think that people are beneath you or that you have nothing to learn from others." "I thought it would get better. That no one could force me from me to leave. Thay no one could take my home from me. We left because we had to, not because we wanted to There was no choice" "The issue shouldn't be stopping...
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"Open Wounds" panel discussion with Phil Allen hosted by Trauma Resilience Institute
FOLLOWED BY PANEL DISCUSSION with Phil Allen Jr. Reena Evers-Everette La Shona Coleman Kevin McLeod This has happened you can rent the video To rent "Open Wounds" visit https://vimeo.com/ondemand/openwounds NEW ZEALAND TIME Date: Sunday 23 August 2020 Time: 10 am PACIFIC TIME Date: August 22, 2020 Time: 3.00 pm Registration: Closed ABOUT THE FILM In 1953, my grandfather, Nathaniel Allen, was murdered on the Sampit River in the historic Lowcountry town Georgetown, SC by a gunshot wound to the...
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"Open Wounds" and panel discussion
Our SILENCE has acted to conquer and divide us and perpetuated racism. Our SECRETS have prevented us from facing our trauma. When we don't name it, we don't face it. Many of us have been deceived into believing racism is not an issue. We have faced years of intergenerational racism across the world. It has caused trauma. It has not been resolved Unresolved trauma has created deep-seated anger. We have wounds. When those wounds have been ignored and disregarded they fester to become.... OPEN...
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Re: "Open Wounds" and panel discussion
Yes, you can. Note that you can't see the movie on this webinar recording.....you need to rent the video for $4.99 from https://www.philallenjr.com/openwoundsdoc The webinar is the panel discussion that we joined before and after the viewing of the movie. You must listen to Phil Allen Jr as he shares his poem BEFORE the movie started ay 23.28 into the recording His poem - My body tells a story is not the same as the one on his website Well worth watching both the movie and the panel...
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We frame the way we "see" the world ~ it reflects who we are
When I was very young I sat with my grandma She was bed-ridden So she always asked me to tell her what I could see in detail For HER She would ask me questions She changed The way I saw EVERYTHING I now know why I can see the finer details and that I frame what I see to reflect All that I AM I saw this blog from Jodi Wert on her blog, Wert Knowing And it reminded me of my Grandma We frame the way we "see" the world I like the way you frame the world of children's learning Thank you, @Jodi Wert
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The body keeps the score
Oh dear, it is 1.47 am in the morning I can't lie in my bed I can't sleep Because I am scared of the bogeyman Oh No The bogeyman under my bed Has jumped into my head And he is not a he He is a she And she looks like me Oh No I can't escape She is me! The body keeps the score One day, I will keep the score Adriana
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Re: The body keeps the score
Yes, you will, Adriana. Yes, you will. I can already start to see it happen.
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Why I joined ACES CONNECTION
Kia ora from Auckland, NZ. My name is Adriana. I am the community manager of trauma-informed NZ with ACES CONNECTION. ACES CONNECTION, is based in the States, far from New Zealand, and our way of life, yet, I am the community manager of a community with ACES CONNECTION Today, I am going to share with you, my reasons for joining ACES CONNECTION. I will make a call for action at the end of my talk, so please stay to the end Why did I join ACES CONNECTION? Here is my story. I live in NZ, always...
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Whole People Watch Weekend on ACEs Connection (Dec. 11th - 13th)
The Transform Trauma with ACEs Sciences FREE Film Festival continues this weekend. Please join us to watch parts 1, 2, and 3 of the PBS Whole People series at your convenience, on ACEs Connection, by clicking play on the videos below: Whole People | 101 | Childhood Trauma | Episode 1 (27 min) Preview: Whole People | 102 | Healing Communities | Preview | Episode 2 Whole People | 102 |Healing Communities Episode 2 (27 min) Whole People | 103 |A New Response | Episode 3 (27 min) This is one of...
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A compelling reason why we need to be child-centered and trauma-responsive in NZ
For those who do not know: Child, Youth and Family Services and Oranga Tamariki are NZ's child protection services. They are a government agency I found this article in the Herald from 2016 , it clearly shows how Oranga Tamariki's predecessors, Child, Youth, and Family Services(CYFS) are incompetent and placed children at risk of harm. Child, Youth, and Family Services were rebranded as Oranga Tamariki, Ministry of Children and still they get it wrong. The article Two children aged 8 years...
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Re: Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei For us and our children after us
Kia ora @anne kurtz , I believe that we can blog/post on PACES for workshops/conferences/events that cost money as there have been many workshops/conferences/events that have been posted on PACES Connection from a number of communities associated with a cost to attend. The reason that I have promoted this workshop is that here in NZ we need our social workers to improve their practice, especially when working with Maori and Pasifika whanau. As professionals, and this covers every profession,...
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New Zealand Human Rights violations known to the United Nations
I have PTSD. It is an invisible disability. It took me years to accept that I had mental health issues and it took longer for me to accept that I was a person with a disability. I have faced layers of trauma from what others have done to me. Those "others" included those who had a responsibility to protect me. They were not just people I loved but people who held positions of power and they were paid and employed by the NZ government to protect me. They did not They effectively used their...
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Re: New for You ~ PACES Connection Reacts to the HOPE Summit
I attended the HOPE Summit...it was truly amazing. Visit this website for more information: https://positiveexperience.org/ To all New Zealand followers you can join most of the workshops, summits, Zooms......we learn from others To help with the time zones I have downloaded an app to convert times ....it sits on my toolbar and helps out so much I have attended many online events.....the more you do it the easier it gets. It is a great way to meet up with others Hope to see more New...
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Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Human Rights in New Zealand ~ Are they working?
New Zealand's Human Rights system is bound byTe Tiriti o Waitangi. Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed on 6 February 1840 by the Crown and Maori. It is legally binding and acknowledged internationally as a constitutional document. Many do not know about He Whakaputanga o te Rangitiratanga o Nu Tireni, our Declaration of Independence which was signed five years earlier by more Maori on 28 October 1835. He Whakaputanga o te Rangitiratanga o Nu Tirene is weaved into Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is...
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Re: Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Human Rights in New Zealand ~ Are they working?
@Jodi Wert ~ Thank you, my friend for your comment and yes, please do share. I have been very busy....I have found my niche. I am an advocate and a Human Rights Defender!!! Hope to catch up on our Zoom this week!!! Sending my love to surround you, Adriana
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Re: Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Human Rights in New Zealand ~ Are they working?
@Adriana van Altvorst - the work you have done here to make tangible a reality, danger zones, and solutions is truly a labor of love. You love well, my friend! May I share this on LinkedIn? Hugs, Jodi
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Listen up NZ government - You need to STOP harming us with urgency
NZ Study - School Readiness, Adversities in Childhood Experience and Access to Government Services A Scoping Study on Potential Protective Factors December 2020 This report is based on the NZ context. It is interesting because Oranga Tamariki, Ministry for Children and the Ministry of Social Development (aka MSD) were involved. This means that both Oranga Tamariki and MSD know about the experiences of our people beyond anecdotal observations. They have in fact done the research. They have...
Member
Kerri Butler
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NZ Family Courts are harming our people and our future
I am making a call for action to all who read my post Please share this video to raise awareness across the globe Through my role as an advocate, I have seen evidence from many parents facing our NZ Family Courts that our Family Courts are worse than what is shared on the video. Change is needed with urgency Please email our NZ government to make change with urgency Jacinda Adern - NZ Prime Minister - jacindaadern@labour.org.nz Kris Faafoi - Minister for Justice -...
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#LETMEBE
Kia ora to all, In response to a call for support from a mother who has had her young daughter taken away from her based on inaccurate information, the hearsay of others and judgement by lawyers and judges in the NZ Family Court, I am asking you to join with me in a campaign that she has started here in NZ Here is her post on Facebook: Melissa Stewart I may have screwed up as a girlfriend, wife, Mum and sometimes as a daughter or as a friend, because I don't always say or do the "right...
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I am learning to Self-Regulate ~ I am learning to STOP
I have PTSD. It sounds scary and many people judge me and sometimes fear me It does not help when I get dysregulated because I get loud, aggressive, and send out words of my truth like daggers. My truth, my message no matter how insightful and valuable is LOST in translation as I watch the walls go up over the ears of the recipients ~ the very ones that I want to LISTEN to me. Delivery of the message counts, people, more than it should. Human nature dictates that it does. The anger that I...
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Whatever I have ~ Empower me with KNOWLEDGE and TOOLS
In response to a comment to a post Misdiagnosis: Is It Bipolar Disorder or Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder , I made this comment. I believe it could HELP others I agree that the two overlaps and may co-exist hence why it is so very important to access a full history of life experiences from the person. The difficulty of course is that the person has often lost trust with people including those who want and can help. That is why TIME is so important - TIME to build a trusting...
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Social and Emotional Supports for Educators During and After the Pandemic
Americanprogress.org released an article 'Social and Emotional Supports for Teachers During and After the Pandemic' giving a ton of great information on the stress that educators deal with regularly. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning defines SEL as the process where youth and adults learn skills to manage emotions, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible decisions. "Research by Pennsylvania State University found that teachers who...
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Emodiversity gives me HOPE
I discovered this article that gives me HOPE. The article is of interest because it raises the term "Emodiversity. The definition of Emodiversity from the article is: How does this fit in with Trauma The article states: This gives me HOPE because it tells me that all the emotions I have experienced through my life journey of adversity and trauma, has been beneficial to my health because it means I have a "more balanced and nuanced appraisal of daily life" The final paragraph of the article...
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Obesity ~ Find the underlying cause
This post in my inbox this morning from PACES Connection Weekly Roundup Schroeder K, Schuler BR, Kobulsky JM, Sarwer DB. The association between adverse childhood experiences and childhood obesity: A systematic review. Obes Rev. 2021 Jul;22(7):e13204. PMID: 33506595 From a research review, “Findings suggest ACEs are associated with childhood obesity. Girls may be more sensitive to obesity-related effects of ACEs than boys, sexual abuse appears to have a greater effect on childhood obesity...
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What is the Freeze Response from Dr. Aimie, Trauma Healing Accelerated
This arrived in my Gmail inbox from Dr. Aimie ~ Trauma Healing Accelerated. I am sharing as it may resonate with someone out there What is The Freeze Response? The pattern of stress and then collapse. High energy and then exhausted. Anxiety followed by heaviness and feeling down. If you identify with this up and down pattern, you may likely be experiencing a chronic freeze response. This is a very common pattern of the biology of the nervous system! The freeze response is one of the states...
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Me & My Emotions: A New, Free Resource for Teens
The pandemic has had a lasting effect on youth mental health. Moved by a desire to reduce youth’s toxic stress and increase their resilience, The Dibble Institute, in partnership with a team of students and alumni from ArtCenter College of Design and author Carolyn Curtis, PhD, is releasing Me & My Emotions —a new, free adaptation of our beloved Mind Matters Curriculum. The mobile-friendly Me & My Emotions website features engaging graphics and bite-sized lessons teens can access and...
Member
Charlotte Hardy
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My best friend is myself
A friend is someone who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. That friend is me Make sure you do self-care and build your resilience First me then the world Have a great day
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I have PTSD - That does not mean I can't be a good parent
Through my work as an advocate, I have met many people who, like me, have PTSD. I have PTSD because people made the choice to hurt me so bad that I now live with that every day. I live with trauma. The thing is I survived. I made the decision to pick myself up, to stand again, reset and keep moving forward. I now face many, many people including professionals who believe, erroneously, that I am my trauma. This is especially true in NZ because, in my country that I love so much, far too many...
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Mia Mingus ~ Leaving Evidence
@Umi Asaka kindly shared this short sound clip (3:29min) with me. As I read it I thought came floating gently into my head Interview between Mia Mingus and Alice Wong 23 August 2014 This is a short audio clip from an interview of Mia Mingus, activist, and writer, conducted by Alice Wong, Project Coordinator of the Disability Visibility Project at StoryCorps San Francisco on August 23, 2014. Text transcript: Alice: In your blog, Leaving Evidence, this passage really resonated with me. You...
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We're Going on a Bear Hunt I'm not scared with Michael Rosen
We're Going on a Bear Hunt is an old favorite of mine. When I was a teacher I would sing this song and do the actions in our school assemblies. The children loved it. Now that I am older with all my lived experience of trauma. I can identify the strong message the story gifts to us We are all going on a bear hunt When we face adversity We can't go over it We can't go under it We can't go around it We got to go through it Then when we find the bear in the deep dark cave We can run home to our...
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Underlying issues with solutions for NZ child protection services
Our child protection services in NZ have the knowledge they struggle with the implementation I identify the problems I have found supporting parents who have had their children removed by child protection services in NZ (CYFS) These are the solutions: Build trusting relationships - change social worker when required Create full, accurate, objective records Complete thorough ecological assessments Identify the strengths of parents and use them to address the needs Support parents in the...
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Lake Alice ~ What New Zealand did to their own
(Blog image of Paul Zentveld - Lake Alice abuse survivor) Read this NZ Stuff article by Aaron Smale I ask that you reflect on your definition of mental health Your definition of mental health will determine how you respond to people with mental health The term "mental health" does not need to change Our perceptions, our definition, our response to the term "mental health" needs to change. Once I said that we need to take away the term "mental health" and replace it with another term. I...
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The Road to Recovery from Miss Kendra
This arrived in my inbox this morning. Many thanks to Miss Kendra This applies to us here in NZ The Road to Recovery is Not Linear Schools are in the process of recovery from the pandemic. Recoveries are rarely linear, and this one, in particular, will challenge everyone. When we think of goals and objectives they are often achieved in a linear fashion: you start from point A and go to point B. You prepare the class, you teach, the students learn, and objectives are met. You start with the...
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One moment in time ~ So powerful, so real
I want one moment in time. Really listen to Whitney sing The lyrics are So very powerful We are all survivors We are one We are never alone One Moment in Time Whitney Houston Each day I live I want to be A day to give The best of me I'm only one But not alone My finest day Is yet unknown I broke my heart Fought every gain To taste the sweet I face the pain I rise and fall Yet through it all This much remains I want one moment in time When I'm more than I thought I could be When all of my...
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Re: The Humpty Dumpty of New Zealand needs help
Kia ora @anne kurtz My words are my action. To empower people with knowledge If you want to change, and we all want change. We need to get informed. We need to call it out Use the knowledge to take action. Use the complaints process to take action Use the Social Workers Registration Board to make complaints about individual social workers Send emails to the relevant agencies to raise your concerns and to provide solutions Send emails to the Minister of Children ~ Kelvin Davis Share this...
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NZ Family Violence Prevention Strategy
ACC is investing $44.9 million over four years to establish a fit-for-purpose sexual violence primary prevention system, Minister for ACC Carmel Sepuloni announced 3 October 2021. “Almost a quarter of adults in New Zealand have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime, and around one in six people are affected by sexual violence before the age of 18,” Carmel Sepuloni said. “These high rates cannot continue. We need to put in place systems that protect our whānau and our future...