Trauma is often thought of in terms of its immediate, visible effects—emotional distress, physical symptoms, and disruptions to daily routines. However, its subtle influence on motivation and the ability to follow through with tasks is less recognized, yet deeply significant.

Dissociation is not simply "spacing out" or daydreaming, although these are mild forms everyone may experience occasionally. Dissociation is a common reaction to trauma, and yet, it is often misunderstood. If you have experienced dissociation, it can feel like your sense of self is getting lost.

We are learning a variety of ways that social media impact our mental health.  This is especially true for those who have experienced trauma. Social media can serve as a potent trigger for trauma responses, reopening old wounds and amplifying distress. 

You are not “too broken” for trauma therapy. You are a human being deserving of care, love, and understanding. The pain you carry doesn’t define you—it’s just one part of your story. Therapy offers a chance to rewrite that story.

Trauma, in its many forms, can cast long shadows over your life, influencing your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. One of the profound areas affected by trauma is intimacy. Whether the trauma is rooted in childhood experiences, abusive relationships, or other distressing events, it can disrupt the ability to form and maintain intimate connections

Hypervigilance is a heightened state of arousal where you are excessively scanning your environment.  A lot of energy goes into looking for perceived danger as a way to protect yourself before something bad happens. 

The practice of self-compassion can help with the impact of trauma.  If you struggle with emotional regulation, self-compassion can help you acknowledge and accept your emotions without judgment.

Resiliency is the capacity to rise above adversity.  It is the ability to develop lasting strengths amid difficult or terrible struggles. It is resiliency that allows the children of troubled families to not be immobilized by hardship. 

Over the last few years, we are learning about another survival reaction of people who are struggling with trauma.  It is called the fawn response.

For a long time, mental health professionals have held on to the belief that self-esteem is a sign of ideal mental health. And yet, we are learning that there are some problems with all this emphasis on self-esteem.