We have seen from numerous other articles published on this site that there exists an abundance of evidence that severe, protracted and repetitive childhood trauma can adversely affect the development of the brain both in terms of its architecture and functionality. Specific brain areas that research suggests may be damaged in this way include: the …
Diet May Help Reverse Brain Damage Caused By Childhood Trauma Read More »
A recent study carried out by Proctor et al., 2020, has produced further evidence that BPD sufferers frequently find it highly problematic gaining access to effective treatment such as dialectical behaviour therapy, or DBT. (In relation to this problem, you may wish to read my previously published articles: How Malignant Alienation May Impoverish Care BPD …
BPD Sufferers And Difficulties Getting Adequate Professional Help Read More »
It is not uncommon for people to be unclear about the difference between psychology, psychiatry, psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. So how do these four terms differ? To answer this question, let’s look at each in turn: 1. A clinical psychologist has expertise in both normal human behaviour and abnormal human behaviour. In connection with the …
The Difference Between Psychology, Psychiatry, Psychotherapy And Psychoanalysis Read More »
No one therapy, of course, works for everyone and there is no one-size-fits-all’ solution to mental distress. Furthermore, some people with psychiatric conditions adamantly do not wish to engage with psychiatric services. Others may be unable to interact with psychiatric services in any meaningful or sustained way. This group includes those persistently high on drugs, …
Some Suggestions If No Therapy Has Worked So Far Read More »
Many people who have suffered severe and protracted childhood trauma and, as a result, go on to develop complex posttraumatic stress disorder or related conditions often feel permanently stuck in the past and unable to live in the present. Indeed, the past may seem more real and substantial than the present – in …
Unable To Live In The Present? Therapy And Dual Awareness Can Help Read More »
We know that childhood trauma is strongly associated with poor mental and physical health in later life (e.g. see the ACE study) due to the hazardous, longterm effects of prolonged and repetitive toxic stress and the effect that has on the mind, brain and body e.g. due to the …
Study Suggests Writing About Our Traumatic Experiences Can Be Beneficial To Health Read More »
It is frequently said that we don’t know what goes on behind closed doors and this, of course, is very true. A family can appear happy and stable in terms of how they present themselves to others outside the family, yet hide dark secrets. For example, the family may be affected by domestic abuse, alcoholism, …
If, as children, we grew up in an environment in which we were subjected to severe stress over protracted periods of time the way in which our internal physiological systems would normally operate may be seriously compromised. Such long-lasting stress may be caused by various factors such as abuse or neglect. In her book, How …
Labelling And Understanding Our Emotions May Reduce Inflammation And Improve Health Read More »
Hunter et al. (Institute of Psychiatry, London) has developed a form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for the condition that treats it in a similar way to how anxiety disorders would be treated. The therapy developed by Hunter and colleagues is centred upon five main interventions. These interventions are as follows: REDUCING AVOIDANCE …
Above: Traumatic childhood ‘priming events’ sow the seeds of future anxiety and anxiety disorders. Such anxiety is especially likely to be manifested in response to ‘triggers.’ See below for an explanation. In their book, Unlearn Your Pain: A 28-day process to reprogram your brain, Schubiner and Betzoi propose that understanding ourselves and the true origin …
Mind-Body Syndrome: Insight Into Childhood Priming Key To Anxiety Cure Read More »
Many of us who have suffered significant trauma during our childhoods turn to psychotherapy as adults in an attempt to resolve our trauma-related psychological problems. Whilst there are many different kinds of therapy available for this purpose, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy (EMDR), …
Therapy: The Importance Of Rapport Between The Therapist And Client Read More »
Above: It is vital parents validate their children’s feelings in relation to traumatic experiences. (Image licensed by Shuttlestock). When the child experiences trauma, the response of the parent or primary caregiver is, of course, of vital importance to how the child copes with his/her experience, how resilient s/he is in the face of it and …
Vital Importance Of Parental Response To Child’s Traumatic Experience. Read More »
If we have been unfortunate enough to have suffered severe and protracted childhood trauma and have, as a result, developed emotional and behavioural problems (which, in some cases may have led to diagnoses of borderline personality disorder or complex posttraumatic stress disorder) it is, to put it mildly,’ most unhelpful to be told or expected …
Why Childhood Trauma Sufferers Can’t ‘Just Get Over It.’ Read More »
Below is a list of useful links to help recovery from childhood trauma: Behavioral Tech : A Linehan Institute Training Company. Here you can learn about scientifically validated treatments for complex and severe mental illness. NCTSN The National Child Traumatic Stress Network. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) provides children and families who experience …
According to Dr Peter Levine, symptoms of trauma may be explained by ‘energy trapped in the body,’ and, as a direct result of his theory, he has developed a therapy known as SOMATIC EXPERIENCING THERAPY. WHAT IS MEANT BY ‘ENERGY TRAPPED IN THE BODY?’ If we have experienced chronic trauma and have felt frequently under …
Symptoms Of Trauma And Their Link To ‘Energy Trapped In The Body.’ Read More »
Neurocardiology is a recently developed area of academic, scientific research initiated by the researcher J. Andrew Armour M.D., Ph.D. (1991) and is the study of how the nervous system and the cardiovascular system interact physiologically. According to Demorree (2013), those suffering from psychological distress may be helped as more becomes understood about how the brain, …
Reducing The Effects Of Trauma With Neurocardiology Read More »
‘How many times have people used a pen or paintbrush because they couldn’t pull the trigger?’ – Virginia Wolfe. I have written elsewhere on this site in several previously published posts how, ultimately, even extremely serious and protracted trauma can lead to what is termed posttraumatic growth which involves an individual developing in …
Posttraumatic Growth : Trauma, The Brain, Dissociation And Creativity Read More »
“Instead of saying, “I’m damaged, I’m broken, I have trust issues” say “I’m healing, I’m rediscovering myself, I’m starting over.”― Horacio Jones THE INDOCTRINATION OF NEGATIVE CORE BELIEFS : Many of us who have experienced significant and protracted childhood trauma have, as adults, suffered from the inadvertent internalization of our parents’ (or caretakers’) attitude and feelings …
Reframing The Past : How To Reframe Traumatic Memories Read More »
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex posttraumatic stress disorder (complex PTSD) can both be considered forms of brain INJURY even though the cause of the injury is extreme psychological trauma rather than a physical trauma such as a blow to the head with a hammer or car accident. However, when psychiatrists treat PTSD with drugs, …
Complex PTSD And Physically Evaluating The Brain Read More »
We have seen from numerous other articles that I have published on this site that those individuals who have suffered significant and protracted childhood trauma are at greatly elevated risk of developing borderline personality disorder (BPD) compared to those who were fortunate enough to experience relatively stable and secure childhoods. We have also seen how …
Remission In Sufferers Of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Read More »
