Trauma occurs when a loved one dies unexpectedly, when a child is assaulted, or when caregivers violate boundaries. It can occur as a result of an accident or as a result of being beaten for being the wrong colour, religion, or sexual orientation. It occurs during a rape. It does not only occur in the presence of "evil" strangers or natural disasters; it also occurs within families and in the name of love. Having stated that, what is trauma?
The lockdown was, in fact, a haven for abusers. Their victims, who would typically have an escape route, had that route completely closed off by anti-virus procedures. It has been called by some, the shadow pandemic.
So frequently, when we enter a new relationship, we view it as a blank sheet and tell ourselves, I'm going to do it my way. However, as youngsters, we absorb information like sponges — we can't help but take in how our parents behaved and what happened in our own family.
Anger transcends feelings. Indeed, your body goes into overdrive when it detects a danger. It begins by releasing adrenaline, the “fight or flight” hormone. Your heart rate accelerates and your blood pressure rises in response...
The majority of us will be thinking about the upcoming year at some time in the near future. If you are anything like me, you’ll find yourself gazing backward before looking forward. Dwelling on things that have already happened is not always beneficial, especially if it consumes more of your time than is necessary...
My recent visit to the Normandy Beaches, the site of the D-Day landings, served as an inspiration for this piece. On a previous trip, I had seen Omaha Beach and the American Military Cemetery, which is perhaps the most well-known and well-visited of all the landing locations...
A revelation for me in 2021 has been the insights acquired through the numerous group therapy sessions that I have facilitated this year, which are detailed here. I made the decision to include group therapy as one of the services I provide at the beginning of this year...
The first session of the new round of Group Therapy For Codependency was held last Saturday. The objective in the first session was to discuss how childhood and the lack of connection with caregivers had fostered a codependent attitude in adulthood. We heard stories of abuse and neglect but mostly about how parents appeared to be so busy with themselves in some way, the children were invisible...
Codependency is complex and is as individual as the people who exhibit its symptoms. It is often misunderstood and often not recognized by mental health professionals who doubt its existence...
Therapy as a couple is hard and there are few guarantees. Many factors determine success or failure. Timing, willingness, the right therapist all come into play...
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