The Physiology of Trauma

Most therapists are familiar with the presentation of someone that is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The individual is likely struggling with nightmares, flashbacks, dissociation, anxiety, or panic attacks. The symptoms can vary from person to person. They are generated by experiencing, witnessing or being aware of a traumatic event and/or neglect. For some, this could be a one-time event such as being in a car accident. It could also result from repeated exposure, for example, if a child has been subjected to continual abuse. Our brains store both unconscious and conscious memories. The conscious ones are the ones that we can access at will. Our unconscious memories — the ones that we aren’t aware of — have a strong link to the

Demi Lovato Opens Up About The Mental Illness She Didn’t Know She Had – Refinery29

Refinery29Demi Lovato Opens Up About The Mental Illness She Didn't Know She HadRefinery29Lovato didn't know much about bipolar when she was unexpectedly diagnosed with the disorder in 2011 while in rehab for anorexia, bulimia, and cutting. "I had heard people joking about bipolar," she tells me, "as if it's that one minute you're sad, one …Demi Lovato on Battling Bipolar Disorder: 'Recovery Is Possible'Entertainment TonightDemi Lovato: Speak up for mental healthTV3.ieWhat Demi Lovato Wishes People Understood About Bipolar DisorderYahoo HealthE! Online -Access Hollywoodall 318 news articles »

I’ve recently lost a lot of weight and I’ve become obsessed with what I eat and trying to be healthy but it’s just resulted in obsessive calorie…

I would highly suggest you talk to your parents. Obsessing over what you eat, restricting your caloric intake, and over-exercising are all symptoms of anorexia. Additionally, if other people are noticing it, that causes a lot of concern and raises some red flag for me. It can definitely be scary to talk to your parents, but if you want to get help, that is the best first step. Just tell them what you have told me and go from there. For eating disorders, early intervention is key to positive outcomes.Jessica

Are eating disorders something you’re born with?

No, the disorder itself is not something you are born with (although there are childhood feeding and eating disorders that occur at a very young age); however, you can be born with a disposition to an eating disorder (e.g. family history of eating disorders).

Brother Orange Eats America

image sourceA little follow up to the last post, written by my husband.  Brother Orange actually came to Los Angeles, where I got to hang out AND eat with him – and this time the tables turned – every where we went, he kept saying we over-ordered, and HE was too full!image sourceI guess it just goes to show – nobody is immune to this.  Though we did have to tell him in the middle of our vegan dinner – if you don’t like something ( like raw kale) stop eating it!- LynnP.S. – They’ll be on The Ellen Show, Monday!

Hello, I used to binge and recently I have been so much better lately, but due to easter and mass amounts of food I feel myself slipping back into old…

hello 🙂 First of all, let me ask you a question: Did you enjoy the wonderful gatherings with your friends and families, the awesome delicious cooked food and the wonderful sweet chocolate easter eggs that makes you all high? Yes? Then ed must be jealous and this is WHY its trying to make you life miserable by making you feel all guilty. If you didn’t enjoy the food so? You had it. And it’s a freaking hard thing to do, you should be proud of yourself for trying the foods. It’s scary as hell even if it’s one spoon or one sip but you did it. This is how strong you are and use this strength to keep going. Find something you like, walking (the dog…if you

I regularly restrict during the week and then binge at night on the weekends. Recently I’ve bought laxatives to get rid of the binges. I know these…

Mental health stigmas are stupid, people are stupid and society is brainwashed. Please don’t do this to yourself hun because honestly I bet 5000{c754d8f4a6af077a182a96e5a5e47e38ce50ff83c235579d09299c097124e52d} recovered victims out there will tell you that recovery is the best choice they have ever made. Ignore the people who think they are exaggerating, because thats not true. Everyone deserves help and support when they need. If you don’t restrict, I guarantee it will be easier for you and the urges to binge will lessen. In addition to “I’m not sick enough” you will never be unfortunately. You’re bingeing and restricting, that’s just a really important/big sign that you need immediate help and that you’re brain and body is sick. I’m here fore you if you need xx :)-Caroline

Trauma Resiliency Model: A Portal to Healing

So often as clinicians we attend trainings which are solely focused on learning ways to help our clients. We leave armed with a plethora of new skills, but what about us, the helpers? I have just returned from three days of training in The Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM), developed and adapted by Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSW. TRM is a useful set of skills not only for clients, but also for those who help them. TRM teaches skills to help adults and children cope with traumatic stress reactions, and it can be used by anyone as part of a wellness practice. The goals of TRM are: To deepen the “Resilient Zone” so one is better able to adapt to the stressors of life with flexibility and decreased

How I got back from anorexia

At 15, Nancy Tucker went to her GP about her problems with food. She felt fobbed off and spiralled out of control – she and her mother talk about why turning to the medical profession was a disasterWhen Nancy Tucker was 15, her mother, Jessica realised that she had a problem with food. Nancy had gone on a diet, but the diet seemed to be going on and on, she seemed more and more obsessed with what was on her plate, and she was behaving strangely at mealtimes.Jessica persuaded Nancy to visit their GP, but the GP’s reaction was unexpected. She weighed Nancy, consulted lots of charts, and then said she didn’t meet the criteria for referral. Her weight wasn’t “low enough”, it seemed, to trigger help. Continue

I Had To Go All The Way To China To Finally Understand My Wife’s Eating Disorder

My wife has a long history of eating disorders, and I’ve been with her since 1997, so I’ve watched her face some real struggles over 18 years. I’m happy that she’s been in recovery for a long time now, and so proud of the way she’s helped build platforms like this one that have reached so many people. But even though I’ve seen her difficulties with food firsthand, I always had to listen to her verbalize those feelings and try to sympathize. That all changed when I took my first trip to China. I make documentaries for a living, and was excited that I got assigned to a project that would take me to southern China, in Guangdong province. You can read all about the amazing experience here. A