Tag Archives: Complex PTSD
Can Trauma Survivors Recover Without Access to Professional Help?
According to a 2021 study, “most states have fewer than 40% of the mental health professionals needed” and “more than half (51%) of counties in the United States have no practicing psychiatrists.” Even where mental illness industry practitioners exist, many … Continue reading
When Professionals Fail with CPTSD
It can feel frustrating and invalidating when professionals fail to recognize Complex PTSD (CPTSD) as a real condition. The truth is, it’s not part of their training to understand it, and that’s a systemic issue. The medical and psychiatric industries … Continue reading
Desperate for Connection, Paralyzed by Fear: Trauma’s Cruel Dilemma
One of the cruelest effects of complex trauma is how our nervous systems become equally desperate for connection and terrified of it. Any interaction can feel potentially dangerous. We focus on detecting threats and protecting ourselves, but we can’t protect … Continue reading
Feel It for 90 Seconds: The Surprising Lifespan of Emotions
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroanatomist, explains that the biochemical lifespan of an emotion is roughly 90 seconds. According to her, when we experience an emotion, the physiological response—triggered by a stimulus—lasts about 90 seconds in the body before it … Continue reading
SGB for PTSD: The Breakthrough Work of Dr. Eugene Lipov
Back in late 2020, when I was near death for most of a year, I had struggled for many months to find access to Stellate Ganglion Blocks (SGB) as a treatment for Complex PTSD. I had read about this minimally … Continue reading
The Limits of SGB for PTSD: IPNB Approaches for Sustainable Trauma Relief
From an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) perspective, addressing the temporary nature of relief provided by Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) involves focusing on the relational, neurological, and systemic aspects of trauma recovery. IPNB emphasizes the importance of integration, relational support, and understanding … Continue reading
Why ‘Just Let It Go’ Falls Short: The Healing Power of Empathy
It seems like people who say dismissive things to trauma survivors like “just let it go” don’t consciously realize why they say them. This was the case with my friend of many years, who repeatedly told me to “just let … Continue reading
Hazards of the therapist’s agenda
“The goal of radical transformation in your clients” is a selling point for some training for therapists. The idea might not be as brilliant as it seems on the surface. Any therapist’s agenda can actually thwart the client’s process, as … Continue reading
“The Intersection of Public Safety and Mental Health,” a Public Safety Meeting Presentation
Last night, for the first time in many years, I spoke in public. This was at a local public safety meeting coordinated by my State Representative, Larry Lambert, a fine human being. Also present were representatives of our local first … Continue reading
Can Trauma Survivors Recover Even Without Access to Professional Help?
According to a 2021 study, “most states have fewer than 40% of the mental health professionals needed” and “more than half (51%) of counties in the United States have no practicing psychiatrists.” Even where mental illness industry practitioners exist, many … Continue reading