A traumatic experience is defined as an experience that leaves us with feelings of “horror, helplessness or hopelessness” (Herman, 1992). It’s an experience during which our system is overwhelmed. It’s generally an abnormal situation and results in us creating defenses or ways of being that get us through such an experience. Thank goodness for those … Read more
High levels of activation in the body are a normal response to trauma but over a short amount of time can produce significant changes to our nervous system and our resultant behaviour. We start noticing that something is wrong. Clients will say things like: I’m freaking out over something that shouldn’t be getting me so … Read more
You’ve been through something horrifying. You try to forget it but you are struggling. You avoid things that remind you of it. But it keeps coming back. The quiet moments are the hardest. So you stay busy. You wish for rest. You hope for sleep. But you can’t let your guard down. If this sounds familiar you may be experiencing post-traumatic stress … Read more
A lot of us have experienced some trauma in our lives. Trauma is commonly defined as an event that left us feeling helpless, hopeless or in horror. Sometimes we think we’ve worked through it. Then we end up in a relationship. In the beginning it’s good. We are doing well on our end. But suddenly … Read more
Spaces still available – Saturday January 16, 2016 10am-Noon Are you in a high stress environment? When we are under chronic stress or have experienced a high stress/traumatic event or vicarious trauma we may experience changes to our nervous system. When that happens we end up responding to stressors from our animal fight/flight/freeze defensive part … Read more