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Showing posts from December, 2024

You Are Not Alone: The Healing Power of Sharing Your Story

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You Are Not Alone: The Power of Sharing Your Story Have you ever faced something so painful that it felt like the world was moving on without you? You're not alone. Did you know? Around 70% of adults worldwide experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. In the past three years, 57% of Americans have faced a significant loss. Despite how common suffering is, when it’s happening to you, it can feel like everyone else is moving forward while you’re standing still. The isolation that often comes with pain can make healing even harder. A Day That Changed Everything One brisk, cold afternoon, I was exhausted from a long day at work and 34 weeks pregnant with my second child. After picking up my son from daycare, he started screaming from the backseat—hungry and impatient. Desperate to soothe him, I leaned over to grab his crackers from the passenger-side floor. In that split second, everything changed. I felt a thud. An 18-year-old young woman was on my hood, her body ro...

Understanding Trauma: What It Is and How It Affects Us

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Trauma affects more people than we might realize, but what exactly is trauma, and why does it impact us so deeply? The Three Types of Trauma Trauma is any experience that terrifies us and makes us fear for our safety or the safety of someone important to us. It can take different forms, including: Acute Trauma : A single, isolated event (e.g., a car accident). Chronic Trauma : Repeated and prolonged exposure to distressing events. Complex Trauma : Multiple, varied traumatic events, often in close relationships (e.g., child abuse, domestic violence). Trauma isn’t limited to firsthand experiences. It can also arise from witnessing, learning about, or even being exposed to distressing details of a traumatic event. How Trauma Impacts the Body and Mind The foundational symptoms of PTSD persist for 30 or more days after a traumatic event and can significantly affect daily functioning. Common symptoms include: Re-experiencing the trauma : Nightmares, flashbacks, or triggers. Avoidance : Steer...