Trauma Effects, PTSD

You are deep in conversation when someone unexpectedly taps your shoulder from behind. What do you do? Turn calmly to see who it is Duck away from the touch Turn sharply and grab the hand That would never happen because you always have your back to a wall Someone who feels safe and relaxed is… Read More

Mei Lin, who hates having her hands touched, tensed as the massage therapist worked down her arm. She wanted to ask the massage therapist to stop, but her throat closed around the words. She wanted to pull away, but could not move. She struggled silently with her discomfort until the massage therapist moved on to… Read More

When she was small, Yael’s grandfather taught her to play the piano. After each lesson, he would caress her in uncomfortable ways and swear her to secrecy. When her family moved away, Yael left behind both her memory of being molested and her love of making music. In her thirties, feeling aimless and depressed, she… Read More

Braced shoulders, worried thoughts, shallow breathing. Leila notices her signs of anxiety and pauses to acknowledge them. Her quiet attention interrupts the rising anxiety and allows her body to relax instead. Chronic anxiety can arise from a variety of causes: Physical sensitivities Neurochemical imbalances Current stressors or danger Picking up other people’s unacknowledged anxiety An… Read More

Peter spots his friend Hannah at a party. She has her back to him, so he touches her shoulder and greets her. Rather than turning and answering, she goes rigid for a few moments, then takes a deep breath and asks him not to touch her by surprise again. For Hannah, the unexpected touch triggered… Read More

Many of us imagine that healing from the emotional effects of trauma is like healing from a physical wound. Each day, a healing wound is a little smaller and less tender, until it disappears. If a physical wound grows bigger or more tender at some point during the process, it is considered a setback, and… Read More

One of the effects of surviving trauma can be suicidal thoughts and feelings. It can be hard to speak about them, because people often respond with judgments and panic, even if there is no plan to carry out any suicidal actions. This article explores some of the many reasons for suicidal thoughts and feelings, offers… Read More