Everything in balance

 ⚖️ Are Judges Trained to Deal with Mental Illness? Spoiler: No they are NOT! And that’s a problem                                                   Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, who was arrested on Aug. 22 after he fatally stabbed 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska. (abc.com)  The suspect, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown  had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and suffered hallucinations and paranoia, his sister Tracey Brown said. She said her brother told her multiple times the government had implanted a chip in him. (cnn.com)  What is justice in this case? Death penalty? life in prison? Life in a Hospital for the criminally insane?  The history of this man is woven with chances to protect society and get him help but time and time again the system failed to do both or did it fail? Failure, in this case means you ...

  CALM in PTSD SURGE When PTSD flares up, time becomes elastic. A smell, a sound, a shadow—any one of them can hurl you out of the present and into a flood of memory and fear. These moments don’t ask permission, they don’t play fair and you do not have warning most of the time.  I teach the targeted and focused process of grounding as it can help reestablish safety, gently coaxing the nervous system out of panic and back into now. 🌀 What Is Grounding? Grounding is the practice of anchoring yourself in the present moment. It's not about denying your past or suppressing emotion—it's about regaining control during an emotional hijack of the here and now. Some grounding techniques are sensory: Touch grounding: Holding an object and focusing on the physical interaction of your skin and thoughts while holding an object. It can be a specific object of any random object that is close by such as an as a small stone you carry with you, an ice cube out of glass of soda, pen, coins ...

  Talking About Hard topics: Sharing personal and sensitive topics, such as our trauma history or mental health needs, can understandably bring about several challenges. One significant concern can be the fear of rejection. When we open up and share deep aspects of ourselves, there's a natural worry that the other person might not accept or understand us. Another layer of difficulty involves the anxiety associated with trust. Expressing traumatic experiences requires us to be vulnerable and place our trust in another individual, which can be daunting. Additionally, it's common to experience a feeling of weakness when expressing our own needs. We might have a misconception that sharing our vulnerabilities or requirements could be perceived as a sign of weakness. Preparing for a Difficult Conversation Talking about trauma or other personal topics can be difficult. Here are few steps to help you prepare: Preparing Internally Practice what you want to say into a mirr...

  What is a Trauma event(s) A traumatic event is an incident that causes physical, emotional, spiritual, or psychological harm. It is an event that leave a person feeling threatened, frightened, or overwhelmed. Examples include accidents, natural disasters, violence, abuse, or witnessing a distressing event. It is triggers the human Fight or Flight which response to the maximum that often leaves a person stuck int fight, flight or freeze mode, this can trigger the trauma response system (TRS). What is a Trauma Response? Trauma responses refer to the psychological, emotional, and physical reactions individuals may experience after encountering a traumatic event. This is a human defense system! The trauma response system (TRS) allows humans to survive horrible event(s) including accidents, abuse, violence, loss, natural disasters and long term trauma exposure. Once your trauma response system is activated it can fail to stop protecting you long after the trauma event(s) are...

  Understanding ADHD and Trauma Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. Adults with ADHD may struggle with time management, organization, maintaining focus, hyper-awareness, and a sense of being overwhelmed. Trauma can stem from various experiences such as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse in childhood, being the victim or witnessing violence, sudden loss, or even long-term exposure to chronic stressors such as poverty. Trauma can significantly impact how an individual manages their ADHD symptoms. For individuals navigating ADHD while experiencing the effects of past trauma, it can complicate daily life. Trauma can exacerbate ADHD symptoms, leading to increased unstable emotional responses to simple daily interactions.  Trauma and ADHD can trigger anxiety, depression, and emotional regulation challenges. Conversely, ADHD can worsen trauma triggers by ...