There is a kind of pain that doesn't arrive with a clear story attached. You may not have a single dramatic memory to point to, no obvious moment that explains why you flinch at raised voices, why you shrink when someone expresses disappointment, or why...
Triggered Imagine walking into a grocery store on a quiet Saturday morning. The smell of cologne from someone passing by suddenly makes your chest tighten. Your heart races, your stomach knots, and without warning you feel on edge and unsafe even though nothing in the...
Lately you might have heard the term “dissociation” thrown around, especially on social media. A growing number of people are realizing they've had experiences with dissociation—sometimes enough to wonder if it’s more than just a passing experience. While it seems unlikely that cases of severe...
Relationships are complicated enough in today’s world but throw in the wrench of emotional abandonment wounds from a parent and we’ve hit the ultimate learning curve. Identifying unhealthy dynamics such as negative communication and emotional regulation skills can be frustrating but such a rewarding endeavor....
What is Eye Movement Therapy? Eye Movement Therapy is based on the idea that our eye movements are connected to how our brain processes memories and emotions. Our brains tend to hang on to difficult emotions and memories. This is thought to allow our brains...
You are sitting on a bench at your local playground. It’s sunny (despite Michigan’s temperamental weather). Your gaze begins to wander and settles on children climbing. They are climbing everywhere. It’s amazing, actually, how many things children can climb on. You further notice how they...
Turning off endless thoughts and rumination can be a difficult task for many people (in fact, 6.8 million people across the US). So, it should not be shocking that we all may experience similar instances, or even times of day when we find it difficult...
Recently, I returned from an amazing honeymoon voyage to the Virgin Islands. As our ship docked, we were in breathtaking awe of the pristine clear blue waters and lush tropical hillsides. We were greeted by locals dressed in colorful costumes representing their indigenous culture and...
There have been some dry spells this summer, and my withering and parched lawn was certainly showing the effects of it. My first inclination was to swing into rescue mode and haul the hose out for daily watering, believing that I was doing the best...