Health and Healing Dealing with Trauma and Addictions

Many people who struggle with suicidal thoughts feel like they are alone. You would be surprised by how much the Bible talks about suicide. There are several helpful examples of those who took their life and many reminders of hope throughout Scripture. Even though these stories from the Bible are of people overwhelmed by fear, guilt, heartache, illness, pride, disillusionment, deception, and hopel...

When the festive season feels more overwhelming than it does joyful, your holiday stress level could be at its max. But practicing self-care and delegating responsibilities may help you cope.  Stress isn’t inherently good or bad. It’s anything that presents a challenge to your body’s systems, physically, mentally — or both. It can help you excel, achieve goals, and feel motivated. It can also stic...

Expert discusses history of generational trauma, coping mechanisms. According to many therapists and mental health professionals, sometimes trauma isn't derived from a one-time, extreme life event. People are often unaware of the signs of generational trauma, which can include depression, anxiety or distrust of certain groups or institutions. Community is often crucial in addressing generatio...

How much time do you want to progress?  Let’s talk about race baby, let’s talk about you and me, let’s talk about all the good things and the bad things that can be:  The concept of race and identity are relatively new concepts to mankind and connected indelibly to the problems of racism in America. Have things gotten better for people of color, are these concepts harming the people of non-color?...

How is our identity cultivated in our minds and the minds of others? Psychologists state that we must first discover our personal potential then choose a purpose for living. After we've identified how to use our potential, we must find opportunities to implement it in ways that fulfill our sense of purpose. As we age, we continue to develop our identity by reevaluating our potential and reali...

Our understanding of trauma and its effects on people is clearer than it was just a few years ago. One key thing we’ve learned, trauma is much more common than we once thought. For example, many people with unresolved trauma will turn to drugs or alcohol to numb themselves to it—and they get addicted in the process. Many other addictions follow, besides drugs and alcohol.  75 percent of the female...

Many different forms of abuse have been known to take place within relationships. Some people think that just because the abuse is not physical, it isn’t a problem. However, other forms of abuse can end up being much more damaging to the victim’s mental health. Emotional and psychological abuse are both quite distinct from physical abuse, and although they do not leave physical marks, they can be...

TRAUMA IS AN EMOTIONAL response that occurs when you experience a distressing event, Sometimes, trauma gets passed down through families.  Generational trauma isn’t a diagnosable mental health disorder, but it can nonetheless manifest in many different ways and affect individuals and families as a whole for a very long time. Trauma refers to stress that’s so overwhelming and severe that it impacts...

The five food groups are Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein Foods, and Dairy. If there’s one concept health researchers have come to agree on it’s this: What you eat matters!  Why? Because “the composition, structure, and function of the brain are dependent on the availability of appropriate nutrients.” There is clear evidence that diet has an effect on cognitive function later in life.  The food...

Most people know firsthand that sleep affects their mental state. The brain activity fluctuates during sleep, increasing and decreasing during different sleep that make up the sleep cycle.  Each stage plays a role in brain health, allowing activity in different parts of the brain to ramp up or down and enabling better thinking, learning, and memory.  The way that sleep and mental health are intert...

When people think of abuse, it tends to be something physical that leaves visible marks. Yet, emotional abuse leaves invisible wounds that are just as damaging. Emotional abuse, sometimes called psychological abuse, is a pattern of behaviors where one person subjects another person to nonphysical acts that harm another person's overall ability to function and their mental well-being.  A varie...

it's helpful for you to be familiar with the signs of cutting. Cutting can become a dangerous habit that’s hard to stop without help. Unfortunately, most teens try to hide cutting, so signs may not be obvious.  Try not to overreact if you think your teen is cutting. We know it’s upsetting, but cutting and self-harm are signs teens aren’t coping well with stress and other emotions. Ask about t...