Here at Maryland Addiction Recovery Center we value the relationships we have with our colleagues in the field and understand the need for individuals, families and communities to be educated about mental health and addiction, treatment and recovery. We believe the more education takes place, the more stigma is lessened and the more people will look and find the help they need. We have started a “Guest Blog” segment that will allow experts in field to offer their insight on a number of different topics that will educate, enlighten and begin conversation. We hope you enjoy.
GUEST BLOG SERIES:
“Trauma Experiences, Our Brains, Our Bodies…” by Erica Weinstein, LCPC
They are intricately linked through memory & sensory information. Traumatic experiences *(see list below)* can change the ways in which our brains develop & function. The body typically “remembers” trauma prior to the brain, therefore; treatment modalities incorporating movement, breathwork, & tapping are indicated.
Some common physical experiences that may be linked to trauma
- Frequent Headaches/Migraines
- Digestive/Intestinal Difficulties
- Flashbacks
- Chronic Fatigue
- Fibromyalgia
- Panic Attacks
- Insomnia
Trauma effects everyone differently & what may be traumatic for one person, may not be for another. Here are some common examples of *trauma experiences* that many of us may or may not know are negatively impacting our quality of living & functioning:
- ANY ABUSE (this includes physical, verbal, mental, emotional, psychological, sexual)
- Natural Disaster (such as tornado, earthquake, fire)
- Unnatural Disaster (such as car accident, brain injury, war)
- Sudden Loss (of a loved one, a job, a relationship)
- Homelessness
This is a brief list of possible traumatic experiences. There are many more. Anyone can be just as traumatized by witnessing the above events. One does not have to directly experience a trauma to suffer from it. Some of us may not know we have been significantly impacted by a or more than one trauma. We may think certain behaviors, reactions, & thinking patterns are “normal” because of family of origin &/or community/cultural norms.
One example is children who come from direct &/or indirect (hearing crashing, screaming, etc., or watching the violence from a hiding place) involvement with domestic violence in their homes. As these children grow & mature, they frequently develop unhealthy patterns of relating with others. Shana may believe that she deserves to be pushed around & that it is fine for her partner to demand check-ins as to place, person, & thing every 2 hours. That’s what she saw & heard her mother do; & Shana loves & is protective of her mother. This may be “normal” for Shana because this way of living is what she knows. As she starts dating, she may attract partners who control, manipulate, &/or abuse. This example demonstrates possible consequences of the cycle of multi-generational trauma. Seeking out unhealthy relationships because they seem “normal”, safe, & comfortable. However, if Shana’s “normal” is destructive, unhealthy, &/or dangerous, there are ways to reroute the pathways in the brain in order to create new ways of thinking, reacting, & behaving.
Erica Weinstein, LCPC, believes combining the art of psychotherapy with yoga practice is the pinnacle of her professional career. Learning and delivering the two services separately gave Erica the opportunity to hone the required intentionality of each discipline. With time, experience and confidence, Erica can now fuse the two to create a holistic approach to emotional, mental, spiritual and physical wellness. Erica’s specialties include working with adolescents and adults who experience symptoms related to depression, anxiety, mood disturbance and trauma. You can contact Erica or find out more about her services by calling 410-960-3209, emailing her at erica@weinsteinwellness.com or visiting her web site at www.weinsteinwellness.com.
If you or someone you know is in need of an intervention or help because of drug and/or alcohol abuse, please give us a call. Maryland Addiction Recovery Center offers the most comprehensive addiction treatment in the Baltimore City, Baltimore County and entire Maryland and Washington, D.C. area. If we aren’t the best fit for you or your loved one, we will take the necessary time to work with you to find a treatment center or provider that better fits your needs. Please give us a call at (410) 773-0500 or email our team at Contact us today. For more information on all of our drug addiction and alcohol addiction services and recovery resources, please visit our web site at www.marylandaddictionrecovery.com.