There can be a sadness that emerges when we begin to truly see, when we wake up to the realization that we have lived much of our lives in survival stress. It is the grief of recognizing that our choices, our relationships, our very sense of self may have been shaped by the unseen hand of a nervous system wired by our past for both protection and presence.

This sadness is not the sharp, immediate sting of loss, nor the acute heartbreak that follows devastation. It is an ache—a deep, tender sorrow that pools in the body like a riverbed worn smooth by time. It lives in the weight of the chest, the quiet exhaustion behind the eyes, the subtle heaviness in the limbs. It is the sign we do not even realize we are holding.

Sadness as a Nervous System Imprint

The body learns to carry it as a familiar companion, whispering, This is just how things are.

For some, sadness settles as a quiet withdrawal —a loneliness and a feeling of isolation. Maybe a shutdown every now and again that numbs the edges of life. For others, it intertwines with the breath, constricting the chest in a gentle but persistent grip. It can manifest in the way we move, how we carry our shoulders, the way we hesitate before reaching out, a lack of boundaries that constrict our hearts, or a cold emptiness that invades the core of our being. And yet, this sadness that can often feel like a permanent weight is a messenger, not a captor. When we resist it, suppress it, or fear it, it sinks deeper into the nervous system and numbs our capacity for joy and inner peace. But when we learn how to use our nervous system to help us heal, and how closely entwined emotions are to this system, we can allow our sadness to guide us towards our truths and an enriching presence.

Helping Sadness Feel Safe

Much like a child who has learned not to cry for fear of being unheard, yelled at, or shamed, our sadness needs to know that it is welcome here and that there is a grief for the loss of time. As we move forward with a nourishing, deeper wisdom. Sadness is not something to be banished or fixed, but something to be held tenderly. If we stay connected to how we respond to our sadness, it can feel safe with us and create immense space for all of us, and not just the history of our experiences embedded in the memory and pathways of survival.

By placing a hand over the ache and saying, I see you. You are allowed to be here too, and how that can create a shift that opens to a broader horizon. The sharpness dulls, the sting of emotional pain is soothed, the weight lightens, the sadness softens in the warmth of our attention. This is the beginning of true integration—not just intellectually understanding our past, but giving our nervous system permission to be with and hold more lightly what it has stored for so long. 

The Healing Language of Sadness

“Sadness gives depth. Happiness gives height. Sadness gives roots. Happiness gives branches. Happiness is like a tree going into the sky, and sadness is like the roots going down into the womb of the earth. Both are needed.” — Osho

To feel sadness deeply is to know that we are alive and room for so much life, your definition of life and feeling alive to enter your bloodstream, and you begin to flow more freely. It is a testament to the parts of you, that kept getting up, that kept searching, that longed for more, that believed that there has to be more to life than this, that yearned for a quality of inner safety a deeper connection, and inner ease but perhaps never fully received or experienced it. Sadness is the soul’s way of acknowledging what still can be.

When the heart weeps and the body feels, it does so because it recognizes something greater inside itself than what it has been externally given- it invites your soul and a deeper truth to fully emerge.

And that is where the release begins with the truth within this present moment that can feedback new information to this super vigilant system, instead of relentlessly tracking for danger, error, and everything that could go wrong, we also learn how to track for all that is ok, warm and friendly in this moment. 

Create A Soft Landing

Taking the edge off sadness is not about erasing it or getting over it. It is about creating a space for it to breathe and rest, rather than something we must endure. It is about meeting it with a deeper breath, a deep inhale, along with another inhale and a long, slow exhale, no matter how restricted it might feel to breathe, try not to force it, inhale as naturally as you can, allowing every exhale time to receive that tender warmth. In doing so, you are offering the whole of you back to yourself, no matter who stole parts of your heart and soul; you are now reclaiming all parts of you. You create copious amounts of space for joy, not as a forced antidote, but as a natural counterpart that emerges when we no longer fear the depth of our own sorrow.

“The wound is the place where the light enters you.” — Rumi 

Sorrow is healing  the wounds and carving a pathway to openness for you to meet your true self,  shining a light on you. Hold yourself tenderly, softly, gently, and steadily, and notice how your nervous system begins to respond when it feels safe with you and with the deeper knowing that even in our sorrow, we are whole.

Cheering you along from survival to a soul revival.

Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash

Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog post do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.

Roseanne Reilly

Roseanne Reilly DipNUR, APCST, ERYT500hr CEP specializing in Restoring Safety to the Nervous System

Roseanne comes from a Background of Nursing, She is an Advanced CranioSacral Therapist, Experienced Yoga Teacher and Health Educator and contributor to the Nervous System Economy

Roseanne provides research based tools and resources for nervous systems restoration following chronic and trauma stress

She provides insights from her own healing journey towards recovery, through blogs, weekly resources, work shops, courses, 1 to 1 mentoring and small group sessions

Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/roseanne-reilly-3014a0200/

website address: https://handsoftimehealing.com/

www.handsoftimehealing.com

Trauma is an octopus.

L’dor vador. These Hebrew words, one of the most fundamental tenets of Judaism, translate to “Generation to generation”.

—You cannot rush the healing process—

“I wanted my mother to love me. Despite all the torture and brutality.”
― Wendy Hoffman, White Witch in a Black Robe: A True Story about Criminal Mind Control

GLUTTON

A shamanic therapist once said to me, “You want to eat the whole meal simultaneously. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner– until you throw up.”

My insatiable gulping down of life, the need to know it all, live it all, be it all, was my fear and anxiety from childhood trauma. My running to “get it” was the compulsive desire to “get love” before I die. If I “get it,” The child who did not receive love will be whole and healed.

My unworthiness said, ‘You have to “get it,”’ and my soul said, ‘You don’t have to “get” anything; you just need to live and learn.’

The myth about healing trauma is thinking that we can “cure” it. The need to be perfect and “get it” is part of the trauma cycle: fight, flight, freeze and fawn. As humans, “perfectionism” is hypervigilant behavior that drives us to “GET” loved because we believe we are not lovable.

The truth is you can never “get it all.” Life is a cyclic and continuous learning experience of the SELF. As Epictetus put it, “It is impossible for a person to begin to learn what he thinks he already knows.”

It is the conundrum of living. I will never know it all; I should know it all so no one will see the cracks and scabs that rub against my skin and bones, causing me fear, sadness, and loneliness.

Learning self-love is the most challenging, painful, and extensive aspect of trauma recovery. However, how can we love ourselves when we do not have models of unconditional love? Loving ourselves means loving it all—the good, bad, and ugly—the shadow parts.

The same therapist said, “You need to eat your mother to know yourself.”

I gagged when she said that. I thought I was well past my “mother work” because I was educated, creative, and independent; I believed I was nothing like my mother. My mother was an abuser and borderline personality, and my father, a male of his time who never protected me from my mother’s abuse, was sexist and told me I could not make it in the world without him.

I was over it!! And that was that.

What I didn’t WANT TO KNOW was how much of my mother’s rage, grief, and heartbreak I held unconsciously in my body with every slap, pinch, and kick she threw at me. My father’s words ran deep in my bones, “You can’t do it.” Unconscious behavior, thoughts, beliefs, and feelings acted out on everything and everyone.

HIPS AND HIDDEN TRAUMA

Many years ago, I worked with a client who felt hip pain. I guided her to travel inward, slowing down her breath so she could feel the discomfort. She experienced a heavy weight pulling her into the earth, burying her.

A deep sadness surfaced. “I don’t want to feel this sadness. It’s too much.” I urged her to receive her own experience gently.

As she moved into her hips, she felt rage and remembered her mother locking her in a closet when she was six when she tried to express her feelings. Because of that incident, she developed an unconscious pattern of shutting down and tightening her body when anyone got close physically or emotionally.

Layers of unexpressed fear and hurt emerged. “I hurt so much. Why would my mother do that?” she cried out.

Slowly, I guided her to move her hips side to side, slow, then fast, and encouraged her to “go out of control.”

At first, she was stiff and didn’t want to keep moving. “Stay with it. Accept your little girl’s feelings,” I said.

Finally, she touched into the pain and let out a short, loud scream. She felt exhausted, but she began to feel warmth opening up in her hips.

I asked her to keep practicing coming into the body.

THE METAPHYSICS OF CATHARSIS

Brain research and experiential, somatic, and creative approaches now inform us that trauma is in the body, not the head.

But what does that truly mean?

Your five senses and physical sensations are the door into your body. Emotions, intuitions, and instincts are energetically involved in trauma recovery.

Life is energy. Energy never dies; it changes through intent, effort, and focus. Your body, thoughts, beliefs, feelings, memories, and imagination are all energy. But they are all in your head. Bringing the felt emotional memory into the skin, bones, and organs takes an intentional pulling inward and downward.

Healing is not curing; feeling/intuition is healing—an ongoing process.

When individuals attempt to drop into their bodies, they will analyze a feeling from their head, tell a story, and repeat a memory of something that happened.

The energetics of trauma are non-verbal, irrational, and primal.

Your animal instincts sniff into your body. They guide you toward your authentic knowing and experience.

Many people are terrified to go there and believe it will re-traumatize them. It can. But if guided with acceptance, care, and pacing layer by layer, you will begin to release the pain and freeze with compassion.

To find THAT emotional voice takes a deep commitment to tolerate the pain. To melt unconscious defended patterns that, as children, kept you safe and frozen in survival. Holding pain and discomfort is a metaphysical, energetic, emotional healing of trauma.

Releasing, navigating, and transforming trauma is an intense cathartic experience.

“Catharsis provides a model of healing that deals with those things which most disturb us and we least wish to face. The model that catharsis offers and which the millennial vision communicates is that there is a practical way to accomplish the ancient spiritual goal of creating light out of the very substance of darkness. This process may be crucial to our physical and spiritual survival, for as the apocalypse myth keeps reminding us, the darkness will not just disappear. Instead, it must be transformed.” —A Work of Lamentation by Joshua Leavitt, Parabola, Spring 1988

Cathartic work is passion work, the portal into your body.

OCTOPUS TENTACLES AND THE PSYCHE

Dr. Schulman, my first therapist at age seventeen, said to me, “You have a symbiotic relationship with your parents.”

I had no clue what that meant at the time.

Through my inner travels and studies, I realized I was living off of their feelings, unresolved traumas, and unconscious beliefs, which they had hammered into me without awareness.

He continued, “You don’t know what your feelings are separate from your mother and father.”

These are the core symptoms of trauma–co-dependency and addiction. You feel “others” feelings, not your own. You have no SELF.

Trauma is an octopus—a long, twisted, winding road leading back to the beginning of time. Your body is the topography of your soul and its primal wisdom and voice.

GRANDMA’S LEGACY

Trauma is the universal story of your ancestors. There isn’t a culture, society, country, race, or nationality that didn’t walk through the fires of trauma. The fight for freedom, independence, and individuality— truth and intimacy. Family—unconditional love.

My grandmother, Sarah, brought a trail of blood that she dragged across the Atlantic Ocean from Russia/Poland—carrying generations of women’s silence.

My four-foot-four, husky, blonde, vodka-drinking, chain-smoking grandmother came to America and escaped the Russian pogroms. Nazi ovens murdered the rest of her eleven siblings, and she came alone, bringing with her the unfelt grief and rage that helped her survive loss after loss. She passed on her heartbreaking story to her children.

By the time she was twenty-five, her husband Charles died of pneumonia at thirty years old. Sarah was left with three children to feed and keep alive.

Like all good Jewish children, her children retired Sarah to the Burly House on Miami Beach.

I visited Sarah often, especially after I moved to Florida. One day, I asked her, “Grandma, how did you come to America?”

Sitting in her small blue and white kitchen, watching Sarah slap dough into thin wraps, shaping them into blintzes, she was too focused to answer.

One by one, she placed each blintz in a big frying pan, boiling hot with butter and oil, until crisp. The greasy smell of fried dough and hot, mushy potatoes has had my mouth watering since I was two.

I asked again, “Grandma, how did you come to America? Who were your mother, father, and siblings?”

“Oye”. My grandmother grunted. “I was smuggled in a pickle barrel.” She waved her hand, loose flesh wiggling from her underarm. “Stop asking such questions.”

“What?! A pickle barrel? Why don’t you talk about any of it?”

“Shush. No more talk.”

Her generational stories were buried in my grandmother and then my mother. Who was this woman? This Yiddish, sharp-tongued grandma?

The grievous wound of the mother is ancient. If I didn’t know her, how could I know myself?

GENERATIONAL REPAIR

Generational trauma is our personal trauma—the ongoing story of the repair of human life.

This is the meaning of the repair of the world— Tikkun Olam is the fragmentation of humankind scattered across the universe, and for us to repair the scattering of light into the darkness of the universe. Repairing the world and the human condition is eternal.

The way of the body is a path of diving, digging, curiosity, creativity, emotional expression, and self-inquiry

I had to learn to hold deep heartbreak to understand what Dr. Schulman attempted to teach me. I dug into profound, gut-wrenching family patterning work until I changed my experience with unhealthy relationship choices, unworthiness, shame, and blame.

Change and growth take time, commitment, intention, mindfulness, presence, self-responsibility, and the practice of coming into the body. It is a rebirthing of yourself.

Cathartic healing guides you toward writing and art, embodying the core emotional eye of your inner, deeper story.

Part 2 of this story will be posted on March 27, 2025

Image provided by the author.

Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog post do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.

Marta Luzim, MS

Marta Luzim, MS has worked with women, families, and couples for over forty years. She is a Psychospiritual Therapist with an MS in Counseling Psychology and a BS in Education. She is an expert in womens’ story-telling and a Next Level Practitioner in trauma. Marta holds certifications as a Kaizen creative coach and metaphysician; she is an intuitive intimacy trainer, mindfulness breath worker, and Kabbalah of Character expert. She is a self-published author, has published articles in Citysmart Magazine on creativity, healing, and women’s issues, is the third-place winner poet of Smell of Brooklyn Bricks through the Story Circle Network, and is an artist and playwright. Her novel, The Calling, and her book, Heart of A Woman, can be found on Amazon. In addition, Marta is the president of Give Her A Voice, Inc., a 501c3 organization that produced The Telling, a multi-media theatrical performance of women’s stories of recovery. www.giveheravoice.org  She is currently working on her memoir on her soulful journey recovering from trauma. She can be reached at marta@womeswayin.com and her website is: www.womenswayin.com

Taking time off when you need to be focusing on yourself.

Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog post do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.

LWK

About Me:- Who am I?

Well, first off what does that even mean? How do I answer that? As a human being I am always growing and developing, we are not human-dones now are we? Who I am today is technically, a little more than who I was yesterday and a little less than I will be tomorrow.

For the ‘traditionalists’ … I’m from the South of the UK. I have a Law Degree, almost finished with my Counselling and Psychology degree and I work with teenagers as a progression mentor, a large number of whom suffer with challenging behaviour, mental health conditions and physical impairments. I have a published book called ‘Maybe it’s just a thing…’ and I used to teach music privately, having retired from performing on stage.

blog63094.wordpress.com

This article will center around the addiction to sugar and how it might affect you and your family.

The Types of Sugar We Eat

One might think that the sugar we eat is in its simple form, a substance that grows as a plant, is harvested, and then processed. You would be wrong. While some products contain ‘pure cane sugar,’ it is almost guaranteed that other forms of sugar are present in the food you eat.

If you read the labeling on the product you are about to consume, you will see that it reads like a chemistry book. The FDA (The Food and Drug Administration) requires that the amount of added sugar in your food and drink is listed.

Added sugar is a mixture of simple sugars like sucrose, glucose, or fructose, and other types might be present such as galactose, lactose, and maltose. Let’s break down and examine two of these sugars more closely.

Sucrose. This is the most common sugar and is often sold as table sugar. Sucrose occurs naturally as a carbohydrate that is found in fruits and plants. Table sugar is extracted from cane or beats and consists of 50% glucose and 50% fructose. This form of sugar is the least harmful to your body if consumed in moderation.

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS). This sweetener is widely used in products made in the United States. HFCS is made from corn starch and includes fructose and glucose. There are many types of HFCS with various amounts of fructose. However, the most common types are HFCS 55 and HFCS 42.

High fructose corn syrup has been shown to cause inflammation and is highly associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity. Those aren’t the only problems caused by this inflammation, as HFCS increases harmful substances called glycation end products which harm the body’s cells.

What is sugar addiction?

According to the World Health Organization, an adult on a 2,000-calorie diet should consume about 25 grams of sugar per day. However, most people are unaware that they consume much more than 25 grams, with a single can of soda containing 44 grams.

If you read those figures and felt a twinge of guilt, don’t. Your addiction to sugar is not entirely your fault, and you are not alone. On average, Americans consume an enormous amount of sugar daily, 71.14 g compared to the WHOs recommended amount.

Sugar, in one form or another, is everywhere and added to most processed foods to make them taste better and, quite frankly, to draw you back to buy more. Consuming sugar creates a short-term high, sparking powerful feelings of pleasure, energy, and euphoria that help alleviate depression and anxiety.

Some studies found sugar to be as addictive as cocaine because of the dopamine release sugar causes. Like cocaine, sugar has long-term health consequences. Sugar is used to soothe stress and is like other behavioral addictions.

Anyone who grows a mental attachment to sugar, giving them energy, can become dependent and suffer cravings to control irritability and emotional lows.

What is the Problem with Sugar Addiction?

Sugar addiction has become a significant problem worldwide, especially in developed countries like the United States. Sugar is in everything, and if the food isn’t naturally occurring or sweet enough, high fructose corn syrup is added to enhance the flavor. Corporations and other food manufacturers use sugar to tweak your brain; this tweaking can lead to obesity and cause addiction.

Evolution has a lot to do with sugar addiction as the brain is stimulated to go into survival mode seeking to bulk up on all the carbohydrates (sugars). It can cause one to gain excessive amounts of weight. Your body thinks you are starving!

Like withdrawal from any other addictive drug, stopping eating sugar is difficult for many reasons. One of those reasons is that sugar is added to everything you eat. Second, withdrawal from feeding your body copious amounts of sugar is tremendous as your body and brain adjust to not being bombarded by sugar’s effects.

Four of the Signs of Sugar Addiction

 As stated before, the first step in escaping a trap is knowing its existence. Acknowledging you have a sugar addiction can not only save your life, but it can also set you free of lifelong ailments.

Below we shall explore four signs that you are addicted to sugar.

1. You feel you need something sweet after every meal. If you are unsatisfied without a sweet dessert after your meals, you may be addicted to sugar. Sugar should be eaten as a treat, not an expected part of a meal. If you feel excited about dessert during your meal, you may want to re-evaluate your relationship with sugar.
2. If you crave carbohydrates, you might be addicted to sugar. It is vital to remember that sugar comes in many forms. One form is carbohydrates. Carbs are made into sugar very quickly and are used by the body to give instant energy. Carbohydrates drive sugar addiction by offering a short-term high and then a desperate low. The body will crave carbohydrates to get high and avoid the lows of lack of excessive sugar in the bloodstream.
3. Feasting on a high-carb meal or treat disrupts the ecosystem of bacteria in our digestive system feeding the ‘bad’ bacteria in the gut. These disturbances hurt the ability of our digestive system to do its job efficiently and cause bloating. If you experience bloating after eating, you may be a sugar addict.
4. You experience huge dips and spikes in your energy during your day. Eating sugar impacts your blood sugar and thus impacts your energy level. If you feel fantastic at a point in your day but have times when you feel fatigued, this is another sign you are addicted to sugar. When you eat foods rich in carbohydrates, your body will react by making insulin to metabolize them into sugar in your bloodstream. The influx of carbs will give you a rush but be followed by drastic changes in your energy level as it bottoms out. The constant changes of eating carbs and crashing leaves your body craving sugar.

It should be clear by now that sugar addiction is very real, and if you recognize yourself in the descriptions above, you should speak to your doctor. If you are obese or find sweets irresistible, there is a good chance that you are addicted to sugar.

Strategies That Can Help

Your life doesn’t need to be run by sugar. While your body needs some sugar to function well, overeating sugar, usually found in processed foods, is harmful. You can do the following to limit sugar intake and step away from sugar addiction.

Change Your Diet. One good strategy is to limit how much sugar you eat each day. This strategy requires self-control and the lack of a deep emotional connection to sugar. Below is a list of some dietary strategies you can use.

• Use fresh fruit to sweeten plain yogurt or pancakes.
• Replace your breakfast with unsweetened items such as eggs or oatmeal.
• Don’t purchase and bring home sugary items such as candy or cookies.
• Avoid eating anything sweet all day. Save them for dessert after supper.
• Stay away from sweetened drinks like sweetened iced tea, sports drinks, or soda.
• Always shop using a shopping list and stick to it.
• Make it a habit to read ingredient labels before you buy them. If it reads like a chemistry book, put it back.

Limiting how much sugar you eat daily will curb your cravings and end binges.

Consider Dietary Counseling. The key to ending sugar addiction is eating sugar in moderation and maintaining a balanced diet. A registered Dietician can teach you how to plan a healthy diet and how many calories you should consume for your activity level.

Psychotherapy. Sugar addiction is associated with stress and low self-esteem and can come from the trauma you experienced in childhood. Those with complex post-traumatic stress disorder often have a poor relationship with sugar as they use it to self-soothe. If you recognize yourself in this description, you might want to consider seeing a therapist. A therapist can help you deal with your past and other co-occurring problems, such as depression.

Ending Our Time Together

Sugar addiction is no joke, as it causes obesity and its side effects. Is sugar addiction real? Unfortunately, researchers are on the fence about that question. More research needs to be done to study the condition more closely. Scientists do know that people respond to sugar similarly as they respond to drugs.

Some researchers think sugar addiction is a behavioral problem like gambling, while others see it as a substance addiction. We must have more research, but there is resistance because sugar tastes good and is socially acceptable. To tell someone they are addicted to sugar is often to get a laugh and a sneer for interrupting their pleasure.

If thinking of living your life without sugar consumption feels horrible, well, you have made my point.

References

Ahmed, S. H., et al. (2013). Sugar addiction: Pushing the drug-sugar analogy to the limit. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care.

Dhar, A., Desai, K., Kazachmov, M., Yu, P., & Wu, L. (2008). Methylglyoxal production in vascular smooth muscle cells from different metabolic precursors. Metabolism, 57(9), 1211-1220.

DiNicolantonio, J. J., O’Keefe, J. H., & Wilson, W. L. (2018). Sugar addiction: is it real? A narrative review. British Journal of sports medicine, 52(14), 910-913.

Malik, V. S., Popkin, B. M., Bray, G. A., Després, J. P., Willett, W. C., & Hu, F. B. (2010). Sugar-sweetened beverages and risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis. Diabetes care, 33(11), 2477-2483.

Rutledge, A. C., & Adeli, K. (2007). Fructose and the metabolic syndrome: pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms. Nutrition reviews, 65(suppl_1), S13-S23.

Wang, X., Jia, X., Chang, T., Desai, K., & Wu, L. (2008). Attenuation of hypertension development by scavenging methylglyoxal in fructose-treated rats. Journal of hypertension, 26(4), 765-772.

Westwater, M. L., Fletcher, P. C., & Ziauddeen, H. (2016). Sugar addiction: the state of the science. European Journal of Nutrition, 55(2), 55-69.

Wiss, D. A., Avena, N., & Rada, P. (2018). Sugar addiction: from evolution to revolution. Frontiers in psychiatry, 545.

Shirley Davis

My name is Shirley Davis and I am a freelance writer with over 40-years- experience writing short stories and poetry. Living as I do among the corn and bean fields of Illinois (USA), working from home using the Internet has become the best way to communicate with the world. My interests are wide and varied. I love any kind of science and read several research papers per week to satisfy my curiosity. I have earned an Associate Degree in Psychology and enjoy writing books on the subjects that most interest me.

www.learnaboutdid.com

Adolescents throughout the U.S. face psychosocial challenges they may not even be aware of at this point in time

The stage of development in primates we refer to as “adolescence” sits in between the stages of childhood and adulthood. The COVID crisis has contributed to discomforting symptoms we see in adolescence today. Adolescents throughout the U.S. face psychosocial challenges they may not even be aware of at this point in time. They experience mental issues like emotional disorders, self-harming behaviors, and key symptoms we find in clinical depression. Researchers, therapists, and psychologists are working tirelessly to identify strategies to help support adolescence as they embark on their healing journey. I want to contribute to this effort in this blog by sketching out major signs that show us an adolescent is moving through the adolescence life stages in a healthy manner.

[1]Adolescence is the stage between childhood and adulthood. Normative adolescent behavior is sensation seeking, researchers tell us. The environment that helps move an adolescent into this stage is important to note. An adolescent must experience an environment that reinforces higher cognitive abilities. Examples of higher cognitive abilities are working memory, reflective thinking, response inhibition, and performance monitoring. One way to measure whether cognitive abilities are improving is by performing cognitive tests on an adolescent. The tests may show whether a person’s performance on cognitive tasks improves. This shows that a person’s cognitive ability is improving; the improvements in this area of the brain help adolescence pursue other important goals like sensation seeking. Feeling requires critical thinking skills. The specific areas of a person’s brain that improve when critical thinking improves are the prefrontal cortex (PFC), posterior parietal cortex, and superior temporal cortex. Mental health challenges can begin to surface at this biological stage due to events, i.e., COVID, emotional or mental abuse, etc.

One major critical period an adolescent brain undergoes is when neurons begin to multiply and connect rapidly

Critical periods have been identified when a brain of an adolescent matures significantly. One major critical period an adolescent brain undergoes is when neurons begin to multiply and connect rapidly. When neurons fire together and often, the brain can send messages quicker to other parts of the brain. This matters because critical thinking is only possible when neurons are firing together frequently. The road to well-being begins when neurons connect daily. This critical period that is found in adolescence begins when she experiences an event that brings about excitement. This event can be receiving an award at school, performing well in a competition event, etc. Certain brain parts activate to “stop” brain functions that do not allow a brain to mature; the parts of a brain that help it mature turn on at the same time also. The major “glue” for these connections to occur in the brain is called myelination. Myelin is made up of proteins and lipids and creates a “tube” for messages to travel through to send messages throughout the brain. Critical periods like these give way to healthy brain functioning, creating the opportunity for an adolescent to overcome challenges that may be stressful like the COVID crisis. Many of our kids were not prepared for this crisis which had negative effects on brain development.

The brain of an adolescent is distinct from the brain of an adult. The brain of an adolescent will manage impulses if the brain matures successfully. The impulses that are normal for this biological age are yelling during an argument, lying, fighting at school, etc. The adolescent brain must have the skills to manage these types of impulses to move on to different biological brain stages. The critical period of development (CPD) is what this stage is referred to by neuroscientists. The brain of an adult is not growing as rapidly, in contrast. Neurons paired together are difficult to uncouple inside an adult brain. The brain of an adult matures to full optimal growth once a person is approximately 30 years of age. The adolescent brain continually is coding the social world around her, and a healthy adolescent brain is shaped positively by the social world, according to Dr. Casey, professor, and researcher at Yale University. [2]

Behaviors have been documented by the CDC that show that developmental stages are not being completed

Adolescence requires emotional support to help them through the biological stages of development. Anxiety and stress due to events like COVID brought about mental challenges for many adolescents. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides evidence this is the case. Behaviors have been documented by the CDC that show that developmental stages are not being completed, creating large deficits in cognitive abilities. Communities, parents, and schools are being affected severely because children need an expensive level of support to reach normal developmental stages. The virtues of the US depend upon the funding of necessary programs to ensure the well-being of the next generation of humans in the U.S.

The emphasis often is on creating policies that invalidate the experience of millions of American citizens: creating more policies does not reflect the nightmare of an experience children face daily

To close, policymakers must pay attention to the trends of biological development and those barriers that inhibit the completion of these stages. I watch congressional hearings often to identify those elected officials that focus on the root issues that contribute to the mental health challenges children are facing today. However, I find it disappointing what I discover when I listen to congressional hearings. I cannot imagine that people do not find themselves traumatized when they listen to these same hearings. The focus is not on identifying root issues for mental health issues in children. The emphasis often is on creating policies that invalidate the experience of millions of American citizens: creating more policies does not reflect the nightmare of an experience children face daily; I can list example after example of what children face daily that limits their developmental growth. Children speak and people in authority are not listening.

[1] Larson and Luna, 2018

[2] Casey, 2019

Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog post do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.

Ramon Diaz

Ramon Diaz, Jr., PhD candidate: Developmental Neuropsychology, LPC, NCC, CCTS, CDBT, CADC
Clinical Complex Trauma Specialist (CCTS-1),
Certified Dialectical Behavioral Therapist (C-DBT),
Certified Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counseling (CADC)

License Number: 178.018904

A person goes into the freeze response when she is exposed repeatedly to violence. The freeze response is an evolutionary defense system we inherited from our reptilian ancestors. As mammals, a person may move into an immobile state if she feels overpowered by a predator. The freeze response is a “last resort” behavior a person identifies with to stay alive in the presence of a threat. Freeze responses can occur in groups as well referred to as collective trauma.

Michigan State football players stood frozen as they witnessed four of their teammates brutally attack a defenseless player from the University of Michigan. Collective trauma refers to the psychological reactions to a traumatic event that may impact an entire society (Hirschberger, 2018). Hirschberger insightfully points out that collective trauma presents a threat to a person’s identity. The threat to identity for a person may mean her view of the moral fabric of society is questioned due to witnessing an act by a group that violates human dignity. Even though a person may identify with a certain group, i.e., tradition, or values, the person can reconcile how they can be “part of a group” that would commit such a heinous act against another human(s). A group’s identity may be at odds with a person’s individual identity. Group violence in many cases causes collective trauma.

Sports are meant to create civic engagement and human flourishing. Sports throughout history were developed to create positive reinforcements, helping people avoid environments that may induce trauma. Sports of any kind were designed to instill virtues into young people to bring about the common good. Competition would result in the developing character of humans. Interpersonal effectiveness would also be a focus in sports; performers would be encouraged to be helpful towards their opponents even if they would lose a match, not be hostile towards opponents. Collective trauma could be avoided when communities design sporting organizations appropriately.

Collective trauma promotes violence in sports. The Michigan State players who witnessed the assault take place did not have the tools to manage somatic symptoms. Freeze states leave a person feeling like her body cannot move nor does she feel like they can speak. Sports were not meant to be a vehicle for violence and brutality. Freeze and collapse states of the body leave groups of people attempting to understand their body’s response to abnormal experiences. Since many groups of people do not know how to manage intense experiences, collective trauma persists. Why did no one step in from the Michigan State football team to help the defenseless player from the University of Michigan? What would motivate humans to witness a brutally violent act occur to a human and not stop the violent act? The blame must not be only placed on the players who committed the violent act. Universities that do not adequately support athletes and coaches alike must be held accountable. Ethical violations draw attention to universities that do not educate their athletes to prioritize the dignity of all men, rather than simply pursuing a “win at all costs”. Collective trauma at times may result in a group of athletes witnessing a brutal assault and not identifying skills to stop the assault.

Practical tools to help support your athletes who may have experienced collective trauma:

• Speak to each athlete individually to discuss with them the collective trauma memory, allowing the child to process somatic experiences of the trauma memory.
• Contact sports governing boards to propose new guidelines to ensure psychological safety for the kids.
• Address the hurt in a child after a collective trauma experience, not solve the problem your child is facing.

Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.

Ramon Diaz

Ramon Diaz, Jr., PhD candidate: Developmental Neuropsychology, LPC, NCC, CCTS, CDBT, CADC
Clinical Complex Trauma Specialist (CCTS-1),
Certified Dialectical Behavioral Therapist (C-DBT),
Certified Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counseling (CADC)

License Number: 178.018904

Microglia are plastic in nature. They can change in the central nervous system based on what location they are in the body. Microglia can change their phenotype, i.e., expressed facial features, to respond to chemical signals they have detected. Microglia can play a big role in defending the brain from experiencing neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, neuropathic pain, and traumatic brain injuries. Microglia can adjust to the body’s experience to stress due to trauma of all sorts.

Microglia are negatively impacted by psychological stress and trauma. High activation occurs when stress is present in bodies at high levels. For example, exposure to either inescapable shock or repeated social defeat has been shown to activate expressions of microglial cells in the brain and the brain stem. The microglial response may, however, be exaggerated in the body if stress is not removed from the person’s brain and the body.

Stress coming from PTSD-related events can severely impact a person’s nervous system. Science tells us about this relationship between PSTD and a person’s impaired nervous system needs to be addressed in more detail by psychologists and researchers alike. This way, effective treatments can be proposed to address the extensive effects access to microglia has on the person’s brain and body.

Studies continue to show that PTSD-related events have negative effects on the production of microglia. This creates a great deal of vulnerability in the brain of a person. Due to this issue, people can become more susceptible to a clinical diagnosis of PTSD. Although Microglia defends the body from severe inflammation, these cells can create PTSD symptoms which may affect a person in the long term, impacting their well-being in a negative way.

Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.

Ramon Diaz

Ramon Diaz, Jr., PhD candidate: Developmental Neuropsychology, LPC, NCC, CCTS, CDBT, CADC
Clinical Complex Trauma Specialist (CCTS-1),
Certified Dialectical Behavioral Therapist (C-DBT),
Certified Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counseling (CADC)

License Number: 178.018904

Dr. Scaer, the world-renowned physician who studies the neuroanatomical effects of trauma, suggests that dissociation is defined in terms of experiencing a sense of fragmentation-in pieces, split, and broken up of the mind, and perception of the self and the body (Scaer, 2001). The main ways dissociation may show up in a person is an altered view of the self, including derealization, depersonalization, distortions of perception of time, space, and body, and conversion hysteria. Pierre Janet, a pioneer, and key figure who created the field of psychotraumatology, describes dissociation as a “phobia of memories”, in the form of expression of excessive or inappropriate physical responses to thoughts or memories of old traumas (Janet, 1920). The basic mechanism of dissociation was felt to involve the splitting off of parts, memory, or perception in order to escape the anxiety that is overwhelming and unbearable triggered by the senses.

One major reason the concept of dissociation has been ignored for decades is due to Sigmund Freud’s view on trauma. He published an important work in the field of mental health in 1925 that, sadly, argued for the view that dissociation can be stories that are told of childhood sexual tragedies are simply a “fabrication, based on unacceptable sexual wishes and fantasies they could not acknowledge” (Scaer, 2001; Freud, 1925/1959). This work by Freud created a view for the field that informed clinicians for many decades that childhood violent experiences may not contribute to trauma. Moreover, the introduction of the diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) into the Diagnostic and Statistical of Mental Disorders, 3^rd edition (DSM-III) in 1980 also resulted in classifying many conditions formerly attributed to trauma and dissociation, often times ignored their association with prior life trauma (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1980). History paints often an ugly picture of how trauma symptoms and their diagnosis was treated, creating harmful spaces for many individuals who presented symptoms that are apparent to us today that relate to trauma and complex trauma. The invalidation of trauma experiences must end.

Classifying symptoms of dissociation is a challenge for clinicians because these symptoms assume many and varied forms and expressions. Some of these symptoms may be emotional, perceptual, cognitive, or functional. The symptoms individuals possess may involve the altered perception of time, space, sense of self, and reality. Some physical symptoms are expressions that frequently involve weakness, paralysis, and ataxia, but may also present as tremors, shaking, and convulsions. Equally important, a person’s memory changes and may appear as hypermnesia in the form of flashbacks, as amnesia in the form of fugue states, or more selective traumatic amnesia. Scaer points out that symptoms of dissociation strongly resemble the symptoms related to bipolar disorder.

A major feature of the experience of dissociation is the freeze response. Freezing is a state of immobility, i.e., the body stops moving. Freezing is routinely seen in the wild. An animal assumes an immobile state in the presence of a predator; this state may proceed to sudden flight or, if the fawn is attacked and captured by the predator, an animal will fall into a deeper state of freeze that is associated with unresponsive behavior. In the event of an attack, when the creature is rendered helpless, a different state of freezing appears in the creature. Hofer (1970) exposed rodents to a variety of predator-related stimuli in an open space with no means of escape. The results showed that all rodents entered a deep phase of freeze that may last up to 30 minutes. This state of freeze would be associated with marked bradycardia which is connected to cardiac arrhythmias. If a person is not allowed to react to a threat because they are over-powered, they may experience pain and suffering enough to dissociate down the line. The choice to fight or flee is why people may not experience dissociative states in other words.

The lack of recovery from a freeze response may lead to stored energy that comes from a flight/fight response that harms a person’s functioning. Researchers in the field suggest this stored energy can lead to negative physical reactions; for example, a person may become sick more frequently, may have intestinal or digestive issues, and may also experience increased blood pressure. The combinations of these ailments may create challenges for a human being to complete daily tasks. Peter Levine (1997), the key researcher in the trauma field, suggests that if energy is not removed from the body, created by the central nervous system, a person’s world continues to “shrink” so they can avoid any cues that may invoke intense physical experiences.

The most, Scaer (2001) argues, that a unique symptom of dissociation is that of flashbacks. The somatic experience patients have due to flashbacks are upsetting. One patient reported to me feeling trapped when she experienced a flashback of being raped by a past partner. This same patient went on to say that she just waited “for him to be done”. The emotional toll a flashback has on a brain and nervous system is devastating. Flashbacks may be episodes that involved often intense arousal and reexperiencing, symptoms more related to acute symptoms linked to PTSD. Flashbacks can last minutes to several hours or even days. Some patients experience an out-of-body experience when they dissociate. During a flashback, a patient may appear confused and detached from the present moment. A person’s nervous system can only tolerate so much, and the person may survive only by dissociating. Although this state of the mind helps many survive horrific situations, the long-term effects of dissociation continue to be documented.

Lastly, dissociation at the time of trauma is the primary predictor for the later development of PTSD, Dr. Van der Kolk argues (1989). Memories that seem fractured when a person attempts to reflect on the type of harm they experience are one indication of dissociation. Parts of your brain protect themselves when experiencing intense emotions. This form of protection also, in the end, brings about harm to the person’s ability to “piece” together a personal history. What we determine as our history increases our quality of life. Memories, at times, of past experiences, create hardships in our lives that increase doubts about what type of life we can live now.

In summary:

• Living rather than existing through life is challenging to do without healing from dissociation
• Dissociation that goes unprocessed may lead to a diagnosis of PTSD
• Dissociation shrinks someone’s world and limits your functioning
• Dissociation “splits” up your life, creating shame and a negative outlook on life

Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.

Ramon Diaz

Ramon Diaz, Jr., PhD candidate: Developmental Neuropsychology, LPC, NCC, CCTS, CDBT, CADC
Clinical Complex Trauma Specialist (CCTS-1),
Certified Dialectical Behavioral Therapist (C-DBT),
Certified Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counseling (CADC)

License Number: 178.018904

A shared experience of safety begins in infancy. An infant has the capacity to recognize the quality of another’s inner feeling state. The relationship continues to evolve between the infant and her infant. Involuntarily, the infant is aware of how to evolve with her parent; the infant and her parent can “feel-what-has-been-perceived-in-the-other.” (3) Gaze is a term that some infant researchers refer to when they speak about the focus an infant has on the eyes of her parent. Gaze is” seeing” your parent without concerns of safety or abandonment. The focus from the infant’s eyes to her parent is held for minutes. However, the quality of this experience for the infant allows the infant to feel as though the gaze lasts days. Comfort and being in “close contact”, as Bowlby puts it (4) are necessary to ensure the brain of an infant develops to connect to one another – necessity to thrive as a human. 

To feel what others feel begins in infancy. Stern suggests that not until 9-12 months can “true” intersubjectivity be said to exist. Further, Alan Schore-a leading researcher in the infant brain development field-tells us that a brain’s health from 0-to 24 months is contingent on the nurture that is provided by her caregiver. The brain is “experience-dependent” for up to 24 months or so. Genes and gene expression (I will cover this topic in greater detail in a forthcoming paper) are altered as well around this stage by environmental stressors, e.g., yelling at home, a caregiver with access to stress hormones, etc. To “feel warmth” is a necessary factor to live rather than just exist. 

An infant focuses on the caregiver when they feel safe. The attention is given back to the infant by the caregiver when she can self-regulate. Attention and focus can be mirrored by the infant. Joint attention aids the infant to become attuned to the caregiver. Bruner5 created a study where infants were enticed by interesting toys to cross a glass table that was made to look like a “visual cliff.” The infants hesitated, looking back to the caregiver, and crossed only if the caregiver’s face indicated it was safe to do so. The major take-a-away from this study is that an infant goes to a great length to make sure the focus and attention are on the caregiver. Trusting another person is vital to our health. Trauma erases trust and the ability to trust others. 

A person’s biology impacted by trauma creates incredible challenges for her to feel anything. Steven Porges-influential thinker and discoverer of Polyvagal Theory, suggests this behavior is when a person falls into a state of immobilization. This behavior requires a “massive shutting down of autonomic function via a vagal pathway within the parasympathetic nervous system.”6 As an infant grows up, the state of immobilization can be a way they communicate with a caregiver, friend, or perhaps a future spouse. Although an infant is communicating in this unhealthy way, most people that come in touch with these individuals that are dysregulated perceive them as “withdrawn”, “insensitive”, “too sensitive”, or maybe even “not an emotional person.” 

In summary, 

• Feeling what you feel is modeled for your infancy. 
• Cues of safety are understood, through your physiology, as early as infancy. 
• Identifying urges and cravings to “feel” would not be possible because of trauma. 

• Hypervigilance and freeze responses (bradycardia occurring due to vagal inhibition impacting heart rate variability) are normal when someone “presents” cues of safety to you, e.g., eye gaze, low-frequency tone inflection, and pauses between speech acts.  

In Porges, S. W., & In Dana, D. (2018). Clinical applications of the polyvagal theory: The emergence of polyvagal-informed therapies.

Guest Post Disclaimer: Any and all information shared in this guest blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog post, nor any content on CPTSDfoundation.org, is a supplement for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Thoughts, ideas, or opinions expressed by the writer of this guest blog do not necessarily reflect those of CPTSD Foundation. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Full Disclaimer.

Ramon Diaz

Ramon Diaz, Jr., PhD candidate: Developmental Neuropsychology, LPC, NCC, CCTS, CDBT, CADC
Clinical Complex Trauma Specialist (CCTS-1),
Certified Dialectical Behavioral Therapist (C-DBT),
Certified Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counseling (CADC)

License Number: 178.018904