Hyper-vigilance

There are advantages to hyper-vigilance. Often in the list of negative symptoms for PTSD and other trauma survivor responses is hyper-vigilance or sometimes called hyper-awareness.  You walk into a room and know where all the doors for escape are located.  You count the number of people in the room.  You assess the tension level in…

Why Baby-Steps?

I emphasize over and over again to use Baby-steps.  There is a reason.  A person suffering from PTSD had life experiences that left them feeling helpless at some point in their life.  One of the after-affects is victim thinking….I am powerless, I can’t protect myself, I can’t meet my basic needs of safety, food and…

Mist in the desert

Thriving, illusive as mist in the desert.  I struggled with depression and physical health problems for as long as I can remember.  It seems to be my challenge in life.  When I started counseling I was at rock bottom.  I was out of options.  I was miserable, terrified, and convinced I could not ‘fix’ what…

Art Therapy

I experienced art therapy when I changed my college major to photography.  My camera became a key that unlocked images and emotions I didn’t know were possible. I spent 10 years finishing my degree.  I was blessed with so many rich experiences.  Here is an article that shares basic information about Art therapy.  I believe…

Keep going…..

  Lately, I have read so many amazing blogs about PTSD.  I was beginning to wonder if my little voice was worth putting out there.  Well tonight, I was reading comments on one of those amazing blogs and I encountered this, “It is not like PTSD is permanent, like Manic Depression, it is learned so…

Feeling is living

Exceptional Living ‎”Some people think that to be strong is to never feel pain. In reality, the strongest people are the ones who feel it, understand it, and accept it.” ~ Unknown One of the things I learned was the part of living is feeling.  In a photography class several years ago before I integrated,…