Blog Archive
“[A trauma survivor] finds herself caught between the extremes of amnesia or of reliving the trauma, between floods of intense, overwhelming feelings and arid states of no feeling at all, between irritable, impulsive action and complete inhibition of action. The instability produced by these periodic alternations further exacerbates the traumatized...
Executive function utilizes the following skills and abilities to - Efficiently plan, initiate, and complete tasks- Make decisions- Regulate emotions and behaviors Have you ever... Forgotten the name of someone you just met?- Dialed a number only to forget who you were calling?- Stopped at a stop sign and...
With mental health, we often speak of learning to think more flexibly. This refers to allowing our minds to think in a variety of ways instead of in only one way. The Childmind Institute defines flexible thinking as “The ability to think about things in a new or different way....
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered dramatic changes throughout everyday life — and in the medical community as well. Not only are providers across the country postponing elective procedures, but many are also encouraging people to avoid in-office appointments to reduce their risk of exposure to this highly contagious coronavirus.But what...
Did you know that there is a significant connection between our dietary choices and our mental well-being? Based on a comprehensive review of the latest research regarding diet and mental health, evidence suggests that a crucial first step in improving emotional well-being involves eliminating ultra-processed foods from our diets. Ultra-processed...
Have you ever wondered why emotions are so important to us, as human beings? What role do emotions play in our daily interactions and routines? Emotions are instrumental to humans in allowing us to connect with others. Emotions teach and communicate when we are in danger, excited, or at peace....
Daniel Siegel’s Hand Model of the Brain uses the hand to illustrate two different states of mind we might go between throughout the day as we communicate with others. The thumb represents the limbic system of the brain and is responsible for the emotions we feel. The fingers symbolize...
Sunlight and darkness trigger the release of hormones in your brain. Exposure to sunlight is thought to increase the brain’s release of serotonin, which is associated with boosting mood and helping us to feel calm and focused. At night, darker lighting triggers the brain to make melatonin which is responsible...
With a heavy snow storm this winter, a large plum tree at our house split in three ways down the trunk. The tree was a complete loss which was very disappointing because we loved the plums it produced and there were over 5 years of nurturing that went into getting...