hopestormhealing

[hopestormhealing]

Healing must radiate beyond us

We have the never-ending opportunity to define ourselves by understanding, empathy, and unity. To be the land of the free and the home of the brave, so to say. To expand our minds to the possibilities that we aren’t always right nor are our counterparts always wrong. We seem to live in a world where division appears inevitable, the only common ground that can be seen at times is the disdain…

[hopestormhealing]

Embodiment is the practice of being present in your body, fully feeling your emotions and sensations, and connecting with your physical self.When we are disconnected from our bodies, we can experience a variety of physical and emotional symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. By practicing embodiment, we can learn to listen to our bodies, understand our emotions, and release the tension and trauma that we may be holdingonto. Embodiment practices can include anything from yoga and meditation to dancing and breathwork. By engaging in these practices, we can release stuck energy and emotions, calm our nervous system, and create a deeper sense of connection to ourselves and the world around us. If you're looking to incorporate embodiment practices into your healing journey, I encourage you to start by simply noticing your breath and paying attention to the physical sensations in your body. With time and practice, you can build a deeper connection to your body and experience profound healing and transformation. If you are looking for additional support and guidance, Hope Storm is here to help! Photo 1 says, "Embodiment...The experience of being fully connected to and present in one's own body, including physical sensations, emotions, and thoughts." https://buff.ly/40Irayi Photo 2 says, "Embodiment...involves a sense of agency and awareness of the body in the present moment." https://buff.ly/40Irayi Photo 3 says, "Embodiment...from a trauma informed approach, acknowledges the impact of trauma on our relationship with our bodies." https://buff.ly/40Irayi Photo 4 says, "Embodiment...from a trauma conscious approach, recognizes the systemic and cultural factors that contribute to trauma and creates a safe and inclusive space for healing." https://buff.ly/40Irayi

[hopestormhealing]

Your trauma is valid! #mentalhealthishealth #healthandwellbeing #mentalhealth #selfcare #health #heal #healing #hope #healingcoaching #traumaconsulting #depression #anxiety #grief #stress #exhaustion #fear #uncertainty #burnout #trauma

[hopestormhealing]

Are you fully living? #mentalhealthishealth #healthandwellbeing #mentalhealth #selfcare #health #heal #healing #hope #healingcoaching #traumaconsulting #depression #anxiety #grief #stress #exhaustion #fear #uncertainty #burnout #trauma

[hopestormhealing]

Trauma is stored in the body and we must heal in the body.  As we slowly begin to re-connect and become aware of our feelings and sensations, it might feel uncomfortable because its new and unknown.  As we bring our focus to our bodies, learn to regulate our nervous systems, and begin trusting our own wisdom, that discomfort decreases and we begin to feel more present, in control, connected, and safe.

#mentalhealthishealth #healthandwellbeing #mentalhealth #selfcare #health #heal #healing #hope #healingcoaching #traumaconsulting #depression #anxiety #grief #stress #exhaustion #fear #uncertainty #burnout #trauma

[hopestormhealing]

Trauma is not an event.

[hopestormhealing]

The experiences were awful.  Then, you add on all of the effects that the mind and body does as a result, and it can be unbearable.  Trauma survivors often disconnect from their physical bodies as a protective measure so they don't have to feel the sensations, the discomfort, the strong emotions, the continued feelings of being under attack or being unsafe.  Trauma survivors keep running long after the threat is gone, but from themselves, the memories, and their healing.

As Bessel van der Kolk says in "The Body Keeps the Score:"

“In order to change, people need to become aware of their sensations and the way that their bodies interact with the world around them. Physical self-awareness is the first step in releasing the tyranny of the past.”

Facing these things is scary.  Maybe just as scary as hiding from yourself and the life you hope to live.  Maybe just as scary as spending so much time under the control of what happened in the past.  Are you ready to start your healing journey?

#besselvanderkolk #selfawareness #mentalhealthishealth #healthandwellbeing #mentalhealth #health #heal #healing #hope #healingcoaching #traumaconsulting #depression #anxiety #grief #stress #burnout #trauma

Photo text:  Triggers are reminders that our trauma wounds have left their mark and may still need healing.  They are often brought on by one or more of our five senses (sound, touch, sight, taste, or smell) eliciting a memory.  This occurs because our trauma experiences are stored in our bodies as physical memories and sensations.

[hopestormhealing]

I've been taking time to process the pain in our world right now.  It is so much.  So heavy.  So hard.  Its valid.  It should never be this way!   I have so much I'd like to say but I want to add value with what I share. Trauma and chronic stress are real, collective and individual, and the responses can be seen everywhere.  We are surrounded by people who are hurting, struggling to hold it together, fighting everyday to show up when they just want to disappear, or fighting to be kind when they just want others to hurt like they do.  We never know the story of another and what happens in the confines of their mind. We live in the most technologically connected time in history and yet are the most disconnected people.  Put down the devices and see people again.  Look each other in the eyes, shake hands and give hugs, see the humans sitting all around you. We have access to every self-help, healing, and therapeutic book and app ever known to man but its just content to us.  We must use our access to knowledge to change and improve ourselves and our world.  It doesn't work if we don't work it. We need to teach everyone embodiment and how to process emotions.  It should start at birth.  It should be part of the school curriculum.  It should be required HR policies.  Crying is ok.  Anger is ok.  Happiness is ok.  How we express them makes the difference.  Are we mindful?  Can we regulate ourselves?  Can we support others and show empathy? We are mind/body/spirit and through connection to ourselves, to others, and to the earth we regulate our nervous systems and the nervous systems of others. We must be kind.  We must value others and their place in the world.  Nothing has value if we don't value life.   We can and must do better for everyone.  But it starts with you.  If you see anger, hatred, or other strong emotions bubbling up in you,  healing is possible. Love.  Be kind.  Learn to regulate.  Have empathy.  Connect to your whole being.  Connect to others.

[hopestormhealing]

Healing is a journey.  One with ups and downs, bumps and curves.  It isn't always easy but the hope is that it will be worth it.  Whether or not you have done healing work before or are just beginning your journey, our bodies and minds will give indicators of when there are parts left unhealed.  

Are you easily triggered? Do you have a short temper?  Is your patience hanging on by a thread? Do things outside of your control throw off your whole day?  Are your thoughts or behaviors affecting work or relationships? Are you easily affected by negativity? Does the regular day to day of life drain you of all your energy?  Do you find yourself with road rage?  Do small things bring you to tears? Do you make excuses to make unhealthy choices? Do you spend hours each day scrolling social media or watching TV?  Is the quality of your sleep poor?  Do you put off activities that you enjoy because of your energy or mood? Do you feel that the world has gone mad? The list goes on and on.

If you can see yourself in some of these things or know that your unhealed parts are showing, this could be your moment of acknowledgement that you want more, you want to feel better, you want to start healing.  And there is support!  I'd love to hear from you and develop an individualized plan to get you on your path to healing.

#mentalhealthishealth #healthandwellbeing #mentalhealth #health #heal #healing #hope #healingcoaching #traumaconsulting #depression #anxiety #grief #stress #burnout #trauma

[hopestormhealing]

Since 1949, the United States has set aside May as the month that we dedicate to raising awareness about mental health concerns and aim to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health conditions and seeking support.  I firmly believe that mental health is one of, if not the biggest, public health issue facing our country today and every month should be Mental Health Awareness Month!

There is no shame in asking for help!   And there is no shame in living with anxiety, or depression, or post traumatic stress, or mood disorders, or personality disorders, or eating disorders, or substance abuse disorders, or any other type of condition.  Nearly 1 in 5 people in the United States live with mental health conditions (I suspect this is higher after the pandemic) and the contributing factors are many: stress, isolation, loss of a job, loss of a loved one, trauma, abuse, experiencing a pandemic, and the list goes on and on.  

If you or a loved one are experiencing signs or symptoms of a mental health concern, there are resources and there is help!  Hope Storm would love to support you on your healing journey (605-381-9644 or anna@hopestorm.org) but if that isn't the right fit for you there are additional resources available to begin your search which include organizations such as NAMI and SAMHSA; options in your local communities which could include mental health centers, hospitals and clinics, counseling centers or private therapists; and, even virtual options for support.

Every year millions of people face the reality of living with a mental health concern.  Many never seek support and that can become more challenging and harder to face.  It is ok to ask for help!  Please, ask for help.

 #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #mentalhealthishealth #healthandwellbeing #mentalhealth #health #heal #healing #hope #healingcoaching #traumaconsulting #depression #anxiety #grief #stress #burnout #trauma

[hopestormhealing]

We have experienced drought for the last couple years causing the creek by our home to be completely dry. After a weekend of rain and snow, it’s flowing. Who knows how long it will last but I will be grateful for the cleansing, the peace, and the nourishment to the earth. What good are these things if not shared? I hope you enjoy the thirty seconds of peace.

Nature.

Take a moment and close your eyes.

Take a deep breath through your nose, paying attention to your belly as it expands.

Allow that breath to slowly leave from between your lips as you relax your jaw, release the tension in your shoulders, allow your body to sink for a moment into relaxation.

Take another deep breath through your nose.

Slowly release.

Repeat as needed. As frequently as needed.

[hopestormhealing]

Healing is a journey

Healing is a journey. As we begin our healing, we bring our entire existence, our whole stories and our whole selves, every person and being we have ever interacted with, every experience we have had, whether consciously remembered or not, on that path with us.  We may not knowingly be aware of it, but all those things get packed up in our luggage and we carry it along.  We may not identify the load we are carrying but we can feel its weight.  We can feel it in our responses, in our interactions, in our stress, in how we eat, how we sleep, how we love ourselves, how we love others.  All of it joins us on our path.  

As we heal, pieces and parts of the contents of that luggage no longer have a place or space, and we wash them away in the rivers and creeks, during the rainstorms, with our tears.  Other pieces and parts will always stay with us because they are weaved into the fabric of the luggage we carry, but they get lighter, less noticeable.  They fade and lose impact.  The last kind of pieces and parts also stay with us, but they change.  They become something different.  They become resilience, strength, character, empathy, wisdom, courage, compassion, and so much more.  As you continue along on the healing journey, you will begin to feel your load lessen, you will begin to see the things you left behind, how other things have changed (and changed you), and how there are things that deserve your awareness but not your full attention.  

I believe that when something triggers us, it is a sign that there is a dysregulation in our nervous system, something has been left unhealed, and we have a spot along our healing journey that we must attend to.  Triggers are reminders of the pains of our pasts, but they can also be signals for healing and growth in our present.  There is no guarantee that the triggers we experience will disappear entirely but with some support and personalized healing techniques, many triggers can be reduced to more of an irritant than a day or week or month crusher.

I’ll share a personal example:  

On April 20, 2005, exactly seventeen years ago today, I was raped.

Over the next couple of months, I basically laid in bed.  I had very little drive to go to work and often wouldn’t, I frequently skipped classes and skimped on homework, I quit seeing my friends, I checked the locks on my door repeatedly, I had to always have a TV on because any noise or sound of someone outside of my apartment would startle me, I had nightmares, I was afraid to leave the house, I was afraid to run into “him.”  I was embarrassed.  I felt shame. I felt like it was all my fault.  I didn’t want anyone to know.  I think I would have died in that bed just trying to sleep or dissociate away what had happened.  Then, one day one of my supervisors from work called to fire me.  Something sparked in me, probably a survival instinct (I will be homeless if I don’t pay my rent and I can’t pay my rent without a paycheck), and I broke down crying and told her everything.  Thankfully, I worked at an amazing organization and the director of human resources gave me another chance with the stipulation that I go to a therapist and work through my trauma.  At that point, not being homeless was a motivating factor, enough to push me to get the help I so desperately needed, so I agreed.  That director of human resources very well could have saved my life by how she handled the situation, and I will always be thankful.

I was in my early 20s when this all happened, partially through a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and didn’t know much about therapy and treatment and trauma, quite frankly.  I picked a random female counselor who took my insurance and set up my first appointment.  I met with her a few times, and then she suggested I try EMDR, which I had never heard of.  I was willing to try anything, so I agreed.  After 5 sessions of EMDR (no two experiences are the same), my nightmares were gone, the flashbacks were gone, the hyperarousal that I had been experiencing was reduced to manageable levels.  I didn’t feel like my pre-rape self, but I felt better.  I felt like I could go forward in the world again.  And that is what I did.  Until the following April.  

April came around and the nightmares started again.  The hyperarousal returned.  The flashbacks were frequent.  What was happening to me?  Hadn’t I figured this all out and resolved these issues?  It wasn’t until many, many years later that I learned about how our bodies remember and that anniversaries can be times in which things rise to the surface and we can have a return of symptoms.  I returned to counseling and did EMDR on a few occasions, usually in April. Over the years the best that I could get to was an almost complete elimination of symptoms all year long except in April.  I felt that after what I had experienced and having a PTSD diagnosis, it could be worse.  I went along with my life and was a healthy and happy member of society.  Then April would come around and I’d be a mess. There were a few times that I even forgot about the anniversary and would ask myself why I was in such a terrible mood or why everything was causing me such stress, or why I had such an emotional reaction to everything.  Then one day I would have a nightmare, or a flashback and it would hit me.  Duh!  Anniversary. Looking back on it with the knowledge I have today, it all makes perfect sense, but at the time it was so strange and quite unnerving.  

As time has gone on and I have advanced my education and experience and become an expert in trauma, I have found that EMDR is a fantastic modality for many people (it obviously worked for me) but there are so many more that can be used outside of a therapist’s office which are also very effective.  Many of these things can be taught to a person and they can use them in their own time and in their own space.  I now do that for myself and for others.  April is now different for me.  It is a time of greater self-care, where I focus on the things that make me happy and try to make new and wonderful memories.  April is a month of regulation, nature, and love.  April is still a time when I am more sensitive to things than I normally would be but there are no nightmares, there are no flashbacks, there is no extreme hyperarousal.  I am the same me with a slightly lower tolerance for stress and a slightly higher potential of tears when I feel an emotion.  

When I talk about the luggage we take with us on our healing journey, this experience from seventeen years ago is one of mine that is woven into the fabric.  It has changed.  The impact is less.  It has faded but has not completely disappeared and I don’t know if it ever will. It is manageable and bearable and has been for quite a long time now.  I anticipate that it will continue that way but if it does stir back up, I know what to do and how to help myself.  It will be a point in my journey that deserves my attention.

I don’t think that healing is a journey with a destination, an end point.  But many other things come along on the path like freedom, change and growth, ups and downs, control or a release of the need for control, resilience, and a sense of calm.  So as each one of us embarks upon or continues on our unique healing journeys, remember that the pieces and parts we take along in our luggage don’t always disappear, but they can be reduced to a minor irritant with intention and the right techniques.  I hope you find your luggage lighter, and your attention focused on things that bring you contentment and peace.

[hopestormhealing]

re·sil·ience 

/rəˈzilyəns/

noun

the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties

#resilience #mentalhealthishealth #healthandwellbeing #mentalhealth #health #heal #healing #hope #healingcoaching #traumaconsulting #depression #anxiety #grief #stress #burnout #trauma

[hopestormhealing]

This can be a tough reminder to accept especially when the pain is strong and the frustration is high.  When we have an uncomfortable feeling or emotion, it could be a signal that we could benefit from self-care, support, healing, or a combination of all three.  

#mentalhealthishealth #healthandwellbeing #mentalhealth #health #heal #healing #hope #healingcoaching #traumaconsulting #depression #anxiety #grief #stress #burnout #trauma

[hopestormhealing]

I came across this quote today and it struck me. I am not sure where it was originally quoted but the author is Glennon Doyle (who has some great books, if you're interested). It says:

"Keep going. That’s all you have to do, ever. You really don’t have to be amazing, or fierce or beautiful or successful or good. Just keep going, please. Slowly is fine. Crawling is fine. No feeling is final. Except hope" 

 How many of us feel stuck? Frozen? Avoiding? Burnt out? Sometimes we try to do it all, solve it all, know it all in the moment we are in. And we don't have to. All we have to do is keep going. Keep taking those steps forward. Keep hope. You got this!

  #glennondoyle #justkeepgoingplease #mentalhealthishealth #healthandwellbeing #mentalhealth #health #heal #healing #hope #healingcoaching #traumaconsulting #depression #anxiety #grief #stress #burnout #traumaRead less

[hopestormhealing]

We are seeing more outward expressions of the sadness, pain, and anger of others in today's world, but there is still much we don't see.  Each person is fighting their own silent battles that no one knows about.  Health problems, medication effects, loss of loved ones, stress, discontentment, disconnection, isolation, abuse, loneliness, depression, and the list goes on and on.  Empathy and connection can bridge some of those unknowns but communication breakdowns and tunnel vision often make our interactions with others harder.  We get wrapped up in our own lives and our own struggles.  We only see our own experience and opinions.  We focus on what is in front of us, what matters to us, our priorities.  We can't know the battles of another unless they tell us and they can't know ours, and we aren't responsible for the feelings, emotions, or behaviors of another, but we can walk the earth knowing that everyone is hurting and everyone deserves a little kindness.  Walk gently.

#hopestorm #mentalhealthishealth #healthandwellbeing #mentalhealth #health #heal #healing #hope #healingcoaching #traumaconsulting #depression #anxiety #grief #stress #burnout #trauma

[hopestormhealing]

Do you want to learn some new techniques? #hopestorm #mentalhealthishealth #healthandwellbeing #mentalhealth #health #heal #healing #hope #healingcoaching #traumaconsulting #depression #anxiety #grief #stress #burnout #trauma