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People who experience trauma at an early age are often greatly affected, sometimes for the rest of their lives. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common disorder that people suffer from, which can include nightmares, flashbacks, anxious thoughts, trouble with memory, depression, and more. Children can be severely impacted by trauma especially because at young ages, their brains are still developing and they are still learning about themselves and the world. A recent study conducted in 2016 by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine found that among youth who suffer from PTSD, structural differences were present between the brains of boys and girls. The main difference was within one part of the insula, a brain region that detects cues from the body and processes emotions and empathy. The insula helps us regulate our feelings, emotions, and behaviors. The study’s findings on differences of insula between both sexes could mean greater understanding in how each sex copes and processes when suffering from PTSD. It is known that of people who suffer from a traumatic experience, some individuals suffer from PTSD and others do not. A research team conducted brain scans of 59 participants aged 9-17. Thirty of them, with 14 of them being girls and 16 being boys, experienced trauma symptoms, and the rest did not. Only 5 of the traumatized youth had only experienced one traumatic event – the rest had experienced multiple, or chronic trauma. While the researchers did not find any differences in the youth that did not suffer from PTSD, they did find differences between the boys and girls who did suffer from PTSD, particularly within the insula called the anterior circular sulcus. This brain region was larger in volume in traumatized boys compared to those not traumatized, but was smaller in volume to girls who were traumatized compared to those not traumatized. The study’s findings implicate that a smaller insula volume in young girls may lead to them aging quicker, or becoming more mature at a faster rate. The study’s findings also suggest that PTSD may develop differently in boys and girls, meaning that different treatment methods may be needed to help them cope and recover more efficiently. With this new research, we may be able to better assist our children so that they can recover from their traumatic experiences in a healthy way. If you or someone you know has suffered from a traumatic event and is experiencing PTSD, please reach out to a therapist. There are many therapy methods available – you are not alone and can recover from this. With many tools, resources, and people ready to support you, all you need to do is call someone for help.

Work obligations, family issues, and deep-rooted problems can reappear daily and can make us feel weak, upset, and helpless. Health issues can leave us feeling as though we cannot do the things that we want to, and that can be very upsetting. Acupuncture is a popular, holistic treatment method aimed to ameliorate many negative effects that we experience. There are many reasons why someone may choose to use acupuncture. Here is a breakdown of the most common causes in need of this form of treatment:

There are many speculations regarding mental illness – some of them are informed by research and experience, while others aren’t. Understanding the real impact of mental illness means that we acknowledge what mental illness consists of and how it can affect lives. If we know the facts, we can protect ourselves against stigma and discrimination – we can also use our knowledge to inform others so that more people seek treatment and utilize therapy to promote their mental health and wellbeing. Here are the most common assumptions regarding mental illness:

Recovery can be a transformative journey that requires dedication, patience, a learning perspective, and so much more. For people that embark on this journey, so much growth occurs. There are many aspects to recovery, such as learning more about addiction and its effects, becoming closer in mind and body, learning more about oneself, and so much more. Another component of recovery that everyone must go through is learning one’s triggers and how to combat them. For some, this may mean simply saying “no” to someone – for others, this may mean leaving a place that is triggering them to engage in their previous addiction. When someone is recovering, many things can influence someone to engage in their addiction. The ways in which a person can tell if something is triggering them, as explained by The Recovery Village, are: physical symptoms such as tightness of the stomach, feeling nervous or “jumpy” and psychological symptoms such as increase thoughts of how good it would feel to use the drug again, remembering times of using in the past, planning how to go about getting the drug or substance, and feeling like the person “needs” the drug. The following are common relapse triggers that people experience: emotions such as anger, loneliness, guilt, sadness, feeling stressed, feeling over-confident, social situations that remind the person of using, people that the person used to engage in addictive behaviors with, reminiscing about previous drug use, places where the drug or substance is available, isolating oneself, mental illness such as anxiety, depression, etc., and physical illness. This list is not exhaustive, but provides top relapse triggers for people in recovery. Television can also trigger someone if it brings up any of the previously mentioned emotions. Commercials and movies do not have to explicitly show the drug or substance – scenarios that make a person sad could also trigger them to want to use again. In a recent study found in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, rules are provided to help people stay successful in recovery:

Many organizations wish to use the Sanctuary Model because of its grounding principles. While there are several diverse types of organizational models, the Sanctuary Model considers the lived experiences of each person and integrates those experiences into a loving, empathetic and productive community. The Sanctuary Model was developed Dr. Sandra Bloom and is a theory-based, trauma-informed, trauma-responsive, evidence-supported, whole culture approach that works to create organizational change. Many human service organizations, such as the Andrus Children’s Center, have utilized this model to create a respectful atmosphere. There is much research behind the success of this model. This model is the only organizational and clinical intervention recognized as a Promising Practice by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. It has also received a Scientific Rating of 3 (Promising Research Practice) by the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare. Previous research has shown that this model has been successful in working with youth in residential treatment centers. The Sanctuary Model builds on four primary components: shared knowledge, shared values, shared language, and shared practice. These pillars are comprised of different “tools” that should be used within organizations to build their respect, empathy, and understanding of one another. In 2005, researchers found that the Sanctuary Model provided stronger support, spontaneity, autonomy, personal problem orientation, safety and total treatment environment in residential facilities that utilized it. One aspect of the Sanctuary Model, SELF, stands for safety, emotion management, loss and future. These components can be utilized within organizations for treatment planning, community conversations, and collaborative decision-making. The model is based on seven commitments which include: nonviolence, emotional intelligence, inquiry and social learning, democracy, open communication, social responsibility, growth and change. The basis of the Sanctuary Model is that it can be used in whatever way best suits the organization – whatever your needs are, you can incorporate the tools within to build and grow. The organizations that thrive best are those that work hard to connect both employees and patients. Everyone has unique experiences that contribute to their being; the Sanctuary Model helps people understand and respect those differences and see the light for what they can offer to the team.

Our mood is comprised of so many things – biological factors, external stimuli, coping mechanisms and responses, and more. Mental illness can mean mood swings, and our diet can also impact the way that we feel. With so many things at play, understanding what impacts our mood can help us better combat those days when we feel upset or sad for no “apparent” reason. While we can’t always control our moods, we can learn what might be impacting us and make minor adjustments to our daily routine to help prepare us to feel better. According to Associate Editor Margarita Tartakovsky of Psych Central, negative people can certainly impact our mood. When we are surrounding by people who always look to the negative side of things, we are bound to feel a little less cheerful. Additionally, spending too much time on internet sources such as Facebook can leave us feeling drained. A recent study conducted by Shakya and Christakis (2017) found that Facebook decreases well-being, as people are more likely to compare themselves with others, making them feel less than enough. Dr. Young from Psychology Today states that exercise and activity level can also affect our mood. If our body isn’t getting proper exercise, we can feel sluggish and tired. Nutrition also plays a vital role, as processed foods, sweets, and foods with poor nutrient health can leave us feeling down. Consuming foods that contain nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, fruits, and vegetables can also help increase our moods, leaving us feeling refreshed and healthier. One factor that impacts our mood that most people don’t recognize is disorganization – living and working in clutter can cause us to subconsciously feel overwhelmed, exhausted, stressed and anxious. By keeping our home and work spaces clean, we are making way for a more healthy and productive outlook on the day. Not surprisingly, the weather can impact our mood. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a depressive disorder that typically occurs in people during fall and winter months, when there is less sunshine. Extremely hot temperature and heavy rain can also cause people to feel tension and aggression – as confirmed thus far by 2 studies, one conducted by Hsiang et al. (2013) and the other conducted by Connolly (2013). With so many factors impacting our mood, sometimes the best way to deal with a negative mood change is to simply allow yourself to feel it. Spend a brief period allowing yourself to feel angry, frustrated, sad, etc. In doing this, you are giving your mind and body the attention it needs while also choosing to move forward after you have allowed yourself to feel. Eating properly, getting adequate amount of exercise, avoiding negativity, maintaining clean spaces, and more can help you to feel refreshed, healthy, and ready to move on with your day.

Recovery can seem daunting to those who are just beginning. The pressure of wanting to make sure you’re doing everything right and the fear or relapse can be overwhelming, but recovery is meant to be a journey. The perspective that one holds is most important; those that look through a negative lens will find more problems, concerns, and setbacks than someone who is looking at their journey with hope and enthusiasm. Dr. David Susman, licensed clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor in Psychology at the University of Kentucky, has provided Psychology Today with key steps towards making the most of your recovery:

Anyone who suffers from an addiction knows that recovery is a challenging, lifelong process. We must constantly be aware of our stressors and triggers to note if we are in a situation where we feel the need to repeat old negative patterns of behavior. The beginning of our recovery journey can be particularly difficult, because we may fear relapsing. Relapsing is defined as the recurrence of symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement. Many people who are afraid of relapsing or who have already relapsed, are scared that they failed. Relapse is a normal part of the recovery process, though, and should not be considered a failed attempt at recovery – it is merely an opportunity for us to learn and grow from our experiences. There are three main ties to relapses – physical, mental, and emotional. Emotional relapses may occur in a person and while this doesn’t necessarily mean that they will go right back to their old addictive habits, it is the first stage of the relapse process and could indicate that a relapse could occur soon. If a person is feeling anxiety, intolerance, anger, defensiveness, mood swings, isolation, is missing meetings, is eating or sleeping poorly, or is refusing help, they could be on the brink of a relapse. Mental relapses occur when a person is at war between using the drug/substance and staying sober. When this happens, the person experiences fleeting thoughts of using, and they can’t seem to stop. A few characteristics of this may be lying to the people closest to them, romanticizing using the substance/drug in the past, dwelling on people, places, or things that tie directly to the addiction, spending time with people that they used to engage in the addiction with, etc. At this stage, it can become very difficult for the person to stay sober because at this point, they may feel that they can control their addiction and that using only one more time won’t hurt them. The person may also feel that they can easily get away with using again. Physical relapses could involve the person using the substance/drug only once and then realizing their mistake, or could mean that they fall back into old habits. Once a person has relapsed, they may feel anger, shame, disappointment, frustration, and more. Relapsing does not mean that we have failed. It simply means that we are learning more about ourselves and how we react to triggers and stimuli – it provides us with an opportunity to look further into why we relapsed and what we can do to prevent this next time. This may also present an opportunity for us to enter back into inpatient treatment, or to increase our meeting attendance. Millions of people have relapsed and recovered from it. If we can view this as a learning opportunity and grow from it, we can make the most of our journey through recovery.

Process addictions are like other addictions in the negative pattern of behavior that is enacted and the negative ways in which it can affect daily life. A process addiction is a condition of compulsive behavior, such as excessive gambling, video gaming, shopping, etc. This addiction is like other addictions in that a person can become dependent and addicted to a certain behavior. Everyday Health has identified the top process addictions:

Family therapy is beneficial for a variety of reasons – it helps people understand one another, it helps families work through issues, it helps family members support a person suffering from an addiction or mental illness, and more. Family therapy often gives people a chance to work through issues that otherwise would be difficult to work through on their own – a supervised, neutral setting with an experience psychologist to help guide individuals through a respectful discussion can prove transformative. According to Desert Hope, “Family therapy concentrates on determining and adjusting how the overall structure, patterns of communication, aspects of relationships, power structure, and other aspects of the family system are affected by whatever issue is being addressed.” In family therapy, the therapist typically meets with individuals as well as other family members. After a few meetings with the family members, a therapist can often tell which form of treatment will work best. Family therapy has been shown to help people work through depression, obesity, alcoholism and drug abuse, although that list is not exhaustive. Dr. Nichols mentioned on Good Therapy that at the beginning of the sessions, she will provide information on confidentiality, who needs to attend ongoing sessions, the rules, her role, and expectations for everyone. This helps all family members to know what to expect and what is required of them. A variety of techniques may be used by a family therapist, and family members are expected to be respectful, honest, and take responsibility for themselves. One newly popular technique studied in Contemporary Family Therapy is Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare (OBH), or wilderness therapy, and involves family members partaking in outdoor activities to help them relieve stress and to use nature as both reality and metaphorical for their therapy needs. Of course, traditional therapeutic methods are also widely used.   Narrative therapy was also mentioned as a contributing beneficiary to therapy by allowing family members to externalize their situations, deconstruct problematic narratives by asking questions, identify unique outcomes or times when someone was not oppressed by an issue, link unique outcomes to future alternatives, invite members of a social network to witness the new narrative, and document new knowledge that has taken place. The techniques mentioned above are just 2 of many, but typically involves families working individually and together with a therapist to overcome family concerns. Family therapy could be a great tool for you to use if you wish to resolve family issues and bring the family closer together. If you are considering using this, speak with a therapist today to determine the right fit for you and your family.

It is common knowledge that war, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and getting robbed would all suffice as traumatic incidents. Childhood trauma can leave people feeling debilitated for years to come – some even their entire lives. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects over 14 million adults in the United States, according to Mental Health America. The National Center for PTSD defines PTSD as a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Those who have PTSD often experience nightmares, flashbacks, hyperactivity, intrusive thoughts, and negative emotions/feelings. Can something as simple as watching a violent show on television trigger someone to have PTSD? The answer is technically, no. Cultivation theory posits that those who watch television often and in substantial amounts tend to adopt the perceptions of what they see on TV. For example, if a person spends many hours a day watching scary movies, they may eventually come to believe that the world is a scary place and may therefore fear leaving their home. The person may show similar symptoms of PTSD, but are not directly experiencing it. The scary content that they viewed on TV may cause them intense emotions which could continue manifesting into a phobia or anxiety disorder. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, exposure to media, television, movies, or pictures cannot cause PTSD. Symptoms of PTSD are:

Just as someone from a physical addiction may relapse and return to their addiction because of a trigger, someone with a mental illness can relapse. Relapse is defined as the recurrence of any disease that has gone into remission or recovery. In the above narrative, this person suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and has worked diligently through their obsessive thoughts and compulsions. One day they felt triggered - whether by a person, place, situation, or their own thoughts – and retreated to old habits of behavior, by asking their partner for reassurance. When someone suffers from a mental illness, relapse often involves acting on those unwanted thoughts or feelings in a way that perpetuates the illness. For example, a person who suffers from severe anxiety may partake in recovery activities that help them recognize when they are feeling anxious and may provide them with tools to work through their anxiety. A relapse for this person would mean that one day, their anxiety gets to them and the person loses all sense of control that they had learned so far in their recovery. Some warning signs that someone is experiencing a relapse are: major mood changes, losing their sense of humor, becoming very tense or agitated, difficulty concentrating, retreating from social situations, neglecting personal care, dressing unusually, sleeping excessively or not at all, eating too much or hardly at all, becoming very suspicious or hostile, increased sensitivity to light or noise, and more. This list of signs is non-exhaustive, and may vary depending on the mental illness. If someone feels they may experience a relapse soon or are already suffering from a relapse, they should speak with a health care professional immediately. Working with a doctor and support team can help you get back on track and move past the incident. Family and friends should be receptive, loving and supportive and should research the mental illness to learn more ways of which they can help.   Residential treatment programs give you the time you need to focus on healing. Avalon Malibu is one of California’s only certified primary mental health treatment facility providing trusted programs with trusted results. For a confidential assessment and more information, call us today: 888-958-7511