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Why Do I Still React This Way? How Trauma Therapy Helps the Past Feel Like the Past
One of the most confusing experiences for people who have lived through trauma is knowing, logically, that something is over while still reacting as though it is happening now. You may know that your current relationship is different from relationships that hurt you in the past, yet find yourself panicking when someone seems distant. You may understand that making a mistake at work does not mean you are a failure, yet criticism can leave you flooded with shame. You may know that you are capable of setting boundaries, but conflict can still make you freeze, shut down, or feel unable to speak.
Understanding and Treating Trauma and PTSD
Trauma can affect the mind and body long after a distressing experience has ended, and for some individuals, those effects may develop into PTSD. This blog explores common symptoms of trauma and PTSD, how they can impact daily life, and supportive treatment approaches that can help individuals move toward healing and recovery.
Fawning: Understanding the Fourth Trauma Response
When people talk about trauma responses, most are familiar with fight, flight, and freeze. These survival strategies describe how the nervous system responds to perceived threat—by confronting danger, escaping it, or shutting down. But there is a fourth trauma response that often goes unnamed, misunderstood, or even praised: fawning.
Fawning is the survival strategy of appeasing, pleasing, or accommodating others to stay safe. It’s not weakness. It’s not manipulation. It’s a nervous system adaptation that develops when connection itself feels like the condition for survival.peo
Radical Acceptance: How Embracing Reality Can Transform Your Mental Health
When life delivers pain, whether it’s heartbreak, loss, or unwanted change, our first instinct is often to fight reality, replay what-ifs, or wish things were different. Yet, psychological research and evidence-based therapies show that fighting reality can intensify our suffering, while accepting it can lead to real transformation.
What Is Radical Acceptance?
Radical acceptance is a core skill within Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), an evidence-based treatment developed by psychologist Marsha Linehan for people struggling with strong emotions, stress, or trauma. But its benefits extend to everyone. Radical acceptance means fully acknowledging and accepting reality as it is, without judgment—even when it’s unpleasant or painful.
Somatic Therapy: Healing Body and Mind
Somatic therapy, a type of psychotherapy that focuses on the mind-body connection, is gaining significant attention for its effectiveness in treating various mental health conditions. This approach recognizes that our bodies hold memories, emotions, and trauma, which can manifest as physical symptoms. By addressing these somatic experiences, somatic therapists help individuals heal on a deeper level.
The mind-body connection is a fundamental principle in somatic therapy. It posits that our thoughts, emotions, and experiences are interconnected with our physical sensations and bodily processes. When we experience stress, trauma, or emotional distress, it can manifest as physical symptoms such as tension, pain, or digestive issues.