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What Does Trauma Look Like? Explore the Symptoms of Trauma

What Does Trauma Look Like? Explore the Symptoms of Trauma

Symptoms of Trauma

While many people have a specific idea of what trauma looks like, the truth is the symptoms of trauma can take on many different forms. In my practice, I specialize in Trauma/PTSD counseling based on a Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy approach, and I’ve found many clients are suffering from trauma and don’t necessarily realize it. Why? Because their symptoms don’t always fit into a neat little box.

Today, let’s take a closer look at what trauma is, what the many symptoms of trauma are, and how you can achieve healing, transformation, and peace through the right therapeutic techniques.

What Is Trauma?

Trauma is typically defined as a psychological and/or emotional response to a disturbing or distressing event; the event or experience can overwhelm the individual’s ability to cope and often leads to feelings of powerlessness and helplessness. It can diminish the individual’s sense of self and ability to feel a wide range of experiences and emotions.

trauma

Now, what that definition doesn’t touch on are the numerous gray areas and uncommon symptoms of trauma. As we all know, perception of events is subjective–everyone processes a traumatic experience differently.

For example, one person may have experienced a tornado destroying their hometown and is now fearful and has traumatic flashbacks of the day. Another person may have gone through the same tornado but lost family members and/or their home. Each person may suffer from the symptoms of trauma as a result, but it may look different and have varying degrees of severity and life disruption.

Understanding the Symptoms of Trauma

Keeping in mind that one person’s trauma will vary greatly from another person’s, and this list is by no way all-encompassing, here are some of the more common symptoms of trauma:

  • Anger and/or fearfulness
  • Flashbacks of the traumatic event or experience
  • Emotions that follow no predictable pattern
  • Disbelief and denial
  • Emotional detachment and dissociation
  • Intense feelings of despair, sadness, and powerlessness
  • Persistent feelings of guilt, shame, and feeling responsible
  • Isolation and feeling like no one understands
  • Self-medication or self-harming behaviors
  • Physical symptoms including, but not limited to, nausea, headaches, insomnia, muscle tension, racing heartbeat, agitation, dry mouth, and fatigue

Whether the trauma is a result of abuse, an accident, natural disaster, or events experienced in the line of duty, the symptoms can be debilitating, creating a roadblock to healthy relationships and positive life experiences. It isn’t something you can just “get over” or “move on” from. Nearly all people who experience trauma need extra support and therapeutic strategies to make it to a place of peace and healing.

Get Help for Symptoms of Trauma

trauma

If you think you may be suffering from symptoms of trauma, please know you are not alone and help is available. As a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, I’m honored to provide counseling guidance, strategies, and the compassionate, nonjudgemental support you need in League City, Texas.

There’s no need to struggle through each day and battle with painful memories on your own. I’m committed to helping you find healing so you can regain control of your life. Connect with me online now to schedule a Trauma/PTSD therapy session.

Do You Need a New Year’s Mental Health Checkup?

Do You Need a New Year’s Mental Health Checkup?

A new year should feel like a fresh start—a blank slate full of possibilities. However, for many people, it’s just a reminder of how disappointing life is. In fact, the “new year, new me” posts on social media tend to rub salt in the wounds of someone who feels like things will never change, or who just feels stuck in a cycle of dissatisfaction.

What would happen if you used a new year and a new decade as a catalyst for change in your life? No matter what is holding you back now, it’s possible to break-through the roadblocks and challenges to experience a life full of peace, hope, and possibility. However, the first step to getting there is a New Year mental health checkup.

Assess Where You Are Now to Get Where You Want to Be

You likely take the time to make a doctor’s appointment for a health check-up, but what about your mind? Some people will even prioritize car tune-ups before they would consider a mental health checkup. The truth is, taking the time to assess where you are now is a crucial step to getting you where you want to be down the road.

Above all, seeking out a reliable, qualified therapist is a great way to begin the process for a proper mental health assessment. In the initial session, your therapist will go through a questionnaire with you. This will be a time to determine what issues you are currently facing and the state of your mental health and overall well-being.

The mental health checkup process is necessary prior to beginning any kind of therapeutic treatment plan. It helps your therapist to identify where you are now, goals for therapy, and the best strategies for helping you to achieve those therapeutic goals.

Why Choose Therapy for a New Year

What if you could count 2020 as the year you set intentions and took action? Therapy is a tool to help you make that happen. Consequently, taking that first step to schedule therapy can be the first step to true, lasting transformation in your life. It’s about you deciding you are not satisfied with how things are. And you are ready to do something about it. It’s about you no longer settling for less than a fulfilled, peaceful life.

Is Therapy Right for You?

Do you think you may be suffering from symptoms of anxiety, depression, or trauma? Or are you just ready to get a personal tune-up for the new year? Help is available. Turn to Ana María Serrano for the guidance, strategies, and support you need in League City, Texas.

She offers individual counseling through the Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy approach as well as the Gottman Method Couples Therapy. Therefore, whatever roadblocks may be holding you back in life, Ana María will help you tap into clarity and develop the skills and practices necessary to live in peace with yourself and others. Connect with her online now to schedule a session to get your New Year mental health checkup to make the most of 2020 and beyond.

Dandelion Tea; It’s Good for You!

Dandelion Tea; It’s Good for You!

Benefits of Drinking Dandelion Tea

Dandelions have some great redeeming qualities. That’s why they have been used in plenty of folk medicine for quite some time now. While talking about dandelion tea there are two different types of beverages that are popular. First being the infusion made from the leaves of the plant. And the second one is the roasted dandelion roots. These both are completely safe for use if they haven’t been sprayed with pesticides or insecticides and can be used for plenty of purposes. We have brought you a list of some of the amazing benefits of the dandelion tea, let’s have a look at them.

1.    Reduces Water Weight

Dandelion tea can be used as a diuretic to help increase the urine output hence it can be used to be relieved from bloating. Taking two cups of the beverage made from the leaves of the plant can help to increase the urine output effectively and relieves bloating.

2.    Soothes Digestive Ailments

Dandelion root tea can have extremely positive effects on a person’s digestive system. For instance, it helps greatly to improve the appetite while soothing digestive ailments and relieving constipation hence it is highly anecdotal in nature.

3.    Promotes Liver Health

The roots of dandelions have been used as an amazing liver tonic in the folk medicine. Studies have shown that they aid in increased flow of bile. In other words, the liver root tea is highly effective for the liver detoxification. It also helps with skin and eye problems.

4.    A Great Weight Loss Drug

Research has shown that dandelion has similar effects on the body regarding as the drug Orlistat. This drug works by inhibiting the pancreatic lipase, an enzyme which is released during digestion and helps to break down the fats. They have been tested on mice and proven results for anti-obesity properties.

5.    Potential Anti-Cancer Applications

Recent studies have also shown that the dandelion root has some potential cancer-fighting properties and can show some promising results in the treatment. A research has shown that the dandelion root extract causes the death of melanoma cells without effecting the non-cancerous cells as well as helped to treat the pancreatic cancer cells. Although the anti-cancer properties haven’t been proven yet they have a great potential.

6.    Acts as a Substitute for Coffee

The dandelion roots of the young plant can be roasted to a dark brown color and be brewed into a coffee like beverage which can be used as an effective substitute of coffee. You can steep it in hot water and then strain it to make an effective drink.

7.    Prevents Urinary Tract Infections

This herb can also be paired with the herb uva ursi to help prevent urinary tract infections. It works best in this combination due to the anti-bacterial compounds of the uva ursi herb and the increased urine output effect of the dandelion.

Possible Side Effects

Dandelion is safe for most of the people, although some people may have allergic reactions due to ingestion and touching. It also may trigger side effects if used with certain medications like lithium, Cipro and diuretics. So, if you are under any medication, consult a doctor before drinking dandelion tea. Keeping in view these great benefits of the tea. Go ahead and drink the tea for some great results. Try to be consistent in use for better results.

If you’d like to take your detoxing deeper join my Spring Detox. You deserve it!

Benefits of an Epsom Salt Detox Bath

Benefits of an Epsom Salt Detox Bath


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bath-salts

Epsom Salt Bath is Vital for Detox

A detox bath with Epsom salt is one of the greatest healing therapies that can help to facilitate the natural detoxification system of the body. In this modern world, we are more subject to the toxins than ever through the food we eat, the air we breathe and even the medications we take. Toxins harm the body by irritating and destroying it. Detoxification is the way the body removes the harmful compounds naturally. However, we can also help out the body by a detox bath as it encourages flushing out of the toxins efficiently

It is imperative to improve our body’s capacity to detoxify and dispose of the waste, while limiting our introduction to toxins. A detox bath is one of the best healing therapies that facilitates and enhance the natural detoxification process of our bodies. Let’s have a look at the various health benefits of the detox bath.

woman-having-a-bath

1.    Health Benefits of a Detox bath

A detox bath is usually made with Epsom salt which helps to draws out toxins, but has many health benefits that are listed below:

1.    Eases Stress

Stress has a very negative impact on the health of your mind body and soul. So just relax and avoid stress as much as possible and the detox bath is imperative for that matter.

2.    Improved Sleep and Concentration

It also eases the nerves promoting good sleep and helping you to concentrate better on things. Epsom salt has amazing healing and relaxing properties which lead to an improved sleep and concentration.

3.    Better Functioning of the Nervous System

It helps the nervous system to work in a better way by relaxing the nerves. The nervous system then commands all the organs in an improved way.

4.    Regulate enzyme activity

The bath also helps the body to regulate its detoxification system hence regulating the enzyme activity to help the body in various functions such as digestion and removal of the toxins effectively.

5.    Promotes production of insulin

It also promotes the production of insulin in the body to regulate its required levels in the body and hence help in an improved functioning of the body organs and functions. They are NOT recommended for people with diabetes.

6.    Flushes toxins

It aids the body in flushing out the toxins and helping it to get rid of them in an improved way for an amazing functioning of the body systems.

7.    Pain Relief for headaches, cramps and spasms

It also helps to relieve the pain from headaches, cramps and spasms by relaxing the body and the nerves.

How to Draw a Detox Bath

  1. Take 2 cups of Epsom salt and 5 drops of lavender essential oil to a full tub of water.
  2. The water should be hot as we need to create the perfect and nice sweat for some detoxification to take place.
  3. Add a cup of baking soda to neutralize the chemicals and enhance mineral absorption.
  4. Immerse your body in this water all the way up to the neck and soak it for a good 20 minutes while keeping your eyes shut and indulging in some breathing exercises.
  5. After soaking get out of the tub and take a cool shower without using any harsh soaps and shampoos to let the nutrients absorb in the body.
  6. Apply a natural moisturizer like body butter and avoid eating immediately.
  7. Drink some filtered water and rest to rejuvenate.

So, go ahead and indulge in a detox bath with the Epsom salt to relieve yourself from the toxins and pains.

 

Ready to take detoxing to a next level? You have to do my Spring Detox. We’ll detox mind, body and social media! lol It’s a holistic detox designed to leave you feeling wonderful inside and out.

 

Breakfast Ideas Make Clean Eating Easy

Breakfast Ideas Make Clean Eating Easy


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oats-with-fruits-and-honey

Breakfast Ideas for Your Clean Eating Lifestyle

When you switch to a clean eating diet, you are encouraged not just to eat 4-6 small meals a day, but to always make sure you eat breakfast. Breakfast allows you to get enough fuel for the day, so you want your meal to include healthy fats, carbs, and protein, just like other meals of the day. Breakfast is often a challenge, so here are some ideas to help get you started.

Clean Pancakes

If it is the weekend or during the week when you have a little extra time in the morning, you can make yourself a batch of clean pancakes. These are not going to use a bunch of ingredients that traditional pancakes have, so not only are they clean and healthy, but they are much less time consuming as well. You need just three ingredients for the pancakes, including bananas, eggs, and some cinnamon. The ratio is typically 2 eggs for every 1 medium banana. Just mash up the bananas, beat with 2 eggs, then add a few sprinkles of cinnamon. Mix it together and cook them like pancakes. You can serve with some fresh fruit or maple syrup with no sugar added.

Avocado Toast

This is a really popular breakfast you will see all over Instagram and for good reason. It provides the perfect balance of carbs from the bread, protein from the bread and additional toppings, and fat from the avocado. You can go basic with just whole grain bread and avocado, or add additional ingredients like some cooked eggs on top, vegetable slices, or even cooked salmon if you want something a little heartier. There are tons of combinations that will work great.

blueberry-smoothie
Smoothies

Another popular breakfast option for people who are clean eating is to make a smoothie. These have so many different options, are filling, and work great for pre or post-workout. You can make your smoothie with all fruit, add in greens for a green smoothie, add peanut butter to make it filling, use dairy or skip it, and get really creative with ingredients like cocoa powder or maple syrup. The options truly are endless here. A good simple smoothie uses a cup of greens, ½ frozen banana, 1 cup frozen berries, ½ cup yogurt (non-dairy is fine) and your choice of liquid.

 

Overnight Oats

If you tend to get busy in the morning and have no time for making breakfast, then overnight oats will be your new best friend. These are made the night before, so in the morning, you can just grab your jar of oats and eat right away or bring it with you to work or school. There are many recipes to choose, but you basically have rolled oats soaking overnight in your choice of milk or non-dairy milk, with various ways to flavor it, from fresh fruit to cinnamon or honey.

blueberry-on-overnight-oats

If you’d like a week’s worth of healthy menus and 7 days of support and guidance, register for my Epic Clean Eating Challenge now!

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