…e fickle mindstream might take it. Mindful awareness meditation focuses on development of an attitude of calm abiding, and then, in the space of that clearing, the cultivation of insight (shamatha-vipassana), helping to clean out long-collected mental cobwebs and outdated emotional stockpiles, revealing to the meditator a natural luminosity of mind that would have been otherwise overlooked, or missed in plain sight in the speediness of the “natura…
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…r relationship with anxiety. 3) Define how sleep disturbances increase the development of anxiety and vice versa. Explain how they are related to each other and what strategies you can use to improve your sleep-in order to improve your anxiety responses. 4) Practice biological strategies that have been shown to promote healthier anxiety responses utilizing exercise, nutrition & supplements and from Dr. Mantz’ clinical experiences using an integrat…
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…rather than revisiting old problems. This method of therapy encourages the development of new coping strategies, changing detrimental cognitive thinking, and problem-solving skills. CBT has also been used in treating co-occurring disorders as well. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) works to address co-occurring disorders simultaneously. Enhancing behavioral skills, through mindfulness and emotional regulation, is the primary focus of DBT. This ty…
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…PTSD and other trauma related disorders. Jordan is an adjunct clinician at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, providing trainings, consultations, and community education on identity and adolescent development. Jordan sits on multiple Board of Directors, serving the LGBTQ+ community nationally. Jordan has worked extensively in secondary school education, developing health and wellness curricula, focusing on DEI and cultivating strength and resiliency…
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Most of us have experienced some form of trauma in our development. We may have endured what mental health professionals refer to as a “big T Trauma” like abuse, serious loss, or a life-threatening experience, or we may have examples of “little t trauma” from events that weren’t life-threatening but caused emotional distress and altered our way of seeing ourselves, other people, and the world. Childhood trauma of any kind can affect our relations…
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…ed social mores and rituals in turn reflect back on individual personality development, thus completing the circle. The fantasy bond is the core defense. On an individual level, it offers an illusion of connection or fusion with one’s parent or primary caregiver in an attempt to cope with emotional trauma and separation anxiety. When extended to identification with a group or a cause, it gives people a sense of safety and immortality in the face o…
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…orn out of negative attitudes to which you’ve been exposed throughout your development.Your critical inner voice is like a cruel coach, judging and berating you, offering bad advice, and telling you things won’t get better. Its very purpose is to tear you down and limit you. Getting to know this critic during this time is crucial, because you must not allow it to fill the silence or take over your point of view. When you experience a vulnerability…
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…r child learn how to do them anyway. This is a critical part of growth and development. We want our children to manage, develop grit, build resilience, and figure out how to do things that are boring, difficult, or not their preference. This can be a tall order. It may be easier to just get through a rough patch by fixing or punishing, but this approach doesn’t prevent the next episode. Instead of being consumed by the immediate problem, it is imp…
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…cultures and religions, meditation is viewed as a cornerstone of spiritual development. (2) The great news is you don’t have to practice any specific form of meditation to enjoy the benefits; there are secular and religious practices to choose from. Whether you decide on Transcendental Meditation (™) like The Beatles and David Lynch, Primordial Sound Meditation (PMS) like Deepak Chopra and Lady Gaga, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) like…
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…(occurring in relationships, usually some of the most important ones) and developmental (happening during the formative years of childhood). Complex trauma is usually recurring (happens more than once) and is inflicted by a caregiver, parent, guardian, or person who has close, repeated contact — like a clergy person, neighbor, or family member. Complex trauma can consist of emotional, physical and/or sexual violence. Every time I use the term “tr…
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