Chronic stress affects the body’s central nervous and endocrine systems, along with respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, muscular, reproductive and immune systems. Some physical signs and symptoms of chronic stress include: Fatigue Headaches Difficulty sleeping Digestive problems Changes in appetite Dizziness Irritable bowels  Loss of libido Sexual dysfunction  Hair loss Getting sick easily Muscle pain and body aches Weight changes The Effects of Chronic Stress on the Brain Research on the impact of chronic stress on the brain is s ..read more

     Trauma is a term used to describe the emotional, psychological, and somatic consequences of living through a distressing event. Distressing events can include a recent, single traumatic event (ie. a car crash or violent assault), a single traumatic event that occurred in the past (ie. sexual assault, death of a spouse or child, living through a natural disaster or war), or a long-term, chronic pattern (ie. ongoing childhood neglect, sexual or physical abuse, systemic oppression, discrimination), however, it is important to note that individuals may have different reactions ..read more

     Trauma-Informed Care: What it is, who it’s for, and how it helps   The phrase “trauma-informed care” has been used increasingly over the past several years, but became even more prominent in 2020 with the global coronavirus pandemic which many say could inflict long-lasting emotional trauma on an unprecedented scale. According to the Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute, many organizations are actively seeking out ways to ensure their programming and services include trauma-informed care as it is being recognized that trauma can show up in everyday lives in a variety ..read more

     Do you want to know about Polyvagal Theory but don’t have time to read a dense book? If so, you’re in the majority! Most health professionals have so many competing priorities in their lives that they don’t have time to read as much as they would like. In this post, I’ll distill the theory down to six simplified concepts that can be found in the ‘The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe’ by Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D.    1.     The Anatomy/Physiology: Traditionally, we are taught that the autonomic nervou ..read more