In today’s fast-paced and often unpredictable world, stress, trauma, and psychological breakdowns have become increasingly common. While these experiences can be overwhelming, science has provided us with a wealth of strategies to effectively manage and mitigate their impact. Understanding and using these evidence-based approaches can empower individuals to navigate their mental health challenges with greater […] The post Strategies For Coping With Stress, Trauma or Breakdown That Are Rooted in Science appeared first on Khiron Clinics ..read more

Trauma can profoundly disrupt our sense of security, leaving us feeling unsafe and vulnerable. This disruption often leads to self-sabotage as individuals attempt to cope with overwhelming emotions and memories. The persistent fear and anxiety stemming from trauma can cause people to engage in behaviours that undermine their well-being, such as avoiding opportunities, forming unhealthy relationships, or resorting to substance abuse. These self-sabotaging actions are misguided attempts to regain control and escape the fear and pain, ultimately perpetuating a cycle of distress and preventing he ..read more

Stress can be categorised into several types based on its duration, intensity, and impact on an individual’s health and well-being. However, all experiences of stress are related to the nervous system, meaning the solution to dealing with stress is rooted in understanding this complex system.  Types of Stress  We can categorise stress into different types, and it may help to understand the ways it can be classified. Knowing how stress can be triggered or worsened by certain situations is helpful for effective management and knowing when to seek professional support. Acute Stress Acu ..read more

Trauma is rooted in the body’s unfinished response to threat. When the body and mind become immobilised with fear and distress, the energy generated to fight off or flee from danger becomes frozen in our bodies.  It remains stuck here, provoking over- or under-reactions to perceived threats until we thaw out the frozen reaction to this original fear. This allows the fight or flight energy to pass through, processing the associated feelings and emotions from a place of greater safety and containment.  The Origin of Trauma Trauma is derived from the Greek word for wound. Ideas of trau ..read more

We have long struggled to define and explain the complex effects trauma can have on the body and mind. To many, trauma is thought of as an event or experience, usually one that is distressing and memorable; an unforgettable moment etched into our brains forever. This idea is misguided but popular, promoted in films and other media, often through the image of the traumatised soldier suffering from ‘shell shock’. However, trauma is much more varied and complex than this. Trauma is not an event or even an experience, but is how the body responds to a single event or several experiences. Importan ..read more

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) often manifests in ways beyond the more commonly recognised symptoms of trauma and PTSD. While flashbacks and nightmares are well-known signs, there are several lesser-known indicators of C-PTSD that individuals may experience, without the awareness that these are related to trauma. This can lead to confusion, shame and self-blame, which often hinders recovery. Emotional flashbacks, for example, involve re-experiencing past emotions rather than events, often resulting in sudden and intense feelings of fear, shame, or despair without any immedia ..read more

When we experience something pleasurable, like eating delicious food, our brain releases dopamine, which makes us feel good. However, this pleasure doesn’t last long, and soon after, we experience a drop in dopamine levels, leading to a sense of discomfort or pain. This cycle of pleasure followed by discomfort is a natural way our brain motivates us to keep seeking out things that make us feel good. In the past, when early humans had to constantly search for basic needs like food and shelter, this system helped ensure that they stayed motivated to find what they needed to survive. In the mode ..read more

Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is one of the most influential theories in human psychology and has guided theories of human well-being for decades. However, as society, technology, and our understanding of psychology rapidly evolve, it’s essential to reexamine the theory to ensure its relevance in today’s landscape. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, proposed in 1943 in the aftermath of World War 2, suggests that human needs can be arranged in a hierarchical order, depicted as a pyramid with five levels. At the base are physiological needs, including air, water, food, and shelter, which are es ..read more

Our nervous systems are designed to respond to stress and failure, and it’s these experiences that build resilience. The concept of nervous system regulation will be familiar to those interacting with the online mental health sphere. While greater awareness of the impact of chronic nervous system dysregulation is essential, it has become a buzzword and much of the nuance and meaning has been lost. In the online world of well-being, regulation is often heralded as a state in which we should live our lives, but this is impossible. While it is important to reflect on environments, people, and t ..read more

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to trauma treatment – trauma is a deeply personal and complex experience that manifests differently in each individual stemming from various experiences, such as abuse, accidents, natural disasters, assault, combat, and neglect, to name just a few. It affects people in unique ways based on each individual’s psychological makeup, age, gender, life experiences and the type of trauma experienced.[1] The non-linear journey of recovery from trauma can also mean that certain approaches are more appropriate at different stages in the journey. One methodology re ..read more