A few weeks ago, we started a new series on trauma, how it affects the body, and steps you can take to heal. In my first post, we learned that trauma occurs when an event exceeds your nervous system’s capacity to cope with it. It was simply too much to process or understand at the time. This could be due to age, sensitivity, emotional stability, resources, or lack of support (i.e. someone to come alongside you to serve as a compassionate witness to what you were going through). The frequency, intensity, and any previous trauma experienced must also be taken into consideration, but there is one ..read more

https://jenroland.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Why-Self-Care-is-Important-for-Victims-of-Trauma.m4a by Janice Ruano Believe it or not, trauma can have a lasting impact on an individual’s mental, emotional, and physical health. That’s why practicing self-care is essential for those who have experienced trauma to promote healing and prevent further harm. In this article, we’ll explore why self-care is vital for victims of trauma and provide actionable tips to help integrate self-care into their daily routines. Whether you have experienced trauma yourself or want to support someone who has, we ..read more

https://jenroland.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/What-is-trauma_.m4a Do you suffer from chronic pain, illness, or other physical ailments, especially with an unknown origin? Do you have heightened defensive/protective responses; frequently feel anxious, on edge, or struggle to relax; or have difficulty sleeping? Do you feel like you’re living in a constant state of stress, are often in “fight or flight” mode; become easily overwhelmed; or have trouble focusing, remembering details of events, or completing tasks? If you answered yes to any of these questions, trauma could be at the root. Trauma ..read more

https://jenroland.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Mindfulness-and-Radical-Acceptance-A-Christian-Perspective.m4a Mindfulness has received a lot of hype in recent years, but what does it really mean? According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, former professor of medicine and the creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, mindfulness is “paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.” It’s about learning to be in control of your thoughts instead of allowing your thoughts to control you. When you’re going through a tough ..read more

https://jenroland.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Understanding-Nervous-System-Regulation.m4a When we live with chronic stress or pain—whether from a physical injury, emotional trauma, dysfunctional relationships, or a deeply dissatisfying job—the nervous system works extra hard to try to keep us safe. It labels the stressor or pain as a threat, and reacts in favor of survival, releasing stress hormones (e.g. adrenaline and cortisol) into our bodies to initiate the fight or flight response. When there is an imminent threat, this response is helpful, but when the threat is constant (as is the ca ..read more

https://jenroland.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/The-Science-Behind-Deep-Breathing.m4a This week, I visited my physical therapist for a procedure called fascial counterstrain, a manual technique designed to provide pain relief by relaxing the fascia (the connective tissue that covers our nerves, arteries, veins and internal organs) and restoring proper functioning to the body. (Interesting Fact – I saw the same therapist who treated entrepreneur, #1 NY Times bestselling author, and philanthropist, Tony Robbins.) I’ve been told I have moderate to severe inflammation in my body, which is not aty ..read more

https://jenroland.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Is-There-An-Emotional-Component-to-Your-Pain.m4a More people battle chronic pain than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined.¹ An estimated 50 million people deal with chronic pain daily, which has prompted the medical community to investigate alternative methods, including acupuncture, yoga, and massage, to treat it. What has remained largely ignored, however, and what recent research has found, is that most people with chronic pain don’t have structural abnormalities that account for the intensity of their pain response.  Even when ..read more

https://jenroland.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/The-Neuroscience-of-Pain-and-How-it-Becomes-Chronic.m4a Since you’re reading this post, it’s likely you or someone you know lives with chronic pain. You’ve been praying for healing and seeking help, but nothing seems to work. It may even be getting worse. I’m here to tell you there is still hope. Understanding the neuroscience of pain, how pain develops, and why it can become chronic is key to interrupting the pain cycle. While I’m still on the healing journey myself, I have found relief through the strategies I’m sharing with you, and I am con ..read more

https://jenroland.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/4-Ways-to-Find-Victory-Over-Fear.m4a Over the past 5 years, the following diagnoses have been spoken over me at one point or another: – piriformis syndrome – generalized anxiety/inability to cope – dorsalgia/back pain – L4/L5 disk herniation – peripheral neuropathy – small fiber neuropathy – nerve pain syndrome – chronic regional pain syndrome – restless leg syndrome – muscle fasciculations – Lyme disease – and many others… These “diagnoses” would either drive me to a sigh of relief—I’d finally figured it out!—or into a panic about the next thi ..read more

https://jenroland.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Reconciling-Two-Realities.m4a In this season of Advent, we await the celebration of the birth of our Savior. For most of us, these four weeks pass quickly. We’re busy buying and wrapping gifts, baking, attending holiday gatherings, and preparing for Christmas. But, for the Old Testament prophets waiting for the arrival of their Messiah, the time did not pass quickly. In fact, ~700 years passed between Isaiah’s prophesy and Christ’s ministry, death, and resurrection! Isaiah prophesized the Messiah would be a descendent of David (Isaiah 11:1), bor ..read more