Blog posts, news articles, and other resources from The Center • A Place of HOPE
This article is a comprehensive guide to identifying and breaking free from trauma bonds. As well as helping individuals to recognize the signs of a trauma bond in their relationships, the article covers the psychological dynamics at play. It offers guidance on seeking professional help, establishing healthy boundaries, and nurturing...
This article defines and explains the concept of 'trauma dumping' - the act of unloading one's traumatic experiences onto others without consent or awareness. It also provides advice on how to handle situations where someone is trauma dumping, both as the sharer and the listener, while maintaining healthy boundaries. What...
This article explains what a trauma bond is, highlighting its characteristics and how it differs from healthy emotional attachments. It delves into the psychological underpinnings of trauma bonds, such as the cycle of abuse and intermittent reinforcement, and discusses why these bonds can be so powerful and hard to break....
The impact of traumatic experiences in life can be far-reaching. Unresolved traumatic experiences can manifest in our most intimate relationships, leading to trust issues, sexual dysfunction, or aversion. These can then be further complicated by online infidelity or addiction to online pornography - often a result of the earlier trauma....
The power of nature and gardening as a therapeutic practice can be transformative for those who have experienced trauma. This article will delve into the profound benefits of gardening, focusing on grounding, mindfulness, and nurturing life. It will also explore the science behind why it's such a transformative practice for...
Healing Spaces: Creating Environments That Facilitate Trauma Recovery This article explores how designing and creating a physical environment, like a calming and safe living space, can support trauma recovery. Elements such as color psychology, space optimization, and including elements of nature for a healing ambience are all discussed, as is...
This article discusses the interplay between trauma and substance abuse, exploring how one can exacerbate the other and offering guidance on holistic approaches to treatment that address both issues simultaneously. What is trauma? Trauma is a psychological and emotional response to a distressing or disturbing event or series of events...
Processing trauma is a complex and deeply personal journey, often marked by emotional distress and a range of psychological challenges. In this context, mindfulness practices offer a profound and invaluable resource for those seeking healing and recovery. In this article, we will explore why mindfulness practices can be profoundly helpful...
This article describes the profound impact of early loss or bereavement on a child's developing psyche when combined with traumatic circumstances. It also looks at the lasting repercussions of childhood traumatic grief into adulthood. Suggestions for those seeking support for managing issues around childhood traumatic grief are given at the...
If you’ve been through something traumatic, you already know how painful it is. After a traumatic event, most people feel terrified and even paralyzed. You might have experienced feelings like despair and helplessness. Trauma survivors often feel their sense of trust in the world is shattered, and they will never...
This article explains the connection between prolonged trauma exposure and the onset of physical diseases, focusing on the body's stress response. What is prolonged trauma exposure? Prolonged trauma exposure refers to a situation in which an individual is subjected to traumatic events, experiences, or circumstances over an extended period rather...
We don’t know what, exactly, causes mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Why do some people get depressed, for example, while others don’t? Although there is no singular cause of any mental health condition, researchers have found certain factors can put you at higher risk for developing mental health...
Childhood is often depicted as a time of innocence – a time in life when we don’t have anything to worry about. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for some – a disturbingly large percentage of children experience trauma during this crucial time. Trauma is your emotional reaction after experiencing something...
This article explains the relationship between traumatic experiences and eating disorders, including binge eating, anorexia, and bulimia. Social media body image pressures can exacerbate eating disorders, and the process by which this takes place is described, alongside ways to tackle these issues for anyone suffering from difficult eating behaviors and...
Human beings come from all different walks of life. But one thing that most – if not all – of us have in common is, at some point, we will lose someone we love. This is a sad fact of life. People die. And the rest of us are left...
This article explains the concept of defense mechanisms. It defines the term, details a short history of the origins of defense mechanisms within psychology and psychotherapy, and gives descriptions of each of the main defense mechanisms. What should you do if you recognize aspects of these defense mechanisms in your...
Bargaining is one of the five stages of grief. The five stages of grief is a model also known as the Kübler-Ross model after Swiss-American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, who coined the phrase in her 1969 book, On Death and Dying[1]. Although the Kübler-Ross model was developed to support terminally ill...
Most people are aware the effects of a traumatic experience can last for a long time. What you may not know is that future generations can inherit -- sometimes literally -- these effects as well. Many families have been impacted by generational trauma, and it’s possible that you are facing...
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The whole person approach to treatment integrates all aspects of a person’s life: