Articles

Resilience and Healing Dealing with Adversity

Building Resilience Through Pain

What does it mean to have resilience and how do resilient people think? A Fearful Phone Call Last night, after an evening of martial arts training, I noticed a missed call and voice mail from my ten-year-old, searching for reassurance I was okay. She was having ruminating thoughts that something might happen or has happened to me.  Not the first time I have received those calls, like many of us parents.  Humans have vivid imaginations, and we can be wrecked by fear if we get hijacked. Memories of My Own Childhood It brings back memories of my own childhood and the fear of losing my own mom as a kid and how I could not imagine a life without her. Looking back, I know I spent a lot of time in anxious, ruminating thoughts fearing one day I may be taken over by debilitating emotional pain, that would leave me

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What is Ketamine Therapy? How Does It Help?

What Does It Treat? Ketamine therapy is a fast-emerging treatment used to relieve symptoms of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain—especially when other treatments have failed. Originally developed as an anesthetic, ketamine is now administered in lower, controlled doses in clinical settings under professional supervision. This innovative approach is gaining momentum for its ability to offer rapid relief, sometimes within hours, for individuals who have not responded to traditional antidepressants or psychotherapy. How Does Ketamine Therapy Work? Ketamine affects the brain in a very different way than conventional antidepressants. While most medications target serotonin or dopamine, ketamine interacts with a neurotransmitter called glutamate—a powerful chemical involved in learning and memory. By modulating glutamate activity, ketamine appears to promote the brain’s ability to form new neural connections, a process called neuroplasticity. This helps the brain “rewire” itself, potentially breaking the cycle of depression or trauma-related patterns. The

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What is PTSD?

Understanding and Healing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. These events may include combat exposure, natural disasters, accidents, physical or sexual assault, or other life-threatening situations. While it is normal to feel afraid during or after a traumatic event, people with PTSD continue to experience intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their trauma long after the event has ended. Symptoms of PTSD Include: PTSD can interfere with daily life, relationships, work, and health. The good news is: it is treatable. Three Proven Methods to Treat or Manage PTSD 1. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) TF-CBT is a structured, short-term psychological treatment that helps individuals process and reframe negative thoughts related to the trauma. One of the most effective forms is Prolonged Exposure Therapy, where patients gradually confront trauma-related memories and situations

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