New Focus on Childhood Trauma and Healing for Adults

By Nancy Minister, MC, Survivors Therapist I recently came across a blog written by ACEs Connection member Elizabeth Prewitt titled, “For the first time, SAMHSA’s annual children’s mental health event focuses on trauma.”  In the article, Ms. Prewitt writes, “It is both… Read More

30 Things You Need to Know about Trauma and PTSD: PTSD Awareness Month

My therapist prescribed me to drink more alcohol. I had described symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet once again, the diagnosis was completely missed. Even worse, this uniformed therapist suggested that I drink wine “medicinally,” beginning in the morning, to help cope with what he said was… Read More

How PTSD Treatment Cured my Back Pain

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in my early twenties. Why were my young bones already losing tissue? Like me at the time, women who struggle with anorexia nervosa are at a higher risk of developing the disease. I also believe that my eating disorder may have contributed to my sluggish… Read More

Childhood Abuse Is More Prevalent Than You Think

It is estimated that each year three million cases of child abuse are reported to authorities in the United States (source: Childhelp.org). Read More

Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk on Veterans and PTSD

Meadows Senior Fellow Dr. Bessel van der Kolk is world-renowned for his work pertaining to the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), childhood trauma, and abuse. In a video interview, Dr. van der Kolk explains how the emotional and relational difficulties faced by war… Read More

War “Exists in an Outside Moral Universe”: An Iraq Veteran Explains Moral Injury

At The Meadows, we are honored to provide behavioral health and substance abuse inpatient services, with an emphasis on trauma, PTSD, and addictive disease disorders, to active duty military members, retirees and dependents of the TRICARE West Region. In the interview below, US Army infantryman Alex Horton… Read More

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Submitted by James Naughton, MA, LPC, LISAC, Advanced Trained SE, Level II EMDR Practitioner Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was first introduced into psychiatry in the 1980s and was originally viewed as something rare, affecting only combat soldiers. Today, we understand that just about anyone at any age can… Read More

Link Between PTSD and Violent Behavior is Weak

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/link-between-ptsd-and-violent-behavior-is-weak/2012/03/31/gIQApYFZnS_story.html The political and emotional complexities of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and TBI (traumatic brain injury) can lead to stigmatization and inaccurate attributions. It has long been assumed that soldiers, especially those who have served in combat, are at higher risk for violence. Following… Read More

Twisters and Roller Coasters: Living with Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

By Debra L. Kaplan, MA, LAC, LISAC Not too long ago, a client who I was treating for prescription drug abuse, looked at me and said, “It’s my desperate need to silence the feelings that drive me to want to use.” She went on to describe what it felt… Read More