I heard the phrase, love and joy are acts of defiance from an online teacher, and it has been echoing in my mind ever since. Maybe because I’m clinging to it in the face of the chaos in the world. Maybe because, deep down, I know it’s true. Love and joy are not passive states;…
I just finished reading Deep Work by Cal Newport, and I found it fascinating. In our increasingly distracted and fast-paced world, his insights on focus and productivity make so much sense. But as I read, I kept thinking about something he doesn’t address—what happens when trauma lives in the body? Newport suggests that by eliminating…
Understanding Trauma and Its Impact on Your Connections Medical trauma doesn’t just live in your body—it echoes into your relationships, reshaping how you connect with others and influencing your emotional connections. It can make intimacy feel dangerous, even with those you love most. Vulnerability feels like an invitation for hurt, and trust becomes harder to…
How many times have you been told your pain isn’t real? That you are making it up. “It’s just in your head.”“You’re overreacting.”“The tests look fine.” Each of these phrases might seem innocuous to the person saying them, but to you, they cut deep. These words aren’t just dismissive; they are weapons that chip away…
Many years ago, I set out to find my next home, wearing a necklace to remind me that my true home was always within—my heart, my body, and my soul. But feeling at home in my body didn’t come easily. I had to heal from emotional trauma, chronic sinus infections, and an autoimmune condition. It took…
What do you know about medical trauma? Over the years, I’ve noticed a growing pattern among the people I work with: stories of mishandling, mistreatment, or dismissal from the medical community. And I am not the only one observing it. The young man who shot a United Health Care executive wrote a whole manifesto about…
There is no doubt that the last year has been traumatizing at some level and to some degree for everyone. Maybe it’s been the best year of your life, but I suspect that even if the forced solitude has been good to you, you’ve maybe recognized that your life as it was before can’t go…
