A Mindful Benefit for International Childhood Trauma

Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. Updated: Feb 8th 2011

a mindful dialogue Every day, all over the world, children’s lives are touched by trauma and for many of us, these are people we know. Trauma can be experienced individually as a rejection from a loved one, getting bit by a dog, to experiencing a panic attack or a depressive episode. Trauma can also be experienced on a social scale with examples like in 9/11, Haiti, Katrina, flooding in Pakistan to the most recent struggle in Egypt.

Here's the most amazing thing about trauma for most of us, we never forget it.

Not only do we not forget it, but it's as if it burns a memory in our brains that is easily triggered and brings up the trauma memory as if it is happening again causing intense recurring emotional distress.

There's a conditioning that occurs that brings on and intensifies anxiety. Our minds become a bit warped seeing anything potentially associated with the trauma in a hypersensitive or negative light. As a result of this our emotions can seem out of control and in order to regulate them we reach for anything to distract us. Maybe we hide out in our houses or certain people, or turn to sex, drugs, or overeating.

The first edition of A Mindful Dialogue launched January 24, 2010 right after the earthquake in Haiti and was created as a vehicle toward raising the necessary funds to inspire hope and to help rebuild a devastated Haiti.

This EBook rose over $2,000 for Hope for Haiti Now.

Since this time there has been a major flood in Pakistan, a striking Cholera Outbreak in Haiti and now more than ever the children of Egypt are in the midst of violent clashes putting them at risk for death, injury or psychological trauma. The children still need our help!

One of the greatest gifts of mindfulness is that it inspires kindness and compassion in us. I’ve expanded A Mindful Dialogue into a 2^ndedition to include some more interviews and writings with leaders in the field including Jon Kabat-Zinn, Jack Kornfield, Daniel Siegel, Sharon Salzberg, Tara Brach, Zindel Segal, Rick Hanson, Jeff Brantley and others who share their thoughts on how mindfulness can help us deal with stress, pain and difficult emotions. Interspersed throughout these interviews you’ll read inspiring quotes from more leaders like Thich Nhat Hanh, the Dalai Lama, Pema Chodron, Rumi, Hafiz and others with explorations on how their wisdom applies directly to our daily lives.

100% of the proceeds of A Mindful Dialogue Second Edition, will be going to Save the Children who is immediately responding with support for Health, Education, Youth Development and Shelter to the children of Egypt, the recent Cholera outbreak in Haiti, the flood victims in Pakistan, among many other places around the world. The money goes to sponsor children around the world who are victims of disastrous circumstances.

The fact is, altruism is beneficial to mental health and this is just one way of doing that.

This is how we begin to turn Trauma into transformation. To help get much needed resources to the children who are experiencing trauma all around the world, you can either get this great eBook and/or spread the word about it through email, Newsletter, Facebook, Twitter or any other avenue of communication. This could truly help these people move through this trauma and hopefully save a few lives.

In gratitude,

Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D.

Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist in private practice in West Los Angeles and is author of the upcoming book The Now Effect, co-author of A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook, Foreword by Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of the Mindful Solutions audio series, and the Mindfulness at Work™ program currently being adopted in multiple multinational corporations.

Check out Dr. Goldstein's acclaimed CD's on Mindful Solutions for Stress, Anxiety, and Depression, Mindful Solutions for Addiction and RelapsePrevention, and Mindful Solutions for Success and Stress Reduction at Work. -- "They are so relevant, I have marked them as one of my favorites on a handout I give to all new clients" ~ Psychiatrist.

If you're wanting to integrate more mindfulness into your daily life, sign up for his Mindful Living Twitter Feed. Dr. Goldstein is also available for private psychotherapy.

Share:

Link: (Here's how to do it ... )

Reader Comments
Discuss this issue below or in our forums.

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.