| |
Basic InformationLatest NewsQuestions and AnswersBlog EntriesU.S. Army's Wounded Warrior Program Aims for Multifaceted WellnessMale Survivors of Military Sexual Assault Need Support TooRetreats for Wounded Warriors Enhance Well-BeingDo Violent Criminals "Turn" Violent, or Do They Just Stay That Way?PTSD: Using a Seasoned Approach in a New WayCreative Arts Therapy Can Help VeteransLate-Onset PTSD a Growing ConcernThe Navy Yard Shooting: Can Violence be Predicted?Must You Win an Argument and Lose a Friend?Legal Clinic Creates Therapeutic Environment for VeteransThe Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman CaseThe Cleveland Tragedy, Complex PTSDBoston: Compassion During a Terrorist AttackCoda: The Boston Marathon AttackFunding Cuts Spare VA but Not Veterans' Mental Health ProgramsSome Thoughts About Guns and Gun ControlGun Violence, Reporting and Listing Names of the Mentally Ill?Five Mental Health Resources for VeteransThe Importance of ForgivenessGun Violence, Crime and How We Raise Our ChildrenTwenty Ways to Promote Peace in Our WorldThe Psychology of Mob Violence, The Middle EastNews Coverage of 9/11 and PTSDThe Tragic Shooting in ColoradoPrejudice, Racism and PerceptionPTSD and Violence, Can We Protect Our Soldiers?Guns, Gun Control, Violence, Children Ohio School Shooting and The Random Nature of LifeSome "Views" of Everyday LifeMental Illness and Innocence?10 Years Since September 11Did 911 Reveal the Limitations of Psychology?Acts of Violence, Fear of The Unknown, XenophobiaThe Cycle of Life: War, Peace, Happiness, and...Is it Wrong to Celebrate the Death of Osama bin Laden?A Mindful Benefit for International Childhood TraumaDoes Violent Speech Cause Violence?Intolerance and DiscriminationTwisted Thinking: Ideology, Delusions and SciencePost Combat Suicide Rate RisingWhat are you capable of? Abu Ghraib and your mental health Fear, Hatred and Prejudice, When Someone Different Moves In.Iraq, Afghanistan Wars and PTSD: Just Fraud?Dr. Bruce E. Nivins, the Anthrax Case and the Stigma of Mental IllnessFreedom, July 4, 2008Veterans and PTSD: The Invisible DisorderWar, Hatred and ScapegoatingSchool Shootings: So Now it's Cleveland, 10/10/07September 11th, 2001, A Personal MemoryAPA Fails to Ban Psychologists' Participation In Detainee InterrogationsTrauma and Culture, One Treatment Does Not Fit All.The Psychologist's Role in Military InterrogationsConflicting Values, Diversity and Tolerance: Kegan's Fourth Order of ConsciousnessViolence and Trauma: Virginia Tech, April 16, 2007Bob Woodruff and Traumatic Brain InjuriesWinds of War -- Poem & EssayAnthrax Scare VideosLinksBook ReviewsSelf-Help Groups |
| | |
A Mindful Benefit for International Childhood TraumaElisha Goldstein, Ph.D. Updated: Feb 8th 2011
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 2ndedition 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.
|