Neural pathways; the flight, fight or freeze reflex; dopamine and serotonin levels and counselling What are neural pathways? While our brains are physical organs, it is our minds which regulate our brain and it is our mind which forms neural pathways. These pathways are formed by neurons which fire and wire together over time. Many …
Why trauma keeps you stuck
Why people get ‘stuck’ after trauma “The traumatic experience and your reactions to it, CAN with the right therapy, move to a folder in the memory filing system of your life.” As a psychotherapist, I often see traumatised people whose sense of the past and vision of the future stops as if the trauma …
Trauma – Why do I feel angry and find it hard to feel safe and connected?
Trauma – Why do I feel angry and find it hard to feel safe and connected? I often get asked the following by people affected by trauma: Why do I feel angry or numb? Why do I find it so hard to feel safe and connect? So let me introduce you to the steps of …
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Three Traps That Prevent Your Trauma-Healing Journey
The Three Traps on the Trauma Healing Journey People struggling with trauma-related challenges and PTSD may fall into these three traps that can prevent them from healing. These are: 1. THE SILENCE TRAP: The Silence Trap is at the very beginning of the trauma recovery and healing journey. When you have fallen into this …
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High Functioning Anxiety
High-functioning anxiety Are you the picture of success? Colleagues may describe you as driven. You have never failed to deliver or missed a deadline. You are happy to help others. What your colleagues do not know (and what you would never share) is that beneath the surface, you are fighting anxiety, high-functioning anxiety. Nervous energy, …
The Victim Loop
How to stop acting like a victim Do you feel like a victim in certain situations or with certain people? People stay stuck in this victim ‘loop’ because it is based on early experiences of not being able to get needs met. When you blame others and deny your role in a situation, you are …
Does your partner or parent not accept you for who you are?
Are you held back by a parent or a partner who does not accept you who you are? I often see is how people are preoccupied by a partner or a parent who seems unable to accept them as they are, who appears to be holding them back as they progress towards their goals. And …
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How does the window of tolerance affect your mental health?
So how does the window of tolerance affect your mental health? The window of tolerance is the zone of arousal in which you are able to function most effectively. Stress of traumatic or negative events can ‘push’ you out of your window of tolerance. When you have been affected by trauma, you may respond to …
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Window of tolerance – why do you find it difficult to cope when traumatised
WHAT IS THE WINDOW OF TOLERANCE? The window of tolerance is the zone of arousal in which you are able to function most effectively. When you are within this range, you are able to readily receive, process and integrate information and manage everyday life without much difficulty. This optimal window was first named by Dan …
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What is codependency?
The Grey Matters Blog I know codependency. I recognise when I see it. I was raised in a home where there was no separation of emotion. When my mother felt an emotion, I felt it. Anxiety, rage and sadness flooded the house. There were no boundaries. I created this so you can start to understand …