Dr. Amanda McCaw

05/12/2023

We know that trauma changes the brain.

How do we choose brain-savvy interventions that help patients feel safe when processing traumatic memory?

In this short course, Bessel van der Kolk, MD shares his best strategies for working with the traumatized brain.

➡️ https://www.nicabm.com/program/trauma-vdk-19/?del=5.9.23FBPost

10/10/2022

07/12/2022

You are the one and only you. No one else in the world is exactly like you. Honor that uniqueness that is simply you 🤍

07/08/2022

Trauma bonding.

06/28/2022

No matter how much thought we put into things our thoughts can never actually let us FEEL. To feel we have to give ourselves permission to go inside, to acknowledge our internal experiences. This oftentimes is very scary especially if it’s not something you’re used to doing, but know that allowing yourself to acknowledge your internal experiences you’re actually allowing yourself to release the stored emotions of your body.

06/25/2022

Whatever feelings or emotions you are experiencing regarding this event allow them to be. It is ok for whatever is there to be there. Take care of yourself - rest, hug a loved one, move your body, journal, take a bath - whatever you need give yourself permission to do.

It is my belief that regardless of any religious beliefs choices surrounding a females body should always be hers alone - not dictated by another whether this is another person or an organization.

Women worked hard for years upon years to pave this pathway for us to have rights over our bodies and our person and now this is being taken. Our body should only be subject to our own choice, we’re the ones that carry this.

06/12/2022

Something to be cognizant of. You as a parent are their inner voice 🤍

When we are firstborn our parents are all that we have in this world. We would not be who we are today without them. Our...

06/01/2022

When you’re feeling lost take a moment and pause. Notice what thoughts are flowing through your mind.

Notice what feelings are moving through your body.

Try to imagine your thoughts as clouds and rather than attaching to each cloud slowly lay back and watch as they drift across the sky of your mind.

You are not your thoughts or your feelings. They are simply there. They only tend to stay there if we attach onto them. So acknowledge their presence and then gently let it drift by.

This is not an easy practice to do, but if you continue to do this mindfulness practice it can become easier to figuratively zoom out in your mind knowing you are the observer and not the actual thoughts and feelings.

You are the constant unmoving presence. Thoughts and feelings come and go, but you, your core self is unwavering.

05/31/2022

The breath is the one tool that we always have at our disposal if only we remember to tune into it. Our breath is our anchor to the present moment. When feelings of anxiety, despair, overwhelm, frustration, irritation, sadness, or any other emotion arise remember your breath can always center you to the moment. Our brain tends to want to figure everything out, categorize, solve, etc., but sometimes we just need to give ourself that little space to breathe. Focus on the inhale and exhale, just noticing the natural rhythm of your breathing. Our body naturally provides this ebb and flow, our emotions too have an ebb and flow. Although sometimes emotions feel like they will never end or let up, they inevitably shift, ebbing and flowing like our breath.