Hope for the Hopeless, Help for the Weary

"Many experts in the area of trauma treatment believe that when overwhelmed by something traumatic or deeply distressing, the emotional “charge” or memory from that event becomes stored or trapped in our body.  We’re often unaware that this has even occurred, but our brain is altered as a result.  It can cause problems on all levels – emotionally, mentally and physically." 
Whether it be addiction (to love, sex, work, drugs or alcohol), PNES/NES, or other changes to the original map of our brains - trauma has an effect - AND, it is reversible.
I love talking to people who are currently experiencing a chemical imbalance, and additionally a physical manifestation such as PNES or addiction, BECAUSE it gives me an opportunity to share my hope.  First and foremost, chemical imbalance is a clinical term and it is the natural response to seeing a fearful object - it's not a word to describe a person who is "crazy".  Our brain is a large chemistry set that is altered and affected by the circumstances we are in, our thought life, and our past traumas and events.  Example: if you had a bad experience with a dog and that experience is unresolved, your brain will respond to seeing a similar dog with increased cortisol (stress hormone).  Pretty basic.  Think about anything you have not resolved in your past - a break-up, loss of parent, loss of pet, war, a brutal attack - these can create patterns of responding to perceived fearful stimulants and triggers (ie. emotion provokers).  Emotion provokers affect our brain chemistry and therefore how we physically feel or react - it is part of our flight or flight auto-response system which is intended to help us survive.
Unresolved patterns and traumatic events from our past keep up reliving that trauma until the build up is too great and we crash, have a seizure, or worse.  Here's where the hope and help come in... the key phrase is "if it is unresolved".  You may be asking, "well how do you resolve it?"  Glad you asked!  
Ask yourself what beliefs were created as a result of your specific event.  Is it a true belief?  More often than not we aren't balanced in our responses.  If we have a break-up we may say something like, "no one will ever love me".  Is that true or does it just feel true?  That is an important distinction!  If someone we love dies we may respond with something like "there will never be anyone who understands me like they did" (often said after a parent dies).  Again, is that true or does it just feel true?  If you realize that you do currently steal your own joy and hope in how you respond to situations, there is hope in getting it back.  How? Be intentional in how you respond to situations.
Now I don't want anyone to think this is an easy task - it is easier than continuing to kill your own joy - but it certainly takes work.  
Step 1. Determine your goal and outcome.
Step 2. Enlist people you trust to join you on your journey (be aware that this may be a learning process of who you can truly trust).  If you don't have a circle to choose from hire a wellness coach (like myself).
Step 3. Establish your how?  Example: learn the art of pausing before your respond (either emotionally or conversationally).  The word "learn" is a verb - an action word, so do some reading, watching, whatever will get you what you the support you need.  Another example: listen to the words you use in an attempt to correct dramatic emphasis such as, "I'll never have, be, whatever..."
Step 4:  Live with intention and become the real new you.  Metamorphose! :-) 
** Repeat as often as your awareness brings problem areas to the surface and into the light.
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