Blog

This has been quite a week, and we are now facing major disruptions in our own family lives. There is no doubt that the events of this winter and spring will be memorable for children. In that spirit, here are a few ideas to help make those memories (at least somewhat) happy.

By Danielle Render Turmaud, Psychology Today, March 14, 2020 As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the globe, we are amidst a time of uncertainty and upheaval. Where the focus may often be on recognizing COVID-19 symptoms during this time, it is also important to recognize that this time of crisis and trauma may lead to mental health challenges for many. What are the mental health consequences of a pandemic and how do we cope when there is much that is out of our control? First, it is...

Here is my just released article with 10 concrete suggestions that can be deployed immediately. They can be adapted for PreK- 12 schools and workplaces; they are designed for colleges/universities but easily transported. These are all trauma-responsive and critically important in my view. I noted with a smile that the ACE Connection folks are already using some of these in their own organization. Feel free to circulate the 10 suggestions as a separate document (with attribution as to where...

In these times of Coronavirus concerns, it is comforting to know we have an Emotional Freedom Techniques method of tapping that does not require touching the face. Click this link to see an illustration of a tapping protocol that is especially useful in calming fears: https://www.janebuchan.com/blog/ The Gamut Point, found on the back of the hand between the ring and baby finger tendons, sits on Triple Warmer, our fight or flight meridian. Our personal First-Responder, we need Triple Warmer...

By Zitlalit Ayllon, Al Dia, March 13, 2020 On Saturday, March 7, YoungMoms held its annual Brunch and Silent Auction event. It was hosted at the Willowdale Chapel in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The event was for members of the community to gather and hear teen moms share the impact the program has had on their life. It was also an opportunity for the community to learn how it can invest in the program– either financially or as a volunteer. The auction on March 7 was one of their largest...

By Brittaini Howard, Daily Herald, March 15, 2020 Coronavirus talk is rampant on the school playground, and many children are returning home frightened. Events like the Coronavirus pandemic provide a sobering opportunity for parents to reevaluate how they help their children cope with trauma. Traumatic events are those that are threatening to a child’s safety and can be scary, dangerous, or violent in nature. These may include physical abuse, emotional abuse, natural disasters, loss of a...

By Adam Phelan, UNSW Newsroom, March 16, 2020 When Dr Eades’ sister fell ill, she knew she needed to do something. As a proud Noongar woman from Western Australia, a registered nurse, and a health researcher, she saw there was a missing piece of the puzzle in Aboriginal women’s health research. Dr Eades, a UNSW Scientia Fellow, became determined to examine a reality that was often left untold. “I had seen it in my own life, of how Aboriginal women often pick up the pieces for society,” she...

By Wendy L. Patrick, Psychology Today, March 13, 2020 Pandemic panic is nothing new. But depending on who you are and what your life experiences have entailed, it might be new to you. It is helpful to realize you are not alone if you are experiencing feelings of helplessness or even hopelessness as you watch news coverage of the increasing spread of illness or disease. But thankfully, there are ways to achieve and sustain positivity amidst the panic. One of the most important things you can...

Trauma, defined by either witnessing or experiencing a life-threatening event or sexual violation, is common among adolescents. Complex trauma often begins early in life, and involves the relationship of the caregivers (Clark et al., 2015). Traumatic stress can be triggered by neglect, community violence, natural disasters, loss and/or grief, interpersonal violence, or accidents . Studies suggest that 60–70% of have experienced at least one traumatic event (Copeland et al., 2007). These...

Luckily, some state governments are instituting strict restrictions. California Gov. Gavin Newsom asked people over the age of 65 and people with chronic conditions to isolate themselves at home to reduce the risk of becoming infected, asked bars, wineries, night clubs and brew pubs to close, and called for restaurants to reduce their occupancy by half. Similar restrictions have been put into place in Ohio, Illinois, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts.

By Jen Doll, The New York Times, December 21, 2017 ( From a few years ago, but has helpful information -RM) Earlier this year, I suffered my first major panic attack. For days afterward, my heart would race and my mind would fill with doomsday visions as I worried about everything around me, including whether I’d have more panic attacks and if I’d ever be able to stop them. Knowing that it wasn’t just me, however, was strangely reassuring. “Anxiety disorders are the most common condition in...

By Dionne Searcey, The New York Times, March 13, 2020 The six young women set down their bombs and stood around the well, staring into the dark void. As captives of Boko Haram, one of the deadliest terror groups on earth, the women had been dispatched for the grimmest of missions: go blow up a mosque and everyone inside. The women wanted to get rid of their bombs without killing anyone, including themselves. One of them, Balaraba Mohammed, then a 19-year-old who had been blindfolded and...