NFI Haverhill Clinic

10/15/2025

10/13/2025

Wishing all a happy Indiginous Peoples Day!

10/11/2025

Therapists, thanks for treating today and every day as if it's Mental Health Day. 🩷

10/11/2025

09/30/2025

As we close out recovery month, we want to remind you that YOU are important. Helping a neighbor, sharing an activity, simply showing up for someone not only helps them, it also helps YOUR

09/30/2025

Recent brain scans have revealed that children living with unstable families where the child is exposed to constant arguing between the parents or themselves are abused/neglected, have brain changes similar to combat solders after returning from active duty. In some cases, the brains of abused children are in even worse shape than the combat soldiers.

Childhood trauma and the trauma experienced by combat soldiers can create similar, long-lasting changes in the brain’s structure and chemistry. The core reason is that the brain, whether developing or mature, adapts to a high-stress, unpredictable environment by entering a persistent state of hypervigilance, prioritizing survival over other functions.

The key difference lies in the context of the trauma. A child’s brain is still developing, making it highly susceptible to having its core structures and functions altered. A soldier’s brain, which is already mature, is changed by extreme stress but is less fundamentally altered than a child’s.

The shared neurobiological process: an over-activated internal alarm system.

Trauma forces the brain to initiate a “fight or flight or freeze” response for survival. When this state becomes chronic, it changes the brain’s baseline functioning, creating a state of constant, heightened alert. This process affects key brain regions involved in emotion, memory and rational thought.

I am running out of rom here but I will put a breakdown in the comments section of each brain region affected and altered by trauma.

If you have children, it is best to never argue in their presence and always treat your child with love, patience, respect and tender care, punish gently when necessary and use bad behavior as a teachable moment instead of harshly punishing your tiny creation.

If you experienced trauma as a child and never actively did intentional work to heal your brain or nervous system, you are likely experiencing chronic symptoms well into adulthood as a result. The good news is, any damage done is likely not permanent if you’re willing to do the work. Your trauma was never your fault, but healing has become your sole responsibility. See comments for exercises.

PMID: 26831814

09/25/2025

Great view from NFI of this amazing new mural on the YMCA.

09/17/2025

Yesterday was , and while we may have missed the day it is still not too late to register to vote!

Elections are your way of making sure your voice is heard and your vote is counted. Register in Massachusetts by going to https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/

09/16/2025

This week of is all about community, something we hold dear here at NFI. We would love to help you find your recovery community. www.nfima.org