Licasa Treatment Center

08/20/2024

If you're feeling overwhelmed, know that you're not alone. It's okay to seek help and talk about what you're going through. Reaching out to a friend, family member, or mental health professional can make a significant difference. There’s no shame in asking for support; it’s a brave step towards healing. Remember, you deserve to feel better and to have the tools to cope. Take it one day at a time, and don’t hesitate to reach out. Your wellbeing matters.

08/15/2024

✨Developmental trauma can deeply affect your self-esteem and self-worth, leaving you with a lingering sense of feeling terrible about yourself. From an early age, you might start to identify with distorted thoughts and feelings, which often stem from negative messages about yourself. These feelings of inherent 'badness' can become so ingrained that simply thinking differently isn't enough to change them.

But here's the thing-developmental trauma isn't just about what happened to you. It's also about what didn't happen for you. During your formative years, maybe your essential needs weren't met. You might not have felt safe in your body and emotions, and you couldn't express yourself authentically.

This unmet need can lead to feelings of anger, shame, or guilt. You might have even shut down emotionally as a survival response. This shutdown is a way your body tries to protect you from perceived threats, causing you to become less aware of your surroundings and inhibit your responses.

It's not just about events; it's about the environment you grew up in and the emotional and physical safety you either had or lacked. This awareness is the first step in beginning to heal those old wounds.

✨

08/14/2024

✨ Panic attacks can feel incredibly overwhelming and frightening, often striking without warning!!!

They can manifest as intense physical symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, and a feeling of losing control.

Panic attacks are not fun or comfortable, but they can be effectively managed with the right strategies and support!

Understanding what triggers your panic attacks, learning to not be afraid of them or resist them, and practicing grounding techniques can help you regain control.

08/14/2024

08/13/2024

✨ Our brains have an amazing ability to adapt and change—a concept known as neuroplasticity. By consistently practicing certain activities, you can create new neural pathways and reinforce positive behaviors. Here are some ways to get started:

1. Practice Mindfulness and Meditation - You don't need any special equipment-just a quiet space and a few minutes each day. Over time, this practice can help reduce anxiety and improve emotional regulation.

2. Engage in Physical Exercise - Exercise increases the production of neurochemicals that promote brain health, such as endorphins and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Try activities like walking, jogging, or even dancing in your living room can be incredibly beneficial.

3. Learn Something New - Interacting with others stimulates your brain and can improve mood and cognitive function.

4. Maintain Social Connections - Even a simple phone call or video chat can make a big difference. Social interactions help keep your brain engaged and reduce feelings of loneliness and depression.

5. Practice Gratitude - Each day, write down three things you're grateful for. This simple practice can shift your focus from negative to positive, fostering a more optimistic outlook.

6. Get Adequate Sleep - Create a relaxing bedtime routine and maintain a consistent sleep schedule to improve the quality of your sleep.

Remember, small, consistent changes can lead to significant long-term benefits.

08/13/2024

✨ When you experience trauma, your brain and body go into survival mode. This response is essential for getting through the traumatic event, but it can leave lasting effects.

Emotionally, you might find it hard to process what you're feeling. Emotions can become overwhelming-like a tidal wave crashing over you-or you might feel completely numb, unable to access your emotions at all.

It's like you're watching yourself from the outside, unable to fully engage with your feelings or the world around you. ou might find it hard to recognize or understand your own emotions. Simple questions like 'How do I feel?' can become incredibly difficult to answer.

This emotional disconnection can make you feel lost, as if your inner compass is broken. Your reactions might surprise you, and you might struggle to trust your own perceptions and feelings.

Additionally, trauma can affect your sense of identity. You might feel disconnected from the person you were before the trauma. This can create a sense of confusion about who you are and where you belong. You might question your self-worth, feel immense guilt or shame, or experience a pervasive sense of 'badness' that colors your self-view.

Recognizing this disconnection is the first step towards healing. By acknowledging that you're feeling disconnected, you can begin to take steps to reconnect with your emotions and your sense of self.
You're not alone in this, and there are ways to find your way back to feeling at home in your own body and mind.

08/12/2024

✨Let's get this new week started with intention.


✨

08/11/2024

✨ Sunday is a day of rest. Take a break from the stress of the week and recharge your spirit.

08/09/2024

✨ Mania, and even hypomania, can be very disorienting! Here are 3 top tips for getting back to normal life after a manic episode.
Notice #2, which involves not making yourself feel worse than you already do. Bathe yourself in compassion!

08/09/2024

✨ The Cycle of Negative Self-Talk

Trigger Event: An event or situation occurs that triggers negative thoughts (e.g., making a mistake at work).

Negative Thought: You start thinking negatively about yourself (e.g., "I'm so incompetent").

Emotional Response: The negative thought generates negative emotions (e.g., anxiety, sadness, frustration).

Physical Response: Negative emotions lead to physical responses (e.g., tension, fatigue, headaches).

Behavioral Response: Physical and emotional responses affect your behavior (e.g., withdrawing from others, procrastinating).

Reinforcement of Negative Belief: The negative behavior reinforces the original negative belief (e.g., "I knew I was incompetent").

Increased Sensitivity to Triggers: Being caught in this cycle makes you more sensitive to similar triggers in the future.

Worsening Self-Talk: Each loop through the cycle intensifies negative self-talk, making it harder to break free.

Breaking the Cycle
Awareness: Recognize when you're entering the cycle.

Challenge Negative Thoughts: Question the validity of negative thoughts and replace them with positive or neutral thoughts.

Emotional Regulation: Use techniques like deep breathing or mindfulness to manage emotional responses.

Physical Care: Engage in physical activities that reduce tension and improve mood.

Positive Actions: Take constructive actions that reinforce positive beliefs about yourself.

Support System: Seek support from friends, family, or a therapist to gain perspective and encouragement.

08/08/2024

✨ The links between BPD and Eating Disorders are complex and multifaceted. Research suggests that individuals with BPD are at a higher risk of developing Eating Disorders, and vice versa.

One study even showed that it could be as high as HALF of all people with BPD meet the criteria for also having an Eating Disorder!

08/07/2024

✨ A gentle reminder to add in some energy givers today. Notice the way they make you feel. Maybe an ease, an opening up, a settling, a more expansive feeling within. Maybe a different perspective comes in and you feel energized, empowered, and more connected to you.

Can you find more ways to include these in your day? Our nervous system finds a way of gaining resources when we start to get a little more intentional with where we top up our reserves.

What are you choosing today to add restorative energy?