Dr. Marissa Robinson: Depth Therapy & Wellness

03/23/2022

06/06/2020

Looking for ways to help?
We can all stand against racism and the abuse of power.
Here are tools to take action.

Rethink public safety. Renew community trust.

04/02/2020

Coronavirus anxiety: science-based coping strategies
https://theconversation.com/7-science-based-strategies-to-cope-with-coronavirus-anxiety-133207

A psychologist explains how to get a grip on anxiety triggered by COVID-19.

12/16/2018

https://indepth-wellness.com/2018/10/01/overcoming-the-negative-effects-of-trauma/

The negative effects of trauma can last a lifetime. Sometimes, it seems like we have gotten past them, only to find that they crop up again. At times, the effects are subtle, but they eat away at us over time. Other times, they may overtake us, making it difficult to even get through the day. Usuall...

04/04/2018

https://indepth-wellness.com/2018/03/05/anxious-about-past-mistakes-find-inner-peace/

Are you haunted by your past mistakes? Do they prevent you from taking risks, knock down your self-esteem, or determine how you interact with others? It is natural to hold onto our past mistakes as a way of self-preservation. For example,

10/18/2017

Strategies for Coping with Trauma

The devastating fires in Northern California have impacted many lives, both directly and indirectly. As a psychologist, I work with trauma survivors. Providing crisis support over the last few days for people who have been injured, evacuated, and endured severe loss; I also see the impact on emergency responders.

Mobilizing a support system and self-care practices are critical for all those impacted. Here are a list of strategies for coping with a traumatic event:

Connection: Reach out to friends, family, therapists, and community. Isolation can prolong and worsen the impact of trauma and acute stress.

Stay Active: Walk, cycle, yoga, swim, stretch, or any gentle movement. Find ways to keep your blood flowing and get your body moving.

Release Feelings: Allow yourself to feel whatever comes up. Cry, yell, laugh, sing, whatever you need to do, repression will block your emotional recovery process.

Nutrition: Avoid over-use of stimulants (caffeine, sugar, ni****ne). Eat balanced meals. Foods high in tryptophan (ie: turkey, nuts, seeds, oats, beans, eggs) boost serotonin levels, which can help support mood and relaxation.

Daily commitment to something personally meaningful.

Process your experience with someone who is supportive and empathic.

Meditation and/or Prayer

Creativity: Art, music, writing, dance, or any creative outlet

Hot baths

Humor

Rest & Relaxation

Hugs, physical contact, time with loved ones

Proactive involvement with community, stay engaged, give and receive support.

Normalize:
It is normal to have a wide range of both emotional and physical responses to sudden traumatic events. These reactions can occur in anyone who has experienced the trauma either directly or indirectly. A stress response can be triggered by persons, places, or things associated with the trauma. It’s important to remember that a sudden traumatic event impacts your nervous system as a whole.

Understand your recovery process:
Restoring equilibrium or finding a new equilibrium after trauma can take time. Regaining your balance emotionally and physically is a process. Be patient and kind with yourself as you recover. Contact a therapist who specializes in trauma if your are overwhelmed or find yourself in need of higher levels of support. There are various types of therapy, such as EMDR and Somatic Experiencing, which are specifically designed to address symptoms of PTSD and healing trauma.

06/12/2017

Using creativity and artistic metaphor to tap unconscious memories helps release pent up trauma.

02/14/2017

You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it’s better to listen to what it has to say. -Paulo Coelho

01/01/2017

The new year, a symbol of change and new beginnings. Today we mark the end of an era and we are reminded of the passing of time. The opportunity to embrace our lives fully is here and now. Beyond the concept of time, we can stop and reflect…. We can begin again and focus on what matters most.

07/25/2016

Interconnection of Mind, Body, and Environment -
--A dynamic that shapes and reshapes us. It gives rise to how we live and what we feel. This interconnection is a powerful reminder that we are each part of a greater whole. Despite the reality of our ever-changing environment, we have the freedom to choose how we respond and live out what we value.

We are shaped by the information we feed our minds, the food and substance we take in our bodies, the relationships we choose, work we do, and experiences we seek. As we eliminate the destructive patterns, we create the space to choose. In letting go of what no longer serves us, we move toward what truly nourishes. It is from this space, that we can manifest our potential and create a life that reflects the authentic self.

02/14/2016

Relationships, Resilience, & Vitality
The experience of bonding and secure attachment enable us to self-regulate and cope with the trials and tribulations of life. The neurobiology of relationships demonstrates how loving attachment improves our capacity to bounce back from trauma and buffers the harmful effects of stress. In cultivating strong relationship bonds, we also enhance our vitality and resilience. https://www.brainpickings.org/2015/10/07/esther-sternberg-stress-relationships/

“We are all tethered to our social worlds by invisible but steel strong wires.”

01/28/2016

Connection to nature = Reconnection to our authentic selves.
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01178/full

There is growing evidence to suggest that exposure to natural environments can be associated with mental health benefits. Proximity to greenspace has been associated with lower levels of stress (Thompson et al., 2012) and reduced symptomology for depression and anxiety (Beyer et al., 2014), while in…

06/24/2015

Step outside of your comfort zone and consider what makes you feel fully alive. Jason Silva's video "Shots of Awe" is a reminder to breath in life and embrace what inspires you.

Ever ponder the miracle of life? Or perhaps wonder about the evolution of intelligence? In Shots of Awe, "Performance Philosopher" Jason Silva chases his ins...

04/15/2015

http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_a_challenging_past_can_lead_to_a_happier_present

Recent research backs up Friedrich Nietzsche.

11/30/2014

Gratitude: A Subversive Virtue
Appreciating what we have, not a focus on what we lack, gives us greater freedom in consumer culture and the choice to focus on what truly makes us content.

http://www.brainpickings.org/2014/02/18/martin-seligman-gratitude-visit-three-blessings/

You'll need pen, paper, and a silencer for cynicism. "When [a man] has fair health, a fair fortune, a tidy conscience and a complete exem

11/03/2014

Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is. --M.Radmacher