Free Online Class "Healing From Childhood Trauma" Jul 29–Aug 6

Kizzie · July 27, 2019, 08:08:27 PM

AVAIYA Univ is hosting a free online class "Healing From Childhood Trauma" Jul 29–Aug 6. 18 physicians, therapists & psychologists will present/talk a/b strategies to understand & heal from childhood trauma. For a list of presenters and to register go to https://www.avaiya.com/healing/?ap_id=vmead.

Blueberry · July 28, 2019, 12:07:58 AM

Thanks for posting, Kizzie. You really are tireless in finding new opportunities for healing for us, with all the links and organisations you post and now this!

I've just signed up.

Kizzie · July 28, 2019, 12:59:24 AM

A lot of them pop up in Twitter and I just pass them along but you're welcome.

Hope67 · July 30, 2019, 06:04:35 PM

Thanks Kizzie, I have also signed up, and I've watched the first day's ones, and thought they were useful. I'm hoping to watch Day 2's - I think they remain online for 72 hours, so I'm hoping I can keep up. But I think they are useful. I've been making some notes, and I hope to reflect on them, when I get chance.
Hope

Kizzie · July 30, 2019, 06:05:28 PM

Blueberry · July 31, 2019, 09:34:41 PM

I watched part of the first one - Dr. Siegel's - today and I also took some notes. I don't intend to try and keep up though. For me that would be too much, an overwhelm. I was particularly interested in what he said about shame; it was meaningful for me at this stage in healing.

Hope67 · August 05, 2019, 02:17:55 PM

I am also watching some of these classes, but I have ended up getting a bit anxious about the fact they are time-limited. I am wondering if they are available to view until the end of the day on August 6th, or whether it is 72 hours after that date (for all of them) - I am confused, and think it's down to my brain being foggy at the moment, as I'm in a series of EF's currently. I will try to read the information again, but I guess I'm putting this here - because it's bothered me that I feel rushed. Also I have been triggered by some of the stuff in the videos, so it's actually been quite hard to know whether I should continue to watch, and yet I really want to watch them, as I don't want to miss them, and I also don't want to have to afford to buy them, as I'd like to watch them whilst they are free.
Hope

Blueberry · August 05, 2019, 04:50:15 PM

They are all time-limited. Some have expired already. The ones from Aug. 6th will be available for 72 hours I imagine.

There have been free things of this type before, so there might be again.

I realised I couldn't take everything in at once. I did listen to a few more after Dr. Siegel's but I didn't listen until the end of any of them. I did take some notes on Dr. Siegel's and might add them here if I get round to it.

Kizzie · August 05, 2019, 04:55:10 PM

I found I couldn't concentrate on anything like this this week so I bought the package which gives you unlimited access and will go back to them at my leisure. If I'm able to share I will

Blueberry · August 05, 2019, 08:43:03 PM

Notes on Dr. Siegel's talk: 1st Part

When you're traumatised, integration within your brain is negatively affected. That in turn really affects your ability to react, detrimentally. And it affects regulatory stuff in body, soul and mind.

The good news: you can re-grow your brain. Mindfulness helps with this.

Attuned communication versus abuse/neglect. A caregiver is ideally attuned to a child in his/her care. The caregiver balances child's needs with his/her own. When this works well, it's called PART: present, attuned, resonating, trust.
When functioning, this gives rise to an integrated relationship, which in turn produces integration in our brains. Secure attachment and mindfulness go hand in hand.

Where your attention goes: that's where brain circuit stimulation also goes.

When you develop kindness, caring, concern, your body gets healthier because stress levels are reduced.

Blueberry · August 05, 2019, 08:57:13 PM

Notes on Dr. Siegel's talk: 2nd Part (of my notes)

Breath focus can be panic-inducing.

Sit in awareness and not be terrified. To develop curiosity, openness, even love.

Forgiveness is giving up hope for a better childhood.

Shame is an emotional state. It often feels heavy in your chest with nausea in your stomach.
Shame says "I'm damaged" and that leads to helplessness. It's easier, safer for child to believe they are damaged than that the parents are. Shame keeps you from going insane as a child.

In recovery, name the shame and understand it as a creative solution.

Dr. Siegel talks about a tool for recovery where you imagine a wheel. You see yourself in the hub but there are also points on the rim. He talked quite a lot about this and if I remember rightly the rim was present day, non EF. In healing you try for a dual focus of attention. Flashback is an implicit memory but try and stay in the present too. I'm more than happy to be corrected on this one since my notes on it are a bit scanty.

Not Alone · August 05, 2019, 10:22:39 PM

Blueberry, thanks for sharing your notes.

Quote from: Blueberry on August 05, 2019, 08:43:03 PM
Notes on Dr. Siegel's talk: 1st Part
The good news: you can re-grow your brain. Mindfulness helps with this.

When you develop kindness, caring, concern, your body gets healthier because stress levels are reduced.

Encouraging that healing can take place. Good reminder about kindness and care.

Quote from: Blueberry on August 05, 2019, 08:57:13 PM
Notes on Dr. Siegel's talk: 2nd Part (of my notes)
Shame is an emotional state. It often feels heavy in your chest with nausea in your stomach.
Shame says "I'm damaged" and that leads to helplessness. It's easier, safer for child to believe they are damaged than that the parents are. Shame keeps you from going insane as a child.

In recovery, name the shame and understand it as a creative solution.

Interesting idea. I need to explore this further.

Quote from: Blueberry on August 05, 2019, 08:57:13 PM
Notes on Dr. Siegel's talk: 2nd Part (of my notes)
Breath focus can be panic-inducing.

I'm confused about this one, because in therapy and in my reading, there is a big emphasis on taking deep breaths. Am I misunderstanding?

Blueberry · August 05, 2019, 11:06:52 PM

notalone, about the breathing being panic-inducing: that's for some people only. I wrote it down in my notes because it interested me. I have a lot of trouble just sitting breathing. Either I start falling asleep (so 'going away') or memories come back. I tend to hold my breath - it's easy for me to do it, past the time where I feel an impulse to breathe again.

I think 'just breathing' is difficult for people where the neck was involved in the traumatisation or where breathing was maybe restricted. Not that I can figure out for myself what that would have been in my case. Unless just the fact that I restricted my own breathing due to my body posture. (more on that when I write down my notes from Dr. Pat Ogden's interview).

Not Alone · August 06, 2019, 01:59:21 AM

Thanks. Makes sense. When I first started trying to breathe I found it very stressful because I took shallow breaths my whole life and I felt like I had an iron cage around my chest and stomach. I gave it up for awhile. When I came back to trying to take deep breaths, I had to go really slow. I could do about four and then I felt like I was suffocating. I still work at it, but I have come a long way, now that I look back.

woodsgnome · August 06, 2019, 06:49:45 AM

Just my own quick note on the breathing issue.

I had heavy asthma as a kid (interestingly, it was far worse around FOO/abuse situations; i.e. lots of emotionally induced spasms). I retained a measure of this as an adult and soon ran into the 'take a deep breath etc.' involved in many meditative practices.

I guess mainly I've just learned to translate the breathing parts for myself to mean 'relaxed' breaths as, indeed, the deep stuff could prove problematic.

Even though the asthma has dwindled in recent years, I never fully adapted to the 'take a deep breath' instruction. Yet another alteration but it helps to keep the panic (emotional and physical) in check.