In Bessel Van Der Kolk’s book “The Body Keeps The Score”, he emphasizes that the brain, mind, and body are involved when working to heal trauma. When trauma happens important communication networks are disrupted in the brain and it can feel like a part of you is lost. This disconnection, is in part, what happens in the brain in order to survive the pain of the trauma or abuse. Healing allows for these communication networking links to be reconnected so that we can reunite those missing parts.
IPT is a beautiful technique that can help sustain trauma recovery work. Unification of internal systems creates a feeling of safety. IPT works to reconnect the brain, mind, and body.
Sometimes, we are aware of past trauma, sometimes we aren’t, but there are things we can do right now to help bring unification within the mind, body, and spirit. There are things that we can do to support ourselves and our loved ones through trauma. Whether the trauma is a big “T” trauma or a little “T” trauma, we can work to offer emotional first aid to self and others.
Two things that we can do right now are (1) use effective trauma-based therapies like IPT and (2) participate in mindfulness practices on a regular basis. We must do both to help the mind and body strengthen internal integration and unification.
MINDFULNESS PRACTICES INCREASE SELF-AWARENESS WHICH LEADS TO HEALING
Mindfulness is the cultivation of attention and awareness and helps unite our whole being. Both medicine and neuroscience are showing that mindfulness is an essential life skill that can have profound consequences in terms of both physical and mental health. It supports and enhances learning, emotional intelligence, and overall well-being across our lifespan. This practice can help adults and children. A great resource to get you and your family involved in mindfulness practices is “Sitting Still Like A Frog.” Written by Eline Snel and her interactive workbook “Sitting Still Like a Frog Activity Book”. This set is one of the best tools I have seen for mindfulness practices for children.
This is a great resource that you can implement now. Developing these skills can help increase overall feelings of unification, peace, and a sense of well-being, as well as help us heal from trauma. Mindfulness can help cultivate self-love and feelings of self-esteem. It enhances compassion and empathy for self and others and can bring love and light into our hearts in powerful ways.
Get engaged with your own inner unification as you bring in greater levels of peace and self-love.
Embrace Mindfulness!
Loves always,
Pam