When your brain gets heartbroken

When your heart gets broken, it hurts. Scientists have found that mechanisms in the brain are activated by heartbreak that are similar to those that are activated when we experience physical pain. Also, the brain goes through withdrawal, similar to the withdrawal from drugs. WebMD

Long Term Effects On The Brain From Depression

Scientists know that inflammation in the brain is caused by clinical depression. People who suffer depression for years, new research suggests, face permanent physical changes in the brain. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto has new research that revealed that years of persistent depression causes permanently and physically alter the brain. Researchers found that those who had untreated depression for over a decade had significantly more inflammation in their brain, when compared to those untreated clinical depression for less than a decade. It is now clear how important it is to treat depression immediately after diagnosis. Info from Futurism

What is an emotional vampire?

"Emotional vampire is a term for toxic people who deprive us of energy, our sense of emotional safety and our ability to engage in self-care. Being around an emotional vampire can cause us to feel depressed, anxious, frightened, confused and in pain. It can affect our productivity, our ability to focus and our overall mental, physical and emotional well-being. This term is commonly used to describe narcissist and sociopaths who psychologically bleed us dry. It can also be applied to garden-variety toxic people who are self-centered and self-absorbed. Whatever point at the spectrum the emotional vampire falls upon,however, he or she can take a toll on your mental health. Empaths and highly sensitive people might be especially susceptible to being around these types because emotional vampires are drawn to our warmth, our compassion and our bright energy. Emotional vampires feast on these qualities to satiate themselves while leaving you feeling sick and drained." This is by Shadida Arabi Thought Catalog March 29,2018

Women feels so bad after talking about her childhood in therapy, she cannot drive.

After talking about my childhood in therapy, I feel so lost in my head. Things are so fuzzy, that it's not safe to drive. I do grounding but what is actually happening? Is it dissociation? Question on Quora Answered by Jean Collins, Ph.D. Psychology University of Calgary(1974) "It's called derealization and it is a type of dissociation which makes you and the world around you seem unreal. It's a way your brain tries to protect you from overwhelming stress. In this type of dissociation, you become disconnected from your body. This is how we survived unbearable abuse as children. When we couldn't escape physically, we learned to escape mentally, by leaving our body and going elsewhere. So when you are talking about your childhood in therapy, you get triggered and slip back into this old coping mechanism. It will help to dissipate it if you actively try to get back in touch with your body. So focus on bodily sensations, like the feeling of your clothes on your skin, the feelings of pressure from sitting or standing, the feeling of wind or rain on your skin, etc. If necessary, try patting yourself, or scratching yourself or digging your nails into your palms or scrunching up your toes in your shoes or anything which will give you a mild sensation of pain(emphasis on MILD-don't do anything which will be harmful). For the long haul, if this happens to you often, the I recommend taking up yoga, particularly mindful yoga which focuses on awareness of each body sensation, posture, stretching, etc. This will help you get back into and stay in touch with your body again. It will help you feel more in control."

Coping Tips For Survivor's Guilt

If you or someone you know is experiencing survivor's guilt here are some coping tips. Remember to take care of yourself physically and psychologically, give yourself time to grieve, think about what those who are close to you are feeling about the situation, consider thinking about who was really responsible, that is if anyone, Remind yourself that you were given the gift of survival and feel good about it, try to stick to a daily routine, try to be of service to someone or something, be patient, remind yourself you are not alone, get professional help, if needed and consider journaling your feelings. Psychology Today Info provided by Diana Raab PhD The Empowerment Diary

Survivor's Guilt Symptoms

Not everyone experiences this type of guilt. For those who do, it is a difficult feeling to shake. People with a history of depression and low self-esteem have been said to be more prone to it. The symptoms for each person may vary. Symptoms are: Having difficulty sleeping, having flashbacks, feeling immobilized, feeling irritable, being unmotivated, numb and/or disconnected, having an intense sense of fear, feeling helpless, experiencing physical systems such as palpitations, stomachaches and headaches and having suicidal feelings.

Signs of domestic abuse in the LGBTQ community

There are a lot of signs that are common with women and men abuse. But in this community the abuse may target sexual orientation or gender identity. Your abuser may: Make excuses for the abuse. For example, like saying "It's just how men are." or that you wanted it to happen. They may tell you that police or others will not help because of your gender or orientation. They may threaten to "out" you to family, friends or others.