Grounded

Trauma is Really Strange by Steve Haines Further reading for adults to understand trauma and bodies in a comic-book format

Wilson, C. (2017) ‘A Plea from a Therapist: “Read this before you start counselling’”, http://www.chewinitiatives.com/a-plea-to-anyone-thinking-about-starting-counselling-or-therapy/ (accessed 3 February 2018).

Perry, B. Interview with Guy Macpherson, PhD. Trauma Therapist Podcast Episode 94. https://www.thetraumatherapistproject.com/blog/bruce-perry-md-phd-on-the-trauma-therapist-podcast/ (accessed 6 October 2017).

Oschman, J.L., Chevalier, G. & Brown, R. ‘The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases’. Journal of Inflammation Research 8 (2015): 83-96. doi:10.2147/ JIR.S69656. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4378297/ (access

Their neuroception meant they instinctively kept themselves at a distance from her stored anger, her flat face, her internalised terror, her racing heart rate and her muscles racked with tension. She wasn’t safe.

No one wants to be the one to make life harder for children in any way. We are all doing our best with what we know.

Children learn that getting angry doesn’t have to end in hurting people with hands, feet or words. They learn that feeling scared can be overcome and doesn’t have to mean we stop moving forwards, trying things, doing things.

moved into a season of my life - which I’m still enjoying - where there was a lot less drama, and a much more settled way of being.

With me being calmer around my child, somehow my daughter and her teachers were able to connect better and move forward. It was like somehow, with all my energy and explosions, I had been keeping her back ... keeping her shut down. The more anxious I was, the more upset she was.