What My Bones Know

There is overwhelming evidence that meditation can increase focus and decrease anxiety, depression, and cortisol flooding.[1] There is evidence that it decreases activation in the amygdala, one epicenter of fear in the brain, and increases activity in the prefrontal cortex.[2] People who meditate are able to unstick themselves from cyclical, danger

They feigned indifference when you told them you were successful. They actually were indifferent if you were merely normal. Everyone had their job and their side project and their speaking circuit.

It was always easier to come up with the joy I’d received than the joy I’d provided.

Women generally focus on regulating their emotions, while men focus on solving problems. Women often deal with stressful situations using a tend-and-befriend response, rather than men’s fight-or-flight response.

Auntie grabbed hold of me and hugged me tight to her. She whispered in my ear, “You are not a good person, okay? You need to become a better person.” Then she let go and walked away.

Some therapists believe that you can learn everything there is to learn about how to heal in the first session. The rest of the time spent with your therapist is just theme and variation, practicing fractals of your first conversation, repeating the lessons until they finally ingrain themselves in you as fundamental beliefs.

In order to become a better person, I had to do something utterly unintuitive. I had to reject the idea that punishing myself would solve the problem. I had to find the love.

People with complex PTSD see threats everywhere and are aggressive. They are more likely to be alcoholics, addicts, violent, impulsive, unpredictable.

Processing, on the other hand, allows us to truly come to terms with our trauma and resolve it—to rewrite the memories in our brains with a healthier narrative.