Talking About Trauma Episode 1: An Introduction

When we ask veterans to tell us about their lives, some choose to avoid painful subjects. And that's just fine by us. The aim of "My Life, My Story" isn't to drag out confessions or extract difficult memories.Instead, our goal is to give Veterans a space to talk about who they are and where they come from. "What else do you want your doctors and nurses to know about you?" is a question we often ask. For some vets, the answer is: not a whole lot. "Let's just skip over my first marriage," one vet might say. "My time in Vietnam isn't something I like to talk about," says another.But for other Veterans, talking about tough stuff in their past is central to the interview. After all, rough patches are often the most formative periods in our lives.Veterans who've been through combat have asked to go into details precisely because they'd rather not have to tell the same old war stories, over and over, to their health care providers. "I'd rather just get this written down and then tell anyone who's curious to read my story."Something we've also heard many times: "It's OK, I'm used to talking about this."Something else: "This is the first time I've told anyone this."In this episode of our podcast, "Jess" opted to talk about traumatic events that happened to her -- and other women veterans -- while she served in the military. She also talks about working through those memories, how they shaped her, and how they led her to the career field she's in today.This episode discusses Military Sexual Trauma, or MST. For more information about the topic from the VA, check out this link: https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/mentalhealth/msthome/index.asp

Do you have questions about PTSD related to adoption? Do you struggle as a parent to understand a child that has experienced early childhood trauma? On this episode of ADOPTION NOW, April Fallon talks with Carrie O'Toole about how to deal with a challenging placement and how to see signs of trauma in the brain. Carrie is an author and life coach with a Masters Degree in Counseling. She now works with adoptive families who are on the brink and trying to put their family back together.

In this 2nd episode, Dr. Nguyen continues to lay the foundation for the conversation about what it means to be human, by talking about psychological trauma. She will take the listeners through the psychic landscape of the traumatized mind, detailing the capacities that have broken down and describing the fears and un-expressed longings that keep the traumatized individual in a deadened, stagnant way of being. In particular, she will speak of how trauma interrupts meaning-making and the sense of purpose, how the desire for human closeness and trust in human connection are abandoned in favor of self-sabotage and alienation, and how creativity and intimacy are put in the service of confirming loss and damage rather than generating opportunities for growth and faith. Dr. Nguyen will engage with callers in discussing the effects of trauma, and exploring the psychological capacities and accomplishments that we all ordinarily pursue and take for granted.

I'm Listening is a Bridging Philly special presentation about suicide prevention and the importance of talking about mental health.  In this special edition of the show, we talk about the importance of checking in on your mental health and how to get support when you need it, how kids are doing in these times of change and uncertainty, the unique struggles faced by people in marginalized communities, and the devastating impact of gun violence. KYW's Racquel Williams speaks with Dr. Ann Rosen Spector, a clinical psychologist in Philadelphia, about the state of our mental health, why there's stigma around talking about it, when to know you need help, and how to find it. KYW's Mike DeNardo speaks with Samantha Anthony, a clinician at the Uplift Center for Grieving Children in Philadelphia, about how grief and trauma affect children. KYW's Shara Dae howard speaks with Rashida Henry, the founder of mental health and counseling company Knows No Face, about mental health in marginalized communities. KYW's Kristen Johanson speaks with Melany Nelson, director of the Philadelphia DAO's CARES Unit, about the impact of gun violence, traumatic stress and unresolved trauma, PTSD, and the very long road to healing for families impacted by gun violence. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices