What Parents Need To Know About Substance Use and Trauma; What It Is And Isn't, And Why We Can't Ignore It, With Steve Sawyer

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Just hearing the word "trauma" can cause a parent's stomach to turn in knots and create feelings of guilt and regret. We believe we should be able to spare our kids from trauma and might push this aspect aside when seeking solutions or resources.Steve Sawyer is an expert in trauma and adolescents and joined me for a deeply educational and enlightening conversation around trauma, and why as parents, we need to understand it better.Steve helps by answering questions like, "if my kids were all raised in the same environment, why is only one using drugs?" Or, "if my child has experienced trauma, won't sending them to wilderness therapy or treatment cause even more damage?" Or, "My child has had a wonderful, trauma-free life, I don't think trauma is an issue." In this episode, you'll learn:what trauma is, and isn'tone of the most commonly missed causes of trauma in young peoplewhy adolescents often turn to substances in the wake of untreated traumahow trauma impacts a young person's brain  differently than an adultthe 6 types of nervous system dysregulationwhy trauma-informed doesn't mean trauma-responsivehow trauma-informed care is changing in the field of wilderness therapynew, more trauma-sensitive models for transporting kids to wildernessthe role of powerlessness and aloneness in young peoplecaregiver responsiveness and the impact it has relative to traumathe difference between developmental trauma and PTSDa simple project parents can do to assess the need for out of home therapy and transportEPISODE RESOURCES:Video: New Visions Wilderness Hosts Dr. Gabor MateNew Visions Wilderness - monthly conversation with Steve on FacebookBook: The Body Keeps The Score (van der Kolk)Instagram: @traumatransformationsBook: The Myth of Normal, Gabor MateBook: The Body Says No, The Cost of Hidden Stress, Gabor MateBrainspotting.comPodcast: Trauma and Wilderness Therapy, Stories From The FieldBook: Transforming Stress For Teens, The HeartMath Solution for Staying Cool Under PressureTraining: HeartMath for individualsThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereWatch the podcast on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.