Healing after Sexual Trauma with Dr. Elizabeth Stevens :: [Episode 142]
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
Release Date: 03/17/2023
Navigating Grief and Finding Joy: A Discussion with Mike Nappa
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
We journey alongside grief survivor Mike Nappa, who graciously opens his heart, sharing his profoundly moving journey of loss and healing after the death of his wife, Amy. His personal revelations on the terrain of grief and his granddaughter's own journey awaken a broader understanding of the grieving process and the importance of allowing ourselves the space to grieve. Our conversation is intimate as Mike recounts the cherished moments of helping his wife fulfill her bucket list. His account underscores the significance of living fully even when faced with loss, a testament to the...
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Discovering Deep Purpose through Divine Connection with Kelly Needham
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
Have you ever been caught in the hustle culture, feeling lost and struggling to find your purpose? This happened to our special guest, author Kelly Needham, and she's not alone. Imagine you're standing on the precipice of what society deems successful, yet you feel a deep void. Frustrated and desperate, Kelly embarked on a journey to re-examine the real source of purpose. In our candid conversation, Kelly delves into her personal experiences, revealing how her marriage and life were affected by jealousy and insecurity. She shares some intriguing insights about the impact of social...
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Finding Joy Amidst Life's Challenges with Nick Nilson
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
Get ready to transform your perspective on life's challenges as we engage in an insightful conversation with the ever-inspiring Nick Nilson. Ever wondered how to hold onto joy amidst hardships? Nick guides us through his life's journey, sharing wisdom on shaping our feelings through our thoughts and harnessing the power of the present moment to experience peace, joy, and contentment. In this chat, we dive deeper into techniques to overcome self-doubt and focus on the possibilities, not the problems. With Nick's guidance, we learn how to utilize the grace given by God to...
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Finding Confidence: Breaking Free from Past Trauma
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
Are you craving self-improvement, a fresh perspective, or simply an honest and heartfelt conversation? That's precisely what you'll find in my latest podcast episode featuring Jason VanRuler. Drawing from a hard upbringing, Jason bravely confronts his past and the trials of running from unresolved traumas. He lays bare the turning point that led him to face his reflections in the mirror without external support, sparking a profound journey of self-awareness and transformation. Jason's insights don't stop at personal history. We also delve into the intricate realm of emotions and...
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The Journey from Addiction to Hope with Travis Thompson
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
Could you imagine the power of the right language and tools in transforming life struggles into blessings? That's what we're unpacking with our guest today, Travis Thompson, as he shares his captivating journey through the thorny path of addiction. Drawing from his battle, Travis sheds light on addiction in the United States. He underscores the crucial need to accurately represent the addiction spectrum to ensure people get the support they need. Addiction is not just about the individual; it's also about the people and the society around them. We look closer into the role of...
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Exploring Soul Care: A Journey Towards Deeper Connection with God
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
Ever wonder how nurturing your soul can lead to a healthier, more connected life? We're pondering this question with our returning guest, Amber Albee Swenson, as we navigate the concept of soul care versus the well-known self-care practice. Together, we explore how prioritizing our divine connection and acknowledging when the soul feels off-balance can significantly impact our overall well-being. We're traveling beyond the surface, examining how soul care profoundly impacts our relationships with ourselves and the world around us. Amber emphasizes the necessity of carving time out of our...
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Navigating Trauma, Movement, and Body Freedom with Alisa Keeton
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
Have you ever glanced in the mirror and wished the reflection looking back at you was a friend rather than an adversary? That moment was a turning point for me, and it led me to a fascinating conversation with Alisa Keeton, a fitness crusader and author of The Body Revelation. Alisa is armed with a mighty mission to redefine our relationship with our bodies, seeing them not as obstacles but as allies. Alisa unpacks how pain, an energetic chemical charge, can trap us within our bodies and how children, with their hyperactive nervous systems at birth, have a head...
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Exploring the Brain: Understanding Emotion Regulation and Our Mental Health
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
Get ready to unravel the intricate workings of your brain with the enlightening insights of esteemed neuroscientist and his handy hand model. Today’s episode will provide a simple yet profound understanding of how our brains regulate emotions and manage our reactions. The spotlight shines on the prefrontal cortex, our brain's master controller, and its vital roles in connecting with others, calming our fears, and creating that crucial space between impulse and action. That's not all. As we continue our exploration of the brain, we'll also touch upon the importance of online...
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From Self-Criticism to Self-Care: Navigating Body Image Issues
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
Join me this week as I bare a part of my soul and share a deeply personal journey with body image and eating disorders. Drawn from my own experiences, I aim to provide insights and tools to help you nurture a healthier relationship with your body. We'll dive into practical strategies that can revolutionize your perception of your body - assuring you that reshaping your body image doesn't always mean reshaping your body. Tune into this episode to understand the ripple effect of social media on our mental health and body image. I’ll bust the myths society feeds...
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Mastering Body Language for a Happier, Healthier You
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
Get ready to forge a happier, healthier you by mastering the power of body language. Today, we promise to equip you with simple yet effective research-backed life hacks that dramatically alter your mood, reduce stress, and boost confidence. As part of our continuing series, Counselor on Call – I walk you through an astounding technique called body posturing, which requires you to raise your hands straight up in the air for 2-3 minutes. You'll discover how this effortless practice can manipulate your hormones, elevate your mood, and align with your spiritual perspectives. I also...
info_outlineToday’s episode is so important as we dive into the topic of unresolved trauma. Unfortunately, each of us will or has encountered some trauma in our lives. When we don’t process past experiences, we unknowingly get tied to the past when we don't explore and process past traumatic experiences.
Dr. Elizabeth Stevens discusses PTSD, barriers to overcoming trauma, and her new book, Unshackled.
TRIGGER WARNING – Dr. Stevens discusses her PTSD, trauma, and sexual assault. She doesn’t get specific, but if that triggers you, please feel free to skip this episode.
Dr. Elizabeth Stevens is a retired United States Air Force major, board-certified
psychiatrist, and trauma survivor. She served in the Air Force for ten years, reaching the rank of major before retiring due to a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. After experiencing healing from her trauma and sifting through the various treatment modalities available, she developed a nonprofit called Advancing Warriors International. She created several programs to help veterans, military members, and emergency responders heal from the traumas they have experienced.
In this episode, we discuss the following:
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The definition of trauma and PTSD
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Common forms of denial and how denial impacts the trauma process
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Barriers to healing
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The first step a trauma survivor can take to move toward healing
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The importance of self-awareness and self-care in the healing process
Resources :
Unshackled by Dr. Elizabeth Stevens
Website: https://www.drelizabethstevens.com/
Advancing Warriors International
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Melissa