How your past hurts you today
Bear Psychology Podcast
Relationships rule our inner world. Understanding how you feel and think about your relationships helps you become more accepting and then more peaceful. You can develop an appreciation for other people's perspectives and stop assigning blame on others. Dr. Jacqueline Heller’s book “Yesterday Never Sleeps: How Integrating Life's Current and Past Connections Improves Our Well-Being” draws upon decades of clinical experience to create a powerful and more positive inner narrative. Her unique combination of neuroscience, memoirs of her life as a child of Holocaust survivors, and patient...
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Dangerous People in Powerful places
Bear Psychology Podcast
Disconnected People in positions of power make the world more dangerous for everyone – Bear Psychology Radio hosted by Dr. Anna Baranowsky with guest Dr. Steve Taylor. Disconnected people have the tendency to gravitate toward power. When Disconnected people rule in positions of power societies trend toward patriarchal, hierarchical and warlike. In contrast, societies with connected leaders trend toward egalitarian, democracy and peace. Although most people have a deep need to be connected, life events/upbringing and trauma exposure can interfere in this profound human characteristic....
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Why your coping skills stop working
Bear Psychology Podcast
Experiencing stressful or traumatic experiences during childhood leads us to develop certain coping mechanisms to get us through. While these strategies might have helped us feel secure when younger, they often fail us in adulthood. Richard Brouillette’s book “Your Coping Skills Aren't Working: How to Break Free from the Habits that Once Helped You But Now Hold You Back” offers an evidence-based guide using multiple therapeutic modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), schema therapy, and attachment theory to help readers leave behind unhelpful coping strategies that keep...
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Muslim Loving Peace and looking to a better future
Bear Psychology Podcast
Raheel Raza, a Muslim Canadian born in Pakistan, migrated to Canada in 1988, has a unique perspective on what is happening right now in the Israel-Hamas war and her reflections on misinformation and what Peace would take. She has visited Israel 13 times in the 16 years. In her National Post Article “I'm a Muslim and I love Israel. Here's why” published in February 2023, Raza details what she has learned about hate and antisemitism, it’s prevalence in Arab Muslim countries, her hope for Peace and the struggles of supporting Israel at this time. Listen to our conversation...
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Collective & Personal Trauma: one family’s graceful end-of-life story
Bear Psychology Podcast
What does it mean to lose someone so close to you that your world will never be the same? What if this happens when the whole world is locked down during a global Pandemic, a collective trauma? How do we navigate terrible loss with great compassion and love? Journalist Mitchell Consky has something important to share with us about this based on personal experience. During the worst of the COVID pandemic, Consky received distressing news. His father had been given less than two months to live after being diagnosed with a rare terminal cancer. In his book, “Home Safe: A...
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Childhood Emotional Neglect impacts your life today
Bear Psychology Podcast
After 20 years in practice, Dr. Jonice Webb noticed the painful struggle of people who grew up in homes where they were emotionally neglected. She identified this neglect as an "invisible factor" that continued to affect adults often leaving them feeling depleted and dissatisfied or what she described as “Running on Empty”. In Dr. Webb’s books “Running on Empty: Overcome Your Childhood Emotional Neglect” and “Running On Empty No More: Transform Your Relationships” she shines a light on this invisible force of CEN. She discusses how to bring new tools, strategies and...
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Mind, Body and Yoga for Healing Trauma
Bear Psychology Podcast
Recovery from trauma is not simply about healing the mind but about healing the body as well. Often the approach when treating trauma is solely focused on the mental and emotional effects and fails to address the physiological imbalances that trauma leaves behind on our bodies. In Dr. Arielle Schwartz’s newest book “Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma Recovery: Applying the Principles of Polyvagal Theory for Self-Discovery, Embodied Healing, and Meaningful Change”, she guides the reader using yoga practices to help release the burdens of trauma and begin the journey of healing the...
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Healing from Emotional Eating
Bear Psychology Podcast
Every wonder why you make poor food choices? Have you ever tried a new diet just to end up miserable and eating even more than before? Kim Shapira will help us understand how to put an end to disordered eating habits and improving your health and happiness in the process. Shapira recognizes that unhealthy food habits can occur as a result of life stressors and old patterns of self-soothing. Her work focuses on getting back on track and using food for health. Kim Shapira, author of “This Is What You’re Really Hungry For”, teaches us how to develop a healthy relationship with our...
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Cultivating Core Creativity
Bear Psychology Podcast
I know you are creative and innovative at your core. However, most of us just don’t know how to access the deep wealth of creativity that sits inside. Dr. Ronald Alexander’s book “Core Creativity: The Mindful Way to Unlock Your Creative Self” guides you through using mindfulness practices to train your mind so that it more easily opens the portal to core creativity: the unconscious mind. I am really excited about this show as it focuses on opening up to a powerful element of our true nature. Listen to our conversation with psychotherapist & author Dr. Ronald Alexander as...
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Healing the World through Human Connection
Bear Psychology Podcast
Disconnected people have the tendency to gravitate toward power. When Disconnected people rule in positions of power societies trend toward patriarchal, hierarchical and warlike. In contrast, societies with connected leaders trend toward egalitarian, democracy and peace. Although most people have a deep need to be connected, life events/upbringing and trauma exposure can interfere in this profound human characteristic. A person’s “goodness” and capacity for compassion often results from connection, whereas cruelty often originates from a feeling of being cut off from others....
info_outlineSadly, there is a contagious aspect to suicide, especially in the wake of high-profile deaths. For example, the back-to-back deaths of world-renowned celebrities Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain was not only shocking, but also had a trigger affect on others who experience suicidal thoughts.
In fact, when a public tragedy takes place—especially a high-profile suicide—the risk for deaths by accidents, suicides, and murders significantly increases in the public along with a rise in depression, anxiety, and aggression.
From the outside, it seems as though celebrities like Spade, Bourdain, or even Robin Williams had it all: fame, fortune, success, and love. So when they took their own lives it caused people to stop and think, "If they couldn't handle the world, then why should I?" Their deaths represented the death of a dream and a hopelessness to many who struggle with suicidal depression.
In Canada, approximately 4000 Canadians die by suicide annually, and it's the second most common cause of death among young people. However, men in their 40s and 50s have the highest rate of suicide. Women are three to four times more likely to attempt suicide than men, but men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women.
How Can We Prevent Suicide?
Of course, it's impossible to prevent all suicides, but there are strategies to help reduce the risk. For example:
- Seeing a professional for treatment and building a solid relationship with a doctor or mental health professional
- Creating strong social support networks, including family, friends, or a peer support group
- Learning how to cope with problems, and trusting those coping skills
If you experience suicidal thoughts, you need to talk about them with your doctor, mental health professional, or a trusted person. It can also be helpful to schedule regular appointments with mental health professionals or use phone-based support such as the suicide prevention hotline.
What If Someone You Know Is Suicidal?
Contrary to popular belief, if you believe someone is suicidal, you should ask them directly if they're thinking about hurting themselves. Talking about suicide will not give someone the idea to carry out the act. If someone you love is seriously contemplating suicide, they may be relieved to finally talk about it.
If the person says that they are thinking about hurting themselves, then it's essential to ask them if they have a plan. If they do have a plan and are thinking about committing suicide soon, then you should connect with crisis services or supports immediately. If you are unaware of crisis, distress, or suicide helplines in your area, you can call 9-1-1. Always stay with the person while you make the call, and don't leave until the crisis line or emergency responders say it's okay to go.
The important thing is to listen to your loved one and help them connect with mental health services.
When someone has moved beyond the point of crisis and is ready to recover from the trauma they've experienced, Trauma Practice can help. Our goal is to improve the conversation through safe venues focused on trauma-informed care, where up-to-date and accurate information is widely shared. Together we can create an open dialogue and reduce the stigma and isolation of those who suffer.
A one time or monthly contribution to Trauma Practice means that we can all pay it forward and help others on the path of trauma recovery. Make a donation today.
Video Resources on Suicide:
It's OK not to be OK: https://youtu.be/x136YxQTUXo
Self-Love – Be Intentional: https://youtu.be/DCNOJmmHLkQ
https://time.com/5572394/suicide-contagion-study/
https://bit.ly/2xbt66t
https://bit.ly/2IywyP6 & https://thelifelinecanada.ca/
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/suicide-prevention/warning-signs.html
https://ontario.cmha.ca/documents/understanding-suicide-and-finding-help/
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/