Getting Treatment for Anxiety

Anxiety is the most common mental health concern in America, affecting many people daily through physical, mental, or emotional stress. Many factors in life can cause people to feel anxious, like waiting for a long time, being in a crowded area, or starting a new job. 

Different things cause people anxiety, and it happens at different levels, from nervousness and worry to being unable to leave their homes or live a productive life. For some people, anxiety is a slight nervousness where it’s debilitating to others. 

If anxiety is causing you stress and discomfort, it may be time for you to seek anxiety treatment. Getting help could change your life.

Understanding Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety comes in many forms, from approaching a problem with a coworker, taking an important exam, or making a difficult decision. Just like there are many triggers for anxiety, there are multiple types of anxiety disorders.

Common anxiety disorders are: 

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Excessive worry or fear about everyday activities or situations.
• Social Anxiety Disorder. Fear of social situations or of being rejected or humiliated by others.
• Panic Disorder. Involve sudden panic attacks, including intense fear and physical symptoms like sweating and chest pain.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Persistent, intrusive thoughts that can only be stopped by performing a compulsive behavior, like checking and double checking locks or excessive hand washing.
• Phobias. Fears of certain specific things, like spiders or heights.

“Classifying anxiety is helpful, but what’s more important is to identify the symptoms a person is having and where they originate,” said Michele Jewell, Director of Admissions at Integrative Life Center. “Understanding the root cause of anxiety means a therapist can help the person heal the core of the issue, not just treat symptoms.”

Anxiety disorders may cause you to respond to something with feelings of fear, dread, or worry. You may also experience physical symptoms, like sweating and increased heart rate. 

“Anxiety symptoms can make someone feel out of control, emotionally and physically,” Michelle said. “It can even make them feel like they’re having a heart attack or are totally out of control of their body.”

Common anxiety symptoms include:

• Excessive worry or fear
• Sweating
• Difficulty breathing
• Upset stomach
• Rapid heartbeat
• Avoidance of people or things that make you anxious
• Irritability
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sleep disturbances
• Panic or anxiety attacks

But anxiety isn’t always bad. It can help you notice dangerous situations and focus your attention. It’s when it keeps you from doing the things you want to do or feeling well that anxiety becomes an issue. 

When anxiety affects your daily life, it’s probably time to seek treatment. Anxiety treatment helps you identify what causes your anxiety and how to respond differently.

How Anxiety Affects a Person’s Life

Anxiety is a mental health disorder that can significantly disrupt a person’s life. It can make it difficult for people to live to the fullest. Other traits of an anxiety disorder include that it:

Interferes with the Ability to Function 

Anxiety can hinder your ability to function in your day-to-day life, reducing your quality of life significantly. It can cause you to avoid new things, like applying for a job you want, out of fear. Anxiety can become so severe that it can cause you never to want to leave your house or bed. Sudden panic attacks can cause extreme discomfort and unwanted attention, resulting in more anxiety. 

Creates a Lack of Control 

No one knows when anxiety will approach, which makes it frightening. Anxiety can make you feel like you don’t have control of the situation or even your life. It can cause you to have poor sleep patterns, irritable responses to simple questions, or constantly worry about the next moment. Anxiety can cause you to isolate yourself because you don’t know what to expect from any situation. It can get so extreme that you remove yourself from everything or everyone you love.

Fosters Emotional Dysregulation 

Anxiety creates many feelings within those who experience it, from fear and worry to dread and stress. It fosters emotional dysregulation that causes you to become irritable, depressed, moody, or angry. By interrupting your day-to-day life and routines, you can feel out of balance, and your emotions can reflect that. Having panic attacks in public spaces can cause embarrassment for some, thus making them feel more vulnerable and emotional. 

“Anxiety can keep you from living your most authentic life,” Michelle explained. “It can hold you back from doing the things you want to do and being who you want to be. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Treatment can help you put anxiety where it belongs and live your life to the fullest.”

How to Self-Manage Anxiety 

Before seeking treatment and during treatment, there are ways you can attempt to self-manage anxiety. These skills can help with mild and moderate anxiety symptoms. You may need to try several of them before you find what works for you. 

Ways to self-manage anxiety include:

• Practice Relaxation Techniques. When you start feeling anxious, practice mindful meditation, write in a journal, or do a deep breathing exercise. Try to center your thoughts on what’s real and within your control.
• Exercise Regularly. Move your body every day. Exercise releases endorphins that are natural mood boosters and help with anxiety.
• Manage Triggers. Learn what triggers your anxiety and avoid those things when possible.
• Control Expectations. The less you worry about things being perfect, the less anxious you’ll feel. Understand that things won’t go as planned, and you’ll be fine. 
• Limit Caffeine and Alcohol. Both substances are known to increase feelings of anxiety. Avoid them if you can. 
• Get Enough Sleep. Getting at least six hours of sleep each night will help your brain feel rested and less anxious. 
• Challenge Negative Thoughts. Ask yourself, “What also may be true?” This simple question will limit catastrophic thinking.
• Seek Help. Seek assistance from a mental health professional to help you understand the root cause of the anxiety and how to cope with it.

“Self-management strategies are excellent for helping people manage their anxiety, but they work best when coupled with treatment from a mental health professional,” Michelle said.

When Should You Seek Treatment for Anxiety?

While self-managing anxiety might work for some people or for some time, it may also be a good idea to work with a mental health professional to get to the root cause of your anxiety and heal from it. A therapist also can help you learn specific ways to cope with your unique anxiety symptoms.

So, when should you seek treatment for anxiety? While it’s different for everyone, a few key indicators can signal that someone needs more help

When Daily Life is Too Much

Anxiety can be uncontrollable, and you may feel your life heading in that direction. When anxiety becomes so severe that it creates this chaos in your daily life by impacting your job, relationships, and mental and physical health, it’s time to seek professional mental health services. 

When Experiencing Other Mental Health Issues

Mental health issues like depression or suicidal ideation can cause anxiety to worsen and make life more unbearable to enjoy. On top of extreme feelings of sadness, unwantedness, disapproval, and loneliness, anxiety can cause those feelings to deepen and create more panic, fear, and worry while dealing with several mental health issues. Someone experiencing multiple mental health concerns should reach out and seek treatment and know they don’t have to go through the challenging healing journey alone. 

When Physical Symptoms Manifest 

Anxiety can go beyond being a mental hurdle to affecting the physical body. It can cause you to lose sleep and sudden panic attacks that feel like heart attacks, and the stress can wear on your internal organs, causing them to overwork. Anxiety can affect the stomach by causing stress that creates stomach ulcers, impacting the lining of your stomach and its reactions to acids. When physical effects manifest, you should begin to seek treatment before these worsen, as many can be treatable and preventable. 

When You Need Support

Going through a mental health condition like anxiety can make you feel lonely. It can cause you to push those people closest to you away. It can make you uncomfortable with opening up about your experiences or feelings. Sometimes, you may need help identifying your triggers and fostering healthy life skills. 

Whatever the case may be, you need support, and getting treatment for anxiety from a mental health professional is a great beginning. Your provider can help support you and guide you to healing. 

“You don’t need a definitive reason to seek help from a mental health professional. If you don’t feel like yourself or you need help working through something, that’s reason enough,” said Michelle. 

The Benefits of Treating Anxiety

While seeking treatment for anxiety may make you nervous or frightened, many benefits come from it. By seeking treatment, you can see positive results in your daily life by uncovering and healing issues that affect your anxiety and cause other mental health concerns. You can learn positive coping strategies that help you handle anxiety symptoms. Treatment can also help you reduce your anxiety so much that you can begin developing and achieving the goals you’ve always wanted. 

Improvement of Daily Life

Treatment can help you regain control of your emotions, physical and mental well-being, and overall life. It can help you repair and maintain relationships and connections broken by your anxiety. By talking with a mental health professional and creating a treatment plan, including healthy coping strategies and realistic goals set, you can begin to see an improvement in your daily life again. 

Uncovering and Healing Other Issues 

While getting treatment for anxiety and working with a mental health professional, you may uncover other mental health concerns that have gone unnoticed, like negative trauma responses or depression. You may discover the root of your anxiety could be another mental health concern. By seeking treatment, you’re allowing yourself a chance to heal from all of these issues. Treatment can continue to expand for you and be whatever you need based on your healing goals. 

Learning Coping Skills

Learning healthy coping skills to help soothe or relieve your anxiety can significantly benefit you. You’ll learn how to identify triggers and what to do when you’re anxious to work through those feelings. Treatment helps you learn to deal with your anxiety in the most effective, healthiest ways. 

Developing Goals

Are there goals you’ve always wanted to reach but your anxiety won’t allow you to pursue? Once you take control of your anxiety, you can begin working toward these goals. Anxiety will no longer prevent you from seeking a promotion, asking out that special someone on a date, or living the life you have always wanted. Going through treatment and accomplishing your goals can be rewarding and sometimes motivate you to improve. 

“The greatest benefit of seeking professional help for anxiety is feeling better. You deserve to live fully in your one life,” Michelle said. 

The Process of Getting Treatment for Anxiety

The process is quite simple when you decide to seek treatment for your anxiety. Once you recognize that you’re having anxiety symptoms, it’s time to seek out a mental health professional to help. After that, the process is:

• Evaluation. Working with your mental health provider to evaluate what causes your anxiety and what are your overall treatment goals. 
• Diagnosing. Your mental health provider will provide feedback and analyze you with what they know to be a mental health concern. 
• Planning. Once a mental health concern is identified, you will begin planning your treatment path, including therapies and medication. 
• Treating. You will work hard with your mental health provider to persevere and accomplish your healing goals.   

The great news about seeking anxiety treatment is that there are so many options for healing. Various therapies can help you succeed, including private one-on-one conversations with a mental health professional or group therapy. Talk with your mental health provider to see if medication might be an option to help lessen your symptoms and find the right treatment that will help suit your healing needs and goals. 

Common Types of Therapy to Treat Anxiety

What type of therapy the mental health professional you work with to treat anxiety recommends depends a lot on you. Many types of treatment can help you overcome your anxiety. The goal is to find the right treatment for your individual needs. 

Anxiety treatments include: 

• Breathwork Therapy. Learn breathing techniques that can halt many anxiety symptoms and, over time, lessen episodes and severity. 
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Identifying self-sabotaging routines, beliefs, and thoughts and swapping them with healthier ones.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). A type of talk therapy that helps people with strong emotions understand how their thoughts affect emotions and behaviors.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). A psychotherapy treatment using lights and specific eye movements to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories.
• Exposure Therapy. A psychological treatment that helps people confront their fears in a safe space. 
• Medication. Sometimes, prescribed medication can be beneficial. When used to supplement other treatment strategies, medicine use sometimes diminishes anxiety symptoms. 
• Trauma-Informed Therapy. Discover the root trauma that contributes to your anxiety disorder and begin to heal it. 

Having the proper treatment options available is vital because it addresses your individual needs and helps you improve.

How Long Does It Take Anxiety Treatment to Work?

Anxiety treatment is variable, just like anxiety itself. Many factors affect how long it takes anxiety treatment to work.

Factors that affect anxiety treatment:

• Anxiety Type and Severity. Not everyone has the same anxiety type with equal severity. Some people may experience mild to extreme anxiety that can onset at any time or be trigger-specific. 
• The Individual. No two people are the same. Everyone’s brain is unique, which means everyone’s healing process is different too.
• Underlying Issues. Additional mental health concerns often reveal themselves during therapy, which means taking the time to treat and heal from those too.

“It would be wonderful if we could say exactly how long it will take for anxiety treatment to work or that you’d never experience anxiety again after treatment. That’s just not realistic,” Michelle explained. “What will happen is that you will gain the tools to cope with future challenges as they arise.”

How Do You Know if Treatment is Working

It can be challenging to work through difficult issues. So, how do you know if treatment is working? It’s especially important to have measures of success when you’re in the midst of treatment so you know you’re moving in the right direction.

Ways to monitor success: 

• Progress Toward Goals. You’ll set goals with your therapist on what you want out of treatment. Consider whether you’re progressing toward those goals. If so, that’s positive.
• Coping Ability. Even if your anxiety isn’t gone, has how you approach it changed? If you better understand your anxiety and how to cope with it, you’re making progress.
• Changes in Daily Life. Do you feel better in your day-to-day life? Are you doing things you didn’t before, even if it feels challenging?

“If you’re feeling better and more prepared to handle anxiety, you’re moving in the right direction with anxiety treatment,” said Michelle. “Some sessions may be challenging as you work through difficult things, but you’ll have the support you need to work through those challenging days and come out better on the other side of them.”

Integrative Life Center Can Help

Integrative Life Center can help you with the anxiety treatment you need. We offer programs customized to fit your individual needs and your unique situation. If you’re ready to get control of your anxiety symptoms and move forward with your life, contact us today.

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How to Help a Child With Anxiety

“I don’t want to go to school. My tummy hurts again.” Your child groans, puts their pillow over their head, and pleads with you to skip school today. You happen to remember that they have a presentation due today that involves speaking. You sigh, wondering if this tummy ache has anything to do with their nerves about talking in front of the class. 

Does this situation sound familiar? If your child experiences excessive worry in their day-to-day life, they may be dealing with anxiety. The thought of helping a child with anxiety may send you into a spiral of worry yourself, but you can learn how to help a child with anxiety. 

Worry vs. Anxiety in Children

Children, from infancy to late teenagehood, experience worry and fear from time to time. In fact, humans’ innate sense of worry is instinctual for a reason. Worrying about things can help you prepare for what’s ahead. But, when that worry, fret, and fear happens at an exaggerated frequency, you may be dealing with anxiety. 

“We all worry,” said Sheena Miller, LPC-MHSP, Clinical Manager at Integrative Life Center. “It’s natural that your child has worries too. The key is determining if these worries are typical and fleeting or if they’re something that’s causing your child ongoing distress.”

So, how do you know when worry in a child is normal versus when you may need to intervene?

Worry in children may include:

• Separation anxiety around ages 3-5
• Some worry or dislike of going to the doctor
• General worry, anticipation, or fear about new events or situations
• Distrust or anxiety around new people or strangers

Signs of anxiety may include:

• Avoidance of the thing they worry about
• Physical illness (frequent stomach aches, headaches, with no other medical explanation)
• Tantrums, crying, and symptoms of panic at an increasing frequency 
• Changes in appetite or sleeping
• Increased irritability, grumpiness, frustration
• Being overly self-critical

Even if your child does exhibit some of these signs, it may not be anxiety. Make sure that you work with your child’s doctor to rule out anything medically that could contribute to some of these issues. 

Types of anxiety in children:

• Phobias. This type of anxiety concerns something specific for more than a few weeks, such as fear of getting sick, spiders, or water. 
• Social Anxiety. This type of anxiety occurs surrounding social situations. It could include worry or fear about going to school, hanging out with friends, parties or celebrations, or public spaces for fear of being judged or embarrassed. 
• Separation Anxiety. Extreme upset and distress when separated from parents or caregivers. It’s common for ages 3-5, but if it happens in older children, it may be a cause for intervention.
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Worry about the future, worry about everything in general, a sense of doom, or nervousness.
• Panic Disorder. A sudden and intense onset of fear. Some indications one may be experiencing a panic attack include sweating, rapid heartbeat, feeling like you need to escape or an impending sense of doom. Panic attacks are usually followed by weeks of worry that you will have another attack. 
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. OCD can cause children to experience thoughts and emotions that are unwanted and pervasive. To work through those thoughts, children sometimes engage in repetitive behaviors called compulsions. 
• Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors. These recurrent behaviors are generally related to sensory stimulation and grooming, which aim to reduce anxiety. Examples of BFRB include nail biting, hair pulling (Trichotillomania), skin picking, and joint cracking. 
• Trauma Disorders. Trauma disorders like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Acute Stress Disorder occur after a traumatic event, such as abuse, a car accident, bullying, physical illness or injury, and others. 

How Does Anxiety Manifest in a Child’s Life?

Like many mental health issues, it’s unclear what the exact cause of anxiety in children is. Researchers and mental health professionals agree that it’s probably a combination of factors, including genetics, trauma and life experiences, and a child’s environment. 

It’s helpful to be aware of a child’s life situation and notice the changes in a child that would be signs of anxiety. Sometimes, a child’s anxious behavior is learned by being around other anxious people, while some children are simply more anxious than others. 

Children can develop anxiety from stressful life events, such as: 

• Tension in the home; parents fighting or arguing
• Frequently moving homes or schools
• Being abused or neglected
• Death of a loved one 
• Becoming seriously ill or injured
• School-related issues such as bullying 

How to Help a Child with Anxiety 

As a parent or an adult with an anxious child, you may feel lost about how to help. Here are some strategies for parents and caregivers to help a child with anxiety.

“Remember, you are not a failure of a parent if your child is dealing with anxiety,” Sheena said. “What’s important is that you’re paying attention to the signs, working to help alleviate your child’s anxiety, and seeking help when you know you need it.”

Ask Open-Ended Questions 

When asking your child about their worries, try using open-ended questions instead of questions where the answer is either “yes” or “no.” For example, instead of “Are you afraid of the dark?” you could say, “I noticed you were hesitant to turn the lights out. Can you tell me more about what you’re feeling?” These questions allow the child to express their thoughts, which can help you understand what they’re going through.

Validate Their Feelings

Validation is key in learning to manage any mental health issue. Validating a child’s feelings doesn’t necessarily mean you agree with them. It just shows support and encouragement. It could sound like, “I hear you say that you’re scared of going to the doctor. You’re already worried about the next time you’ll get a shot. I understand why you would be scared.”

Provide Alternative Thinking

Open your child’s viewpoint by explaining how worry is inherent in humans’ lives. Explain how, long ago, people had to plan how they would avoid animal attacks, and that’s where worry came in. They were able to plan out their actions. Try something like, “Is there a way that we can prepare for your doctor’s appointment so that you’re not as scared? Maybe we can have the doctor explain everything they’re going to do before they do it?” 

You could also discuss their anxiety in the context of life by saying something like, “You’re so worried about this test. In five years, you may not even remember this test!” Take care not to invalidate your child’s feelings with this tactic. Rather, ensure they’re considering context that may help them cope.

Identify Triggers

If you know that your child has social anxiety and has a birthday party coming up for a close friend, recognize that this situation could trigger their anxiety. Perhaps try to prepare your child ahead of time. Make sure they have some coping mechanisms, like a stress ball to squeeze, a breathing technique to try, or a “happy place” to go to in their mind, before they enter the anxiety-provoking situation. 

Teach Routine Affirmations 

Affirmations can help a child remind themselves that they are worthy and capable. Depending on their situation, affirmations could sound like: “I am brave,” “I can do this,” “I have my parents that love and accept me no matter what,” or “No matter how this test goes, I will know I worked hard and did my best,” etc. 

Practice Coping Techniques

Share with your child some coping mechanisms that work for you when you’re stressed or worried (child-appropriate, of course). For example, if you get nervous about going to the dentist, tell your child how you go to your “happy place” in your imagination during your teeth cleaning. 

Be creative! Your child may enjoy shaking or dancing to get the worries out, talking about it, deep breathing, coloring, singing, practicing the thing they’re nervous about, hugs, baking, reading a book, or something else. Encourage your child to come up with some things that may help them on their own, and, when in doubt, suggest things you think may help.

Reduce Stressful Situations

Sometimes, we can’t avoid putting our children in situations they would rather not be in. They can’t avoid the doctor or dentist and will eventually have to take a test at school. Set clear expectations with your child so they know what’s coming. “You have a doctor’s appointment coming up next week. Let’s take some time each day to practice our deep breathing until then, and we’ll also look around to figure out what treat you want to get after you go.” 

When to Seek Treatment for Your Child

If you’ve tried teaching your child coping mechanisms, talking it out, ruling out medical causes, and a medley of other actions, it may be time to take your child to a mental health professional.

If your child’s anxiety is disrupting their daily life (or yours, or your family’s, for that matter) for more than a few weeks, consider seeking a counselor or therapist that works with children. Numerous types of treatment are scientifically proven to help children who experience anxiety. 

The mental health professionals at Integrative Life Center are trained to tailor anxiety treatment to your child’s needs in a comfortable environment that empowers both your child and your family. Contact Integrative Life Center to learn more.

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Substance Abuse in College Students: Signs and Statistics

Your time in college is some of the best years of your life, full of personal growth and positive interactions. Unfortunately, the pressure to do well academically, adjust to a new environment, and make friends also can be overwhelming. College comes with a unique set of responsibilities and stressors. That stress, coupled with the rest of the college lifestyle, leaves some students prone to developing addictions. 

Substance abuse in college students is a problem, with binge drinking and drug use common in this population.

What is Substance Use?

Substance use is using alcohol, illegal drugs, or misusing prescription or over-the-counter drugs. It can lead to academic, legal, financial, social, and mental and physical health problems, including developing an addiction.

An addiction, or substance use disorder, is when a person uses substances despite negative consequences because they can’t stop, even when they try.

Once a person has an addiction, they’re likely to require professional treatment to determine the root cause and stop the behavior. Then, they’ll be in recovery for the rest of their life.

“What people don’t recognize about addiction is that no one sets out to become an addict,” said Christi Cessna, MS, President of Integrative Life Center. “It’s not something people want to happen to them or try to make occur. What starts as a party lifestyle or something you do to relax when you’re hanging out with friends can become a habit without you even realizing it.”

Substance Abuse in College Students Statistics

The statistics on substance use in college students are concerning, especially since student populations likely don’t consider their actions or behaviors problematic. Understanding substance use on college campuses is important for parents, students, and college officials. Knowing the statistics helps make you more aware of the issue and work toward helping those in need.

Statistics on substance use in college students include:

• 66% report drinking alcohol in the past month.
• 29% report using marijuana in the past month, with 11% using it every day. This is the highest reported usage since the study began in 1988.
• 8% report using drugs other than marijuana in the past month.
• 32% reported binge drinking in the past two weeks, which was the highest percentage reported since 2005.
• 6% reported using hallucinogens in the past month, which was the highest percentage since 1988.
• 4% of reported misusing prescription medications.
• More than 20% of students were exposed to cocaine in college.
• Annual use of Adderall is almost 10% higher in college students than in their non-college peers.
• 2% reported they were in recovery for alcohol or drug use.

Root Causes of Substance Abuse in College Students

People use substances for many reasons, but six factors are especially worth considering when it comes to drug use among college students.

1. Stress

Students report that stress is one of the main reasons for using substances while in college. The pressure to do well on exams leads some students to misuse ADHD medications. These are also known as “study drugs,” and 79% of college students report using them. One in six college students says they use ADHD medications without a prescription. Misusing ADHD prescriptions helps students pull all-night study sessions before a test. 

2. Pressure from Peers

First-year students are especially vulnerable to peer pressure from other students. They may feel anxiety about fitting in or be curious about experimenting with drugs and alcohol now that they are out of their parents’ homes and living more independently.

3. Social Acceptance of Substance Use

Some consider drinking, using cannabis, and partying with other substances normal parts of campus life. In fact, some students even consider a college’s party culture when deciding which school to attend. 

Being able to consume large doses of substances or “powering through” class the next day while still under the influence may even be a badge of honor among college crowds.

4. Ease of Accessibility

College parties often involve substance use. Getting drunk or high is at the center of many social gatherings. Some students may see substances they’ve never used before and consider trying them simply because they are there and everyone else seems to be doing it. Access is seemingly everywhere, which may be new for many students.

5. Underlying Mental Health Disorders

Mental illness is another reason for increased substance use among college students. About 60% of college students meet the criteria for at least one mental health disorder. The rate is higher than that in the general population in people’s lifetimes.

“College is a stressful time. Many students arrive at college with mental health issues that become exacerbated because of all the changes in their lives,” Cessna said. “Other students develop mental health issues while at college for a myriad of reasons.”

Signs of Substance Abuse Among College Students

If you’re a college student who uses substances or if you’re concerned about the substance use of a college student in your life, watch for the following warning signs:

• Declining interest in school or activities once enjoyed
• Unexplained mood swings and irritability
• Poor or worsening academic performance
• Isolating from friends and family members
• Engaging in risky behaviors like driving while intoxicated
• Declining interest in school or activities
• Ongoing depression and sadness

“If a student isn’t acting the way that is typical of them, it’s a good idea to inquire about their well-being,” Cessna said. “If you’re making decisions that cause you distress, it’s never too soon to reach out for help.”

The Impact of Substance Abuse on College Students

Substance abuse in college students is more than a fad. It can seriously impact their lives, now and in the future. 

“Young people tend to think that nothing bad will happen to them. It’s simply not true,” Cessna said. “Decisions that people make in their teens and 20s can have consequences that last a lifetime.” 

Substance use can result in:

• Addiction
• Physical health and safety risks
• Mental health issues
• Lower academic performance
• Risk of self-harm or suicide
• Memory loss and other cognitive health problems

College students should also consider the legal consequences of substance use. A DUI or an arrest for possessing an illegal substance could result in expulsion from school. Students can miss out on internship and career opportunities and possibly risk incarceration. 

Prevention and Intervention Strategies

Students, parents, and campus officials can take steps to reduce substance use and keep students safe. 

Strategies you can implement include:

• Education on the negative effects of substance use
• Fair and equal rule enforcement from the campus
• Alcohol- and drug-free campus policies
• Free and available treatment for mental health concerns
• Peer and family support
• Teaching students how to set boundaries
• Helping students put academics and their health first

“Let the people in your life know that you’re available to talk and will do your best to create a safe space for them,” Cessna said. “Be prepared to lead students who come to you to the mental health resources they need.” 

Treatment for Substance Use Disorder is Available

Substance abuse in college students is a serious problem. If you see the warning signs of substance use, Integrative Life Center can help. Contact us to learn more about our substance use treatment and other mental health treatment programs. 

Citations:

American College Health Association. (2022). Publications and reports: ACHA-NCHA III. National College Health Assessment. Retrieved February 24, 2023, from https://www.acha.org/NCHA/ACHA-NCHA_Data/Publications_and_Reports/NCHA/Data/Reports_ACHA-NCHAIII.aspx 

Harrar, S. (2022, October 7). Adderall on campus. Psycom. Retrieved February 25, 2023, from https://www.psycom.net/adderall-college-students 

Lipson, S. K., Goodwill, J. R., Duffy, M. E., Abelson, S., Choo, H. Y., Diener, E., Eisenberg, D., Hahm, H. C., Herman, S., Hooper, M., Huang, F. Y., & Ioannidis, J. P. (2022, March 18). Trends in college student mental health and help-seeking by Race/ethnicity: Findings from the National Healthy Minds Study, 2013–2021. Journal of Affective Disorders. Retrieved February 24, 2023, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032722002774 

Patrick, M. E., Schulenberg, J. E., Miech, R. A., Johnston, L. D., O’Malley, P. M., & Bachman, J. G. (2022). Monitoring the Future Panel Study annual report: National data on substance use among adults ages 19 to 60, 1976-2021. Monitoring the Future Monograph Series. Ann Arbor: Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan, 193 pp. https://www.doi.org/10.7826/ISR-UM.06.585140.002.07.0001.2022.

Welsh, J. W., Shentu, Y., & Sarvey, D. B. (2019, April). Substance use among college students. Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing). Retrieved February 24, 2023, from https://ift.tt/FAk6waZ

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What is Student Trauma?

For many students, college is a fun experience full of lifelong friendships, lasting memories, and expanding knowledge for your future career. It also can be stressful, challenging, and traumatic. Some students experience traumatic events in college that leave them feeling uncertain about their future and unsafe in the world. Student trauma is a real concern that can have a lasting impact on a person’s well-being long after college graduation.

What is Student Trauma?

Student trauma is anything that happens to a student that causes them to believe they are in danger and triggers their fight-or-flight response. Trauma can be a deeply distressing, disturbing, or dangerous experience or a series of stressful life happenings. 

Some students come to college already having experienced trauma like bullying, parental neglect, and financial instability. Others experience traumatic events like sexual assault, car wrecks, or domestic abuse during college. 

“We know that about 30% of children experience a traumatic experience before they’re 18. Those children bring those experiences to college with them,” said Sheena Miller, LPC-MHSP, Lead Therapist at Integrative Life Center. “Then students are exposed to traumatic events when they’re in college, potentially building on trauma they already experienced or creating new traumatic emotions.” 

Trauma students may experience before college:

• Adverse Childhood Experiences
• Domestic violence
• Death of a loved one and grief
• Physical injury
• Car accidents
• Poverty
• Racism
• Bullying
• Food insecurity
• Substance use

Common traumatic events that occur during college include:

• Sexual assault
• Domestic abuse
• Loss of relationship
• Death of a loved one and grief
• Witnessing a life-threatening event 
• Toxic stress
• Addiction
• Terminal illness 
• Car accidents

“Life doesn’t stop in college. In fact, it expands. That means students are likely to experience traumatic events themselves or experience distress after learning about something traumatic happening to a loved one,” Sheena said. “Bonds form quickly in college, and hearing about something traumatic happening to your roommate or classmate can be quite disturbing.”

The Overall Impact of Trauma

Everyone responds differently to trauma. Some people experience a traumatic event, process it emotionally, and move on. Others may take longer to adjust after the traumatic experience, and some can’t adjust, resulting in them experiencing emotional trauma symptoms. 

Symptoms of emotional trauma may include:

• Insomnia or excessive sleeping
• Being easily startled
• Bodily aches and pains
• Changes in appetite
• Rapid heartbeat 
• Trembling
• Gastrointestinal concerns
• Headaches
• Memory loss
• Trouble concentrating
• Flashbacks
• Nightmares
• Confusion
• Anxiety attacks
• Dissociating (feeling disconnected from your own body)
• Suicidal ideation 
• Nervousness
• Feelings of impending danger or extreme fear
• Depression
• Feeling overwhelmed 
• Loss of enjoyment 
• Hopelessness

Symptoms of emotional trauma are unlikely to disappear. If left untreated, trauma is likely to worsen.

Impact of Trauma on the Ability to Learn

Trauma changes how students approach their academics and negatively impacts their learning process. A student might have difficulty staying awake or joining in on class discussions. Student trauma can impact assignments, projects, grades, and attendance. 

While they are physically sitting in the classroom, a student experiencing trauma may be mentally checked out, with their mind focused elsewhere. 

A student who feels anxiety from their traumatic experience may begin to seclude themselves. 

Overall, student trauma impacts learning by decreasing the student’s cognitive function, causing a lack of motivation, and making them have trouble comprehending and recalling information.

“Classes and learning are likely at the bottom of a student’s priority list when they’re experiencing emotional trauma,” Miller stated. “They may not even see the point in continuing with the education they wanted so much now that the world seems like an unsafe and broken place. Punishing students with failing grades or attendance policies isn’t the answer when a student is in the midst of a mental health crisis.” 

Impact of Trauma on Mental Health

Transitioning into college can be taxing on a student’s mental health. Experiencing a traumatic event once they arrive on campus can take a heavy toll on one’s mental health and lead to depression, extreme worry and fear, and trauma disorders. 

Trauma can impact mental health, causing:

• Anxiety and depression
• Difficulty with mood regulation 
• Low self-esteem 
• Trouble communicating feelings
• Extreme fear and worrying
• An inability to adjust 

Identifying Student Trauma

While some students express their trauma more outwardly, others are reserved and attempt to hide their emotions. Trauma impacts people differently, and every person responds uniquely to traumatic events. But there are some common signs to look for to determine whether a student may be experiencing emotional trauma and need help.

Physical symptoms

Emotional trauma symptoms can manifest physically. Trauma can lead a student to be continuously sick so much that it causes pain and soreness throughout their body and changes their overall appearance and demeanor. These physical ailments can lead a student to miss class frequently and potentially continuously seek medical treatment. 

Behavioral Cues

Experiencing trauma can create new behavioral responses that don’t always benefit the student. Trauma can lead someone to be aggressive, self-destructive, and impulsive. It also can lead to self-harm, substance use, and suicidal ideation. These behavioral cues can signal to you that a student needs help. 

Behavioral cues to look for include:

• Angry outbursts
• Aggression and impatience
• Disruptive actions
• Displaying guilt and shame
• Self-destructive behavior
• Impulsiveness 
• Hyper alertness
• An inability to complete tasks
• Neglecting responsibilities
• Risky behavior
• Alcohol or substance use
• Signs of self-harm

Social Interaction

Living in constant fight or flight, students will begin to act differently, approach others more intensely, or completely seclude themselves. They may withdraw from social situations that they previously enjoyed. Or they may cling to a person or group of people. Students experiencing emotional trauma also may have difficulty connecting with others. Major changes in a student’s social interactions may indicate they’re experiencing emotional health concerns.

“If you notice that a student just doesn’t seem like themselves… isn’t acting the way you know them to behave, it’s time to check in,” Miller said. “They may be trying to get your attention, or they may not even recognize how much the traumatic event is affecting them.” 

How Educators Can Address Student Trauma

When a student comes to college, their support network grows beyond their loved ones to include educators and administrations. These support networks need the right tools to help address student trauma and provide the proper assistance to those in need. 

College doesn’t have to be a lonely experience. Try extending an olive branch and creating a safe academic space for students to prosper. While you may not know what happens in a student’s life, you can still assist when they’re experiencing mental health concerns. 

If you think a student may be experiencing trauma or another mental health issue, ask to speak privately with them. Tell them the specific differences you’ve noticed in their behavior and ask them if they’re OK or if they need help. If they need assistance, lead them to the campus’s counseling office. If your campus doesn’t offer mental health services or they feel uncomfortable seeking help on campus, direct them to the right person on campus to connect them with off-campus mental health assistance.

“As an educator, you’re not a mental health professional. It’s not your job, nor do you likely have the skills necessary, to help a student heal,” Miller stated. “Still, you’re on the frontlines in recognizing when a student needs help. Then it’s your role to lead them to the assistance they need. You can’t force a student to get help, but you can make it easy for them if they want or need assistance.”

Integrative Life Center Can Help

Through our holistic and evidence-based trauma treatment, Integrative Life Center creates a personalized plan of recovery for each client to help them overcome trauma. If you or a student you know needs help with emotional trauma or another mental health disorder, contact us. We’re here to help.

The post What is Student Trauma? appeared first on Integrative Life Center.

source https://integrativelifecenter.com/what-is-student-trauma/

The Best Treatment for Complex Trauma

Complex trauma can lead to lifelong challenges. Complex trauma occurs when people experience multiple traumas, such as neglect, abuse, or racism, over months or even years. Traumas so complex can lead to severe emotional health concerns, but you can find the best treatment for complex trauma to help you heal. 

What is Complex Trauma?

Complex trauma, often called Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), is a severe trauma disorder resulting from ongoing exposure to traumatic or extremely distressing events. This chronic trauma exposure causes problems with daily functioning, relationships, and may even result in physical symptoms.

“Complex trauma is the result of ongoing exposure to trauma that a person can’t properly process,” said Mark Blakeley, MS, LPC, LAC Lead Therapist at Integrative Life Center. “This trauma causes them severe distress and harms their ability to live a happy, fulfilling life.”

If you or someone you know displays signs and symptoms of C-PTSD you may want to contact a mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment. These symptoms can cause a person severe distress. Symptoms also can worsen the longer they progress. 

Signs and symptoms of C-PTSD:

• Anxiety. Feelings of anxiety, like sweaty palms, rapid heartbeat, restlessness, and fatigue are common when you have C-PTSD. Your mind is stuck in a fight or flight state, which makes it extremely difficult to regulate and calm your system.
• Avoidance. Avoiding places, people, and things that activate memories of the traumatic events. Making excuses not to go places where the event occurred or not seeing people associated with the event. 
• Flashbacks. Feelings of being back in the event or having dreams of the traumatic event. 
• Loss of Sense of Self. No longer feeling like oneself or changing drastically after a traumatic event, feeling negative about self.
• Challenges with Emotional Regulation. Inability to control one’s emotional state, lashing out, or feeling like you’re living in a constant state of chaos.
• Relationship Issues. Difficulty making and maintaining relationships. Often feeling lonely, with the desire for companionship, but the inability to create real connection or trust others. 
• Behavioral Changes. Acting impulsively, becoming more aggressive, acting out sexually, or engaging in self-destructive behavior. People often use adverse behaviors as forms of attempting to cope with trauma. These behaviors, like substance use, can then result in addictions, compounding the problem.
• Feeling Physically Ill. Feeling physical illnesses without any apparent cause for being sick. This illness may include stomach pain, headaches, nausea, or body aches.

Your Best Treatment for Complex Trauma

The nature of C-PTSD and exposure to multiple ongoing traumas make treating it challenging. The treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, the closest related condition, may not be effective for people with C-PTSD. In addition, they have many co-occurring conditions, meaning more than one mental health condition exists simultaneously. Despite the challenges, your best treatment for complex trauma is available.

“People are different. The best treatment for complex trauma depends on your individual needs, but there are various treatments out there that can help reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for people who experience C-PTSD,” Mark stated. “It’s vital to find a mental health professional who you feel open to sharing your experiences with so that they can guide you to the best form of treatment or mixture of treatments for you.”

Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR accesses adverse experiences and memories to bring forth resolution. During treatment, the client will process the traumatic experience while focusing on a lateral eye stimulus. It causes new associations to develop with the memory reducing the distress. 

During the eight-stage process, the client will gain more cognitive insight into how the traumatic events led to negative thoughts and unwanted reactions to the memories, how current situations lead to distress and reducing those triggers, and gain new skills for facing future events. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT helps improve quality of life and functioning. CBT therapists help clients change unhelpful thinking patterns that have led to adverse behaviors by developing coping skills that relieve symptoms. 

Treatment strategies include recognizing how unhelpful thoughts have created problems and how to reevaluate those thoughts. It also helps clients gain insight into behavior, develop problem-solving skills to cope with difficulties, and develop a greater sense of self. The client will work toward facing their fears, role play potentially challenging situations, and learn to calm their mind and body. 

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

DBT works with individuals who experience difficulties regulating their behavior when they have intense emotions. From the root of combing opposing ideas, DBT therapists assist clients in understanding the reality of their behavior in their lives to help them change their unhelpful behaviors. 

Trauma-Informed Therapy

Trauma-informed therapy requires therapists to implement treatment without retraumatizing the client. The therapist must understand trauma and how clients experience it to provide successful trauma-informed therapy. The therapist must follow core principles outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These principles are:

• Safety. The therapist must provide a physically and therapeutically safe environment for the client. 
• Trustworthiness and Transparency. For the client to feel safe, the therapist must be open and honest about the therapeutic process. 
• Peer Support. Integrating the stories of peers who have experienced similar trauma helps clients feel safe and trusting of the process, allowing them to be hopeful about their own recovery. 
• Collaboration and Mutuality. Therapists are partners in the process who assist clients in their healing journey. 
• Empowerment, Voice, and Choice. Clients should be empowered to voice their own beliefs and make choices about their healing process. 
• Cultural, Historical, and Gender Awareness. Therapists should approach each counseling relationship with cultural humility to not retraumatize their clients. 

“Integrative Life Center’s core treatment philosophy revolves around heart-centered, trauma-focused care,” Mark said. “Everything we do at ILC is with the understanding and awareness of trauma and how it impacts people. Helping individuals understand how their mind and body automatically responds to trauma helps empower them so they can move forward with learning to cope.”

Brainspotting

Brainspotting uses the client’s visual field to locate spots where there is unprocessed trauma in the subcortical portion of the brain. Finding the spots in the brain allows the therapist to bypass the conscious mind to access the brain’s subcortical emotional and body-based parts to relieve the underlying trauma that causes anxiety, depression, and other behavioral challenges. 

Comprehensive Resource Model Therapy (CRM)

CRM works with the purest and healthiest parts of the client’s self by working on the midbrain/brainstem of the client in a neuro-biologically based treatment. Working with the midbrain/brainstem allows the client’s higher consciousness and the healthiest parts of themselves to thrive. 

C-PTSD and Co-Occurring Conditions

People who experience C-PTSD often experience co-occurring conditions that may need to be treated with C-PTSD. Co-occurring conditions are those that happen at the same time as another disorder.

Common co-occurring conditions with C-PTSD are:

• Substance Use Disorder is when a person’s pathological pattern of behaviors changes due to substance use. It is common for people to attempt to treat trauma symptoms by self-medicating.
• Dissociation can be flashbacks, where the person feels they are reliving a traumatic event. They become completely unaware of their present surroundings. 
• Borderline Personality Disorder typically begins in early adulthood. It is when a person has a warped view of themselves and others, causing them difficulty functioning in their daily life.
• Sleep problems may include insomnia or excessive sleeping. 

“It’s not unusual for people to experience more than one disorder simultaneously. For example, depression and anxiety frequently go hand-in-hand,” Mark said. “That’s one reason it’s important to work with a mental health professional to determine what’s happening and the best approaches to treating it.”

How Integrative Life Center Can Help

Integrative Life Center offers trauma-informed mental health treatment that focuses on the whole person through connection with a trusted counselor who will walk with the client on their healing journey. ILC offers various trauma treatments and customizes the treatment you receive to your individual needs. For more information or to start treatment, contact ILC.

The post The Best Treatment for Complex Trauma appeared first on Integrative Life Center.

source https://integrativelifecenter.com/the-best-treatment-for-complex-trauma/

What is Student Trauma?

For many students, college is a fun experience full of lifelong friendships, lasting memories, and expanding knowledge for your future career. It also can be stressful, challenging, and traumatic. Some students experience traumatic events in college that leave them feeling uncertain about their future and unsafe in the world. Student trauma is a real concern that can have a lasting impact on a person’s well-being long after college graduation.

What is Student Trauma?

Student trauma is anything that happens to a student that causes them to believe they are in danger and triggers their fight-or-flight response. Trauma can be a deeply distressing, disturbing, or dangerous experience or a series of stressful life happenings. 

Some students come to college already having experienced trauma like bullying, parental neglect, and financial instability. Others experience traumatic events like sexual assault, car wrecks, or domestic abuse during college. 

“We know that about 30% of children experience a traumatic experience before they’re 18. Those children bring those experiences to college with them,” said Sheena Miller, LPC-MHSP, Lead Therapist at Integrative Life Center. “Then students are exposed to traumatic events when they’re in college, potentially building on trauma they already experienced or creating new traumatic emotions.” 

Trauma students may experience before college:

• Adverse Childhood Experiences
• Domestic violence
• Death of a loved one and grief
• Physical injury
• Car accidents
• Poverty
• Racism
• Bullying
• Food insecurity
• Substance use

Common traumatic events that occur during college include:

• Sexual assault
• Domestic abuse
• Loss of relationship
• Death of a loved one and grief
• Witnessing a life-threatening event 
• Toxic stress
• Addiction
• Terminal illness 
• Car accidents

“Life doesn’t stop in college. In fact, it expands. That means students are likely to experience traumatic events themselves or experience distress after learning about something traumatic happening to a loved one,” Sheena said. “Bonds form quickly in college, and hearing about something traumatic happening to your roommate or classmate can be quite disturbing.”

The Overall Impact of Trauma

Everyone responds differently to trauma. Some people experience a traumatic event, process it emotionally, and move on. Others may take longer to adjust after the traumatic experience, and some can’t adjust, resulting in them experiencing emotional trauma symptoms. 

Symptoms of emotional trauma may include:

• Insomnia or excessive sleeping
• Being easily startled
• Bodily aches and pains
• Changes in appetite
• Rapid heartbeat 
• Trembling
• Gastrointestinal concerns
• Headaches
• Memory loss
• Trouble concentrating
• Flashbacks
• Nightmares
• Confusion
• Anxiety attacks
• Dissociating (feeling disconnected from your own body)
• Suicidal ideation 
• Nervousness
• Feelings of impending danger or extreme fear
• Depression
• Feeling overwhelmed 
• Loss of enjoyment 
• Hopelessness

Symptoms of emotional trauma are unlikely to disappear. If left untreated, trauma is likely to worsen.

Impact of Trauma on the Ability to Learn

Trauma changes how students approach their academics and negatively impacts their learning process. A student might have difficulty staying awake or joining in on class discussions. Student trauma can impact assignments, projects, grades, and attendance. 

While they are physically sitting in the classroom, a student experiencing trauma may be mentally checked out, with their mind focused elsewhere. 

A student who feels anxiety from their traumatic experience may begin to seclude themselves. 

Overall, student trauma impacts learning by decreasing the student’s cognitive function, causing a lack of motivation, and making them have trouble comprehending and recalling information.

“Classes and learning are likely at the bottom of a student’s priority list when they’re experiencing emotional trauma,” Miller stated. “They may not even see the point in continuing with the education they wanted so much now that the world seems like an unsafe and broken place. Punishing students with failing grades or attendance policies isn’t the answer when a student is in the midst of a mental health crisis.” 

Impact of Trauma on Mental Health

Transitioning into college can be taxing on a student’s mental health. Experiencing a traumatic event once they arrive on campus can take a heavy toll on one’s mental health and lead to depression, extreme worry and fear, and trauma disorders. 

Trauma can impact mental health, causing:

• Anxiety and depression
• Difficulty with mood regulation 
• Low self-esteem 
• Trouble communicating feelings
• Extreme fear and worrying
• An inability to adjust 

Identifying Student Trauma

While some students express their trauma more outwardly, others are reserved and attempt to hide their emotions. Trauma impacts people differently, and every person responds uniquely to traumatic events. But there are some common signs to look for to determine whether a student may be experiencing emotional trauma and need help.

Physical symptoms

Emotional trauma symptoms can manifest physically. Trauma can lead a student to be continuously sick so much that it causes pain and soreness throughout their body and changes their overall appearance and demeanor. These physical ailments can lead a student to miss class frequently and potentially continuously seek medical treatment. 

Behavioral Cues

Experiencing trauma can create new behavioral responses that don’t always benefit the student. Trauma can lead someone to be aggressive, self-destructive, and impulsive. It also can lead to self-harm, substance use, and suicidal ideation. These behavioral cues can signal to you that a student needs help. 

Behavioral cues to look for include:

• Angry outbursts
• Aggression and impatience
• Disruptive actions
• Displaying guilt and shame
• Self-destructive behavior
• Impulsiveness 
• Hyper alertness
• An inability to complete tasks
• Neglecting responsibilities
• Risky behavior
• Alcohol or substance use
• Signs of self-harm

Social Interaction

Living in constant fight or flight, students will begin to act differently, approach others more intensely, or completely seclude themselves. They may withdraw from social situations that they previously enjoyed. Or they may cling to a person or group of people. Students experiencing emotional trauma also may have difficulty connecting with others. Major changes in a student’s social interactions may indicate they’re experiencing emotional health concerns.

“If you notice that a student just doesn’t seem like themselves… isn’t acting the way you know them to behave, it’s time to check in,” Miller said. “They may be trying to get your attention, or they may not even recognize how much the traumatic event is affecting them.” 

How Educators Can Address Student Trauma

When a student comes to college, their support network grows beyond their loved ones to include educators and administrations. These support networks need the right tools to help address student trauma and provide the proper assistance to those in need. 

College doesn’t have to be a lonely experience. Try extending an olive branch and creating a safe academic space for students to prosper. While you may not know what happens in a student’s life, you can still assist when they’re experiencing mental health concerns. 

If you think a student may be experiencing trauma or another mental health issue, ask to speak privately with them. Tell them the specific differences you’ve noticed in their behavior and ask them if they’re OK or if they need help. If they need assistance, lead them to the campus’s counseling office. If your campus doesn’t offer mental health services or they feel uncomfortable seeking help on campus, direct them to the right person on campus to connect them with off-campus mental health assistance.

“As an educator, you’re not a mental health professional. It’s not your job, nor do you likely have the skills necessary, to help a student heal,” Miller stated. “Still, you’re on the frontlines in recognizing when a student needs help. Then it’s your role to lead them to the assistance they need. You can’t force a student to get help, but you can make it easy for them if they want or need assistance.”

Integrative Life Center Can Help

Through our holistic and evidence-based trauma treatment, Integrative Life Center creates a personalized plan of recovery for each client to help them overcome trauma. If you or a student you know needs help with emotional trauma or another mental health disorder, contact us. We’re here to help.

The post What is Student Trauma? appeared first on Integrative Life Center.

source https://integrativelifecenter.com/what-is-student-trauma/

What is Brainspotting and How Does It Work?

Mind-body therapies like brainspotting are popular with mental health professionals and their clients, and research supports their value and effectiveness. Even people familiar with mind-body therapies may be yet to learn about this therapeutic approach. You may wonder, “What is brainspotting?”

What is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting is an effective holistic approach to treatment for trauma and other disorders. The method is sometimes compared to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). There are some similarities, but brainspotting is a more recently developed technique.

The deep emotions caused by trauma can be challenging to resolve. When people don’t treat trauma, it can result in various mental health concerns. People can develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety disorders, and other complex forms of mental distress.

Brainspotting works to reprocess negative experiences (trauma) that are stored in the memory. It helps reduce even extreme symptoms of trauma. 

Psychotherapist Dr. David Grand created brainspotting, also known as BSP, early in the 21st century. Grand designed BSP specifically to help treat survivors of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. 

While using EMDR, Grand noticed his clients sometimes appeared to be “stuck” in a certain spot, which Grand would later identify as a “brain spot.” This experience inspired him to develop BSP.

Grand identified his clients’ stuck reactions as “frozen maladaptive homeostasis.” Human bodies naturally seek stability, but a “frozen” state is unhelpful to healing. Brainspotting attempts to help people move past their stuck places, so they can process and release their trauma. 

Today, professionals use the technique to treat symptoms of PTSD and other forms of trauma as well as other mental health concerns. Brainspotting focuses on the mind-body connection. It may complement other holistic therapies.

How Does Brainspotting Work?

Simply put, brainspotting relies on the idea that where you look affects how you feel. It can be true in a practical sense. Looking at a healthy garden makes you feel differently than looking at a pile of trash. But the theory behind brainspotting goes deeper. A “brain spot” is a point in the person’s field of vision that helps them process trauma by tapping into the body’s central nervous system. 

Clinicians refer to brainspotting and other mind-body therapies as “bottom-up” forms of therapy. “Top-down” techniques like traditional talk therapy begin by looking at what is going on in a person’s mind. A bottom-up approach begins by releasing stress in the body.

Brainspotting uses the idea that trauma can affect the part of the brain in charge of hearing, sleep, vision, and motor control. That part is called the midbrain. Trauma can cause the midbrain to freeze temporarily to save the body’s resources in case fight or flight becomes needed.

This alertness is helpful when real danger is present. But the body doesn’t know how to distinguish between imagined or remembered trauma and the real thing. Brainspotting can help you move out of a frozen state without spending many therapy hours talking about your experiences and past.

3 main steps to the brainspotting process:

1. Identifying unconscious signals of emotion
2. Processing physical and emotional symptoms
3. Releasing through awareness and acknowledgment

Much of the process relies on the person’s ability to identify what is happening in their body. The BSP therapist’s role is to guide the person through the phases of therapy using an organized series of steps. The process includes techniques to help people move through distress.

“Brainspotting is an noninvasive method of helping people with the symptoms resulting from emotional trauma,” said Integrative Life Center’s Clinical Manager, Sheena Miller, LPC-MHSP. “We have seen brainspotting work for many clients and highly recommend this therapeutic approach.”

Conditions and Symptoms Brainspotting Can Improve

Brainspotting is still a new therapeutic technique. But it has quickly gained respect due to the fast results it can provide. 

Brainspotting works to improve symptoms of:

• Trauma 
• Anxiety and panic disorders
• Stress-related illnesses
• Anger issues
• Depression
• Dissociation
• Substance use disorders
• Physical ailments
• Attention disorders
• Mood disorders
• Phobias
• Chronic physical issues
• Memory problems

“Brainspotting helps with various mental health concerns, including assisting people in overcoming phobias, but it’s best known for the treatment of trauma and related symptoms,” Miller said. 

Benefits of Brainspotting

For many people, the most significant benefit of brainspotting is that they don’t need to spend a lot of time sharing details about their trauma to relieve trauma-related symptoms. Talking about traumatic experiences can be an obstacle to treatment for some people. Bringing up painful memories forces them to relive difficult experiences and can re-traumatize them.

Brainspotting does ask you to recall memories and focus on the feelings they cause. But you don’t need to spend hours in therapy talking about your past or the details of painful events.

Other benefits of brainspotting include:

• Improved emotional regulation
• Increased self-awareness
• Stress and anxiety relief
• Fewer negative thoughts
• Less anxiety and lowered feelings of distress
• Healing from stored trauma
• Reduced physical pain
• Improved sleep
• Increased energy
• Eliminating fear
• Long-lasting results

Brainspotting is also a cost-effective form of therapy. Traditional talk therapy can go on for many months or even years, but you can complete brainspotting sessions within weeks. Each person’s experience is different, but many people feel improvement in their symptoms after the first session.

In addition, brainspotting is a flexible technique that therapists can use to treat many issues. They can use it as a stand-alone therapy or include it as part of a more comprehensive treatment program.

Is Brainspotting Effective?

Because it’s a relatively new technique, research on the effectiveness of brainspotting is still limited. But studies show the therapy to be at least as effective as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or EMDR, which are considered quite helpful for treating various disorders. 

An increasing body of evidence shows that the body stores trauma. 

Trauma can result in physical or psychological symptoms, such as:

• Distressing memories
• Physical pain and ailments
• Isolation and withdrawal
• Reliving trauma repeatedly
• Low self-esteem
• Depression
• Anxiety disorders and panic attacks
• Feeling hopeless
• Memory loss and other cognitive problems
• Lack of emotions
• Insomnia
• Self-destructive behaviors
• Guilt and shame
• Suicidal thoughts
• Self-harming behaviors

Brainspotting activates the areas in the brain where trauma is stored. It allows you to process and release painful memories. You may feel a shift in your emotions and body during and after a brainspotting session. These shifts can continue for several months after completing a course of sessions.

Is brainspotting right for you? If you have experienced intense trauma or many traumas, you may benefit from this form of therapy. It is designed to release unprocessed trauma and give quick results when compared to other types of treatment.

Core Principles of Brainspotting Sessions

The core principles of brainspotting are similar to the core principles of all types of talk therapy. The client’s needs and responses are what lead sessions, not the therapist’s assumptions or timeline. 

Brainspotting requires intuitive skills and a willingness to use simple mindfulness practices. Therapists must empower people to work through sessions at their own pace.

There is no wrong or right way to feel during or after brainspotting. It’s a highly individualized process influenced by many factors, starting with the severity of trauma symptoms. It’s crucial that you feel comfortable telling your therapist how you feel.

What Happens in a Brainspotting Session?

During your first brainspotting session, the therapist will take some time to get to know you and your reasons for seeking therapy. You might not get to the actual brainspotting technique during the first session. 

The first meeting may feel more like a session of traditional talk therapy. A good relationship is needed for the therapist to develop an effective treatment plan.

When you begin a brainspotting session, the therapist may play bilateral sound music. This music moves from one ear to the other when you listen to it with headphones. They may also lead you through a guided relaxation technique. 

Exercises like these help people feel more at ease. They prepare them to handle the difficult memories and feelings that may come up during the session.

Once you relax and are in a state of mindfulness, the therapist will ask you to briefly discuss a topic that causes you distress. For example, you might talk about the traumatic event or an upsetting experience related to the trauma. For brainspotting to work, it is necessary to focus on a specific issue you wish to resolve.  

As a mind-body therapy, brainspotting helps people become more aware of how their body responds to thoughts. While remaining focused on the traumatic memory, you will identify a place in your body that feels stressed, in pain, or uncomfortable. 

Your therapist may ask you to locate emotions hiding in your physical body and describe how they feel. You will rank these feelings on a scale from one to 10, with 10 being the most upsetting and one being neutral. This ranking will be a baseline to measure the improvement in symptoms.

Next, the therapist will help guide you to a “brain spot.” This place is where your eyes naturally focus as the physical sensations become stronger. They may use a pencil, a pointer, or their finger and have you track the object as they move it back and forth in your field of vision.

As you move your eyes, you may notice a painful memory or strong emotion arise. It’s a “brain spot.” While you focus on the spot, some reflexive actions may take place, including:

• Yawning
• Coughing
• Muscle twitching
• Facial tics
• Pupil dilation or constriction
• Eyelids twitching

You may not be aware of these reactions, but the BSP therapist is trained to recognize the signals. At this point, your therapist will help you access and process the feelings that arise as you focus on the uncomfortable area of the body. Paying close attention to your physical cues, the therapist may ask you to fixate your eyes on other brain spots. 

At this point, it becomes your job to allow and observe your emotions without judgment or trying to control them. Brainspotting encourages people to bring their full attention to the moment, even if it’s uncomfortable. 

You may experience distress or other uncomfortable physical sensations. Your therapist will guide and support you as you allow your feelings to process. 

At the end of the session, you can share any thoughts or feelings you became aware of during brainspotting. You will then rate your level of discomfort once again. Ideally, the rating will be lower than the initial number.

Most people receive one to three brainspotting sessions. Your therapist may recommend a follow-up session or another type of therapy to supplement the treatment. 

You may opt to continue with the same therapist and a more traditional form of therapy or wait and see how effective the brainspotting session was. Many people continue to feel improvement in their symptoms for several weeks after a session. 

What to Expect After Brainspotting

Many people experience an immediate improvement in symptoms after only one session, but some don’t. Both are expected reactions to therapy, and every person’s experience is different. 

After the session, you may experience:

• Physical and emotional fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Delayed speech or difficulty forming words clearly
• Temporary increase in anxiety or depression
• Feeling tearful or moody
• Agitation or anger
• Delayed emotional or physical improvement

What is brainspotting supposed to help with? The point of this therapy is to release trauma, but people must first uncover buried or unresolved trauma before releasing it. 

Brainspotting may leave you feeling emotionally vulnerable and physically tired. With continued sessions, uncomfortable sensations decrease. People report feeling a sense of calm and lasting release from the emotional issues that brought them to therapy in the first place.

How to Start Brainspotting Therapy

Brainspotting therapy requires specialized training. The Brainspotting Training Institute reports that there are about 13,000 brainspotting-certified therapists across the country. 

“Brainspotting is a mental health treatment. Therefore, you want to make sure that the person treating you is credentialed to do so,” Miller said. “At ILC, we have therapists who are certified in brainspotting and have experience successfully treating patients with this approach.”

Therapists must do two courses and at least 50 hours of practicing with clients. To find a properly certified therapist in this technique, browse therapists online by specialty. For your safety and to get the best results, choose only a credentialed brainspotting therapist.

Some questions to ask a potential therapist include:

• What kind of training and credentialing do you have in brainspotting?
• In your experience, is brainspotting an effective technique for my issues?
• How many sessions do people receive on average?
• What is the cost of a session?
• Do you accept my insurance coverage?
• What, if any, other types of therapy do you combine with brainspotting?
• After I complete brainspotting, do you offer long-term forms of therapy I can participate in?

If your initial conversation with a therapist doesn’t feel right, don’t be discouraged. Therapists must have a good working rapport with the people they treat. It’s common for people to interview more than one professional before finding the therapist they feel comfortable with.

Brainspotting at ILC

Brainspotting can help treat anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other trauma-related issues. But it should only be done by a qualified professional like the ones at Integrative Life Center.

If you think brainspotting or other mind-body therapies could be effective in helping you improve your mental health, contact Integrative Life Center today for more information.

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