My Stories
My blog and essays feature stories on healing from trauma, coping with disorder and practicing mindfulness
10-minute Journaling and Meditation Exercise
I remember when I first attempted meditation. I was living in LA. I was broke and directionless. I was surviving in fight-or-flight. I was scared and alone. And meditation started calling me—my soul started calling me—and over the last 20 years, meditation has helped me get myself back after suffering trauma. When I was in LA, I would sit on a travel neck pillow and try to breathe. But every time I did, I would cry. Sob. And my thoughts [...]
Taking Mental Health Breaks Over the Holidays (Plus 12 Tips)
Oh, the holidays. How I love them and feel overwhelmed by them all at the same time. And I’m sure I’m not alone. I often feel like the build up to the holidays is more fun than the actual holiday [...]
5 Tips for Using Tarot to Help Guide Your Intuition
Tarot has helped me follow my intuition for years. Sometimes it’s a decision that affects my day, like where I should and shouldn’t go, but other times, tarot has helped me when I’m dealing with more important life issues, like [...]
Trauma and Relationships: Taking Accountability for Our Actions (and Our Words) Plus 7 Steps
If you’ve ever suffered trauma, it can be easy to fall into the victim role in relationships. Always feeling like it’s someone else’s fault for the reasons we are suffering. Which makes it difficult to take accountability for our actions [...]
PTSD and Trauma: Feeling Violated (+8 Tips and a Recipe)
Right after it happened, I was in complete shock. I was angry. I was angry that it happened. I was angry with myself that I didn’t see it coming. That it wasn’t on my radar. But most of all, I [...]
PTSD and Trauma: The Magic of Setting (and Achieving) Goals (+10 Tips)
As a new mom, I’m finding it difficult to set and keep goals. Finding the time (and the mental capacity) to even think about my goals has been hard since having a baby, and when I have goals, meeting them [...]
Fear and Trauma: Noticing Signs of PTSD After Another Mass Shooting and 12 Tips to Help
This month’s blog is dedicated to the victims of the recent splash pad shooting in Rochester Hills, Michigan. May you heal swiftly and have the resources you need to fully recover and to feel safe. *** In the wake [...]
CPTSD, Fight-or-flight Response, PTSD and Trauma: Practicing Meditation to Reconnect to Yourself (+8 Tips)
I’ve been practicing meditation for close to 20 years. A practice that has changed my life. A practice that I call a practice because that’s what you have to do. You have to practice. Every day. It’s a commitment. [...]
Fight-or-flight Response and PTSD: Getting Back into Your Body (+7 Tips)
Experiencing trauma at 14 caused me to spend most of my adult life in a fight-or-flight response. My body was always on edge. Ready to fight or flee. Which has resulted in my body feeling tense. Achy. Painful. And has [...]
Agoraphobia, Fear and OCD: Learning to Leave the House Again (+3 Tips)
After having a baby two months ago, I’ve been on maternity leave and have barely left the house. Getting into a routine with my baby has consumed me. Days and nights have blurred together. I’ve been lucky if I remember [...]
Depression and Trauma: Recognizing the Importance of Self-care (+5 Tips)
I haven’t always understood the importance of self-care. After suffering trauma, every day was more like surviving than thriving and self-care became nonexistent. I loathed myself and didn’t take care of myself very well for decades. But after uncovering my [...]
Fear, OCD and Postpartum Depression: Reimagining Intrusive Thoughts (Plus 5 Tips)
I recently gave birth to our daughter, and while I love her more than I can explain, I haven’t loved the intrusive thoughts that have flooded my mind since. I’m used to having intrusive thoughts about myself. Sometimes I’ve even [...]
CPTSD, PTSD and Trauma: Managing Fear Triggers (Plus 6 Tricks)
My husband and I decided to take an adult, infant and child CPR class. While I’m eight months pregnant. And I had no idea how many fear triggers it was going to set off. To begin, the class was five [...]
“Loved reading this Jenna, what a great explanation of how your OT helped you. I have taken a few tips for a client of mine I am treating at the moment! Great post. Cheers!”
JAYNE OT