On Sunday May 2nd, the L.A. Derby Dolls, Southern California’s premiere all-female, banked track roller derby league, will lead a skating clinic for the Children of the Night as part of the Big Sunday, the annual volunteer weekend that takes place across Southern California.
Children of the Night is a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing and empowering children who have been forced into prostitution. This is the second year that they have worked with L.A. Derby Dolls on Big Sunday.
After skating, community service is the most important thing that the L.A. Derby Dolls do. The Dolls have worked with the Human Rights Campaign, St. Vincent Medical Center (for a women’s health and wellness clinic), After School All Stars, and M.E.N.D, among many other projects, and were honored in 2009 as a Treasure of Los Angeles by the Central City Association (an honor that puts the Dolls in the company of the L.A. Dodgers and Magic Johnson).
Big Sunday is an annual weekend that takes place in the spring when thousands of people from Southern California, of all ages and all backgrounds, work together at hundreds of nonprofits, schools and other agencies that need their help. Big Sunday Weekend is one of the largest regional community service events in America. Posts Tagged ‘trauma’
Roller Derby Skaters Lead Skate Clinic for Children of the Night
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010On Sunday May 2nd, the L.A. Derby Dolls, Southern California’s premiere all-female, banked track roller derby league, will lead a skating clinic for the Children of the Night as part of the Big Sunday, the annual volunteer weekend that takes place across Southern California.
Children of the Night is a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing and empowering children who have been forced into prostitution. This is the second year that they have worked with L.A. Derby Dolls on Big Sunday.
After skating, community service is the most important thing that the L.A. Derby Dolls do. The Dolls have worked with the Human Rights Campaign, St. Vincent Medical Center (for a women’s health and wellness clinic), After School All Stars, and M.E.N.D, among many other projects, and were honored in 2009 as a Treasure of Los Angeles by the Central City Association (an honor that puts the Dolls in the company of the L.A. Dodgers and Magic Johnson).
Big Sunday is an annual weekend that takes place in the spring when thousands of people from Southern California, of all ages and all backgrounds, work together at hundreds of nonprofits, schools and other agencies that need their help. Big Sunday Weekend is one of the largest regional community service events in America. Brave Journalism and a Wake Up Call about Trauma from Gaza
Sunday, February 15th, 2009
We often hear stories of war torn countries and starving children. It seems so far away and foreign that it's difficult to remember that there are real people, children included, with real feelings who are being traumatized and living sub-standard, terrifying lives. This is like child abuse magnified. The impact of this trauma is far reaching and long-term.
I believe that when we calculate the cost of war, we need to factor these traumatized children and their damaged lives into the picture. Notice the intensity of emotion and expression that this child in the video displays as she describes wearing gas soaked clothes, eating food that tastes like gas and living in terror everyday of her life.
I am no expert on trauma but I work closely with people who are and I can speak to the long-term impact of living in an unpredictable, violent, chaotic environment as a child. If you have experienced trauma and are looking for a healer, I would recommend Yaffa Balsam, James Hyman or Tina Tessina. Each person brings his or her own expertise into the mix. Balsam and Tessina are both licensed therapists, James Hyman is a shamanic healer who does Deep Emotional Release Bodywork.
I Saw a Healer – Something Unusual Occured
Friday, February 13th, 2009
A couple of weeks ago I went to see a Shaman healer in Los Angeles. The truth is, I've been visiting James Hyman sporadically for the past 10 years. But because I was so concerned about what people would think, I kept my powerful tool a secret.
I originally went to see James Hyman for Deep Emotional Release Bodywork because I had tried talk therapy but it seemed that no matter how much I talked, there was always this sense of panic, fear and emptiness in the pit of my gut. I literally felt stuck.
In my first session with James I released more emotion than I even knew existed. The sense of freedom was so great that I told one friend, then another, then another. After having every single one of them come back permanently renewed, I can no longer keep a secret. In fact, I've even begun the process to become an Emotional Release Bodywork practitioner myself.
Now, I want to clarify what I mean when I say "something unusual" happened.
The first time I went to see James, he did a variety of energy healing techniques and at some point lightly touched my upper right shoulder. I sobbed and howled although he was barely touching me. I didn't know what was happening.
A few months later, I had a heart to heart with my mom and some how she admits to me that the reason my right arm was in a cast at age 2 is because my step-dad broke it. (See earlier blog for details).
It was much later that I had an ah-ha.
The same arm my step-dad broke is the arm I howled about when James did his healing. Is it possible that my body stored the trauma of my broken arm for 40 years?
I will tell you one thing. I have no conscious memory of the event. So, even after years of talk therapy and 12-step groups and all that good stuff, I never talked about my broken arm because I didn't even know it existed, but evidently, my body did.
Since that healing, a burden was lifted from me. I feel lighter and freer. This is why I want to share this work with others. It is so much more effective and speedy than traditional therapy when it comes to healing trauma and releasing blocked emotions.
If you're one of those people who's "tried everything" or if you feel like your emotions are blocked and you can't break free on your own, you might want to try this technique.
James Hyman is conducting a workshop in Los Angeles on February 21, 2009 from 9:30-5:30. He also sees private clients. Call Barbara, at (323) 684-6157, or (800) 700-6420 to set an appointment. I have added this powerful technique to my own hypnosis practice in Long Beach. Call (562) 305-3434 to schedule an appointment with me.
Now, I want to clarify what I mean when I say "something unusual" happened.
The first time I went to see James, he did a variety of energy healing techniques and at some point lightly touched my upper right shoulder. I sobbed and howled although he was barely touching me. I didn't know what was happening.
A few months later, I had a heart to heart with my mom and some how she admits to me that the reason my right arm was in a cast at age 2 is because my step-dad broke it. (See earlier blog for details).
It was much later that I had an ah-ha.
The same arm my step-dad broke is the arm I howled about when James did his healing. Is it possible that my body stored the trauma of my broken arm for 40 years?
I will tell you one thing. I have no conscious memory of the event. So, even after years of talk therapy and 12-step groups and all that good stuff, I never talked about my broken arm because I didn't even know it existed, but evidently, my body did.
Since that healing, a burden was lifted from me. I feel lighter and freer. This is why I want to share this work with others. It is so much more effective and speedy than traditional therapy when it comes to healing trauma and releasing blocked emotions.
If you're one of those people who's "tried everything" or if you feel like your emotions are blocked and you can't break free on your own, you might want to try this technique.
James Hyman is conducting a workshop in Los Angeles on February 21, 2009 from 9:30-5:30. He also sees private clients. Call Barbara, at (323) 684-6157, or (800) 700-6420 to set an appointment. I have added this powerful technique to my own hypnosis practice in Long Beach. Call (562) 305-3434 to schedule an appointment with me. Tom Arnold Molested as Child – Stars in Movie about Child Abuse
Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008Watch CBS Videos Online Tom Arnold stars in Gardens of the Night video to help spread awarness about child abuse and the after-effects. Here is a trailer for the movie:
Object Relations, A Course in Miracles and Creating Illusions
Sunday, November 16th, 2008
I'm helping my friend with her doctoral dissertation. The important thing I want to say about it right now is that its on the topic of how Object Relations relates to eating disorders. I also need to say I read A Course in Miracles everyday. The reason for the above two sentences will make sense in a moment. Especially if you know that both of these schools of thought believe that we create our reality based on our pain and fear.
I'm going to keep it brief because the truth is, I've got enough to say about this that I can post one blog a day for at least a year and not run out of topics.
In short, I've been a walking victim for 42 or more years and I made it all up. Here's how:
My mom and dad split up when I was 9 months old. He never wrote, called or sent child support. I made up a story about it. Here are the highlights:
*My dad doesn't love me
*If my own dad doesn't love me, I must be awful
*Nobody loves me
The rest of the story highlights are simply a reinforcement of above.
Well, according to the Object Relations theory, an off-shoot of Freudian psychotherapy, I created my dad as a "bad object". He hurt me, he abandonded me so I made up a story that basically "men cannot be trusted". I stuck to the story whether it was true or not.
If I had a bad guy in my life, I used it as evidence. If I had a good guy, I made a point of turning him into a bad guy, even if I had to make it up.
According to A Course in Miracles, we can't see reality because all we're seeing is a replay of our fears. The Course says we can surrender the illusion of fear to the Holy Spirit and have our sight restored.
So, that might have been what happened tonight.
Long story short, I have seen my dad in person 3 times. The last time was over a year ago when we decided to forgive each other and try to have a relationship. From that moment, the illusion began to crumble.
Tonight it came tumbling down.
After working on Sharareh's dissertation for 7 hours I came home and saw a book on my table. A book titled "Victory Over the Darkness." A book my dad bought for me on Amazon.com and had shipped to my house.
It hit me. My dad is in my life now. He loves me. He wants me to forgive him. He drove across country to see me. But still, the remanents of the old story linger in the recesses of my mind.
Tonight, I thought: "What if I just let the story go right now?" "What if I had a new story about a miraculous reunification?" "What if this story could help me AND other people?"
That seemed logical. So I dropped the story and it felt pretty good.
P.S. If this story did help you, I would recommend that you subscribe to this blog because I haven't even begun to tell it. Stay tuned.
P.P.S. Above is a picture of me and my dad at Denny's last year when we met for the 3rd time ever and decided to forgive and let go.
I'm going to keep it brief because the truth is, I've got enough to say about this that I can post one blog a day for at least a year and not run out of topics.
In short, I've been a walking victim for 42 or more years and I made it all up. Here's how:
My mom and dad split up when I was 9 months old. He never wrote, called or sent child support. I made up a story about it. Here are the highlights:
*My dad doesn't love me
*If my own dad doesn't love me, I must be awful
*Nobody loves me
The rest of the story highlights are simply a reinforcement of above.
Well, according to the Object Relations theory, an off-shoot of Freudian psychotherapy, I created my dad as a "bad object". He hurt me, he abandonded me so I made up a story that basically "men cannot be trusted". I stuck to the story whether it was true or not.
If I had a bad guy in my life, I used it as evidence. If I had a good guy, I made a point of turning him into a bad guy, even if I had to make it up.
According to A Course in Miracles, we can't see reality because all we're seeing is a replay of our fears. The Course says we can surrender the illusion of fear to the Holy Spirit and have our sight restored.
So, that might have been what happened tonight.
Long story short, I have seen my dad in person 3 times. The last time was over a year ago when we decided to forgive each other and try to have a relationship. From that moment, the illusion began to crumble.
Tonight it came tumbling down.
After working on Sharareh's dissertation for 7 hours I came home and saw a book on my table. A book titled "Victory Over the Darkness." A book my dad bought for me on Amazon.com and had shipped to my house.
It hit me. My dad is in my life now. He loves me. He wants me to forgive him. He drove across country to see me. But still, the remanents of the old story linger in the recesses of my mind.
Tonight, I thought: "What if I just let the story go right now?" "What if I had a new story about a miraculous reunification?" "What if this story could help me AND other people?"
That seemed logical. So I dropped the story and it felt pretty good.
P.S. If this story did help you, I would recommend that you subscribe to this blog because I haven't even begun to tell it. Stay tuned.
P.P.S. Above is a picture of me and my dad at Denny's last year when we met for the 3rd time ever and decided to forgive and let go. Trauma Makes a Lasting Impact Yet There Is Hope
Tuesday, May 20th, 2008In a previous blog I told you I might post a picture of me when I was 2 with a broken arm. Well, I decided to follow through on my promise. Mainly because I want to make a point about child abuse and trauma and I want the world to start doing something more about it. This is a big job that needs awareness and dedication to get it done.
Here I am at age 2 with a broken arm. I didn't fall. It wasn't an "accident." My step-father broke it. This is one of many traumatizing events that happened in my household over a period of 16 years. I moved out and became homeless at 16 which was preferable to living with my mom and (second) step dad.
I'm not telling you this so you'll feel sorry for me. I've spent my whole life in the victim mode without even knowing it and now I want out.
The purpose of this post is to create an awareness of the lasting impact of abuse and trauma. Even if you just look at it from a scientific, brain research point of view, when severe trauma happens in the body the brain reacts and responds in the way that is most effective at that time. It tries to protect you. It builds assumptions and associations (called schemas) to help you prevent future trauma.
Mine were things like: man with beer on his breath = dangerous, adults = do not trust them, behavior = do what they tell you to do and you won't get hurt, "solution" = consume (food, drugs, alcohol, retail therapy whatever) and it makes you feel better for a moment or two (in fact, sometimes the "treat" after a particularly traumatizing event was to go get ice cream or a new pair of shoes.) To make it even worse, I didn't have any other stories to compare and contrast my story against except T.V. We moved a lot, we didn't have close friends, people didn't come to our house and we didn't go to theirs. We didn't even associate with our own family.
It's basic cause and effect. Over time, trauma, worry and fear become habits. The repetition of fearful thoughts and events build neural pathways in the brain. You literally get addicted to the brain chemicals and when they aren't there, you look for some way to get them. As a result of trauma, dysfunctional seems normal and normal seems weird. Once you're hooked on your brain chemicals, you don't feel right unless you have your fix. This is pretty much the explanation for self-sabotage.
I realize now, more than ever after reading Ekhart Tolle that I created a life of victimhood based on the associations I built in childhood. My entire mission in life became finding evidence that supported these beliefs: "Men are bad, authority can't be trusted, you have to do everything yourself, do it the way they want you to do it or you'll suffer, people won't like you the way you are." I was a "good girl." I followed the rules and it nearly killed me.
I know I'm not the only one. I had friends, they had friends, we shared stories. As a professional, I've worked with battered women, at-risk youth, drug addicts, ex-cons, sexual assault survivors and foster youth. Child abuse has created an entire society of traumatized kids. Sometimes we call them "at-risk" youth, other times we call them demons but many times, they are doing the best they can based on what they've learned in life up to this point. In my opinion, this issue needs to be addressed in a much larger and more effective way than it is right now. It is a job that requires a community approach if it is to be effective.
Many people who want to help become so overwhelmed that they can't help. In fact, I'll admit, because of my own childhood trauma, I eventually had to quit working with youth. I literally felt like I was going to lose my mind. But I still care and I want you to care and I want us to make a difference. Even if it just starts by doing our own healing and thereby breaking the cycle.
I used to be ashamed of my childhood and I blamed myself for not "getting over" it. I wanted to just move on and pretend it didn't happen and I thought I could just be strong. I went to lots of therapy and I thought I could get over it by talking about it, crying about it and writing about it. But it doesn't seem to work that way.
The truth is, many brain researchers have discovered that trauma is stored in an entirely different part of the brain (amygdala) than the part which is responsible for logic, thinking and talking (neo-cortex). Therefore, you can never talk enough to heal yourself of the trauma. There are many mind/body techniques available these days that are more powerful for healing trauma such as EMDR, Body Work, hypnosis and Somatic Experiencing.
Another powerful and self-administered technique for relieving anxiety and curing phobias is EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) they will send you a free download with step-by-step directions to do EFT, all you have to do is enter your name and e-mail address. They don't hound you at all. It's low-key yet highly effective.
If you can't afford or don't want to go to therapy, I found something that can help heal the effects of childhood trauma on the brain. It's called Holosynch and of everything I've ever tried in life this is the most effective in calming anxiety and expanding your mind beyond the limitations of a traumatic past. It's inexpensive and there are no harmful side-effects like there are with medication.
It seems that for so many years I was trapped in a cycle of survival and I didn't know how to get out. Now I am beginning to see the light and I want share information that might help others to heal their wounds as well. Centerpointe Research will send you a free Holosynch demo CD. If you've been impacted by trauma or you feel like you've "tried everything" and it didn't work, this CD is worth a listen. 
