Tribute to Jesica Neufeld 1985-2022

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Written by Curtis Harman

Jesica Neufeld attended a presentation that the Schizophrenia Society's Partnership Program did for National Schizophrenia and Psychosis Awareness Day in May of 2013. The local media was there and interviewed audience members for the evening news. Jesica shared that she loved hearing these stories of recovery and wanted to join the team to share her story of recovery from schizophrenia. She said she could identify with the women and what they went through with their mental illnesses…

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How 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' Proves the Power of Connection in Healing Trauma.

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This whole writing is basically a massive spoiler for all things “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and “Star Wars” in general.

…Understanding that Obi-Wan likely has PTSD is helpful because it portrays what I believe is an important lesson. I have some theories to share, and I promise it all links up. It’s my opinion that when it comes to trauma, a part of what causes so much pain is that it disconnects us from ourselves and others…

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I Tried rTMS and This is What Happened

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Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or rTMS for short, has been around for quite a while. It is a mental health treatment that was developed in 1985. It hasn’t entered into mainstream practice in a lot of places just yet, but it is gaining popularity. Up until 2 years ago, I hadn’t heard of it either.

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This is Me, I Am Triggered

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Time stops.

My mind is now its’ own universe, everything else is foggy and distant. I feel too many emotions at once. They jumble around, bouncing off each other, competing for the top spot. I’m angry, sad, frightened, ashamed, and confused. I am in the danger of the past. My breathing is slow, almost imperceptible. My chest is tight and I’m running out of air. I feel trapped in place, unable to move. All reminiscent of back then.

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This Different Way of Seeing My C-PTSD Flight Response Blew My Mind

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I opened my eyes and the first thought that popped in my head was: “I do not want to get out of bed.” The classic morning refrain for us countless many. After 40 minutes of arguing with myself, I pushed my way toward my coffee pot. I then dragged out my yoga gear and propped open my computer. “Time for Zoom class,” I dutifully told myself, as I then clicked “join meeting.”

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How This ‘Ted Lasso’ Theme Relates to My Complex PTSD Healing Journey

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“Ted Lasso” is not a TV show that I would have chosen to watch on my own. In fact, until it was recommended to me, I somehow hadn’t even heard of it. It’s the stuff of delicious irony that I know myself well enough to recognize that even if I had come across this series, I can guess that I would have seen what looks like a goofy sports comedy and said, “pass.” I would have missed out. You see, “Ted Lasso” isn’t really about sports and while it’s certainly silly at times, it’s equally thoughtful.

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What It Actually Means When Someone Has Been ‘Triggered’.

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Long ago, I was having a lighthearted argument with my roommate and another friend. Eventually, I found myself feeling fed up, and I moved toward the front door in a semi-annoyed attempt to exit the apartment. By the time I’d gotten there, the two of them had stood up and were jokingly blocking me from leaving.

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This Complex PTSD Symptom Makes Trusting New People Hard

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No matter who you are or what your situation is, making the choice to trust someone new can be a tricky part of life. It’s worth noting that trust does come easier for some, and for others it can be much harder. I personally fall into the second category and I certainly have my reasons as to why trust is difficult for me.

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The C-PTSD Symptom You May Not Have Heard Of.

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You likely have heard of the term “flashback” before. In reference to mental illness, it generally involves a person having an intense re-experiencing of a past trauma, as though it were presently occurring. In C-PTSD flashbacks may differ in that they do not focus on one particular event or memory…

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3 Common Mental Health Phrases We Should Have Retired Long Ago.

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I am a mental health advocate, who does a lot of presentations. Often my conversations touch on the topic of stigma toward mental illness. I regularly refer to the language we use when talking about it, and how when compared to other illnesses it is regularly treated shamefully.

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