Rebecca Schaffner Rebecca Schaffner

New Seasons

Your mental health may vary as new seasons come and go. While spring and summer can represent a new beginning for some, they can also evoke a range of unfavorable feelings in others. Continuing to invest in yourself, practice self-care, and be gratitude can be a great start to overcoming those challenging emotions.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, practicing gratitude and self-appreciation techniques can help the reduction in depressive symptoms. Practicing gratitude methods can also reduce the feelings of stress and anxiety. A single act of thoughtful gratitude can make a big difference.

Start participating in gratitude acts. Start with a journal. Write it all down in a notebook or pad. It is helpful to jot down a few things you are thankful for each day. It can then develop into something therapeutic as you make observations and reflections that can make you feel appreciative when you are having a hard time. Make a list of things that made you smile, or write about four things you are grateful for and utilize every day. 

Invest into you. Make the greatest decisions for your mental well-being and look for support systems that can help you feel better and heal. Seek out for professional help as well.

At Invisible Wounds Therapy and Wellness, we understand that mental health and wellness are crucial components of overall wellbeing. We offer services for individuals who struggle with trauma and anxiety.

Our therapists, Rebecca Schaffner, Eygpt Buie,  Adria Grey, and Zacharia Kabia are here to help you on your healing journey. All therapists’ have special training in anxiety or trauma treatment. 

We prioritize your healing journey. Our team of therapists: Rebecca Schaffner, Eygpt Buie, Adria Grey, and Zacharia Kabia are here to offer support.

Rebecca’s Specialties:

  • First Responder Issues

  • PTSD

  • Anxiety

Egypt’s Specialties:

  • Anxiety 

  • Depression

  • GREEK (sorority/fraternity) trauma

Adria’  Specialties:

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Military Trauma

Zacharia’s Specialties:

  • Substance Use Disorders 

  • Trauma

  • Mood disorders

Start your journey to a healthier and happier life. 



Read More
Rebecca Schaffner Rebecca Schaffner

The Holidays

The holidays may bring up old wounds that haven't quite healed for some people. 

Trauma is the emotional, physical or cognitive reaction as a result of a distressing or disturbing situation that you may have experienced.  Trauma is defined as "an emotional response to a traumatic incident," or anything that has caused a negative impact.

Stress and Trauma

The stress or trauma around the holidays is not just about the money and/or gifts. Holidays near the end of the year can be particularly unpleasant for victims of abuse because they frequently trigger painful memories  and may worsen symptoms that potentially can negatively affect family dynamics. Stressors may resurface at this time of year due to the numerous emotions associated with gatherings and customs.

Setting up a support system before the holidays is an essential first step in managing high emotions. While your past trauma is beyond your control, you may be able to recognize your emotions, identify your triggers and find helpful ways to combat those prior to engaging in a  potentially upsetting situation.  You may also want to plan for a “safe person” to spend time with prior, during and/ or after spending the holiday with friends, family, or on your own.

To battle emotions of sadness, trauma survivors may need extra encouragement to exercise self-care during this time.

Loneliness

It's common to experience loneliness during the holiday season. Because loneliness is an emotion, you don't have to ignore it just because it makes you feel awful. All of our emotions provide us with useful information. Even if it might not be the most enjoyable situation, learning to be present with, observe or “sit with” it  could teach you more.

Writing down your thoughts and feelings in a journal is a terrific way to be aware of your emotions. It may also be a cathartic release, which can help you focus on how you want to take care of yourself.



Read More
Rebecca Schaffner Rebecca Schaffner

Mental Health and Nature

Any traumatic event will have an effect on a person's mind as well as their body. Everyone responds to trauma in different ways and deals with trauma in various ways. In the end, therapeutic techniques can direct you toward your healing. Many times, trauma impacts and interferes with how people operate in their daily lives, leaving people confused of how to truly recover from it. Always put your mental health first. A few methods to start the healing process are to seek professional help, practice self-care, and surround oneself with a safe and healthy environment.

But, what if, the healing process didn’t look so tradition such as sitting in a therapy room or practicing self care?

According to the American Psychological Association, nature offers a number of advantages that can significantly enhance mental health.

With present-moment awareness and a sense of being rooted in our body and connected to our surroundings, nature can help us find our grounding. Being in nature or even just watching natural scenes makes you feel better and less stressed, angry, or afraid. Not only does being in nature improve the mood, but it also benefits physical health by lowering your blood pressure, heart rate, muscular tension, and stress hormones.

In addition, nature provides us with pain relief. We are drawn to nature sceneries because we are genetically predisposed to find trees, plants, water, and other natural elements captivating, which helps us to forget about our suffering or discomfort.

Exposure to nature has been linked to a number of advantages, from taking a stroll through a city park to going on a day hike in the wilderness. These advantages include better attention, less stress, better moods, a lower risk of developing psychiatric disorders, and even increases in empathy and cooperation. The majority of studies to date have been on green areas like parks and woods, but now scientists are starting to look into the advantages of blue spaces, or locations with views of the ocean and rivers.

So, next time you find yourself overwhelmed, reacting to a trigger or feeling un- well, go for a stroll in your neighborhood, look at a YouTube video of the ocean or wild flowers, sit on your porch and listen to the sounds of nature, the birdsong. Enjoy!


Read More