The Woman Warrior: PTSD and Female Soldiers Articles>Trauma and PTSDBy The RanchFebruary 2, 2013Shell shock. Combat fatigue. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the latest name and diagnostic formulation for a malady that is probably as old as warfare itself. One soldier described her experience as follows: “It took me nearly 10 years to calm down after coming home. I had a lot of trouble staying at jobs,… Details
When Fear for Your Safety Becomes Your Prison: Learning to Let Go and Live Again Articles>TherapyBy The RanchFebruary 1, 2013Every year, tens of thousands of Americans are killed or injured in accidents, and thousands more become victims of violent crime. Our daily papers are filled with terrible stories of murder, rape, armed robbery, carjackings, and fatal car crashes, while television news program directors in search of ratings are dedicated to the grim motto “if… Details
To Tell or Not to Tell: Sharing Your Trauma and What to Expect Articles>Trauma and PTSDBy The RanchJanuary 30, 2013Survivors of trauma like rape or child abuse always face a big decision with each new friend or date they meet… to tell or not to tell. For someone who has never been in this position, it might not seem like the conundrum that you think it is. So often this decision is based not… Details
The Thrill of Accepting a Challenge Articles>Early RecoveryBy The RanchJanuary 29, 2013“Accept challenges, so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory.” – Gregory S. Patton What we know, without a doubt, is that we want to get on with our lives. The fact that we are now in recovery is something that we feel should not get in the way of our being able to… Details
EDNOS: the Silent Killer Articles>Eating DisordersBy The RanchJanuary 28, 2013Anorexia and bulimia are eating disorders almost everyone has heard of. They can wreck lives, leaving a host of physical and psychological damage. Sometimes these eating disorders are fatal. But the eating disorder that kills most often is little known. It’s both more common than the other disorders and more deadly. It used to be… Details
Thoughts on Courage, Failure and Success Articles>Recovery at The RanchBy The RanchJanuary 25, 2013“It takes as much courage to have tried and failed as it does to have tried and succeeded.” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh, American author and aviator, wife of fellow aviator, Charles Lindbergh (1906-2001) What’s the next item on our to-do list? Is it something that we look forward to doing with anticipation or do we… Details
The Truth About Repressed Memories Articles>Trauma and PTSDBy The RanchJanuary 24, 2013Is it really possible for the brain to block out traumatic memories? If so, how is it possible? Psychologists and experts in the addiction and recovery arena seem to be more accepting that repressed memories are legitimate, while scientists as a group don’t seem to be convinced.
Differentiating Sex and Love Addictions Articles>Sex AddictionBy The RanchJanuary 23, 2013While love and sex are certainly not inseparable, romantic love only rarely exists without sexual involvement. For many people, sexual attraction is a critical component of loving their romantic partner. Sex and love are certainly both intense physical and emotional experiences, and like many such experiences they can give rise to obsession and even addiction.
Practical Advice: Unhelpful Things to Do and Say to a Person Who Struggles with an Eating Disorder Articles>Eating DisordersBy The RanchJanuary 22, 2013You know the telltale signs of an eating disorder: skeletal bodies, gaunt face, thinning hair, rotting teeth. No matter how much regular people want to be thin and in shape, anorexia and bulimia take that drive to dangerous levels. When we see someone who is clearly suffering from an eating disorder, the impulse is to… Details
PTSD Affects the Whole Family Articles>Trauma and PTSDBy The RanchJanuary 17, 2013For most, family involves intimacy, security, and comfort. When the world turns ugly, many people turn to their family for reassurance and emotional support. But when the ugliness of society invades the minds of a family member, as the symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) do, the entire family can suffer.
