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healing

A Journey Into Healing Trauma

February 27, 2025 by Janine Crowley Haynes & Steven Haynes

This magazine issue is dedicated to health and fitness. Along with a new year comes all sorts of resolutions to eat better, drink less alcohol, workout more, etc., but, in order to live a quality life, focusing on our mental health and emotional wellbeing can be transformational.

Back in 2005, I attempted suicide. After struggling with bipolar disorder for 10 years, I reached the lowest point in my life and wanted to end the endless suffering. With another episode on the horizon, I knew, once more, I’d find myself back in a psychiatric hospital. With a volatile chemical imbalance happening in my brain, I made the irrational, desperate decision to swallow a bunch of pills to end the misery. I convinced myself I’d be doing everyone a favor. In particular, I thought I’d be taking the burden off my 12 year-old son. Steven was 18 months when I was first hospitalized and diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It’s all he ever knew – a sick mom who went in and out of a psych ward. My suicide attempt was a decision I’ll regret for the rest of my life. After the attempt, I carried around crippling guilt. Basically, I wanted to kill myself for attempting to kill myself.

The fallout that ensued resulted in trauma. After coming home from his basketball game, my 12 year-old son was the one to discover me sprawled out, unconscious on the living room floor. It took many years for him to recover from this horrific event. His trust in me was shattered. To this day, Steven bears the indelible scar from that night – we all do. And, every day of my existence, I must own up to the fact that my actions affected my entire family and close friends.

Suicide, whether successful or unsuccessful, is a heart-wrenching experience. As a family, our road to recovery was long and challenging and remnants of my actions linger. Yet, out of the trauma, some life lessons emerged. A year after my suicide attempt, I ended up writing a memoir, My Kind of Crazy: Living in a Bipolar World. At 13, my son contributed two chapters. I got to read about what he experienced that night. In turn, I was able to share with him my account. This collaborative writing process became therapeutic for us, and it started a journey into communication, understanding, compassion, and healing. Most of all, I’ve been blessed to receive my son’s forgiveness.

Over time, we made our way to a place where Steven understood that my suicide attempt had nothing to do with him. Now that he’s an adult, he’s able to see me, not just as his mom, but as a person with human imperfections. We are incredibly proud parents of the man Steven has become. He is kind and funny and smart. He is wise beyond his years. His mind fascinates me. He is one of the most interesting people I know, and I say that not just because he’s my son. I truly mean it. I always look forward to our next talk and enjoy looking at life from his perspective.

Last August, Steven (now 31) got married to Joana. It was a magical celebration in a palacio in Portugal. I am overwhelmed with gratefulness that I survived my suicide attempt and was able to be present and share in that day. We are full of love and happiness for them both.

I asked Steven if he would contribute to this essay and share some of his life lessons and observations on his journey into healing trauma. He, unhesitatingly, said yes. Steven’s precious words follow here…

“The act of ‘healing’ is supposedly the process of making or becoming sound or healthy again. The brain does not have a one-size-fits-all fix for coping with trauma. In my experience, one of the biggest challenges in this journey has been the idea that healing requires the return to some state of normalcy and the inability to move forward means that something is still broken. Thankfully, my mom’s battle with bipolar disorder has stabilized, and our relationship has moved beyond the trauma.

The passing of time can help put trauma at a distance but only to a certain extent. For me, seeking professional help and learning coping skills has been extremely helpful in my journey. Healing has neither followed a straight line nor does it need to have a definitive end. I take a few steps forward. Then life finds ways to challenge me, and, at times, the trauma resurfaces.

This March will mark 20 years since my mom’s suicide attempt, and I will forever carry the trauma from that night. But that’s not such a bad thing. Rather, it affords me the chance to push past it, become a bit stronger, and keep moving forward once again.”

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: attempting suicide, Bipolar Disorder, emotional wellness, finding strength, healing, Moving Forward, My Kind of Crazy: Living in a Bipolar World

Sowing the Seeds of Love!

March 22, 2020 by The Inside Press

BY BETH RORDAM

It is a good time to be an Acupuncturist.  Medicare has announced that it will now provide Acupuncture as a required benefit.  Although none of us would ever want to live in a world without modern medical advances, Acupuncture points to another way to view healing and now we have the research to prove it. The western viewpoint sees the body mechanistically as a series of chemical and physical reactions, Chinese medicine looks at the human condition as primarily energetic. We exist as a spiritual, emotional and lastly as a physical entity. All of the Acupuncture points heal at multiple levels. We never have to choose. We can treat it all. 

Ear Seeds or auricular Acupressure is a wonderful way to acquaint yourself with this most ancient healing modality and best of all… NO NEEDLES!! During our Ear Seed Clinic we will teach you everything you need to know to use this simple self care technique on your friends and family. It is a wonderful time slow down, center yourself, connect and heal.

There seems to be a never-ending pattern of fear and conflict that has us all in it’s grip these days. The questions of this age are only going to get more complex not less. Authoritarian structures that use fear to control and limit will never provide the real solutions we desire. It is apparent to most of us that humanity needs to move in the direction of love and connection or witness a world torn apart by fear and violence. It is this connection of love between souls that is the true healing energy of the body, what the ancients called Chi.  Come Saturday 5 p.m., share your love, connect with others, enhance your natural immune system and build bridges of love instead of walls of fear. This is true healing.

Filed Under: Health and Wellness with our Sponsors Tagged With: Acupuncture, Acupuncturist, Beth Rordam, Ear Seed, Ear Seed Clinic, Emotional, healing, Mount Kisco Holistic Health and Wellness, No needles, Spiritual

Organic Wine and Cheese Social at Life Energy Art Gallery

December 6, 2019 by The Inside Press

YOU ARE INVITED!

Where: Life Energy Art Gallery, 11-13 Main Street, Mount Kisco

When: Saturday December 7, 6-8 p.m.

Cost: Free!

Relax and make new friends in the beautiful, healing environment of our Art Gallery. Featuring a special demonstration in using art for healing, and of course organic wine and cheese, healthy snacks. Come and hang out! Bring friends and family.

Click here to RSVP

 

 

Filed Under: Happenings Tagged With: Art, healing, Holiday, Life Energy Arts, organic

Mindfulness in a Crazy World

August 24, 2016 by The Inside Press

image001-2By Jodi Baretz, LCSW, CHHC

Lately, it seems like on a weekly basis we are hearing about some awful terrorist attack, or act of gun violence. Our flags are constantly at half mast, and we barely mourn one tragedy before another one hits. This is a constant reminder of how intolerance, hate and racism are still present around the world. This unrest adds to the chronic anxiety many of us already feel on a daily basis.

The tragedies we hear about are real, but we have to be mindful of the stories we tell ourselves. It is easy to get carried away with doomsday scenarios, because our hyperactive brains are programmed for survival.

The 24-hour media coverage of shootings, killings and terrorist events perpetuates worry, and creates anxiety. The media often seems to thrive on fear because they know you will tune in. The reality is that “we didn’t start the fire, it was always burning since the world’s been turning.” It just seems that the Armageddon is closer now than ever before.

“If every eight year old in the world is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation.” –Dalai Lama

While we are so down on the events of the day, we must remember that our current society is much better off than in the past. For example, look at the changes in the LGBT community. It is much safer now for teens and adults alike to be proud and embrace who they are, without tremendous fear of persecution. Additionally, in the past, children with Down’s Syndrome would be institutionalized, and now they are often mainstreamed and have become valued members of society. Remarkably, there is a black President in the White House, which had been unthinkable just a short time ago. We certainly have come a long way, and hopefully can continue along this path.

Nonetheless, the recent awful news has an effect on us, especially those of us with children. We worry about them growing up in a world that is volatile. We worry when they travel overseas. We worry about them being exposed to hate and violence at such a young age. How do we cope with the weight of the world on our shoulders?

Mindfulness practices are not only ways that we can improve focus and be present, but also ways to cultivate love, compassion and bring peace to ourselves and others. When we practice meditation and mindfulness, we open our hearts and realize that although we have different beliefs, races, and religions, we all share a common thing–humanity. We can begin to notice our judgments and biases. Look at your own life and be curious if there are others you have unfairly judged or rejected because they are different than you.

Listen to your self-talk, and notice without judging yourself how your biases and beliefs have affected you. We each have to do our part to be more understanding of others and accept those who are different than ourselves.

A story I heard at a seminar about a soldier returning from Iraq can speak to compassion and non-judgment. He was having difficulty managing his stress and anger, and enrolled in a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction class. He was at a supermarket behind a woman that was handing over her baby to the cashier and delaying his check out. He would normally have said something, but waited and felt the frustration course through his body. When he got to the front of the line, he asked the cashier about the baby, and she revealed that her husband was killed in Iraq, that was her baby, and her mother was watching her because she couldn’t afford child care.

So, what can we do to protect ourselves from sadness, depression and anxiety that the world puts on our shoulders? Shutting off the news every so often, as well as turning off social media, can give our minds a break from the onslaught of negativity. Noticing when your mind races and when you are creating stories that are not facts, help to work with the brains negativity bias. Learning to sit with sadness and grief, without letting it take over our whole beings can be a helpful practice for coping. When compassion and kindness win out we have less hate, anger and intolerance. In addition, being good role models for our children is crucial, because they are watching us all the time. What we say matters. When we engage in these behaviors daily, hopefully, person-by-person, we can change the world, and make a difference.

Jodi Baretz, LCSW, CHHC is a psychotherapist, mindfulness and holistic health coach at The Center for Health and Healing in Mount Kisco. She is the founder of the program and upcoming book, “Mindful is the New Skinny.”

Visit jodibaretz.com for more info or FB group @mindful moms.

 

Filed Under: Inside Thoughts Tagged With: healing, inside thoughts, Jodi Baretz, Mindfulness, Society

“Soul-Filled Summer Series” for Children

May 28, 2013 by The Inside Press

Launching this July and August at the Center for Aligned Healing

Kate Noonan
Kate Noonan

The “Soul-Filled Summer Series” was developed by a group of professional educators, therapists and community members to offer our community a fun and enlightening summer program for children ages 7-11.

This series is a unique opportunity for children to experience a time of inward focus within their developmental process.  Our fun and safe environment will provide participants with tools and techniques to learn to appreciate who they are and the gifts they have been given.

We will kick off the week with a time to “unplug” and allow everyone to relax and just be who they are meant to be. Every day, participants will be led by certified teachers and professionals to take a deep breath and appreciate who they are and what is important to them.

A variety of daily activities include experiences such as teaching, sharing, arts & crafts, journaling, yoga, tai chi and meditation. In addition, our experienced herbalist will instruct the children how to find the correct weeds (that grow right outside your door) and illustrate how they can help in an emergency with cuts, scrapes bee stings and more!

Some of the core principles we will focus on include:

  • Right Time, Right Place, 
     Right Action
  • Teaching About Good Choice
  •  Saying the Right Thing
  • Looking for the Good
  • Cooperation by All
  • Self-Empowerment
  • Positive talk

Soul-Filled Series Details:

Series I:  July 22, 2013 – July 26, 2013

Series II:  August 19, 2013 – August 23, 2013

Time/Days: 9:00am -1:30pm Monday through Friday.

Cost: $350 per session (*Additional siblings are $300 each per session)

Place: Center for Aligned Healing 175 King Street, Chappaqua.

For more information: Contact us at soulfilledseries@gmail.com or call 914-236-4380 or 239-289-3744.

Soul Filled Series Professionals:

Bernadette Bloom – Founder Center for Aligned Healing Teacher/Practitioner/PT theesotericbloom.com

 Kate Noonan – Director of the Soul Filled Series

Kate is a certified and tenured teacher in NYS.  In addition to teaching experience Kate was previously employed by Mount Tom Day Camp at the challenge course.

Deborah Molinari – Practitioner, Teacher

Bonnie Rogers – Clinical Herbalist and Health Coach

Beth Rordam – Movement Coordinator/ Massage Therapist

Rayna Sassano – Art Director

purplelanternstudio.com

The Center for Aligned Healing is a wellness center focusing on integrative and complimentary treatment of clients through combining traditional medical approaches with a variety of bio-energetic healing modalities; and providing in-person energy healing services. We provide community-building services through talks and lectures, experiential programs and educational classes to assist those in exploring energetic living and alternative solutions for healing.  We provide news and commentary in the field of nutrition, and health and wellness; including consulting services and wellness programs of all kinds. *Our soul-series programs will include services for children and their families to heal from autism and other early intervention situations and diagnosis.

 

Filed Under: Special Needs Tagged With: healing, Special Needs, teaching, unplug

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