Could Everyday Stress Be Triggering Your PTSD? Learn Grounding Techniques to Help Manage It, with Ramona Beresford Howe.

Season #2 Episode #34

Send us a text

In this riveting episode, Amy sits down with Ramona, a seasoned professional who transitioned from a registered nurse to a forensic psychologist. Ramona shares her wealth of experience from working in medical and psychiatric emergency departments and the California prison system, bringing unique insights into the mind-body connection and the intricacies of the stress response. **Key Topics Discussed:**

1. **Mind-Body Connection:** - Ramona explores how the nervous system and vagus nerve play critical roles in regulating stress and calming the body. - She explains the interconnectedness of the gut, heart, and brain and how the vagus nerve influences the gut microbiome.

2. **Trauma and the Nervous System:** - A deep dive into how the amygdala triggers response mechanisms during perceived life-threatening situations and the chemical reactions involved.

- Ramona discusses trauma's impact on both adults and children, emphasizing the challenges in diagnosing PTSD in children due to their unique perception of threats.

3. **Ancient Wisdom and Modern Therapy:** - The importance of rediscovering ancient wisdom in contemporary therapy practices. - Ramona's current focus on coaching individuals to build self-confidence after experiences with narcissistic relationships.

4. **Practical Strategies for Stress Management:** - Recognizing early signs of being overwhelmed and employing grounding techniques to reorient the mind and engage the prefrontal cortex. - Specific grounding techniques like stamping feet, clapping hands, and cognitive exercises such as multiplication tables. - Intentional deep breathing as a method to activate the prefrontal cortex and vagus nerve, signaling safety to the amygdala.

You can locate Ramona on Igniting U on Facebook.  And don't forget to check out my affiliate link for MAKING MONEY WITH FREEBIES.

Ready to figure out who the heck you really are beneath the roles, the noise and the to-do lists? The Who Am I Journal is your unapologetic permission slip to explore the real you messy, magical and everything in between. With guided prompts and zero pressure to “have it all together,” this journal helps you reconnect with yourself, one honest page at a time. Sign up now to grab your free journal and get real-talk inspiration in your inbox from someone who gets it

Support the show

Get a free WHO AM I Journal to learn more about yourself: https://advancingwithamy.com

Sign up for Amy's newsletter at https://www.advancingwithamy.com/about

Support the show here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2434582/supporters/new

WE NEED YOU!

Want to be a guest on Mental Health Warrior & Neurospicy Mama? Send Amy Taylor a message on PodMatch, here:

https://www.joinpodmatch.com/advancingwithamy