Dr. Gillian O'Shea Brown

05/08/2023

The Posttraumatic Growth Model posits that the aftermath of trauma can lead to positive changes in the way an individual relates to others, increased openness to possibilities, and strengthened belief in one’s ability to adapt and control outcomes, in addition to deepening spirituality, creativity, and appreciation for life.⁠
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Essentially: the loss of stability and security allows room for growth, adaption, and evolution.⁠
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This does not…⁠
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✖️meant in a toxically positive, “good vibes only” type of way⁠
✖️negate or undermine the severity of what has happened to you⁠
✖️mean this growth will be easy⁠
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This can serve as…⁠
💙a way to instill hope in those affected by traumatic pasts ⁠
💙a light ahead⁠
💙a motivating factor in your healing journey⁠
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I wish you can find hope in your healing as an ever-unfolding process of evolution, vulnerability, and self-compassion. ⁠
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How has your healing journey unlocked deeper levels of living for you?⁠
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03/20/2023

It’s the Spring Equinox 🌱 The amount of daylight is equal to the amount of darkness today, with each day forward allowing more and more sunlight into the day. Harness this moment of balance and stability to bring forth more of this energy into your mind.⁠
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🌷Spring Cleaning for the Mind🌷⁠
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☀️Reflect, Journal, Discuss with your therapist on your winter season. Note the positives, your accomplishments, your favorite moments and what made it special. Then, allow yourself to reflect on what areas may not have been the best, moments of struggle or difficult occurrences, but be sure to allow yourself the space to not be hard on yourself as emotions may arise.⁠
☀️Set intentions for what you’d like to bring into your life in the coming months. Be it personal, career or financial desires - dream it out!⁠
☀️Spring Cleaning is popular for a reason. Clean and declutter your environment and it will help ease your mind in the process.⁠
☀️Plan a fun spring activity. Because joy is wonderful! Paint with a friend, plant flowers, discover a new restaurant. Give yourself time to simply enjoy yourself.⁠
☀️Create a plan for your intentions and goals. A goal without a plan is just a dream. Dreams are wonderful, but don’t you want to make it your reality? Decide what you can do daily, weekly, monthly to help you achieve your goals.⁠
☀️Sunshine is good for the soul! Many of us have been cooped up inside during the dark, cold months of winter, but your mood and energy will boost with increased time spent outside.⁠
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Tag 3 friends you want to share a beautiful spring with!⁠
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03/09/2023

Peter Levine famously said "no healing from trauma can occur until you feel safe in your body" ⁠
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Yoga is an ancient practice that combines physical movement with breathing and philosophical teaching that helps bring harmony between your body and mind. ⁠
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A consistent yoga practice can bring many holistic benefits that boost your overall mood and mental health. The practice of yoga has been proven to increase strength and flexibility, reduce stress and improve sleep. From a trauma informed perspective it teaches us to lean into the discomfort and find solace in our breathing as we move towards feelings more embodied and grounded. There are so many forms of it you can find the type of practice that works best for you! You may prefer gentle, deep Yin Yoga practices or desire a more strenuous Power Vinyasa flow.⁠
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All you need is your body (and perhaps a mat) to begin experiencing your flow state. There are so many free classes on YouTube or for a shared experience, stop by a local studio. Your body and mind will thank you.⁠
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Do you practice yoga? What are favorite benefits of it?⁠
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Namaste 😇⁠
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03/01/2023

Spring has *almost* sprung! We’re well into 2023 now & winter will soon be fading into sunnier days, but are you feeling stuck in a rut?

If you’re feeling bored or uncomfortable with your life, this feeling likely stems from a sense of lack of control. The only constant in life is change - change is imminent, however it is your responsibility to take charge and move in the direction of your desires.

Spark your JOY by taking back control of what may be bothering you in your current habits.

Here are 5 tips on how you can regain a level of control, purpose & joy in your life within the next 30 days so you can step into Spring feeling brighter and happier:

1. Clear Your Space: “Attachment to the past and fears concerning the future not only govern the way you select the items that you own, but also represent the criteria by which you make choices in every aspect of your life, including your relationships with people and your job,” Marie Kondo

2. Create A Vision Board: Visualization is a powerful exercise in exploring and identifying what you want out of life. Vision Boards can help you release your inhibitions, fears and self-limiting thoughts and help you think openly about what you truly want.�

3. Budget: The less glamorous side of money, but absolutely essential to your financial success. If this is new for you, a general rule of thumb for your budget should be prioritized in the following order Savings, Bills & Leisure.

4. Try Yoga: Do it for 30 Days, it can be as gentle or as strenuous as you choose. There are many types of yoga to explore from restorative yin yoga or more active vinyasa yoga. If you’re able to dedicate 45-90 minutes a day to show up on your mat you will see and feel so many beautiful benefits within yourself.

5. Limit TV & Online Time: Balancing television, phone calls, screen time, texts & other stimuli can really affect your mood & ability to concentrate. Challenge yourself to reducing your screen time may prompt you to meet with friends IRL or engage in active leisure activities, like reading a good ole fashioned book.

Check out my full article and suggestions to reawaken your joy: https://gillianosheabrownpsychotherapy.com/2017/08/07/5-steps-to-reawaken-your-joy-within-the-next-30-days/

Who’s in?!

Are you bored with your life? Or feeling as though you are stuck in a rut? Perhaps you have just returned from a summer trip, feeling less comfortable in your now tight clothes and feeling a little…