ANOTHER CHAPTER

This week I started a new blog as well as a new journey. Here is the link:

          http://www.roadtofreedomandpeace.com

Hopeforus.wordpress.com will remain available; and, I will most likely add a post intermittently. This website is extremely near and dear to my heart. It was mostly written after my daughter, Megan Mulczynski, and I were found and as I awaited trial for custodial interference for attempting to protect my daughter from abuse perpetrated by her father. It amazes me that I was able to focus and write my story as clearly as I did considering the deep, heavy load of grief at the time. The fear for my daughter’s welfare and for my uncertain future combined with PTSD made it a very potent and nearly overwhelming situation.

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”

                                                                                                                                        – Lao-tzu

It reminds me that love can give us strength to endure what is almost not possible to endure. Survivors of any type of abuse can relate to that statement. We survive the actual abuse. We deal with the aftermath. Too many survivors lead lives of self-destruction or deadened emotional lives that appear normal enough because they are unable to fully cope and to heal. I hope that all survivors can find inner strength to discover their own worth and value. Self-love is needed, even in tiny amounts such as the size of a mustard seed, to regain health, authenticity, and genuineness. I hope you each find the courage and strength to look inside oneself … to one day awaken and find the true love within and outside of yourself!

 

© 2015, Gail Mulczynski

 

GREAT BOOK ON TRAUMA

Reading has been and is a source of healing for me. Ever since I was a child, I read avariciously. During the years of abuse, books became a way to escape my daily life. Eventually I read books to connect with others in similar situations. Now I tend to read a bit less; but, I usually read books and articles that foster my healing and sense of well-being.

“THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE

BRAIN, MIND, AND BODY IN THE HEALING OF TRAUMA”

The above titled book came highly recommended to me by several sources. Bessel A. van der Kolk, M.D., is the author. I am quite impressed with his writings. “THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE” contains the most current information on trauma and its aftermath.

The book focus is on the brain, the body, and the mind. There is not one treatment that reigns supreme. In many cases, more than one modality is needed for healing. Treatments may include talk therapy, neurofeedback, yoga, medication, EMDR, theater and others. Some of the treatments were first mainly used to treat veterans. Trauma victims include not only those deployed in a war. The victims may have experienced trauma from child abuse, violence in neighborhoods, domestic violence, and more.

Judith Herman’s book, “Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence—from Domestic Violence to Political Terror” also resonates with me. It was of interest to note that Bessel A. van der Kolk and Judith Herman researched trauma together at one point. They are both extremely knowledgeable and willing to share their information with all.

People ask me questions regarding memory and trauma. Bessel van der Kolk offers the answers to those questions in language that we all can comprehend. I know at least one university that uses this book as a textbook. It is a book I would like to keep in my small, but treasured, personal library.

There is probably not one of us who does not know someone (child or adult) who has been affected by trauma. We, individually and together, have an opportunity to make a personal choice to help ourselves and others by gaining a wider understanding of trauma, the aftermath of trauma, and its treatments. We can become part of the solution!

© 2015, Gail E. Mulczynski