Jump In, the Water is Fine

Physical and mental wellness isn’t just about the body or the mind—it’s about how the two work together. 

In our nervous system, the mind and body are in constant conversation. Sometimes it’s as basic as: “Hey, brain, the bladder’s full. Get the body to the bathroom, please.” Other times, it’s more complex: “This situation feels unsafe. Heart, speed up. Muscles, get ready to run.”

Along the way, I’ve learned that resilience grows when we understand both our biology and our lived experiences, including how trauma—physical or emotional—can linger and how healing can unfold.

Let’s remember that our bodies are designed to heal. Broken bones knit back together and skin closes over cuts—when given the right environment. If our bodies can heal with support, shouldn’t our minds be able to heal as well?

It’s a good thing I love research, because the Master of Education in Trauma-Informed Care program I completed gave me so many opportunities to dig in, learn, and write about emotional trauma. To be honest, after graduation I felt a sad it was over; but friends reminded me that nothing was stopping me from continuing the research, learning, writing and sharing.

I’ve now spent a decade studying trauma, the brain, and methods of healing. I want to share what I’ve learned so others don’t have to feel, like I used to feel, overwhelmed by technical jargon and discouraged by lack of progress.

Resilience building is more than just pushing through the tough times. According to the American Psychological Association’s (APA) guide Building Your Resilience, it’s about nurturing four key areas:

• Connection (healthy relationships)

• Wellness (taking care of your body)

• Healthy thinking (managing stress stories)

• Finding meaning.

These four areas not only help link our inner and outer worlds, they also provide needed energy and strength to bounce back from trauma.

These Deep Dive articles are meant to provide useful information and, in the spirit of the for points in the APA's guide, to help foster connections, prioritize wellness, monitor our thinking, and find our own meaning. I hope you'll share what you read with family/friends and anyone you think might be curious.

Speaking of curious...I'm inviting you to share your thoughts about the articles here and to suggest future topics you'd like to read.

Until next time ... remember, you matter.

Marilyn