Blog
The Night I Met Jane Goodall: A Journey of Hope and Resilience
It was extremely late at night in 2019 when I got off the plane in Nairobi, Kenya, and quickly jumped into the nearest shuttle bus taking us into town. I was there as a Trauma Specialist and Mindful Self-Compassion teacher for my second humanitarian service project in Kenya with the intention of using trauma-informed care, working with severely traumatized teens who suffered from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) on a secluded mountainous region of Chepkurkur on Mount Elgon in Kenya. To my surprise, seated next to me was the incredible legend, Dr. Jane Goodall.
My Gratitude Story
At the age of 5 years old, I got on my very first airplane, Pan American airline’s 747 jet, with my mummy and daddy to migrate from Karachi to London in search of a better life, opportunities, and education. With nervousness, ambition, and a heart full of hope, we...
The Power of Panic Attacks
Like every morning for the past six years, Katy was relaxed and on time as she drove to work using the same freeway in Houston as she had done every morning. As she got closer to the exit overpass, she started to notice a shift in her chest where her heart started...
In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: My Insights with Dr. Gabor Maté on Trauma and Addiction
Dr. Gabor Maté, a renowned physician, author, and expert in the field of addiction, has spent decades studying and treating individuals struggling with addiction. His work challenges the traditional views on addiction, instead positing that trauma, particularly childhood trauma, is the fundamental root of addictive behaviors.
Giving Thanks and Mental Well-Being
As the country gets ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, many take this time to acknowledge what they are grateful for and take a noted appreciation for the good things in life. As most of us likely lead stressful lives, this time can be a great moment for us to step back and appreciate what makes us happy. Gratitude is a great way to take a more positive outlook on life and cherish the people that make our daily life special. Furthermore, it has been proven to provide significant benefits to our mental health by giving us deeper emotional connections with ourselves and others as well as improving our quality of life and our overall well-being.
The Benefits of Music for Mental Health
Music is an incredibly powerful tool that has been recognized for its impact on emotional expression and social connection. Over the last decade, more and more research has been conducted that reveals how significant a role music plays in improving mental health,...
School Shootings and PTSD: Navigating the Emotional Fallout
In 2024 alone, there have been over 380 mass shootings in the United States, with one of the most recent being at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia. Every year in the United States, an average of 3 million children are exposed to shootings. The prevalence of school shootings in the US has led many children to be afraid that each day they enter school, there’s always the possibility that they’ll never make it back home.
Natural Disasters and PTSD
As the third part of this article series on trauma, I want to focus on the traumatic effect of natural disasters, especially as many parts of the United States are bracing for a particularly brutal hurricane season. Storms such as Beryl and Debby have already caused mass havoc and chaos in Texas and Florida. While it is easy to see the physical damage of these disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and more, ranging from flooded highways to crumpled buildings to mass power outages, the psychological and emotional impacts are often less evident.
Sexual Assault and Its Impact on Mental Health
It can be hard to imagine someone you trust taking advantage of you: maybe a friend, family member, or mentor. Or even walking home from work, taking a route you take every day, and getting assaulted or feeling violated. Unfortunately, situations like these are extremely common yet society finds it hard to address and take action about.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month
Six percent of Americans struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), yet many don’t understand its complexities or its severities. With June being PTSD Awareness Month, I thought it would be fitting to dedicate this blog post to providing information about the disorder, including how and why it manifests, how to find help, and cultural stigmas faced by those affected by it.
