- Amygdala, break the stigma, EMDR, emotional intelligence, Emotions, Fight or Flight Response, Free Resource, PTSD, Pursuing health and wholeness, Stress response, therapy, Trauma
The Amgdala
Do you know what the amygdala is?If you’ve heard of it, it’s probably in reference to the fight or flight response related to stress responses or PTSD.That is true. The amygdala’s importance goes far beyond that though.The amygdala is the emotional processing center. It works alongside other parts of your limbic system to process your emotional memories, good and bad, and store them.You can’t access these emotional memories easily with cognitive thinking. This is incredibly important to understand for trauma healing as trauma memories are processed here.This is also why I’m a big proponent of EMDR therapy for emotional and trauma healing.I will share more on that later though.Follow me…
-
New Opportunities- Podcast Guest!
I was interviewed on my first podcast today! 🎙️It was a great conversation, & I can’t wait for you to hear it when it comes out. 🙌Sign up for my email newsletter and follow me on IG and FB to find out which podcast I was on.I talked vulnerably about our story of mental health crisis, my book, my being a caregiver for multiple diagnoses, and how faith and psychology are integrally tied together in healing. No surprise if you’ve been around here for awhile… We talked about many other topics too.💕You’ll just have to follow me @choosejoyinthemidst on Instagram and @choosejoyinthemidst1 on Facebook to not miss the episode.🙌➡️ If…
-
Manuscript Writing- The Blessing of Words Flowing
On Saturday, I went to write on my manuscript and was so thankful the words flowed.2,632 words written on Saturday… making over 24,000 words. My book is for the primary caregiver of suicide, trauma, & mental health crisis. I would be honored to hear from you if your life is touched by any of those difficult topics. Please comment or email me to connect and share how your life has been affected by those topics. I had 3 months where I didn’t have more words for my manuscript but did a lot of other writing… When I picked the manuscript up again last month, I realized I had so many…
-
God Brings Beauty From Trouble
What do you think? Do you believe it? Well, friend, I do. I believe for I’ve seen it with my own eyes. “God is the One who brings beauty from trouble and redemption from brokenness.” -Amber Jeann Parker It can be a painful process, this bringing forth beauty out of what was jagged, sharp, painful, & hurting. It isn’t done yet. Or did you see that— God is slowly at work, working out the roughness, the broken, the angsty bits of our heart & life… He is forming it into this new and other creation— forming our lives, our circumstances, our very selves— into something new. I turn in gratitude,…
-
Mental Health Healing & Hope!
You *CAN* find mental health healing & hope! Friend, you are not alone in dealing with the mental health battles you face. Download my FREE resource “12 Steps to Finding Your Ideal Therapist & Healing Your Life”. Here’s the link: https://choosejoyinthemidst.myflodesk.com/12stepstofindyouridealtherapist Isn’t it about time you make room for yourself? The resource above has the tried and true steps I took to find the right mental health professional. “There is no shame in doing therapy, in fact, there is freedom.” -Amber Jeann Parker It’s actually true. People go to mental health therapy and counseling for many reasons.What are you struggling with right now, friend?Are you dealing with relational struggles?The impact…
-
Rest & Spring is Coming
“Taste & see that the Lord is good.” We got away for the weekend to soak up nature and some sun. The weather is turning warmer and beginning to give hints of spring on the horizon. Hiking through the forest, the sun began to feel warmer on our backs. Crossing a stream and watching the glints of water dancing over the top brought a smile. Hearing the birds call out to one another too brought peace and calm. What did you do this weekend to bring joy and peace to your hearts friends? Did you get outside at all? Do you enjoy hiking? Drop your thoughts in the comments.👇 ➡️Sign…
- Bible teaching, Choose Joy, Choose Joy In the Midst, Faith, Fear, Fighting for Joy, Focusing on Truth, Hope in God
A Spirit of Fear- Getting Free From its’ Bondage
If you are wondering why there’s such a jolting color contrast of the words to the background, it is to show the desired change in our hearts and our lives. It is to emphasize the strong reminder that we are not to live in fear. A spirit of fear is not from God. If it doesn’t come from God, then it is from the enemy of your soul, from Satan. From God comes light— To live and walk with God is to walk in light and truth… To have power, love, and a sound mind as 2 Timothy 1:7 says. Are you walking with God or are you allowing the…
-
What I Am Passionate About!
Get to know me! This is me. Read to the end to hear the premise behind my website: Choose Joy In the Midst!I am a Physician Assistant turned Caregiver and Advocate. I am passionate about helping others find resilience, strength, & hope after trauma, PTSD, and life storms through God and therapy.It is possible to be resilient and have hope again. I know this because I have walked through it in my own life. I myself have complex PTSD from multiple and different traumas. I have been a caregiver for my husband’s trauma and PTSD. What resonates with you from what I shared? I’d love to hear in the comments.…
- Bible teaching, Encouragement, Faith, Fighting for Joy, Focusing on Truth, Life Storms, New Life, positive self-talk
New Life into the Dead & Broken Parts
God can breathe new life into what was dead, past hope, broken, & done for. God has been at work slowly doing this in my own life.It’s not over yet. It is a process. There are ups and downs as I move forward in it.I have to keep trusting that God is doing a good thing in my life— creating it. Forming it. Reforming the clay, me, as He desires. There is a submission and surrender.My role is to obey. To surrender. To persevere. To yield to what He desires.Hebrews 12: 1a–2 (ESV) says “…let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us…
-
God Restores, Redeems, & Renews
God restores, redeems, & renews the broken pieces of your life. Did you know? God can restore, redeem, & renew the broken pieces of your life, friend. The reason I know this to be true is because: He has been in the business of doing it in my own life. The things I thought were dead, past hope, broken, & done for… HE breathed new life into them— He began to re-form them bit by bit. God breathes new life into what was dead, past hope, broken, & done for. He began to give new purposes and new direction. Direction & Purpose from Him. “Praise be to God from whom…
