Return to flip book view

HEALING FROM CHILDHOODNEGLECTWe discussed Micro-Traumas, includingChildhood Neglect last month. And in thisissue, Tina Hamilton gives insight into howwe can start healing from it.BREAKING FREE OF TOXIC ABUSERELATIONSHIPSMost, if not all of us, have experiencedtrauma and what is left unhealed is whatwe bring to our relationships. How can weheal & break free from Toxic AbuseRelationships?A MOTHER-SON PSYCHEDELICHEALING JOURNEYIt’s an incredible story of parallel healing.A mother and son write about their ownestrangement from each other, and howthey healed and broke generationalcycles through psychedelics.May 2024

AlwaysDear Readers, May is Mental Health Awareness month and, of course, Authentic Insider is on top of it, startingwith our Prosecutor’s POV about vicarious trauma. Kathryn Marsh discusses the residual effectsof witnessing others’ trauma. Michael Robb joins us as guest contributor for the Gen Z POV and discusses the evolution ofmanaging mental health for young adults today. It’s also the month of mothers. For healing mothers, parenting can easily trigger moments oftheir own childhood traumas. Last month, our Parenting POV Contributor, Tina Hamilton,examined childhood neglect. This month, she breaks down ways to manage and heal from itwhile breaking generational cycles. Focusing on mothers and generational cycles, we bring you an amazing story from Josh Haluand his formerly estranged mother, Candace Halu, as they share how they repaired theirrelationship through psychedelics. This month, Psychedelic POV Contributor, Jennifer Chesak discusses how your history of traumamay affect menopause and how psychedelics may help with mid-life changes. What is a Toxic Abuse Relationship or TAR? Dr. Jamie Huysman, the person who coined theterm defines it and explains how to break free and heal from toxic abuse. Trauma, Educator, Karen Gross gives us a beautiful piece and shares how we can heal throughart. And as in every issue, we have our monthly AIM Playlist focused on Mental Health Awareness,along with my picks for children and adult books about mental health. Plus, check out JoyLarkin's Twin Flame Reading to see what's in store for you this May. Happy Reading!Lorilee BinstockAuthentic Insider | Page 02editor's noteLorilee BinstockEditor in Chief

Joy LarkinTwin Flame ReadingsLorilee BinstockEditor in ChiefLynn BinstockCopy EditorCali BinstockCreative DirectorMonthlyContributorsAuthentic Insider | Page 03

T i n a H a m i l t o n-------------------------------------Healing from Childhood Emotional NegelctJ E N N I F E R C H E S A K-------------------------------------Your History of Mental Health Matters for MenopauseAuthentic Insider | Page 04K A T H R Y N M A R S H-----------------------------------Vicarious TraumaC o n t r i b u t o r s

K A R E N G R O S S-------------------------------------Trauma Art: Creating it, Healing from itContributorsM I C H A E L R O B B-------------------------------------Gen-Z and Mental Health New FrontiersAuthentic Insider | Page 05D R . J A M I E H U Y S M A N-------------------------------------Breaking Free from Toxic RelationshipsC A N D A C E & J O S H H A L U-------------------------------------Parallel HealingA Mother-Son Journeythrough Psychedelics

Healing from Childhood Emotional NegelctYour History of Mental Health Matters for MenopauseVicarious traumaY O U R M A Y2 0 2 4 I S S U EJoy's Twin Flame ReadingAuthentic Insider | Page 06Trauma Art: Creating it, Healing from it2310By: Michael RobbAIM PlaylistRecommended BooksBy: Dr. Jamie HuysmanBy: Karen GrossBreaking Free from Toxic RelationshipsCreating it, Healing from itgen z & mental health: a new frontierin this issuein this issueBy: Candace and Josh HaluParallel HealingA Mother-Son Journeythrough Psychedelics31in every issuein every issue

Check out Binstock Media Group's Website traumasurvivorthriver.comGet the latest from A Trauma Survivor Thriver's Podcast, AuthenticInside Magazine, Lorilee Binstock in the media, and the latest news.Visit traumasurvivorthriver.com Authentic Insider | Page 07

Internal Family Systems (IFS) Informed Psychedelic Assisted Therapy https://moxieschool.com/the-art-of-transformation/www.moxieschool.comheather@moxieschool.comConnect: The IFS Model (Internal Family Systems) is one of the fastest growing and most popularinterventions for working with psychedelics. Why? Because it's such a natural and effectivepairing for the material that expanded states naturally elicit. Fast track your opportunity to learn IFS by joining The Moxie School in this wildly exciting niche! If you want to learn IFS as it applies to expanded states, The Art of Transformation courseteaches effective methods to deeply anchor transformation in your clients. No matter whatstage of the process you are working: preparation, guiding, or integration, an IFS Informedapproach is key to supporting your clients in lasting transformational change. Lots of courses teach “about” psychedelic assisted therapy, this course teaches you the “how to” of doing interventions throughout psychedelic transformational work.Whether you are a therapist, coach, or guide - a medical professional, mental healthprofessional, or a mid-life career transition person - you are welcome! Bring your curiosity for IFS and your love for working with expanded states!LEARN MORETHE ART OFTRANSFORMAIONAll the detailsAuthentic Insider | Page 08

“Be the one who nurtures andbuilds. Be the one who has anunderstanding and a forgivingheart one who looks for the bestin people. Leave people better thanyou found them.”― Marvin J. AshtonAuthentic Insider | Page 09

HEALINGfromchildhoodemotionalneglectChildhood emotional neglect is the “failure of caregivers to provideadequate emotional support, validation, and attention to a child ordependent adult1.” Last month, we dove deep into Childhood Emotional Neglect - what it is, what it looks like, the signs youexperienced it as a child, and how it relates to you as a parent. If you missed it, be sure to check it out here.B Y T I N A H A M I L T O NIf you identified as possibly experiencing emotional neglect as a child, the nextquestion you likely have is: Now what?Experiencing emotional neglect as a child essentially means that you grew up without having a trustedadult or caregiver who could support you through big emotions. Authentic Insider | Page 10

Authentic Insider | Page 11As a parent who experiencedchildhood emotional neglect, this canmean several things. Three of them being: Healing from the effects of childhoodemotional neglect can be difficult, but it is notimpossible given appropriate resources andstrategies. Here are several ways that you canget started:Practice self-compassion. When you areovercome with an emotion, it is likely that it isaccompanied by a sense of shame. You mayfind yourself saying things like:You’re overreacting. You don’t deserve to be upset.Big girls don’t cryWhen you notice this, close your eyes, place a hand onyour heart, and take a deep breath. Allow the breath youreach the deepest part of your lungs. Slowly exhale asthough you are blowing out candles, and as you do,imagine the thoughts leaving your body. Replace those thoughts with a positive affirmation such as:“I feel deeply, and that is OK,” or “I am a human having ahuman reaction.” Remind yourself that you are safe. Why is this important? As a child, you may have beentaught that your feelings are not important or that theyare overwhelming or inappropriate. Feelings are justfeelings. They are not good or bad, nor do they sayanything about who you are as a person. To be human isto feel. By practicing self-compassion and allowingyourself to experience the feelings, you are allowingyour body to experience the full breadth of humanity.The more you affirm that you are safe and that feelingsare a normal part of living, the more comfortable youwill become experiencing feelings as they arise in yourbody. Engage in somatic exercises. Somatic exercise is the practice of moving your bodywith the goal of connecting with your inner world, ratherthan focusing on a performance-driven outcome, such asmuscle toning or increased stamina. Somatic exercisesinclude modalities such as yoga, interpretive dance, andconscious breathing. The idea is that the movements thatyou do are specifically attuned to your individual needs,rather than a prescriptive program. Those big emotions were never processed andreleased. They live in your body, stored in theinner child. Those big emotions are thentriggered whenever you experience a similarsituation as an adult. This may mean that yourreactions feel overwhelming or bigger than whatmight feel necessary. Your emotional intelligence and development islimited. Said without any judgment, this iscommon for adults who were not given thespace to feel their emotions as children. You mayfind that you are not familiar with how someemotions feel in your body or you may find thatyou have a predominant emotion (such as angeror shame). Helping your children through their bigemotions feels impossible. You might findyourself shutting your child’s emotions down orhurrying them through an emotion. You can feeluncomfortable and irritable when your child isexperiencing a big emotion.

Inhale to a count of four, hold for two, and exhale for six. Repeat this breath as you scan your body,beginning at the toes.Authentic Insider | Page 12A simple somatic exercise is a progressiverelaxation technique coupled withdiaphragmatic breathing. Find a comfortable position, preferably lying down. With one hand on your belly the other on your chest,inhale and send your breath toward the hand on yourbelly. Allow your belly to expand, pushing your hand out. 1, 2, 3, 41, 21, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 inhalehold exhaletightenr e l e a s escanTighten the muscles in your toes andfeet as you inhale and hold. On the exhale, release the muscles. On your next inhale, tighten your calfmuscles. On the exhale release. Continue this process, moving up yourbody, one muscle group at a time(knees/thighs, glutes, abdomen,shoulders/chest, arms/hands, neck/jaw,face). Once you finish, take 3 - 5 morediaphragmatic breaths, allowing thesensation of complete relaxation tomove through your body. inhalee x h a l ehold.Build your emotional awareness. Didyou know that there are 87 differentemotions? Brene Brown’s Atlas of theHeart is a fantastic resource to help youlearn about the different emotions andwhat they look and feel like in the body,and how to move through them.The more you can learn about thedifferent emotions available to you, thebetter able you will be able to identifyand navigate through them as they arisewithin you. As an added bonus, you willbe able to identify the different emotionsas they present in your children,supporting them as they experience theemotions.

Authentic Insider | Page 13Write your inner child a letter. Perhaps one of my favorite practices, this is a greatway to connect with your inner child to providethe support and comfort that was needed as achild. If you can, find a picture of yourself fromchildhood. It is often easier to connect with yourinner child with a picture present, but if you don’thave access to one, close your eyes and bring tomind a younger version of yourself. Try to bring thechild in with as much detail as possible. How didyou wear your hair? What type of clothes did youlike to wear? What colors are you wearing? Do youhave a favorite toy or stuffed animal with you? Once you have an image (or picture) available,begin writing a letter to your younger self.Acknowledge the pain and loneliness that theyexperienced. Validate those experiences, and tellyour younger self what you needed to hear as achild. Offer them the love, compassion, support,and encouragement that you wished you receivedat that time in your life. If you are a parent, it cansometimes help to imagine what you would say (orwish you could say) to your child when they areexperiencing a big emotion.These practices are the start to a lifelong journeyof healing the wounds from childhood. It is important to remember that there is no finish line.Healing is a practice that has mountains and valleys.Some days you will swiftly move through an emotionwith ease, and other days, you may find yourselfrepeating patterns and behaviors that you thought youprocessed and released. Remember to always have compassion foryourself.You are permitted to feel exactly how you feel withoutadding shame or guilt. Everything you feel is a normalpart of life. Allow the emotion to bubble up, feel itfully, and then allow it to move through you.This content is for informational and educational purposesonly and does not constitute individualized medical advice.It is not intended to replace professional medicalevaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of yourphysician for questions you may have regarding your healthor a medical condition. If you are having a medicalemergency, call your physician or 911 immediately.Seek support from a licensed therapist orcoach.Having a trusted therapist or coach can make theprocess of healing from childhood emotionalneglect feel less overwhelming. This person canhold space for every part of you that longs to beseen and heard, and help you to find self-compassion and understanding.

May is mental health awareness month. A time torecognize how mental health issues may impact youror a loved one's life and educate yourself on availableresources and ways you can help advocate for others.Vicarious or secondary trauma is a mental healthissue that isn’t discussed a lot outside of traumacareer fields.“Vicarious trauma is an occupational challenge forpeople working and volunteering in the fields ofvictim services, law enforcement, emergency medicalservices, fire services, and other allied professions,due to their continuous exposure to victims of traumaand violence.”When it comes to sexual assault, child abuse andintimate partner violence the law enforcementcommunity (police officers, victim advocates,prosecutors, etc.) has gotten much better atrecognizing the impact of trauma on the victim.Specifically, how trauma may impact the brain whichhas changed how victim interviews and traumainformed investigations are conducted. However,while the law enforcement community has madegreat steps in understanding trauma on victims, thereis still a lot of work to be done educating thecommunity on vicarious trauma and its impact onthose providing consistent services to victims.Written By: Kathryn Marsh, Prosecutor’s POV I C A R I O U S Police officers and EMS are often the first person on the scene when a victim has experienced a violent, traumatic event. This may bea homicide, violent assault, sexual assault or physical child abuse. They witness the scene, the injuries and treat the traumatizedvictim, all while trying to remain composed and professional. This is then followed by interviewing victims and witnesses by both lawenforcement, prosecutors and victim advocates. Prosecutors and law enforcement often comb through hours of video surveillance,photographs and child sexual abuse material, viewing the crimes over and over again, all while building a case. And, there is alwaysanother case just waiting. All of this has a direct impact on everyone involved.Some of the most common symptoms caused by vicarious trauma include but are not limited to: burnout; feeling emotionally numbor withdrawn; fatigue; stress/anxiety; decreased resistance to illness; easily distracted; relationship problems; decreasedparticipation in social activities or hobbies; increased irritability, aggressiveness or explosive violent outbursts; destructive coping oraddictive behaviors; Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS)/PTSD.T R A U M AAuthentic Insider | Page 15

workers with similar cases, mainly due to prosecutors carryinghigher caseloads and their supervisors not having experience inidentifying symptoms of vicarious trauma.Vicarious trauma can occur after one specific case or after dealingwith hundreds of cases and there is no weakness in experiencingvicarious trauma. It’s not something you should “suck up” nor is itjust part of the job and should be ignored. The important thing is torecognize that vicarious trauma is real and can impact anyone whodeals with traumatic cases day in and day out.There are some things everyone can do to help reduce the impactof vicarious trauma on themselves and loved ones.Monitor the basics to include proper sleep, eating and exercise.Some great sleep apps prior to bed are Headspace and Sleep Diary.Whenever possible, put down the phone or tablet before bed. Co-workers, family members and supervisors should all considercheck-ins after difficult or prolonged cases and the encouragementof healthy social activities and hobbies. If you would like to learnmore about vicarious trauma and resources for dealing withvicarious trauma the Department of Justice has put together avicarious trauma toolkit with over 500 resources that are brokendown by career field. This compendium of resources can be foundat https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/vtt/compendium-resources.Authentic Insider | Page 16Police officers are often impacted by vicarious trauma,and this has a direct correlation on their health and lifeexpectancy. Based on three separate studies it isestimated that between 7-19% of police officers havebeen diagnosed with PTSD. Between stress, PTSD,dangerous exposures on the job and the suicide theaverage life expectancy of a police officer is 21.9 yearslower than the US population.Research has also shown that social workers, mentalhealth professionals and domestic violence advocateswho specialize in child or sexual abuse experience STS,compassion fatigue and burnout at higher rates thansimilar professions who deal with different caseloads.Additionally, another study based solely on CPS (childprotective service) workers found that the longer CPSagents worked in the field the more exposure they had totrauma and the more likely they were to experienceincreased symptoms of STS to include panic attacks andOCD symptoms.Comparing these studies to prosecutors of domesticviolence cases, researchers found prosecutorsexperienced increased levels of burnout and vicarioustrauma compared to mental health and social service

Authentic Insider | Page 17

against mentalhealth have persisted acrossgenerations, but the risingadults of Gen Z have been ableto confront them with anunprecedented level of unity andopenness. What felt impossibleto discuss openly mere decadesago now has many outlets thanksto community-minded spaces onthe internet and influentialartists expressing their personalstruggles through everythingfrom songs to video games.STRUGGLESGEN-ZB Y M I C H A E L R O B Band mental health:and mental health:and mental health:new frontiersnew frontiersnew frontiers and socialmedia are often criticized asbeing sources of mental illnessor negativity, but less frequentlyconsidered are its abilities tooffer safe, anonymous spaceswhere users can open up abouttheir vulnerabilities and findcommunity in shared strugglesor peace in having a dedicated,active listener on call.THE INTERNETOne such website, 7cups, allowsusers to create an account and connect with a non-professional, volunteer listenertrained to talk others through mentalhealth crises. The service is free andacts as a resource for bothadolescents and adults as theyovercome their respective obstacles.Because licensed therapy orpsychiatric care is too expensive orinaccessible for many, access toalternatives such as these haveproven beneficial to internet-savvyGen Z’ers. Other platforms whereusers regularly anonymously postabout their mental healthexperiences to closely moderatedcommunities include Tumblr andReddit.ANONYMOUSAuthentic Insider | Page 18

One need only listen to any of songs tounderstand her history of coping withmental health challenges – Everything IWanted, the artist has admitted, is aproduct of her darkest depressiveepisodes, while Not My Responsibilitytakes a stand against body dysmorphiadisorder. Millions of her young fans aredealing with these same struggles andfind strength against a common enemy.Last year, released a4-part docuseries on Disney+ titled TheSum Of It All, where he delved into themost difficult period of his life. In theseries, he describes his struggle withgrief during a time of heavy losses, andhow they fueled his creative processrather than destroy it. Many of hissongs, it is revealed, owe theirexistence to these low moments.ED SHEERANSome of today’s most popular have inspiredGen Z in the quest to destigmatizemental health, including Ed Sheeranand Billie Eilish. While watchingthese stars perform for crowds ofthousands, it can be easy to forgetthat they are human just like us – andthey deal with very personalstruggles, the same as us. For many,like the two above, it becomes thedriving force behind their work –which touches the hearts of theirmillions of fans in their own times ofneed.MUSIC ARTISTSGEN-Zand mental health:new frontiersBILLIE EILISH’S artistic depictionsaddressing mental health do notstop with songwriters, though.Video games have become anincreasingly popular medium, andopportunities to convey complexissues like mental health havebecome more common. Two recent titles, Omori (2021) andPsychonauts 2 (2021) have done soin an accessible, respectfulfashion. Both games feature maincharacters experiencing traumaand depict their overcoming of it.Additionally, both featuredisclaimers at the start of each –revealing the developer’sintentions and respecting theiraudience’s potential triggers.MODERN Authentic Insider | Page 19

follows a young boy acrossboth his waking and dreaming life ashe copes with an unexpected tragedy– the whimsical characters andlocations he discovers along the wayrepresenting manifestations of histrauma. The core takeaway of thegame for myself was the enduringpower of friendship and love in timesof crisis – even when terrifying truthsabout Omori’s situation andcondition are revealed, his friends,either real or imaginary, stand by himto the bitter end.OMORIGEN-Zand mental health:new frontiers was heavilystigmatized at the start of the 21stCentury, but a combination of internetsafe spaces and popular artisticdepictions of the subject have openedthe door for more conversations andopportunities for growth. Gen Z hasbeen at the forefront of this paradigmshift, and will continue to work towardsa more inclusive, accessible futurewith these experiences in mind.MENTAL HEALTH is thejourney of Raz – a psychic being, ashe leaps across surreal mindscapesof the story’s characters,confronting wicked forces within –mental creatures. According to aninterview article withGameInformer, the developers ofthe game, DoubleFine, hired Dr.Rafael Boccamazzo, a clinicalpsychologist, to review the finalproduct of the game to ensure theyhad produced an ethical productdiving into the controversial natureof mental illness. Because theobjective of the game is always toheal the twisted state of themindscapes and not manipulatebeyond that, Psychonauts 2 standsas a landmark in gaming history – agroundbreaking, genre-defyingvideo game that addresses mentalillness in an accessible, thought-provoking way.PSYCHONAUTS 2 Authentic Insider | Page 20

Authentic Insider | Page 21“The choice to lead isnurtured by the challenges of life.”― Israelmore Ayivor, Leaders' LadderWILLINGNESSTO RISE ABOVEAuthentic Insider | Page 21

“Love is care andprotection and teachesresponsibility by example.This enchanted story beginsthe conversation so many ofus never had as children. In doing so, it plants theseed early enough in ayoung life to possibly makethe difference.” www.iloveyousomuch.orgA book thatteaches childsafety whileexplaininglove.writing and relating to educate parents and childrenon healthy relationships Now available in a Bilingual(Spanish & English) version!now withactivity pages!KATHYPICARDOver her 20 years of advocacy—which includedher persistent and determined work to getboth the criminal and civil Statute ofLimitations for sexual abuse eliminated—Kathyhas been recognized for her efforts andreceived many awards, honors, and citations.speaking up to advocateand educateintimatelysharing her storySexual Abuse Survivor,Coach and Advocatefor making a difference inthe lives of othersKathy Picard chronicles her abusivechildhood, and the process of how shefound her voice and used it to become adedicated activist and educator, playing atransformative role in the way othersurvivors are able to seek justice.Thank you Kathy, forThank you Kathy, forThank you Kathy, foryour important work!your important work!your important work!kathypicard.comCOPYRIGHT 2022 D.L.NICHOLSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.COPYRIGHT 2022 D.L.NICHOLSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.COPYRIGHT 2022 D.L.NICHOLSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. COPYRIGHT 2022 D.L. NICHOLSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Behind closed doors, in the quietcorners of our neighborhoods, andwithin the fabric of ourcommunities, a silent pandemicrages on. It doesn’t makeheadlines or prompt global alarms,yet its impact reverberatesthrough millions of peopleworldwide. This is the pandemic oftoxic abusive relationships — ahidden thief of joy, a silent killer ofsouls, and a destroyer of futures. toxic relationshipsImagine a world where every wordfeels like a dagger to the heart,where every action leaves behindwounds that refuse to heal. This isthe reality of Toxic AbusiveRelationships (TAR) — a realmwhere emotional, mental, andsometimes physical harm arewoven into the fabric of everydaylife.BY DR. JAMIE HUYSMAN, FOUNDER OF THE TAR NETWORKAuthentic Insider | Page 23

In the shadows of TAR, victims feelisolated; their pain invisible to theoutside world. The toxic cycle ofmanipulation, control, and abusebecomes a suffocating cloud,dimming any hope for a brighterfuture. However, amidst thisdarkness, there is a glimmer of light— a path to healing, empowerment,and reclaiming one's worth.B R E A K I N G F R E EFROM TOXIC R ELA TIONSHIPSDr. Jamie Huysman stands as abeacon of hope for those navigatingthe treacherous waters of TAR. Atrauma-certified Psychologist,Licensed Clinical Social Worker, andCertified Compassion FatigueTherapist, he brings over 30 years ofexperience to his practice. Dr. Jamiereflects "I’ve been privileged to helppeople from all walks of lifeovercome their traumatic, degradingexperiences using a comprehensivetrauma-informed approach that liftsthe mind and spirit in difficultsituations when dealing with high-conflict and toxic relationships."The Courage to Leave: Breaking the ChainsWith a mission to bring healing andempowerment to people impactedby TAR, Dr. Jamie conceptualizedand founded TAR Network as a safehaven and roadmap to recovery forvictims navigating the murky, sticky,treacherous terrain of TAR. TAR Network™ is a 501(c)(3)international charity dedicated tobringing worldwide awareness andtreatment to those whose emotionalreality has been distorted bynarcissistic abuse.Dr. Jamie has witnessed firsthand thedevastating aftermath of TAR. He hasseen the long-lasting effects ofComplex Post-Traumatic StressDisorder (CPTSD), and has made ithis life's purpose to educate, offer aguiding hand, help victims becomewarriors, and help people batteredby the storms of abuse. Recognizing the Signs: A Crucial First StepThe journey to freedomfrom TAR begins with thecourageous act ofrecognizing the signs.Feeling constantlycriticized, belittled, orwalking on eggshells —afraid of upsetting yourpartner — are not normalattributes of love. If any ofthese resonate with you,know that you are notalone.Dr. Jamie's journey has placed himalongside people from diversebackgrounds, including firstresponders (i.e. police, firefighters),medical and allied healthcareprofessionals, military personnel,business executives, managers,clerks, and many others from all walksof life. Each person comes with theirunique story, with all sharing acommon struggle — a battlegroundof psychological warfare that nearlycost them their lives. "I’ve stood side-by-sidewith my patients fightingon the front lines, and eachone of their experienceshas contributed to thedevelopment of a TAR Dojoequipped with tools toensure healing, findmeaning in their lives, andnavigate the complexitiesof toxic abusiverelationships," Dr. Jamiereflects.Authentic Insider | Page 24

Leaving a toxic abusive relationship isnever easy. Fear, uncertainty, andconflicting emotions often paralyzevictims, trapping them in a cycle ofhopelessness and despair. Manyvictims believe that they will sufferrepercussions, financial instability,and other unknown challenges thatseem insurmountable.Creating a Path to Freedom: Safety Plans and Support SystemsHowever, there is power in reachingout for help. Trusted friends, familymembers, counselors, ororganizations specializing in domesticviolence can provide the supportneeded to break free. Remember,asking for help is not a sign ofweakness — it is a testament to yourstrength and resilience.With each step towards freedom,survivors of TAR begin to reclaimtheir power and rebuild their lives. Itis a journey of self-discovery,rediscovering one's worth, strengths,and passions that have been buriedunder the weight of abuse.Embracing a New Beginning: Reclaiming Your PowerAs survivors heal, they becomeadvocates for change, shining a lighton the realities of toxic abusiverelationships. They offer hope andempowerment to those still trappedin the darkness, showing them that alife free from abuse is not onlypossible but deserved.Breaking free from a toxic abusiverelationship is a courageous act ofself-love and self-preservation. It is adeclaration that no one deserves tobe mistreated or live in fear. The pathto freedom may be challenging, but itis one paved with dignity,empowerment, and the possibility ofjoy.A Call to Empowerment and SolidarityIf you are contemplating leaving aTAR, know that you are not alone.There is a community of survivorsready to support you, resourcesavailable to guide you, and a futurefilled with hope waiting to beembraced.Remember that your safety, well-being, and happiness are paramount.You deserve relationships that upliftyou, nurture your soul, and empoweryou to be the best version of yourself.The journey to freedom begins with asingle step — have the courage totake it, and begin to believe you areworthy of a life filled with love,respect, and kindness.B R E A K I N G F R E EFROM TOXIC R ELA TIONSHIPSAuthentic Insider | Page 25

TAR Anon provides a lifeline for those who feel lost in the aftermath of toxicrelationships. It offers a community of understanding, empathy, and sharedexperiences — essential elements for healing. Your donations to TAR Anon contributeto the advancement of a global network where survivors can find refuge, support, andthe tools necessary to reclaim their lives.In recognition of Mental Health &Trauma Awareness Month, TARNetwork™ is proud to announce thelaunch of TAR Anon™ worldwide!Together with CPTSD Foundation andWeHealUS, we are creating aninternational fellowship aimed ataiding recovery from Toxic AbusiveRelationships (TAR), utilizing TARNetwork’s 12-step recovery model.Mental Health & Trauma Awareness MonthTrauma from TAR has devastatingeffects on victim's mental, emotional,and physical well-being. Sadly,countless people around the worldare silently trying to heal the scarsleft by such experiences. Millions ofpeople suffer from the long-termeffects of trauma, feeling isolated andmisunderstood.Mental Health & Trauma Awareness Month serves as a crucial reminder of theprevalence of trauma in our society. It is a time to shed light on the challenges faced bysurvivors, advocate for their needs, and foster a culture of compassion and support. Byraising awareness and standing in solidarity with survivors, we create a world wherehealing is possible, stigma is erased, and voices are heard. Please Support TAR Anon™To become a part of Mental Health & TraumaAwareness Month and to support TAR Anon pleasereach out to us at contact@TARNetwork.org andfrequently visit our website, TAR Network.May, 2024 – An Important Month with a Vital CauseB R E A K I N G F R E EFROM TOXIC R ELA TIONSHIPS

JOIN TAR NETWORK INTHE LAUNCH OF TAR ANONTAR Anon™ is an international fellowship of survivors who bring theirexperience, strength, and hope by sharing their personal truths. In doing so,they help others recover from the emotional battlefield stemming from TAR(Toxic Abusive Relationships).Our meetings take place in neurologically-safe settings and follow aprescribed recovery program of self-awareness and developing essentialself-love. TAR Anon’s trauma-informed path of emotional regulationtransforms lives in a healthy, co-regulated, non-judgmental way – helpingothers in the process.TAR Anon is powered by TAR Network™ – a 501(c)(3) charity with globalreach. Facilitated by trained TAR Mentors both online and in person, wepresent research-based Topics, Steps and Promises in each meeting. TARAnon is the only supportive and accessible program helping TAR survivorscome out of the fog and into the light.Powered by:tarnetwork.orgcontact@tarnetwork.org

Advertise with InsiderFor more information, email lorilee@binstockmediagroup.com

“A brilliant ideais like a baby ina mothers womb.You need to bringit out in the world,nurture it, feed it,grow it, till itbecomes bigenough to takecare of itself.If you leave it at thestage of an ideaitself, it is as goodas non existent.”― Manoj Arora,From the Rat Raceto Financial FreedomAuthentic Insider | Page 30

Candace:A MOTHER-SON JOURNEY THROUGH PSYCHEDELICSParallel HealingParallel HealingParallel HealingI hated my mom. Deep in my soul, I was irreparably wounded. I felt utterly disconnected from her for the first three decades of my life,like how I’ve always felt about my father, who died of suicide when I wasfour. My father’s funeral is my first memory in life and a starting pointfor the chaos of my childhood. When buying an obligatory Mother’s Day card, I would look for the mostgeneric card I could find. Looking through the greeting card aisle wouldalways take me so long to find one that didn’t express sentiments I knewI didn’t feel. And I would wonder what it felt like to have a meaningfuland loving relationship with a mother. I never knew what that felt like,and I was sure that it would always be this way.I have hated my mom for as long as I can remember. At three years old, Iclamored to my mom’s bed for a cuddle of reassurance and love, but she pushedme away. And there she was, at my husband’s funeral, pretending she was there tosupport me, and I hated her more. It was enough that my husband had died ofsuicide that morning, but seeing her caused me as much, if not more, angst. Candace:Josh:Josh:Not until psilocybin, the “magical” compound in psychedelicmushrooms, changed everything for me. Life as I knew it wasnever the same after that self-administered large dose ofhome-grown mushrooms. The medicine created a profoundsix-hour experience, ending with a decision to call my momimmediately and have the first real conversation I’d ever hadwith her, and beginning the most important journey of my life– healing my relationship with my mom. This journey wouldeventually lead to multiple psychedelic experiences together,which would fundamentally change our lives and relationship,elevating existence as we knew it.Mother’s Day and my mom’s birthday were one week apart. Did I have to buy twocards? I hated thinking about this every year. I picked the most generic card that Icould find and signed it. I never desired to have a relationship with my mother, whowas narcissistic and abusive, with a lack of conscience.Authors: Josh Halu and Candace Halu

Candace:I came into the world with abandonment and rejection, my mom oncetold me, knowing at conception that she didn’t want to be married to myfather. A second child would only make her more attached to him. Ontop of that, my mere existence was infused with conflict. I was born in Jerusalem, Israel, to an American-Jewish mother and anIsraeli Christian Arab father. My mom moved from Chicago to Israelwhen she was 23, herself fleeing from significant childhood trauma,which she passed down to me. She met my father while in Israel, andtheir love, between a Jew and an Arab, was prohibited. We moved to theUS when I was two to start our new life.I was hesitant when Josh suggested we take mushrooms. I ammedicated for bipolar disorder, and I was also afraid that I wouldoverdose, as I had on other drugs in my youth. Josh reassured methis would be a different and safe experience. During our triptogether, I saw Josh’s inescapable pain and vulnerability for thefirst time, and I was afraid for him. I also felt immense guilt. ButJosh and I knew this was just the beginning, a new trajectory forour relationship. We learned how deeply connected we were, andwe committed to healing the generational trauma that had shapedour being to the core.Candace:Josh:My parents’ relationship was incredibly toxic. My first memories are of my dadbleeding from a head injury from the blow that my mother inflicted on him using ahard, sharp object. I was three. I was living in fear. I learned to protect myself bystaying as far away as I could, from my mother and her unpredictable behavior.A MOTHER-SON JOURNEY THROUGH PSYCHEDELICSParallel HealingParallel HealingParallel HealingAuthentic Insider | Page 32

Candace:I was allowed to return home for high school, but after one semester ofmy first year, my parents sent me to a military boarding school inanother state, away from everything and everyone I’d ever known. I was14 years old, and unbeknownst to me then, I would be in a militaryuniform for another 14 years. The first semester at military school was miserable. Suddenly, I wasgetting my head shaved and yelled at, learning to shine my shoes andmarch in formation. I failed classes and got into fights and trouble,nearly getting kicked out of school. I begged my parents to let mecome home, and they clarified that would never be an option. I wasn’tallowed or welcome back home. I decided to take matters into my ownhands, accepting that I had to rely only on myself for the rest of my life. After losing my father to suicide, the progression of my lifeevolved rapidly. My mom was diagnosed with bipolar disorder,and mental illness was commonplace in my existence. Sheremarried a couple of years later. I was a middle child andnever felt like I belonged. I would fight with my siblings often. My parents sent me to multiple therapists. I was diagnosedwith ADHD and medicated and sent to live with other familiesseveral times during childhood, including most of eighthgrade. During that year away, I could only call home andspeak to my family once weekly at a predetermined time. Josh:In an impulsive reaction to some minor troublethat Josh was involved in, my husband, Tim,and I decided it would be best for our family ifJosh were removed from the house and ourfamily. It was a heart-wrenching decision, butTim had a rough time living in my chaos. Hehad married me four years prior with a familyof three children ages 4, 6, and 9, all reelingfrom the suicide of their father. I had hopedthat Tim would feel relief, and I rationalized thatTim and I would be together for the rest of ourlives and Josh would be on his own by the timehe was eighteen. A MOTHER-SON JOURNEY THROUGH PSYCHEDELICSParallel HealingParallel HealingParallel HealingAuthentic Insider | Page 33

Candace:On the first day of my sophomore year, I was in Junior ROTC class, and I learnedabout the United States Service Academies. I became interested specifically in WestPoint, the US Military Academy, one of the best institutions in the world. My academicadvisor told me there was no way I was getting in with my abysmal grades and lack ofany extracurricular involvement. At that moment, I committed myself to do whatever ittook to get into West Point, seeing it as my path to emancipation from my parents andfamily, and to an accomplished life. From one day to the next, everything changed. I earned nearly straight As for the rest ofhigh school, became a cadet leader, earned multiple varsity sports letters, andparticipated in numerous extracurricular activities. With total dedication, lots of support,and plenty of luck, my efforts paid off, and I was admitted to the Academy, starting basictraining at West Point when I was 17. The next 11 years were a whirlwind of experienceand accomplishment.I graduated near the top of my class and became an aviation officer, BlackhawkHelicopter pilot, Army Ranger, and company commander. I served seven years onactive duty, with one deployment to Afghanistan. During that time, I also earned twomaster’s degrees and married my college girlfriend. I finally left the military and took offmy uniform for the last time when I was 28, ending this phase of my journey that I beganon that day in Junior ROTC. Josh:Tim and I attended every major event Josh participated in at his high schooland West Point. We attended Josh’s graduations from West Point and Ranger Schooland his master’s degrees. We celebrated with Josh and his friends, and I thoughtthat he loved us, although he merely tolerated our presence. We were proud of Joshand everything he accomplished. He would remind us that his accomplishmentswere his alone and in spite of us, not because of us. I had no idea how much hehated and resented me, and himself, conflicted and tortured by trauma and self-doubt. How could he not? I was entirely blind to the parallels in our upbringing andthe selfish intention and self-preservation through which I acted.A MOTHER-SON JOURNEY THROUGH PSYCHEDELICSParallel HealingParallel HealingParallel HealingAuthentic Insider | Page 34

Four days after signing out of the Army, my incredible excitement for my civilian life andcorporate job was cut short. While packing my house to move across the country, I received acall that changed my life. My best friend, Taylor, was murdered. Taylor was my high schoolroommate. We applied to West Point and attended together, he was a groomsman at mywedding, and we deployed to Afghanistan together, which was the last time I saw him. Aftersurviving deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Taylor left the Army two years before me. Hewas completing his MBA while on a school-sponsored trip to Israel, my birth country, when hewas the tragic victim of a terrorist stabbing attack. This news crushed me more profoundly than anything I’d ever experienced. At that moment,all of the other trauma from my life came crashing down on me…my father’s suicide, mychallenging childhood, my wartime traumas, Taylor’s death, all of it at once.I spiraled deeply, holding it together on the outside as much as possible but feelinghopelessly depressed on the inside. I had no one to talk to, and nowhere to turn, so Ipersisted as much as possible, just like I’d done through every other challenge I faced in life.At one point, I hiked the whole Appalachian Trail in Taylor’s honor, carrying his dog tags for2,200 miles, attempting to heal and hike away my pain. Four years after leaving the Army,the effects of my PTSD and depression ultimately destroyed my marriage, which came to anend after 11 years, right at the start of the pandemic in 2020. Prior to my divorce and at the depths of my depression, I learned about psychedelics. Afriend told me about the ability of psychedelics to help with mental health and PTSD. I wasdesperate and curious, with no idea where to turn, so I decided to grow my own mushrooms.Right as my first batch of mushrooms was finished growing, my wife told me she wanted adivorce, leading to me moving across the country from New Jersey to Las Vegas, where mybrother lived and near the rest of my family in the southwest US.Authentic Insider | Page 35Josh:A MOTHER-SON JOURNEY THROUGH PSYCHEDELICSParallel HealingParallel HealingParallel Healing

Authentic Insider | Page 36Josh:All these years later, I had almost no relationship with my siblings, and I still harboredincredible hatred and resentment in my heart toward my mother. I was nervous to beliving so close to my parents, who lived in Arizona then, even though they had shownme love and support during my divorce and were trying to connect with me. On my first weekend inside my new home in Vegas, and with nothing to lose, Itook a significant dose of my mushrooms, and my life changed forever.Today, barely four years since that first psychedelic experience, my mom is my bestfriend, and our depth of connection is foundational to me. My life is rich with community,friendship, passion, and purpose. My ability to connect with myself and others hasdeepened beyond recognition from my former self. The self-loathing, anger, andresentment I once felt have been replaced with self-love, kindness, empathy, andforgiveness. These feelings would have never been possible for me withoutpsychedelics, which opened the door to the possibility of healing. When I opened thatdoor, I took my mom with me, recognizing how crucial it was to my fulfillment to begrounded in a meaningful relationship with her. The first time we took mushrooms together, we set an intention to heal ourrelationship. I knew it would be difficult, and it was. We vulnerably bared our soulsand shared our truths so raw and authentically. We each felt seen and understood,perhaps for the first time. This was the first of many psychedelic experiencestogether, and we are still committed to doing the deep healing work for ourselvesand others.A MOTHER-SON JOURNEY THROUGH PSYCHEDELICSParallel HealingParallel HealingParallel Healing

I was overcome with joy when Josh allowed me to visit his home. We had neverspent time alone together in our adult lives. I didn’t know exactly what to expect.We ingested ”magic mushrooms” and began a very expansive journey dealingwith generational trauma, delving into the bowels of our souls. The intenserealizations of my actions shook me profoundly. I wept as I felt Josh’s pain. Iwas tortured by the reality of what I had done. And Josh forgave me andaccepted me. Throughout this process, we’ve developed a bond and understanding of eachother neither of us knew was possible. With intentional effort, we learned how tocommunicate together consciously and empathetically. Eventually, we were ableto see through the shackles of intergenerational trauma, and it becameabundantly clear to us how these trauma patterns are passed down, allowing usto officially break them. The well-worn grooves of trauma, bred into usunconsciously by childhoods and institutions and situations we didn’t choose, nolonger control our thoughts and actions. And in their place, love, gratitude, andbeautiful connection have flourished in our lives and in the ripple effects of ourawakening. Never would I have thought this to be possible until circumstanceled us here, with psychedelics guiding our path toward healing. Today, I trust Josh with my life. We are growing together exponentially. Iam eternally grateful for his love and for lifting me out of the depths ofgenerational trauma. I love him with every beat of my heart. We are onan exceptional journey together.I hated my mom to my core. And because of that hatred, Ican now say unequivocally: I love my mom wholeheartedly,and I’m eternally grateful for her gift of life and presence.Candace:Authentic Insider | Page 37Josh:A MOTHER-SON JOURNEY THROUGH PSYCHEDELICSParallel HealingParallel HealingParallel Healing

WHO WE AREAPPLY TODAYHelp us create a world where has access to psychedelic healing,regardless of their ability to pay for it.everyoneIf you or a loved one would benefit from psychedelichealing please apply. The Psychedelic Access Fund (PAF) is a 501c3 nonprofit thatbreaks down the financial barriers to psychedelic healing. Weaccomplish our mission by sponsoring select individuals whowould benefit from psychedelic healing but can not affordaccess. Click the button to donate towards our mission.Help someone heal.

Authentic Insider | Page 39

I was seriously ill as achild. I was frequently hospitalized, sometimes in theintensive care unit. At one point when I was about eight, Ihad only half a lung functioning, and the situation wastouch and go. Hooked up to oxygen and an assortment ofother tubes, I remember crying to my mom, saying, “I justwant to be able to breathe.” But the crying onlyexacerbated my symptoms. I didn’t know it at the time,but I was experiencing childhood trauma, and it hadthe potential to alter the course of my health as anadult, including my experience with perimenopause inmidlife.B Y J E N N I F E R C H E S A KPlus, how psilocybin may be able to help withsymptoms of this major mid-life changeYour History of Trauma . . .Your History of Trauma . . .With severe asthma, Authentic Insider | Page 40

WE HAVE TWO MAIN ARMS TO OURAUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM:One is the sympathetic nervous system, oftencalled “fight or flight.” The other is our parasympathetic nervous system,often called “rest and digest.” They work somewhat in opposition to each other.Think about a time when you heard bad news orwere highly stressed. Maybe you threw up or hadother gastrointestinal issues. This is because whenwe’re in fight-or-flight mode, our body directs allresources to helping us manage the threat.Hence, our digestion temporarily takes a backseat.When the threat is over, our stomach settles again.If you go to your doctor for help with perimenopausesymptoms, one thing they likely won’t tell you is thatyour life’s history may be having an impact. If you’veexperienced trauma, especially in childhood, you’remore likely to have worsened perimenopausesymptoms. Childhood trauma is often collectively referred to asadverse childhood experiences, or ACEs. ACEsinclude abuse, neglect, assault, having an incarceratedparent, bullying, poverty, natural disasters, manmadedisasters, severe childhood illness, and more. ACEshave lasting effects on our stress response. The good news is that new research shows thatpsilocybin lessens our psychological response toACEs. Therefore, it may help ease perimenopausesymptoms.Trauma & MenopauseHere’s a quick primer on menopause terminology. Menopause is really a blip in time, themoment where you’ve had an absence of a period for 12months. The average age of menopause is 52. After you’ve reached menopause, you’re in post-menopause. Before menopause, you’re in the state of perimenopause,where you’re experiencing changes in your cycle as yourovarian reserve declines and your hormone levels shift. Youmay notice perimenopause symptoms for even a decadebefore reaching menopause.This bears repeating: if you’ve experienced ACEs, youmight have worsened perimenopause symptoms. Thatseems rather unfair. Not only do you have a history oftrauma and have endured a lot, now you’re facing apotentially more intense situation with “the change.”About one in six adults has experienced four or more ACEs.And if you’ve experienced four or more ACEs, you’remore likely to have worsened perimenopause symptoms,such as depression, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, sexualdysfunction, and more.Authentic Insider | Page 41

Psilocybin & PerimenopauseSo what can you do? Find ways to train yourself to tapback into rest-and-digest mode.We have lots of tools at our disposal to do this, includingmeditation, breathwork, yoga,regular exercise, engaging in enjoyable hobbies,spending time with people we feel safe with, cognitivebehavioral therapy, etc. We also have psychedelics, likepsilocybin.Research shows that psilocybin has the potential tolessen our negative psychological responses to ourACEs, which in turn could help ease menopausesymptoms.Psilocybin activates serotonin receptors. Through variousmechanisms, serotonin receptor activation influences thehypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which manages ourstress response.Psilocybin may be able to help us in perimenopause inother ways too. A common perimenopause symptomis depression. If you tell your doctor that you’redepressed in midlife, likely they’ll prescribe you anantidepressant, such as a selective serotonin reuptakeinhibitor, or SSRI. SSRIs are great medications that havehelped many people, including myself. By writing this, I donot want to disparage SSRIs or encourage anyone to gooff their meds, especially not without talking to yourdoctor and finding a safe tapering protocol—if it’s evensafe for you to go off your prescription in the first place.However, I do have concerns about how many middle-aged people assigned female at birth are prescribedSSRIs simply because they’ve reached perimenopause andare experiencing symptoms.One thing to consider is that SSRIs blunt mood. That’show they work. Not only do they blunt your lows (which iswhat we’re going for) but they also blunt your highs.Survey research shows that psilocybin doesn’t bluntmood; instead it makes us feel more OK with ourhighs and lows. SSRIs also come with side effects, such as low libido,which is another common symptom of perimenopause andbeyond. Additionally, SSRIs must be taken every day forthem to continue working. Research shows thatpsilocybin, when taken as a macrodose in atherapeutic setting, can have lasting effects on majordepression, meaning you don’t need to use itregularly. However, some people do microdose, which istaking a miniscule amount at regular intervals.I’m not suggesting that psilocybin is a cure-all forevery perimenopause symptom under the sun or thatit’s right for everyone. It’s neither of these things. But itmay be a tool that’s right for you. To find out more, youcan check out my book The Psilocybin Handbook forWomen, which has a robust section on menopause.As for me, I’m 45 and most definitely in perimenopause.My symptoms are noticeable at times, but they aren’tawful. I have done a lot of work in recent years toreally learn how to tap into my rest-and-digest modewhen I feel fight-or-flight trying to take over. Onething I’ve done is engage in therapeutic use ofpsilocybin. I can’t say for certain that the plant medicinehas changed my perimenopause trajectory, but I think ithas. Additionally,I do know that I’m now much more able to control mystress response. So again, I say psilocybin is a tool in myarsenal and it’s done a lot for me in terms of grapplingwith traumas old and new.Authentic Insider | Page 42

Authentic Insider | Page 44

By Karen Grossc r e a t i n g i t , h e a l i n g f r o m i tc r e a t i n g i t , h e a l i n g f r o m i tTRAUMA ART:Pre-Pandemic, I spend much of my time atdisaster sites, helping students, educators andinstitutions find pathways forward following atraumatic event. Whether it was a concertmassacre or a border detention facility or a schoolshooting, I worked with individuals andorganizations where trauma abounded. One lessonI learned was that to do this disaster relief work, Ihad to exercise self-care because, as the sayinggoes, you can’t pour from an empty cup.Through a combination of making a mess withpaints, expressing visually what I could not addressverbally and exploring color, I created art. It wasnot originally designed to address traumaexplicitly; it was designed to help me amelioratethe trauma I was witnessing (and to be candid, hadwitnessed throughout my life).Karen Gross, Red Boat Alone at Sea (2018)Karen Gross, Flying Umbrellas (2018)Here are two examples of my early pre-Pandemicart that appear in a published book of poetry forchildren titled Flying Umbrellas and Red Boatspublished in 2019. Authentic Insider | Page 45

But, along came the Pandemic and theomnipresence of trauma across the globe. Itwas at during those early months that myengagement in and with art changed. With anunanticipated intensity, I created art thatreflected the abundance of illness, death anddying as well as isolation and confusion andcomplexity with which we were living. And, Istarted to share art and its creation withothers as a way of ameliorating trauma.Let me explain.For me, textured art took on new meaning.Collages moved to the forefront of my efforts. This was in part a response to the world inwhich we were living – it was filled withbumps. Our lives were far from smooth, andmy art reflected the absence of thatsmoothness. And it showcased theintermixture of feelings and situations thatboth adults and children were feeling.Here's a sampling of my early Pandemic art,reflecting at least for me, the larger issues inour world.Karen Gross, We’re Cracked (2021)Karen Gross, Cluttered and Then Some (2021)COLLAGE AS A RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMICAuthentic Insider | Page 46

Although I continued my art in private, I started sharing my art and then“doing” art with children and adults in the classes I taught remotely andlater in person during the Pandemic. This art took many forms. I tried using art to illustrate what trauma was doing to us – how it wasdysregulating us and creating a sense of uncertainty anddisorganization. The goal was to give visual cues as to what was occurringwithin our minds. While I continued to write books and blog, I saw art as anotherpathway through which to share trauma’s profound effects near and longer term.Karen Gross, A Messy Mess (2023)ART TO ILLUSTRATE THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA Consider this example.

Then, I saw a need to illustrate how current trauma trips off earlier trauma, settingoff a host of intense reactions. I called these tuning forks as our response totrauma mirrored the physics principles of action and reaction. The reverberationsgot stronger with each touch of the fork. When many forks were activated, Ireferred to it as “tuning fork orchestras.” And to this day, I keep a fork near me asI work, reminding me of trauma’s retriggering power. I reference tuning forkswhen I talk to professionals about trauma anniversaries/memorials. Consider this example of “tuning fork art.”Karen Gross, Viola Ford Fletcher’s Story (2024)Then, I introduced students to Kintsugi art – both seeing it and creating it. Theidea was to take what was broken and mend it, uttering the phrase used inKintsugi art, “more beautiful for being broken.” I shared Kitsugi motivated art thatI created (I termed it “making peace of pieces”). I actually broke and mendedbowls with educators who experienced trauma. Here are some examples.ACTION & REACTIONKINTSUGI ART

Our art then took different forms, all reflective of the Pandemic and its impactupon us all. We created Kindness Rocks that were then given away to activateempathy engines. We created paperclip art chains that were strung aroundfurniture and people to showcase the value of connection. We utilized zippers thatreflected whether we were emotionally zipped up or totally unzipped. We did arton walls and in halls. All these art efforts were designed to respond to trauma byactivating the senses and encouraging imagination but also to amelioratetrauma’s symptoms, focusing on connection and mending. It is this latter themethat accounts for the title of our new book, Mending Education: Finding Hope,Creativity and Mental Wellness in Times of Trauma (Teachers College Press,2024).Consider these examples:Kindness Rocks created by elementary schoolstudents in Danvers, MA (2024) and displayedat Martin Luther King Day event.Example of Zipper Art a la Miro style (2023)Paperclip Art created at MAnon-profit that providesassistance to youth (2022)CREATING CONNECTIONAuthentic Insider | Page 49

Much of the art displayed here uses commonobjects, making it vastly easier for students andeducators to find: forks, zippers, buttons,thread, yarn, rocks, paperclips, labels, glue andpaint. With these common objects, we cancreate art that responds to the trauma we areexperiencing – both representing the traumaand our pathways forward through mending.As my students of all ages used art, I tooexpanded my art repertoire. I, too, used shardsand common objects. I used ripped paper andglue. I used plaster of paris. I used things thatwere discarded. And from the detritus, I createdart that messages. And I shared it is withstudents and educators.Karen Gross, Mending Art (2024)Karen Gross, Dangling by Threads (2023)Art can help us both recognize and amelioratetrauma. I cannot think of anything morepowerful than enabling all individuals to moveforward through difficult times. Art is onestrategy for doing that. We would be wise torecognize art’s power and not marginalize it.Art, as described here, is not static; it is createdto help move people and in that effort, it allowsall of us to see and experience the effects ofcreativity and the power of the possible.And, to that end, here is one final piece of art,exemplifying the themes presented here.Emotional stress, dangling with uncertainty,piecing things together and finding beauty. And, if you are doing trauma art – whether foryourself or for your students -- reach out. I’dwelcome that.COMMON OBJECTSART AS POSSIBILITY Authentic Insider | Page 50

As the mental health crisis reaches devastating levels post pandemic, more and more people arelooking for ways to manage their mental health. How does a childhood sexual abuse survivor, a veteran struggling with PTSD and an athletesuffering from Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), trauma, and addiction find effective healing andrelief? Psychedelics. A treatment that was studied and used as effective treatment for mental health disorders until itwas banned and categorized as a schedule I drug in the 1970s, psychedelics have providedmuch needed relief for thousands of people suffering from trauma and mental health issues.Regardless of the laws banning these treatments, the people who understood the power of thesemedicines feel more empowered to find ways to help others find healing through them. On thefollowing page click on the graphic to view the Proof of Concept for "Our Own PersonalRealities." An Upcoming Documentary about the Fight toBring Psychedelic Healing Back into the LightAuthentic Insider | Page 51

If you are interested in donating orinvesting in this film, please emaillorilee@binstockmediagroup.comAuthentic Insider | Page 52

A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast is joining Mental Health News Radio Network https://www.mentalhealthnewsradionetwork.com/a-trauma-survivor-thrivers-podcast/

Authentic Insider | Page 54“We nurture our creativitywhen we release our innerchild. Let it run and roamfree. It will take you on abrighter journey.”― Serina Hartwell

“Fortnight” By Taylor Swift“Fake Happy” By Paramore“Overwhelmed” By Ryan Mack“OK Not to Be OK” by Demi Lovato“Waving Through a Window” by BenPlatt“In My Blood” by Shawn Mendes“Ride” by Lana Del Ray“Only Love” by Katy Perry“Little Talks” by Of Monsters andMen“Under Pressure” by Queen, DavidBowie“Demons” by Imagine Dragons“Epiphany” by Taylor Swift“Lovely" by Billie Eilish feat. Khalid“This is Me Trying" by Taylor SwiftLET THE MUSIC FLOWMuch of music is birthed fromstruggle, anxiety and depression andit also gives an outlet to let thoseemotions flow. Here are the songs Ihave picked that I found appropriatefor Mental Health Awareness Month.As a someone who feels deeply aboutthe importance of processing youremotions, as opposed to attemptingto escape them, here are the tunesthat really allow me to let the musicflow through and out of me.Mental Health Awareness Mental Health Awareness MUSICMUSICMUSICMUSIC

Authentic Insider | Page 56Meet Hattie Harmony, Worry Detective. She’s always there to helpher friends when they need her. And the first day of school cancause a lot of jitters—from speaking in front of the class to takingthe bus. Hattie always finds the perfect tools to calm her friends’bodies and minds. But when her own fears start to bubble up, canHattie learn to overcome them herself? *I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.Little Bear is a worrier. He worries about everything! But withMama Bear's help, he soon learns his worries are not so big afterall. Through this engaging and beautifully illustrated story, childrenwill learn that everyday worries and fears can be overcome. It justtakes a willingness to share with a helpful listener, and anunderstanding that making mistakes is how we learn. Alsoincluded are Discussion Questions for parents, caregivers andeducators, and extra hints to help children manage anxiety.Hector loves his cozy, snuggly, safe home. It's his favorite place tobe. Hector loves his home so much that he doesn't often go out, andsoon, it starts to affect his friendships. Can Hector find the courageto break out of his comfort zone? Included is a Note to Parents,Caregivers, and Professionals by Julia Martin Burch, PhD, thatdiscusses helping children overcome their worries and break out oftheir comfort zone.

Author, Reginald Reed dives into the murder of his mother and then 40 years laterthe arrest of this father for the crime. Reed’s story highlights the indomitable spiritthat can arise from even the darkest of circumstances. The Day My Mother NeverCame Home is not simply a true crime tale; it is a testament to the power of thehuman spirit and the importance of shedding light on the truth. With each turn ofthe page, you will find yourself captivated by the narrative. Follow Reed’s journeyas he grapples with raw emotions and questions the complexities of true justice.This book will leave an indelible mark on your heart and mind, compelling you toreflect on the fragility of life and the strength it takes to overcome tragedy.MENTAL HEALTHBOOKS (FOR ADULTS)We already rely on science to tell us what to eat, when to exercise, and how longto sleep. Why not use science to help us improve our relationships? In thisrevolutionary book, psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Amir Levine and RachelHeller scientifically explain why some people seem to navigate relationshipseffortlessly, while others struggle.Discover how an understanding of adult attachment—the most advancedrelationship science in existence today—can help us find and sustain love.Pioneered by psychologist John Bowlby in the 1950s, the field of attachmentposits that each of us behaves in relationships. By age thirty, Stephanie Foo was successful on paper: She had her dream jobas an award-winning radio producer at This American Life and a lovingboyfriend. But behind her office door, she was having panic attacks andsobbing at her desk every morning. In this deeply personal and thoroughlyresearched account, Foo interviews scientists and psychologists and tries avariety of innovative therapies. She returns to her hometown of San Jose,California, to investigate the effects of immigrant trauma on the community,and she uncovers family secrets in the country of her birth, Malaysia, to learnhow trauma can be inherited through generations. Ultimately, she discoversthat you don’t move on from trauma—but you can learn to move with it.*I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.Authentic Insider | Page 57

For the month of May, I see celebrations and gathering. People could be going outhaving drinks or just wanting to spend time with family. Others could experience aheartache or loss. But there is going to be growth and fertility in regards to a person andor a situation.Someone could have been waiting to hear from a person or even a job company. I seethat many of you will receive a call back. From another perspective, many will beregaining their spiritual strength in their life.On the tarot side, I see similar energy, just a lot of forward movement. Many could betraveling or even relocating. Someone from the past could be coming back around.There could be someone who is pregnant, so congratulations on that. There could besomeone who wants to apologize as well.Other messages that came out is that someone needs to forgive themselves or asituation. It's time to create space for new love. A random message is that many of youwill be spending quality time with your partner. It is recommended.Remember that in life it's about convincing yourself and not others. Something is about toget really juicy. Everyone is just doing their best . You have what it takes. Always rememberthat most people are just trying to survive.Monthly Collective ReadingsMonthly Collective Readings for All Signsfor All SignsJoy is a Narcissistic AbuseSurvivor who has made it her life'swork to help others through lifecoaching. She is also a healer,earth angel and psychic medium.If you would like coaching servicesfrom Joy and/or get your ownpersonal reading, please scan thebarcode below with yoursmartphone camera.READINGSPersonalINFOCoachingAuthentic Insider | Page 58