In stressful times, we forget who we are. Outside events, situations, things...all of those things are distractions to us remembering who we are.

People are struggling recalling and remembering who they are..and it got me thinking about doing a mindfulness exercise to help to remember...to "remember who I am" and from it to "know who I am."

I did this exercise and an immediate reaction was empowerment. I felt a shift, I felt a difference. I felt empowered!

How long? Less than 10 minutes.

I hope you enjoy this exercise and find it helpful.

"You're not crazy, this is a real injury," says New York attorney Michael Kaplen. 

Mr. Kaplen isn't just any ordinary attorney. He's dedicated his life's work and practice to helping people and families affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI) and PTSD. Michael teaches the only course in the USA devoted to traumatic brain injury law at the George Washington University Law School, served three terms as President of the Brain Injury Association of New York State, and was invited to the White House by President Obama to participate in the Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit.  Michael also serves as a member of the American Academy of Neurology, Concussion Work Group and is a member of the Board of Advisors for the New York Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Program and Brain Injury Research Center of Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.

"Both worlds have trauma and are still real to this person," Michael Kaplen, Esq.

In Episode 47 of PTSD and Beyond we welcome TBI and PTSD advocate, educator, author, Senior Partner of De Caro & Kaplen, LLP, Mr. Michael Kaplen.  Michael shares ways to help navigate the unseen injuries of TBI and PTSD and the challenges for the survivors, the family, the caregivers, and the treatment team. He also shares information on what things to look for when trying to find legal representation as well as how to alleviate the frustrations often felt and experienced by survivors when communicating challenges to third parties and the casual observer.

Give a listen and to learn more about Michael's work as well as listen to his series, Brain Injury Insider, connect with him here:

Web: BrainLaw.com

Facebook: BrainLaw

"In imagination, anything can happen," 

Phyllis Kahaney, Ph.D. & Rachel Epstein, L.Ac., J.D.

In this episode of PTSD and Beyond, we welcome the authors of Reversing the Trauma of War, Rachel Epstein, L.Ac. and Dr. Phyllis Kahaney where they share the effectiveness of using mental imagery in reducing symptoms of PTSD and Stress.

"There is always hope and the possibly of change,"

Phyllis Kahaney, Ph.D. & Rachel Epstein, L.Ac., J.D.

Both Rachel and Dr. Kahaney bring a blend of lived-experience to this PTSD and Beyond. Episode. Rachel is the director of the American Institute for Mental Imagery (AIMI) in New York City where she continues the legacy and work of her late husband and founder of AIMI, Dr. Gerald Epstein.  After successfully overcoming the symptoms of PTSD using mental imagery, Dr. Kahaney's uses mental imagery as a core treatment modality in her work as a readjustment counselor at the San Diego Vet Center.

As a bonus within this episode, Rachel and Dr. Kahaney guide us through a mental imagery exercise (Disclaimer: do not drive or operate a moving vehicle or machinery when doing the exercise).  To learn more about their work as well as to connect, contact them at:

Web: Reversing War Trauma

Book: Reversing the Trauma  War

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This episode is prompted from thoughts that happened throughout the day.

Making space and reflecting, the underlying question became clear,

"Why don't people do what they're supposed to do?"

From this question, I wrote. Then read. And here we are. Give a listen.

Share. Like. Comment. Subscribe.

"Meaning is something we discover, not something we create,"

Dr. Alex Pattakos

In this episode of PTSD and Beyond, we welcome Political Scientist and International-Best-Selling Author of the OPA! Way and Prisoners of Our Thoughts, Dr. Alex Pattakos, aka "Dr. Meaning," where he discusses recovering from trauma through meaning and purpose. Moments of life include trauma and those moments have a commonality to create mini-meanings that we string together and create milestones.

"Your search for meaning is precious," Dr. Alex Pattakos

"Meaning is always there," shares Dr. Pattakos, who is also the founder of the Global Meaning Institute where they help people discover new meaning in life and work, as well as help organizations, communities, and societies develop a deeper meaning in their purpose.

"It's more important to be aware than smart," Dr. Alex Pattakos

A mentee of Holocaust survivor, philosopher, and psychiatrist, Dr. Viktor Frankl, Dr. Pattakos continues Dr. Frankl's work in helping others including governments discover meaning and the awareness that hope is linked to purpose.

Meaning is intrinsic, hope builds resilience, and the human spirit is what connects and unites us.  "We often think 'mind, body, and spirit,' where it's really 'spirit, mind, and body,'" states Dr. Pattakos. It's this shift in mindset that brings a deeper awareness and builds upon the concept of OPA! - others, purpose, and attitude!

To connect with Dr. Pattakos and find out more about his work, follow the links below:

Web: Global Meaning Institute

Books: The OPA! Way     Prisoners of Our Thoughts

Twitter: @DrMeaning

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There's lots about life to react to. How in today's world can we create a safe space and feel safe? How can we live life and make things okay? Logic doesn't always help us FEEL better. When we feel better, then we feel safe.

In this episode, I openly share a moment of when feeling "a fear of the unknown" and process by showing listeners how to stay present and be self-reliant, process, and move through to arrive to a safe space and feel safe.

Listen. Download. Comment. Share. Subscribe.

"When we have secure attachment we're more resilient." ~ Dr. Meg Van Deusen

In Episode 42, we welcome licensed clinical psychologist, author, and mindfulness practitioner Dr. Meg Van Deusen where she discusses the importance of building secure attachment in turbulent times, how secure attachment is a foundation for resilience, and how from mindfulness compassion and non-judgement are the basis for secure attachment.

"Secure attachment says 'everything is going to be okay' and 'we are there for ourselves no matter what',"

~ Dr. Meg Van Deusen

Dr. Van Deusen's book, Stressed in the U.S. : 12 Tools to Tackle Anxiety, Loneliness, Tech-Addiction and More, looks at how current cultural stressors have increased our stress levels, changed our stress levels, and weakened our resilience to stress. Dr. Van Deusen shares that "every minute provides an opportunity to change your life in some positive way."

To learn more about Dr. Van Deusen's work, book, connect with her at:

Web: MegVanDeusen.com

Book: Stressed in the U.S.

Twitter: @DrVanDeusen

Listen. Download. Share. Comment. Subscribe. And Enjoy the Podcast!

In Episode 41 of PTSD and Beyond, we interview guest Jesse Zook Mann. Jesse is an Emmy-Award winning TV producer and the host of the Mental Radio Podcast which is Educating patients about all of the ways to heal from, recover from, and thrive with mental illness.

We hope you enjoy this episode and that you find words that create a space for the possibility for recovery.

For more information about Jesse Zook Mann and his work, connect with him at:

Podcast: Mental Radio

Web: https://mentalhealthmedia.org/

Twitter: @ZookMann

Insta: ZookMann

"Reconnect, it is there. Reconnect with who we are." Dr. Glenn Doyle

Licensed psychologist and author, Dr. Glenn Doyle's interest in self-help started as a youngster. Picking up books to learn ways to help yourself led him to the awareness that each book was was a seed written by a "paperback mentor." Those seeds were planted in the brain; encouraging him to to find answers. 

What did he find? What were the lifelong discoveries that prompted Dr. Doyle's well know quote, "building better live better lives, day by day, in the real world.?"

In this episode, Dr. Doyle shares his encouraging discoveries about self-help and ways to help ourselves and reconnect with ourselves.

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To learn more about Dr. Glenn Doyle, contact him:

Web: www.realisticlifechange.com

Twitter: @DrDoyleSays

Book: Wish I'd Known That

What do we do when we're knocked down? How does pausing, creating space, reflecting, and reigniting our spirit act as the set-up to the comeback?

The final episode of a 4-part series covering Dr. Jim Afremow's work - The Champion's Mind and The Champion's Comeback, Mark Gruesbeck, M.A. and I dive deeper into the comeback.

We share snippets of comments from others in their feelings that part of the comeback is the return to coming home.

Listen. Download. Share. Comment. Enjoy!