There are a lot of things can invoke a trauma response. A specific smell, a memory, or an image can overtake you. Trauma can show up in humans in many ways. It can take the form of avoidance of a particular event, disassociation, and feelings of helplessness. Trauma can also take the form of a bodily reaction, including constriction of muscles, a “freeze response”, or the need or...

The holidays tend to be a stressful time of year for people on multiple fronts. You might struggle with the change in the weather, be missing a family member that passed away, or just feel stressed with all the planning and events coming up. Many different emotions can come up all at once during the holiday season including anger, guilt, sadness, frustration. Trauma triggers might come up for...

Kelly Otterson, LPC, is IOME's newest trained supporter and full time employee!! We are so excited for her to join the IOME team!

Kelly is originally from Savannah, GA but moved to Colorado in 2015. She has been in the mental health field for 9 years and has a variety of experience. Kelly specializes in trauma, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem/body image. Kelly has a particular passion in...

What comes to mind when you think of the word “Rest”?  Refreshed, restart, new.... guilt, a waste of time?  Those are some of the words that Claudia Hammond’s research participants came up with in a study which was done across 135 different countries with 18,000 participants.  Claudia found that though many people define rest differently there were some things...

Are you a perfectionist?

You know that voice in our head that tells us we must get it done or we will get written up, fired, or called out if we don’t? 

That voice is perfectionism and it makes us think that it is the whole knower, all predictor and if we do not follow it, our life will go to shambles.  I picture The Simpson's character Superintendent Gary Chalmers yelling at...

Anxious Thoughts and the Body

How do the brain and body relate? What can you do to become more in touch with your body?

The short but simple statement “think positive” and “don’t worry so much” can only go so far when our bodies are telling us a different story.  To truly “think positive” and “not worry so much” we need to go beyond our...

Loneliness effects more than 55 million adults, that's more than double the number of those who have diabetes. 

Nearly 22% of Americans say they often or always feel lonely or socially isolated. 

This was all from a 2018 report by Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation. Can you imagine what those numbers must look like now with the rules around limiting social interaction with...