Core Argument - The first responder culture, particularly within fire departments, fosters a "macho" or "suck it up" mentality that discourages emotional expression and help-seeking, leading to a higher suicide rate among firefighters than deaths in the line of duty [8][9][12] - The origins of this culture can be traced back to industrial stoicism and institutionalized in police and fire departments, promoting a code of silence that exacerbates mental health issues [13][14][15] - Chronic suppression of emotion can lead to various health problems, including depression, PTSD, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease [16] - The code of silence can also enable bullying, shaming, and humiliation within the ranks, further contributing to the mental health crisis [17][18][19] Supporting Evidence & Statistics - Firefighters are three times more likely to die by suicide than to be killed in the line of duty [9] - The speaker lost three friends to suicide during their time in the fire department [9] - More first responders die by suicide than are killed in the line of duty every year [8] Proposed Solutions & Call to Action - The industry needs to acknowledge the humanity of first responders and create a culture that supports emotional expression and mental health [25] - The industry should consider adding a promise to serve and protect each other into the oath of office for police and fire departments [24] - The "warrior's grip" could be a symbol of renewed commitment to brotherhood and mutual support within the first responder community [24][25][26]

Everyone has past lives. Even if you don't believe in past lives, you've led many of them. Those past versions of yourself.In my current life, I'm a business strategist and a healer. But in a past life, I was a classical professional musician. I started playing obo at age 11 and by 23 I was subbing with the New York Philarmonic.But tonight I'm going to talk to you about what music taught me about people, about community, and the unconventional path that brought me here to a stage in Overtown without an inst ...

[music] Do you want to know what the most significant piece of advice I ever received was. One that changed the entire trajectory of my life. And it came from a cashier in a health food store.I was standing there on my one good leg. I'll get to that. Clutching these two herbal supplements that my research had told me would quell the buzzing anxiety that I was feeling in my chest.Now, I didn't want anyone to know I was suffering for fear of what they would say or how they would judge me. But this woman at th ...

[Applause] Think back to when you were 14 years old. Who was the person that you looked up to the most. Who did you want to be like, the role model in your life.Take a moment and picture them. Was it your dad, your mom, someone famous. maybe a sports coach.That role model shaped who you wanted to become. And whether you knew it or not, they shaped part of who you are today. So, here's the question I asked myself.Would the boy I once was look up to the man I am today. Let me be very clear. This isn't a messa ...

Manjula Sularia explores a difficult truth: for many survivors, the stigma that follows their trauma hurts more than the incident itself. She highlights how judgment, silence, and social bias imprison victims long after the event. Her talk calls for a cultural shift from scrutiny to safe spaces, from shame to support. Through insight and empathy, she reveals how collective compassion can help survivors reclaim dignity, voice, and healing. Life Skills trainer, Social Entrepreneur, POCSO & POSH Trainer. She i ...

Core Argument - The presentation addresses preverbal trauma, specifically childhood abandonment, and its lasting impact on individuals [2][4][5] - It emphasizes that trauma experienced before language development is stored in the body and manifests in various emotional and physiological responses [5] - Healing preverbal trauma requires listening to the body's signals and addressing the underlying emotional wounds [5] Psychological and Emotional Effects - The presentation highlights fear of rejection, unworthiness, low self-esteem, insecurity, self-doubt, guilt, and shame as common consequences of childhood abandonment [6][7] - Shame, unlike guilt, is described as a deeply damaging emotion that can be overcome through exposure and self-acceptance [7][8] Biological and Neurological Aspects - The presentation discusses the impact of broken mother-baby bonds on the autonomic nervous system, which regulates heart rate, body temperature, digestion, and stress responses [9] - Polyvagal Theory is introduced, explaining how the nervous system responds to perceived safety or threat through three states: ventral vagal (safety), sympathetic (fight/flight), and dorsal vagal (shutdown) [9][10][11] - Co-regulation, the process of finding balance through connection with others' nervous systems, is crucial for self-regulation and is disrupted by early separation from the mother [14][15] Recovery and Healing - The speaker shares their personal experience of using drugs to self-regulate and their subsequent journey to recovery, highlighting the discovery of abandonment as a core issue [16][17] - Witnessing the bond between mothers and infants in a recovery setting provided validation and insight into the speaker's own preverbal trauma [18][19] - Healing involves rewriting the story, creating safe spaces for connection, and acknowledging the body's memory of trauma, even when it cannot be consciously recalled [20][21]

Core Narrative - The speaker recounts a childhood marked by trauma, including poverty, neglect, and abuse, highlighting the lasting impact on identity and well-being [1][2][3][4][5][6] - The narrative shifts to the speaker's journey of seeking help and the challenges faced in foster care and mental health institutions, emphasizing the limitations of changing circumstances alone in overcoming trauma [5][11][12] - The story culminates in the speaker's creation of Mind the Gap Ireland, an online platform for survivors of sexual violence, driven by the desire to amplify silenced voices and address the underreporting of sexual violence statistics [13][14][15] Key Themes - Trauma's pervasive impact extends beyond physical scars, shaping identities, building defense mechanisms, and creating internal struggles [6][7] - Healing from trauma is a complex and individualized process, requiring patience, compassion, and an understanding of the diverse ways trauma manifests [17][18] - The importance of providing safe spaces and platforms for survivors to share their stories anonymously, breaking the cycle of shame and silence surrounding sexual violence [14][15][16] Social Impact - Mind the Gap Ireland serves as a platform for survivors of sexual violence to share their stories anonymously, addressing the shame and silence associated with these experiences [14][15] - The platform revealed that many individuals, including those who experienced sexual violence as children, waited decades before sharing their stories, highlighting the long-lasting impact of trauma and the need for accessible support [15] - The speaker advocates for increased awareness and understanding of trauma's effects, urging listeners to be compassionate and patient with those who are healing [17]

[applause] [applause] I jolted awake, lifting my head off the crunchy plastic pillow covered by a pillowcase. Black and tan smudges of my makeup smearing the white fabric. My tears making a mess of someone who was supposed to have it all together.the room. It smelled of rubbing alcohol and vomit, and I tried to shield myself from the cold with just a small sheet. As the events from the night before seeped back into my memory, the most overwhelming sense of dread filled my being.What had I done. I froze with ...

Trauma, rebellion and emigration surge alongside military ascendency https://t.co/xvLQih1bgy ...

I want us to begin with a moment of reflection. Think back. Can you remember a time when you ignore the signals from your body? Maybe your head hurt, but you pushed through anyway. Maybe your stomach turned, but you smiled and you said, "I'm okay. Maybe your back was screaming, but you remained silent. We've all been there, ignoring the signals, powering through.But imagine this. You trip and your brain ignores the signal from your foot that you're falling. There's no coordinated response.You fall hard, unp ...