trauma — Blog — Rachel Havekost

How Breathwork Motivated Me When I Stopped Caring About, Well, Everything

Last week I told my therapist I wasn’t feeling motivated or passionate anymore. She said that often times people with a history of trauma, chronic stress, or mental illness can see a decline in executive functioning, which can explain low motivation. Here’s what she suggested.

How Storytelling Saves Lives: Moving America's Soul on Suicide

For years I’ve felt the impact of shared stories in safe spaces and I fully believe that because I’ve been able to share my story and hear the stories of others, I’m still alive today. When I was invited to attend the screening of “Moving America’s Soul on Suicide,” I wanted to understand why storytelling could have such a profoundly positive impact on my mental health. How can hearing a complete stranger’s story of overcoming hardship--even if it’s a hardship I’ve never experienced--transform and illuminate my own suffering into hope and possibility?

35 Lessons From 35 Years

Today is my 35th birthday. And for the first time in a long time, I can truly say, I’m so glad I was born. I’m so glad to be alive. I’m glad that my attempts to leave didn’t work, and in honor of being 35—still alive—here are 35 lessons I’ve learned in life.

StoriesRachel HavekostDecember 29, 2023mental health, depression, trauma, healing, therapy, anxiety, dbt, self love, eating disorder, grief, relationships, friendhspComment

Signs of A Stressed Nervous System (And What to Do About It)

Digestion or gut issues, sleep disruption, insomnia, jaw clenching, anxiety or panic attacks, depression, low mood, irritability, anger, low sex drive, or brain fog may be signs your nervous system needs a reset. Join me for a free 31 day reset and let’s reset our nervous systems together in 2024.

How We Rest: Ways to Reclaim Your Peace

“I don’t know what to DO with myself when I’m not working,” I told my friend. “Like, what do I actually do? What does resting actually look like? It can just be sitting and staring at a wall. Is it baths? Can I walk or is that too active? Do I just lay on the couch? I’m genuinely confused. How do I rest?”

Coping Skills, TraumaRachel HavekostNovember 21, 2022rest, tips, trauma, consultationComment

Prevent PTSD: The COVID-19 Crisis and Trauma

The 5 traits of resilient people, and how we can harness these factors to prevent global, collective trauma in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

The Link Between Suicide, Trauma and Emotional Abuse

This is an incredibly difficult post for me to write, because it’s an incredibly difficult topic. I’d like to talk about suicide. I will be talking about suicidal ideation, emotional abuse, and trauma. The nature and content of this material might be disturbing or upsetting.