Copy of Library of Support 2 | Davina Lacey Counsel

Library of support

Here are some starting points for exploring moods, emotions and psychological wellness from a number of different perspectives, including that of our physical body and nervous system. With your own exploration and experimentation, some of these resources can take you from simply gathering information and instead, towards knowledge and understanding; what makes a difference to the way I personally, think and feel?

Where is the life we have lost in living?

Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?

Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?

(T.S. Eliot, “The Rock”, 1934)

Image by Bioscience Image Library by Fayette Reynolds

Trauma &
our Nervous System

Trauma can be acute and singular or it might be ongoing for long periods. Traumatic imprints mean the experience has become rooted within us, so we continue responding (psychologically or in nervous system responses) to a story/ situation that may have ended.

Short video from explaining process of working through trauma from Judith Herman’s approach

https://youtu.be/4Z05P_jgXu0?si=ZiowwR8QC2FRARQp

7 impacts of trauma talk by Gabor Mate

Anxiety - how to affect change in our nervous system from Therapy in a Nutshell

Understanding moods & cultivating self-compassion

A mood tracker, How We Feel, designed to track mood and develop our understanding and recognistion of emotions

3 Components of self-compassion - 6 minute talk by Kristen Neff

Self-compassion exericises and practices

Philosophical thoughts

Who am I? by School of Life

How to deal with a crisis of meaning? by School of Life

Breathwork & somatic practises

Examples of 5 different types of breaths

Tamara Nazon guides 3 whole body movements to release tension and move energy into healing calm

Transforming body & mind through breath - guided practices with James Nestor

Daily practice with Somatic Breathwork

13 minute Somatic practice for trauma and stress relief with Dr Arielle Schwartz

Meditation
& Sleep

Insight Timer - an extensive library of meditations, body scans & yoga nidras. Search by current needs of your body & mind or filter by length. This app has many sleep meditations and talks to help with insomnia and difficulties sleeping

A 2 minute video from Headspace showing how we can pay attention to the mind & shift our thinking habits

Depression &
Anti-depressants

Discussion about antidepressants & the myth of a chemical imbalance. These are longer resources

Article from Pharmaceutical Journal (2022) discussing research to prove the hypothesis depression is caused by serotonin imbalance is unsubstantiated

Podcast episode, Feel Better, Live More discussing 'What the science actually says about depression, the side effects of antidepressants and finding balance (with Joanna Moncrieff)

Academic paper The serotonin theory of depression: a systematic umbrella review of the evidence (2022)

Resources to support you if you are considering starting or stopping anti-depressants (this should always be in consultation with your prescriber)

Royal College of Psychiatry guidance

Article by Mark Horowitz about anti-depressants and how to reduce or stop the medication with minimal withdrawal experiences

Trauma & our Nervous System

Trauma can be acute and singular or it might be ongoing for long periods. Traumatic imprints mean the experience has become rooted within us, so we continue responding (psychologically or in nervous system responses) to a story/ situation that may have ended.

7 impacts of trauma talk by Gabor Mate Anxiety - how to affect change in our nervous system from Therapy in a Nutshell

Understanding moods & cultivating self-compassion

A mood tracker, How We Feel, designed to track mood and develop our understanding and recognistion of emotions 3 Components of self-compassion - 6 minute talk by Kristen Neff Self-compassion exericises and practices