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Thanks Armee.  I approach this as a disability rights advocate, so my comments come from that angle.

The teen survey covers some additional issues, but not others. There's nothing about medical trauma, and asking about whether the person "worried about" not having enough food might make people who actually didn't have enough to eat feel excluded. Also, the "care" question is unnecessarily narrow. What about clothes/shoes, bedding, school supplies, and a clean living space?  Also, it would be better to use "plain language"; words like "put down" rather than "humiliated" or "money" instead of "resources".

I know that perfection can be the enemy of the good, but holy guacamaole that questionnaire feels out of touch with its target audience.

Hi

Does anyone know of any initiative to improve the Adverse Childhood Experiences survey?  I ask because there are obvious omissions (like medical trauma, trauma arising from discrimination – racism, homophobia, ableism – the effects of war and displacement/migration, and many more). Just curious.
be well
-AH

Hi:

Below is a list of podcasts on trauma and recovery that I've found helpful. Some of the others I've tried either played music during the explanations (which I found too distracting), were too dogmatic for my taste, have been abandoned, or had other technical issues. The podcasts are free, but usually have one or two ads for the content creators' (paid) services. In alphabetical order, my favourites are:

Regulate & Rewire – Amanda Armstrong, updated weekly, 115 episodes since 14March2023 (https://www.riseaswe.com/podcast)
Podcast description: "An anxiety & depression podcast, where we discuss the things I wish someone would have taught me earlier in my healing journey. I share my steps, my missteps, and tangible research-based tools to help you regulate your nervous system, rewire your mind, and reclaim your life."

My comments: The host combines explanations about how we are triggered and what to do about it, along with practical techniques for preventing and dealing with triggers, using polyvagal theory and neurosomatic techniques.

Transforming Trauma – Produced by the NARM (Neuro-Affective Relational Model) Training Institute, updated biweekly, 163 episodes since 22Jan2020 (https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/transformingtrauma/)
Podcast description: "In a modern world beset by complex trauma and a legacy of suffering, conflict and disconnection, healing trauma can serve as a vehicle for personal and social transformation. Transforming Trauma is a podcast about thriving after trauma. Throughout our episodes, we will explore the NeuroAffective Relational Model® (NARM®), a revolutionary healing approach for healing Complex Trauma (C-PTSD) and restoring connection to self and others. Whether you are a healthcare professional, an educator, a public policy maker, a trauma survivor, or someone interested in personal healing and social justice, Transforming Trauma will provide you with a map for increased resiliency, greater health outcomes, healthier relationships, personal growth and social change. We invite you to listen along as we explore how freedom from complex trauma is possible."

My comment: This podcast is an interesting cross between a self-help resource and an educational-focused webinar for practitioners of the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) of trauma recovery. Episodes generally feature interviews with practitioners or experts on a particular aspect of trauma (such as developmental trauma, social justice/oppression, specific populations). They haven't done anything directly related to how disability oppression contributes to trauma, which is one of my tests for inclusivity. It's possible to benefit from the self-help aspecs of the podcast without getting into the specifics of NARM.

Trauma Rewired – Elizabeth Kristoff / Jennifer Wallace, updated weekly (with pauses) 228 episodes since 27Oct2020  (https://illuminatedwithjennifer.libsyn.com/)
Podcast description: "The Podcast that teaches you about your nervous system, how trauma gets stored in the body and what you can do to heal."

My comment: This podcast is heavy on the theory of how trauma affects one's life, but light on practical techniques.  You can sign up for their a two week free trial. I did, but found the presentation materials (all video) lacked enough context to enable me to apply the theory to practice. I continue to listen to the podcast because it activates my brain and provides a lot of great information.

You Make Sense – Sarah Baldwin, updated weekly, 33 episodes since 23Sep2024 (https://rephonic.com/podcasts/you-make-sense)
Podcast description: "You Make Sense is a manual to understanding your human experience, so that you can navigate the world with freedom, ease, and empowerment. Using the latest neuroscience and trauma research, this podcast will equip you with powerful somatic tools to help you get unstuck and create the life you desire. Sarah Baldwin, SEP, is an expert in trauma resolution, attachment, parts work, and nervous system regulation. But before she was a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and trained in Polyvagal interventions, she first came to this work as someone struggling to find relief. It was through her own healing that led her to become a trained professional, now helping thousands of people across her programs, courses, and classes to do the same."

My comment: This podcast is similar to Regulate and Rewire, in that it provides a good balance of support, affirmation, theory, practical exercises and techniques. Like R&R, I find the explanations accessible, though the host's style irritates me at times, in a California/Barbie sort of way.

Be well / portez-vous bien
-AH

If I don't hear about any other support groups to join, I would be willing to co-facilitate a group on Sundays at 3 p.m. Eastern Time (North America). I am looking for an alternative to my family/siblings zoom calls, which I have been attending for five years, but which are becoming too triggering as I try to crawl out from under the dysfunction.

I am very reliable, but would like to take this on with a co-facilitator for a few reasons.
-- occasionally (rarely) I might not be available
-- I need help with vibe watching (since I don't trust my perceptions)
-- I would like back-up in case I get triggered and can't think or talk, and to provide occasional visual accommodations (I'm visuallly impaired and don't always see raised hands, etc.)

Be well / portez-vous bien
-AH

Hi. I'm hoping I can connect with a weekly online support group for people dealing with Complex relational trauma. I have been aware of my status as an abuse survivor for 45 years, but when I left the U.S. in 2003 (with a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder, PTSD, and treatment resistant depression) the idea of complex trauma was mostly unacknowledged. Also, things like neurosomatic regulation/polyvagal theory and Internal Family Systems ("parts work") hadn't hit the mainstream. So imagine my surprise when in 2023 I made renewed efforts to find a therapist who understood my disability/medical and family-related trauma, only to stumble on the brave new world of Adverse childhood experience scores, EMDR and EFT tapping, and Enneagrams (still trying to work that one out). The good news is that the ACE scores and the disability justice movement are helping to show the link between abuse and disability, both when abuse causes disability, and when disability discrimination ends up being a form of abuse. The bad news is that I'm living in a second language (French) and my psychological issues are interfering witn my ability to talk in my first language; who knew  talking requires practice?  The other bad news is that the advocacy work I do provides abundant triggers, in the form of disability oppression.

Speaking of my disability (visual impairment), please don't use emojis, they are meaningless to me, and I don't know if my screen reader can interpret them on this bulletin board. Also, Please don't use ALL CAPS because I find that harder to read than upper and lowercase.

be well / portez-vous bien
-AH