How to Know When It’s Time to Start Therapy – 2024

How to Know When It’s Time to Start Therapy

It can be Difficult to Decide When and if Therapy is Right for You

Primary Category: Psychology

Author:
• Simon Sherry, Clinical Psychologist and Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University

About This Article

Deciding when to start therapy can be challenging, but if you are considering it, it may be the right time. Therapy can help address various issues, including difficult life events, mental health struggles, and emotional challenges. It provides tools to understand and improve your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, promoting overall well-being.

If you are experiencing poor mental health or symptoms of mental illness—such as hopelessness, anxiety, or difficulty coping with life—it might be time to seek professional help. Therapy is not a quick fix; it requires time, effort, and finding the right therapist. However, the benefits can be significant, leading to lasting positive changes in your life.

Even if therapy didn’t work before, or if you feel hesitant, remember that mental health support is valuable, and you are not alone in your struggles.

SCARS Editorial Team2024-08-21T01:49:49-04:00August 21st, 2024|Categories: GUEST AUTHORS, • PSYCHOLOGY, 2024, ARTICLE, SCARS Institute Editorial Team, The Conversation|Tags: Brain, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Therapist, Therapy|0 Comments

Lost Time – Losing Our Sense Of Time Passing When Trauma Is Involved – 2024

Lost Time – Losing Our Sense Of Time Passing When Trauma Is Involved

How Trauma Affects Our Sense of Time

Primary Category: Scam Victim Recovery Psychology

Authors:
• Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

Disrupted time perception is a significant issue for individuals who have experienced profound psychological trauma, such as victims of relationship scams. This phenomenon occurs when the brain’s ability to perceive and process the passage of time is altered, often making past traumatic events feel as though they happened more recently than they actually did.

Several processes in the brain contribute to this distortion. The hippocampus, which is crucial for memory formation and organizing events chronologically, can be affected by trauma, leading to disorganized or fragmented memories. The amygdala, responsible for processing emotions, can heighten the emotional intensity of these memories, making them more vivid and seemingly recent.

SCARS Editorial Team2024-08-17T10:18:56-04:00August 17th, 2024|Categories: • PSYCHOLOGY, • FEATURED ARTICLE, 2024, ARTICLE, Tim McGuinness PhD, Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych)|Tags: Brain, Temporal Sense, Time, Time Keeping|0 Comments

The Mind-Brain Bias And How This Deters People From Getting Help When They Need It – 2024

The Mind-Brain Bias And How This Deters People From Getting Help When They Need It

The Challenge of Helping Scam Victims When They Cannot Accept What Has Happened to Their Brain from Trauma

Primary Category: Scam Victim Recovery Psychology

Authors:
• Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

The mind-brain bias, a cognitive bias rooted in the belief that the mind and self are distinct from brain processes, significantly hinders individuals, including scam victims, from seeking essential psychological, psychiatric, or neurological help after experiencing trauma.

This bias, influenced by dualistic thinking and cultural beliefs, leads to a misunderstanding of mental health, where individuals may reject the idea that their symptoms are brain-based and instead attribute them to personal weakness or spiritual issues. As a result, victims might avoid evidence-based treatments, such as psychiatric medication or therapy, out of fear of judgment or being labeled “crazy.”

Tuning Out The Noise – Your Brain Filters What You Perceive – 2024

Tuning Out The Noise – Your Brain Filters What You Perceive

Understanding Your Brain’s Focus & Filtering Mechanisms

Primary Category: Neurology of the Brain

Authors:
• Salvatore Domenic Morgera, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of South Florida – Salvatore Domenic Morgera has received funding for research in networks from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, The Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies, National Science Foundation, United States Special Operations Command, IBM, Harris Corporation, CMC Electronics, Motorola, Bell Canada, and other public and private agencies.

About This Article

The human brain processes hundreds of billions of neural signals each second, managing to focus on specific signals amid significant background noise, much like tuning into a conversation at a noisy party.

This feat is achieved through two primary mechanisms. First, neurons synchronize their activity, enhancing the clarity of the signal, similar to voices harmonizing in a choir. Second, brainwaves, or natural rhythms, act as a “delivery key,” marking the timing of signals and ensuring they reach their intended destination.

These processes not only help in understanding the brain’s complexity but also inspire advancements in telecommunications, artificial intelligence, and potential noninvasive treatments for neurological disorders.

SCARS Editorial Team2024-08-16T14:14:05-04:00August 16th, 2024|Categories: GUEST AUTHORS, • PSYCHOLOGY, 2024, ARTICLE, SCARS Institute Editorial Team, The Conversation|Tags: Brain, Brain Systems, Filter, Neurology, Perception|0 Comments

Learning And The Challenges That A Scam Victim Faces From Trauma And Related Cognitive Effects – 2024

Learning And The Challenges That Scam Victims Face From Trauma And Related Cognitive Effects

Often Scam Victims believe that the aftermath of a scam is just that their feelings are a little out of control, but the betrayal trauma from these crimes can lead to serious mind/brain dysregulation and impairment

Authors:
• Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Psychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

Scam victims often endure profound trauma due to the betrayal they experience, leading to significant psychological impacts. Recovery requires professional support, including psychological education and therapy.

Cognitive overload is common among victims, hindering their ability to learn. Learning involves encoding, consolidation, storage, and retrieval of information in the brain, influenced by neurotransmitters and synaptic plasticity. Trauma affects learning styles, impairing concentration, memory, and executive functions.

Cognitive dissonance exacerbates this, causing resistance to new information and reinforcing biases. Victims also face cognitive impairment, hindering logical thinking and comprehension.

Brain