The body responds to extreme experiences by secreting stress hormones. These are often blamed for subsequent illness and disease. However, stress hormones are meant to give us the strength and endurance to respond to extraordinary conditions. People who actively do something to deal with a disaster—rescuing loved ones or strangers, transporting people to a hospital, being part of a medical team, pitching tents or cooking meals—utilize their stress hormones for their proper purpose and therefore are at much lower risk of becoming traumatized. (Nonetheless, everyone has his or her moment of greatest strain at which someone or something gives way under stress because the situation becomes critical.) If you felt unsafe with people as a child, you may have developed a very special talent, or a very special relationship with nature, animals, books, art, music, sports and so forth. #RandolphHarris 1 of 5

Childhood suffering created many people whose self-reliance resulted in extraordinary achievements. It also created many people who are content engaging in solitary activities like reading, exploring outdoors, being an artist, or doing scientific research. You may have many more strengths you are not aware of because of having been less fortunate than other children in how you were nurtured and raised. Keep in mind that within our vulnerabilities lie the seeds of our greatest strengths. People who are terrified need to get a sense of where their bodies are in space and time and of their boundaries. You do not need to retraumatize yourself to do this work. Choose a time of day when you can talk to someone, or go for a walk, or to watch a movie, or do anything else that is safe and constructive and soothing. Going back in time is difficult work when you are looking at painful experiences. Proceed at a safe pace and use your favorite self-soothing practices to protect yourself. #RandolphHarris 2 of 5

Keep in mind that you are no longer a child, and you have choices that you did not have back then. Humans are apparently a unique species in that we possess the advanced neurological circuity and cognitive architecture necessary to reflect on our own existence and ponder questions of the metaphysical nature. Our species also explores religious and spirituality through storytelling. As humans, we are motivated by the goal of self-preservation and the prospect of death is unsettling so we endeavor to be more than mortal. For instance, psychological studies reveal that giving people reasons to believe in life after death reduces the anxiety surrounding death. Anxiety compromises mental health, so beliefs that help people cope with anxiety about death proves advantageous for psychological functioning. #RandolphHarris 3 of 5

Love is an energy field created by all living things and it surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together, and is something that connects all life, but is also external. Real love is blind devotion, unquestioning self-humiliation, utter submission, trust and belief against yourself and against the whole World, giving up your heart and soul to the smiter. The fear of beginning a new relationship can become greatly intensified by failed relational attempts. Some people react to failed relationships by becoming more extreme in the avoidance patterns. Others use the experience of being wounded to sharpen their weapon against subsequent partners or would-be partners. Failures to communicate successfully in past relationships can cause people to set up rigid rules for their new relational efforts. Thus, can happen when someone feels inadequate, attacked, or betrayed in an earlier relationship. #RandolphHarris 4 of 5

Today increasing numbers of people use some sort of chemical either to produce emotion or eliminate it. Sometimes the same people will take a drink when happy and when depressed. A few people are learning that when we accept ourselves for emotional beings, as well as intellectual and social beings, we can find more beneficial and feel good about the expression of our emotions. The strain of any strong emotion can be reduced if it is first of all accepted and acknowledged and then guided into channels of expression that do not harm oneself or others, or do not make the individual feel guilt or shame afterwards. Consciousness is a state of awareness, how aware you are of what is going on, who you are, and what the reality around you is like. Human beings have always been interested in change and variety in their states of consciousness. #RandolphHarris 5 of 5