Trauma and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Individuals who experience trauma during childhood appear more likely to develop chronic fatigue syndrome as adults, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. In addition, neuroendocrine dysfunction — or abnormalities in the interaction between the nervous system and endocrine system — appears to be associated with childhood trauma in those with chronic fatigue syndrome, suggesting a biological pathway by which early experiences influence adult vulnerability to illness.

Chronic fatigue syndrome affects as many as 2.5 percent of U.S. adults, according to background information in the article. Little is known about the causes and development of the condition. Risk factors include female sex, genetic predisposition, certain personality traits, and physical and emotional stress. “Stress in interaction with other risk factors likely triggers chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms through its effects on central nervous, neuroendocrine, and immune systems, resulting in functional changes that lead to fatigue and associated symptoms such as sleep disruption, cognitive impairment, and pain” the authors write. 

“However, obviously not every individual exposed to a stressor goes on to develop chronic fatigue syndrome, and it is therefore of critical importance to understand sources of individual differences in vulnerability to the pathogenic effects of stress.”

Christine Heim, Ph.D., of Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, and colleagues studied 113 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and 124 healthy individuals who served as controls. Participants — who were drawn from a general sample of 19,381 adult residents of Georgia — reported whether they had experienced childhood trauma, including sexual, physical, and emotional abuse or emotional and physical neglect. They also underwent screening for depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder and were tested for levels of the hormone cortisol in their saliva. The authors note that low levels may indicate decreased function of the body’s central neuroendocrine stress response system.

Individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome reported higher levels of childhood trauma — exposure to trauma was associated with a six-fold increase in the risk of having the condition. Sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and emotional neglect were most closely related to chronic fatigue syndrome. Patients with the syndrome also were more likely than controls to have depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Cortisol levels were decreased in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome who experienced childhood trauma but not in those with chronic fatigue syndrome who had not been subjected to trauma. Therefore, stress early in life may cause a biological susceptibility to chronic fatigue syndrome, the authors note.

“Our results confirm childhood trauma as an important risk factor of chronic fatigue syndrome,” they write. “In addition, neuroendocrine dysfunction, a hallmark feature of chronic fatigue syndrome, appears to be associated with childhood trauma. This possibly reflects a biological correlate of vulnerability due to early developmental insults. Our findings are critical to inform pathophysiological research and devise targets to prevent chronic fatigue syndrome.”

Coach Teresa Morin, Anxious2Victorious Women a 12-Week Program, Break the cycle of Anxiety through learning how to get rid of anxiety fast - free digital downloadable book PDF - find peace and happiness

http://www.aafnh.org/news/childhood-trauma-linked-to-chronic-fatigue-syndrome.html

Projecting Fear Into the Future

 Are You Projecting Fear into the Future Triggering Anxiety?

Projecting Fear Into the Future

How many live with dread or project fear into the future, believing things will go wrong daily. God is a God of peace, and to trust Him without the day. Do you get anxious before the day even starts?

Jesus is our solution; sometimes, it takes those who have gone through horrible issues in life to find freedom. Not stuck, frustrated, and projecting fear.

Why do some projects fear the future?

Worry is a feeling whose source almost always lies in the future. It often exposes fears of not achieving or experiencing longed-for hopes and dreams. Growing up with many disappointments or letdowns by family?

Do you have hopes and dreams but are afraid of disappointment? Is that a way to live? Jesus is our peace. His word says in 1 Peter 5:7 to cast our cares (worries) to Him because He cares. 

Coach Teresa Morin, Anxious2Victorious Women a 12-Week Program, Break the cycle of Anxiety through learning how to get rid of anxiety fast - free digital downloadable book pdf - find peace and happiness

Purpose of the Baggage

The Purpose of the Baggage

How to let go of emotional baggage

Is the baggage of the residue of the old man, the old man has been crucified on the cross, from living here, is that baggage and residue Satan’s stronghold to keep you miserable or God’s stronghold to keep you near? Wouldn’t that bring peace?

Paul would have loved to have the baggage removed. The Lord had given Paul a new life. If the Lord had gotten rid of the baggage, then Paul would probably have thought we could serve the Lord perfectly.”

If the Lord removes our baggage, we will probably close the door to the Lord’s life. Then, the Lord cannot be expressed through us. We would not get miserable so that we would turn back to the Lord; we would become independent of our own abilities instead of dependent on the Lord. 

We would have operated in our own strength instead of the Lord’s. So, some baggage is left there, so when we close the door (independent from the Lord, relying on our abilities and flesh habits), each day walking away from the Lord is like each day walking in more mud until we cannot take it anymore so we will turn around and come back to the Lord. Then, the Lord will open the door, and the Lord flows through me, and none of it (the baggage) bothers you. Then, I can boast about my weaknesses. Because of my weakness, I was drawn near to him every day.

What is your baggage? Is it insecurity, worthlessness, rejection, and sickness? Do you let those hold you back, or do you use these to step out and let God move through you?

Are you still trusting in the dead old man who was crucified on the cross, and is it giving you trouble? Is that why you are having anxiety in your life? You have been crucified in Christ and given a new nature. You cannot crucify yourself. The Lord did that, and now He says to take up the cross and deny yourself. Your flesh will never improve. When my focus is on His strongholds in my life, it gives me a moment-by-moment life.

Yes, the Lord can remove strongholds in our lives, but he leaves some to keep us dependent on Him. So that we can do ALL things through Him and He is exalted.

I Corinthians 12:5-10 “Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself, I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone think of me above what he sees or hears from me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

8Concerning this thing, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He told me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." 

Therefore, I will gladly boast in my infirmities so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, reproaches, needs, persecutions, and distresses for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We try to feed our souls on the things outside of him. Instead of the wisdom of God, my mind gets knowledge, instead of his will I get my will. Instead of peace from God, I end up with roller-coaster emotions.

Why was Jesus in the Wilderness? By going into the wilderness, the soul gets cut off from everything familiar from every outside source. There is no possibility of getting food out there. So, for 40 days and 40 nights, the soul feeds on the spirit of God. His mind was so full of the wisdom of God … After 40 days of feeding in the wilderness, Satan came to tempt him.

God has driven everyone into the wilderness so that we can have an opportunity to get stuffed.
The unholy trinity called sin and Satan and the world. There’s natural desire that lives in my body, there is sickness that lives in me. I have a mind full of emotions, full of things I wish were not full of. We have circumstances we cannot control.

by: Traci Morin

Touch of God International Ministries - a Christian Healing and Deliverance Ministry - Setting The Captives Free

Are You The Apple of His Eye!

You Are The Apple of His Eye!

Jesus loves you very much and is for you and not against you.

Deuteronomy 32:10 “He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.”

The "apple of the eye" is the Heb. _ishon_, meaning manikin, i.e., the eye pupil. So, we can say that you are the apple of God’s eye, which means you are the focus of his attention, and His very focus is right on you. The God the Father loves you individually, personally, and then collectively given to Christ as a gift. He came to show you to the father.

Maybe you are in a hard place, feeling alone and unloved. Perhaps the enemy is telling you that you are unworthy and unloved by God and others. Maybe your parents made you feel inferior. The good news is the Father will come to you in your desert and meet you in your place of brokenness because you are the apple of His eye. That is how much He cares for His children. He will come and find you.

by: Traci Morin

Touch of God International Ministries - a Christian Healing and Deliverance Ministry - Setting the Captives Free