-
Birth
Event: Breech Delivery yeilding possible broken clavicle.
Adoption process through CSS. Stress Response: Physiological (Fight or Flight) -
Merry-Go-Round Crisis
Event: I fell off a marry-go-round at pre-school and eneded up underneath the piece of equipment as it was still spinning! Stress Response: Physiological (Sympathetic) and future phobic response to that particular playground equipment. Coping: Avoidance Current Effectual Perspective: Normal/Self-preserving -
First Day of Kindergarten
Event: Upon arrival I remeber feeling excited and interested in the experience. Upon entering the school we waited with all the other kids and parents in a crowded hall way. I remember seeing what appeared as quite a few kids crying in horror. Thus, I began to cry. Stress Response: Physiological (Sympathetic) and future anxiety response to new situations Coping: Avoidance, Somatic symptoms Current Effectual Perspective: unhealthy...Possibly hardwired, yet seems indicative to future anxiety -
Adoption
Event: My mother told me about my adoption. Though I was not yet old enough to understand this fully, it would come into play when my parents divorced.
Stress Response: Possible internalization of feelings of rejection
Coping: Negative.
Current Effectual Perspective: I think this plays out into a mode of internalizing outside experience to decreased self-worth and self-acceptance. -
Hit by Car
Event: Hit by a vehicle traveling approximately 35 mph while playing hide and seek. No serious injury%u2026stitches and bruises. Stress Response: Physiological (Shock) %u2013 Psychological%u2026calm and worried when seeing parental response. Coping: Interesting calm and objective perception. This arises in other traumatic experiences%u2026i.e. while in the moment. Current Effectual Perspective: Positive, Increased awareness to ability to remain calm under crisis situations, especially when others are involved. -
Parents Seperate and Divorce
Event: Parents decide to separate and me and my mother relocate two hours away from my father.
Stress Response: Internalization of feelings of rejection, Anger toward my dad. I saw his behavior causing my mom to leave. I felt responsible for mom%u2019s feelings
Coping: Negative.
Current Effectual Perspective: This plays out into a mode of internalizing outside experience to decreased self-worth and self-acceptance. -
16 and 17
Event: Was angry about divorce and past unfinished business.
Stress Response: Internalization of failure and rebellion. I drove my parents nuts for about a year and a half.
Coping: Negative.
Current Effectual Perspective: Positive in the sense that I now realize how much my parents care for me and that they weren%u2019t placed on the planet to make me miserable. -
End of grade schooling
Event: End of H.S.
Stress Response: Anxiety and excitment
Coping: Discussion of feelings with parents and friends. Anxiety in regard to future%u2026first experience with feeling really responsible for self.
Current Effectual Perspective: Positive. -
Leave for two year missionary assignment
Event: Mission
Stress Response: Anxiety, excitement and extreme home sickness. Somatic and psychological.
Coping: Discussion of feelings with other missionaries. Many letters home.
Current Effectual Perspective: Positive. -
Return from two year mission
Event: Return from mission
Stress Response: Anxiety, excitement, and worry about future
Coping: Discussion of feelings with family and friends. Internal contemplation.
Current Effectual Perspective: Positive. -
Undergarduate Schooling
Event: Start of undergraduate degree.
Stress Response: Anxiety.
Coping: Positive, though anxious, I found the experience invigorating and exciting. I would talk through my initial distress with family and friends, as well as physical activity.
Current Effectual Perspective: Positive. -
Propane tank fire
Event: Propane tank starts on fire while Dad is BBQ steaks at Mom%u2019s house
Stress Response: Physiological (fight or flight) %u2013 Psychological%u2026calm and worried about others.
Coping: Interesting calm and objective perception. Made Dad leave house by threatening to stay with him while he attempted to extinguish the blaze. Called 911. No damage or injuries.
Current Effectual Perspective: Positive, Increased awareness to ability to remain calm under crisis situations, especially when others are involved -
Marriage
Event: Marriage.
Stress Response: Anxiety. Excitement%u2026
Coping: Discussion of feelings related to change and stressors with fiance/spouse. %u201CCommunication%u201D
Current Effectual Perspective: Positive. -
Car Crash
Event: Slid on ice while traveling from Billings to Denver on I-25. Almost got hit by a Semi-truck while sliding off the road and into a guard rail. Stress Response: Similar to BBQ experience. Physiological (Shock) %u2013 Psychological%u2026calm and assertive in reassuring safety to wife while event was occurring. Coping: Interesting calm and objective perception. This arises in other traumatic experiences%u2026i.e. while in the moment. Current Effectual Perspective: Positive, Increased awareness to ability -
Sister in serious car accident
Event: Sister almost killed in car accident
Stress Response: Anxiety and anger toward reckless driver
Coping: Discussion of feelings with parents, spouse and friends..especially anger issues. Closer respect for familial relationships and life.
Current Effectual Perspective: Positive. -
Loss of Father
Event: Father passed away at the age of 59 Stress Response: Grief...Both physiological and psychological responses. Coping: Closeness with sister and my wife. Talked, reminisced, and accepted pain in relation to loss. Current Effectual Perspective: Positive, This experience helped me frame personal significance and importance within the life experience. -
Not accepted into Vet school
Event: Here I am devastated from not getting into the profession dreamed of as a child. This was also right after my father%u2019s passing.
Stress Response: Internalization of failure and subsequent depressive episode. This lasted for quite some time while I struggled to find my %u201CBliss%u201D as Joseph Campbell would say.
Coping: Negative.
Current Effectual Perspective: Positive in the sense that I realize different approaches needed in overcoming disappointments and the humanistic interaction I required. -
Meeting Birth Mother
Event: Reuniting with Birth Mother
Stress Response: Anxiety and excitement
Coping: Discussion of feelings with spouse and internalization and closure of feelings surrounding the adoptive experience.
Current Effectual Perspective: Positive. -
First new addition
Event: New baby boy.
Stress Response: Anxiety. Fear, self-doubt, excitement
Coping: Discussion of feelings related to change and stressors with spouse and family . Reading parenting books and learning the importance of taking time for one%u2019s self.
Current Effectual Perspective: Positive. -
Second new addition
Event: New Baby Boy.
Stress Response: Same as First but not as severe: Anxiety. Fear, self-doubt, excitement
Coping: Discussion of feelings related to change and stressors with spouse and family. Trying previous successes and relearning the importance of taking time for one%u2019s self.
Current Effectual Perspective: Positive. -
Meeting Birth Father
Event: Reuniting with Birth Father
Stress Response: Anxiety and excitement
Coping: Discussion of feelings with spouse and internalization and closure of feelings surrounding the adoptive experience.
Current Effectual Perspective: Positive. -
Start of Graduate school
Event: Start of graduate school
Stress Response: Same as First but not as severe: Anxiety and excitement. This was something I had needed.
Coping: Discussion of feelings related to change and stressors with spouse and family. Asking for needed support from spouse and family.
Current Effectual Perspective: Positive.
