What’s Behind the State of Human Distraction

There are three things that are driving the current state of human distractions, as I see it.  They are: PTSD, Attachment Disorder and Emotional Immaturity.

1.  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

I think we underestimate the effect that all of the world wars have had on the current state of human functioning.  The trauma of the killing of men, women and children, the devastation, havoc and destruction that has been wreaked upon all of human kind by human unkind is unimaginable, and I think we see the consequences every day.  It’s horrific.

Many Americans, for example, have ancestors that fled Europe because of either WWI or WWII.  Think of Russians and their history of wars, China and their history.  It doesn’t matter if you won or lost – everyone has lost.  Even if you weren’t in a war, or didn’t have a parent who was in a war, it is not possible that you haven’t been impacted one way or another by someone who has had a negative war time experience.

And the reverbational impact of war is post-traumatic stress – which means:  nightmares, irrational thinking, upset and unstable moods, crazy and irrational behavior.  Depression, anxiety.  All forms of mistreatment of men, children, wives, brothers and friends.  There is no way that anyone, in any culture across the world has not been impacted by this.  (We can add in here the effects of slavery, torture victims, and all forms of mistreatment of  animals.)

2.  Attachment Disorder

When people live in a world of irrational stress then their ability to bond becomes impacted – they can’t.  When people are unable to bond and connect with each other then they treat others like objects and when people objectify each other then they mistreat each other.  Parents get angry at children and expect them to act and behave ways that are beyond reason.  Even children mistreat each other.

3.  Emotional Immaturity

The upshot of the first two, PTSD and Attachment Disorder is emotional immaturity.  We live in a world of emotional 7 year-olds, or younger.

What I see are people who are pretty good at navigating the physical world, and mentally they are pretty sharp.  Their problems, whether they are cognizant of it or not, are invariably in the emotional realm.  They either feel too much or don’t feel enough.  They don’t know how to read or regulate their emotions.  That is because they are unattached, having been raised in a world of people who are anxious, depressed and irrational.  Not everyone, mind you, but enough to make living in the natural flow of life very difficult.

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Dr. Amber Quaranta-Leech, LPC-S

Amber holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in both Texas and Oklahoma and holds Supervisor credential for Texas. Amber is an EMDRIA consultant and trainer. She has over a decade of experience in the trauma field in work with uniformed services, domestic violence, childhood trauma and abuse, and recent mass trauma events. Amber provides consultation for EMDRIA certification, for consultants-in-training, and supervision for LPC-Associates. Amber continues to research the benefits of EMDR therapy with a variety of populations. Her goal is to help build strong clinicians who are well versed in trauma interventions to better support their clients. Amber sees a limited number of clients with a focus on trauma work, she is also a Certified Career Counselor and Certified through EAGALA to provide equine-assisted therapy. 

Dr. Jose Carbajal, LCSW

Dr. Jose Carbajal, a U.S. Army veteran, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and a master’s in theological studies from Baylor University, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. With over 15 years of clinical experience and extensive teaching experience, Jose specializes in trauma, sexual abuse recovery, domestic violence, and substance abuse. His research focuses on trauma interventions, neuroscience, and faith. He is EMDR Certified, an Approved Consultant, and an EMDRIA Approved Trainer, with numerous publications and professional presentations to his name.

Dr. Amanda Martin, LMFT-S, LPC, BCN

Amanda Martin holds a PhD in Family Therapy and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. With over 14 years of experience, she specializes in trauma therapy for individuals and families in residential and outpatient settings. Amanda also provides supervision for EMDR certification, EMDR consultants-in-training, and LMFT-Associates. Her mission is to help people find a healthy, joyful, and fulfilling path in life. Her warm, supportive, and interactive counseling style incorporates Symbolic Experiential Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, HeartMath, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Neurofeedback, and Collaborative Problem Solving.

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