Dr. Joyce Mikal-Flynn: Anatomy Of A Survivor

Dec 14, 2021

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I welcome Dr. Joyce Mikal-Flynn, a CSUS professor and expert in PTG (Post Traumatic Growth) to the show for a deeply inspiring conversation about her book, Anatomy of a Survivor: Building Resilience, Grit, and Growth After Trauma. Anatomy of a Survivor examines how survivors can utilize their inner strengths in order to build resilience, navigate through, and ultimately grow from traumas and other major life challenges.

Dr. Joyce brings a positive attitude to the episode, but without the poofy platitudes we often hear. You’ll hear about her story and her book, and be sure to listen carefully later on in the show for that turning point where she went from feeling sorry for herself to instead, taking on challenges and being grateful for a second chance. This wide ranging conversation touches on everything from her to academia classes to the state of today’s students to the problem with today’s “lawnmower parents.” In the middle of the show, we hear the wild and true story that is the centerpiece of Dr. Joyce’s personal journey: In 1990, after a sudden cardiac event, she was actually dead for twenty-two minutes. CPR and determined doctors brought her back to life, but she found that her new life was entirely different. Dr. Joyce found herself suddenly facing depression, as well personal and professional setbacks. But as you’ll hear, she ultimately recognized that this moment in her life was not an end point—it was the beginning. Time taught Dr. Joyce that taking control of your life begins with the essential choice to move forward. In spite of every obstacle, failure, and misstep on the way, she harnessed the power of positive thinking and continued to tell herself: you got this.

Trauma and crisis are inescapable aspects of life; ones that never really leave you once you experience it. But for over two decades, Dr. Joyce has worked with and studied issues faced by survivors. Years of professional and personal experience with trauma and crisis have helped Dr. Joyce recognize that for survivors, moving forward and identifying specific mindsets and behaviors that encourage progress are essential.

I hope you enjoy listening to this powerful episode with Dr. Joyce, and if you’re interested in reading Anatomy of a Survivor or gifting it to a friend or loved one who you think could benefit from it, click here to check it out. Featuring interlacing stories with research on genetics, posttraumatic growth, and the neuroscience of resilience and happiness, Anatomy of a Survivor shows us how survivors of trauma can structure a positive and productive response by using Dr. Joyce’s unique system to guide them forward.

TIMESTAMPS:

Dr. Flynn talks about how survivors of traumas use their inner strengths to build resilience. [01:20]

One of the classes the professor teaches is called Traumatology. [06:44]

There are three classifications of trauma: victim of the trauma, the secondary and the community. [08:48]

There is nothing positive about trauma but there can be productive responses. [12:05]

Word choices reprogram the brain. [15:20]

Take control of what you can control. [18:26]

There are six stages of meta-hab. [20:32]

Are there differences between the male and the female brain? [21:55]

What are the nutritional needs of the brain? [24:29]

The technology of today can overwork the brain, but know too, that daydreaming uses the brain as it does a lot of work. [26:19]

Joyce had a very close call with death that was a turning point in her life. [30:33]

This stuff is tough but there is a way out and there is a way up. [36:57]

During her recovery, Joyce was able to monitor her own progress as she got her brain function back. [48:00]

You need to realize that you need help in order to move forward. [55:01]

Some athletes in her study didn’t see themselves as resilient. [57:05]

How did she recalibrate after the months of recovering? [01:01:50]

Instead of saying, “I have to do this,” say, “I get to do this.” Think of people who would love to be in your situation. [01:06:13]

Pick one thing at a time that you want to do to improve your life. [01:10:06]

How do you know, as you are supporting someone in recovery, when is the right time to say “Get up off the couch” or saying, “Enough. Let’s get going?” [01:13:59]

Isolation is a red flag to look for in the person recovering. [01:18:30]

Joyce lists the other stages in meta habilitation. [01:21:52]

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