Resilient Roots Weather Every Storm

 Resilient roots weather every storm

NewsNews | Apr 12, 2026

Cal Orey, M.A. Tahoe Daily Tribune

Three years ago, a scary health crisis landed me in the ICU, leaving my world shattered in its wake. Surviving it felt less like recovery and more like surviving a tectonic shift; for weeks, I could only sleep with the lights on. Soon, the silence was filled by the haunting intrusion of flashbacks, the agonizing memory of forced separation from my family, and a relentless, suffocating anxiety, the constant thought: “What if it happens again?” I had stepped into the “Twilight Zone” world of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), where the past refuses to stay buried.

Recovering from a traumatic event, whether it stems from a health scare or an evacuation is a personal journey that requires time to heal. Yes, you can make a comeback from PTSD, note experts from the National Institute of Mental Health: Coping with Traumatic Events—and me! Here are five practical tips:

1. Ground Yourself: When you feel overwhelmed and in panic mode, engage your senses to anchor yourself in the present. Identify five things you can see, touch, hear, smell, and can taste. This technique shifts focus from internal distress to external reality. 

2. Inhale-Exhale: Trauma often leads to shallow, rapid breathing. Practice “box breathing” inhaling and exhaling to physically signal to your nervous system that you are safe.

3. Create a “Safe” Routine: Trauma disrupts our sense of predictability. Build a simple daily routine, such as making your bed, eating at set times, or distract yourself with a book or music. Structure provides a sense of normalcy that helps the brain feel secure.

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4. Move It! Trauma is often stored in the body. Try repetitive movement, like rowing or stretching which helps process the excess adrenaline and cortisol associated with the fight-or-flight response.

5. Write It Down for Clearing the Mind: Expressing your thoughts can prevent them from looping in your mind. By externalizing your PTSD, you create distance between yourself and the past trauma, which can reduce the boogeyman thoughts.

Mountain living demands resilience against the volatility of nature—earthquakes, blizzards, and wildfires. Like a cat, you will land on your feet, stronger for the fall. Yet, if the past refuses to fade, seek professional support. Resilience is not the absence of trauma, but the courage to move forward.

CAL OREY, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist specializing in topics such as adventure, health, nutrition, and science. She holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from San Francisco State University. Her books include the popular Healing Powers series. The new, revised 2nd ed. of a popular Healing Powers book, 2026 is ready for pre-order, and The Healing Powers of Olive Oil, 3rd ed. is in production. She is a South Lake Tahoe local. Her website is http://www.calorey.com