AMA With Therapist Dr. Melissa Berg sorry the AMA is closed to new questions. Feel free to read the questions and answers below.

@soulsings thankyou💖💖

@soulsings

Thank you for this information! This is a great opportunity for everyone to ask questions!

Thank you for this!

@soulsings

Thank you Soul! 😊 ❤️

*high fives* 😊 and *hugs* ❤️

@Joanne, I am replying to the following question you've submitted. 

I have lots of pain from trauma how to handle it?

I'm really sorry you're dealing with that. Pain from trauma is real and it can show up emotionally, physically, or both. You're not weak or broken; your body is doing its best to protect you. A few things that might help: talk to a trauma-informed therapist (EMDR- somatic therapy, etic), gentle grounding (breathwork, walking, mindfulness), self-compassion (speak to yourself like you would a close friend). You are not meant to go through this alone. Trauma recovery takes time and that’s okay. You deserve support and healing. What you’re feeling makes sense.

@bateshawcross I am replying to the following question you asked: 

I have bad fatigue from injury's how do I get rid of it

Great question, thank you for asking. Fatigue after an injury is incredibly common and can be both physically and emotionally draining. Your body is using a lot of energy to heal, and if the injury was traumatic or has affected your daily life significantly, that adds a mental and emotional toll, too.

Here are a few things to consider:

1. Physical healing takes time and fatigue is a natural part of that. Listen to your body; rest is not laziness, it’s recovery.

2. Check in medically – sometimes fatigue can be worsened by underlying issues like pain, inflammation, sleep disturbances, or even side effects of medications. A doctor or physiotherapist can help rule these out.

3. Mental and emotional fatigue is important to consider. Injuries can also affect your mood and mental health. Anxiety, stress, or even mild depression can all show up as exhaustion. Speaking with a psychologist or counselor can help you process what you're going through and reduce that emotional weight.

4. Gentle structure helps. Even low-level activity like light stretching, fresh air, and keeping a consistent sleep/wake routine can help reset your energy levels over time.

You don’t need to “push through” alone. Recovery is not just physical, it’s whole-person healing. If the fatigue is persistent or impacting your quality of life, talking to a professional could really help clarify what’s going on.

@anonymous, I am replying to the following question you posted: 

How can you find motivation/discipline when you really have none? and How to stop screen addiction when you have no other source of distraction or dopamine?

I totally get this. When motivation feels completely gone, it’s not laziness, it’s often exhaustion, low dopamine, or emotional overload. A few things that can help when you feel stuck:

• Start small. Don’t wait for motivation, use momentum. Try one minute of something simple, like stretching, making tea, or stepping outside. Action often creates motivation, not the other way around.

• Lower the bar with kindness. Your brain is looking for comfort, and shame kills discipline. Try reframing it as, "I’m not unmotivated, I’m overwhelmed or under-stimulated."

• Screens give quick dopamine, but so do little wins. Washing a cup, texting a friend, or walking while listening to music can all give healthy stimulation.

• Replace, don’t just remove. If you’re trying to cut screen time, plan what you’re doing instead. Even if it’s just lying down with music or doodling.

• Compassion first. You’re not broken, your brain is adapting the best way it knows how. Support and small wins go further than willpower.

@amiablePeace77, I am replying to the following question you posted: 

How can we deal with a person close to us who believes they are always right?

Dealing with someone who always thinks they’re right can be draining. It often comes from insecurity, fear of being wrong, or needing control to feel safe. Here are a few ways to handle it:

• Don’t try to win. Shift from proving a point to protecting your peace. You don’t have to agree, but you also don’t have to argue.

• Set boundaries around the conversation. If it’s going in circles, it’s okay to say, “Let’s pause, I don’t think this is helpful right now.”

• Use curiosity instead of confrontation. Asking, “What makes you feel so strongly about that?” can soften defensiveness and sometimes open up space for reflection.

• Accept limits. You might not change how they think, but you can change how much power their opinion has over you.

You can stay respectful without staying small. It’s okay to disengage to protect your own clarity and emotional energy.

@PurpleHearts7 Hello! I am responding to the following question posted:

How do you effectively communicate with your partner and prevent social withdrawal if you have mental issues related to emotional neglect or loneliness?

This is such a real struggle, and you're far from alone in this difficulty. When you’ve experienced emotional neglect or deep loneliness, your nervous system may default to withdrawal. This is not because you don’t care, but because closeness can feel unfamiliar or even unsafe. A few things that might help:

• Start with naming it gently. Even saying, “Sometimes I shut down or pull away when I feel overwhelmed or disconnected, and I’m working on that,” can open space for more honest connection.

•Use “slow honesty.” You don’t need to explain everything at once. Even small check-ins like “I’m feeling off, but I still want to be close” can keep the connection intact.

•Let your partner know it’s not about them. When people don’t understand why we withdraw, they often take it personally. A little reassurance can go a long way.

•Therapy or support groups can help you untangle old patterns, so connection feels less threatening over time.

You’re allowed to learn how to stay close and protect yourself. Emotional growth takes time, and you’re doing the work just by asking this question.

@Aninfp, I am replying to your question:

How can I let go of bonds with my parents in order to prioritize my mental health?

When we’ve gone through painful emotional losses or unmet needs in the past, our nervous system can stay on high alert, especially around the people who feel closest. That defensiveness and irritability is often a form of self-protection, not intentional conflict. If you’re trying to create emotional distance for your mental health, here are a few ideas:

1. You can set boundaries without removing bonds completely. Emotional distance doesn’t mean you have to remove yourself completely. It can mean fewer personal disclosures, shorter conversations, or taking space when needed.

2. Notice your triggers with curiosity, not shame. When you feel defensive, pause and ask yourself: What am I protecting right now? That question can shift you from reaction to reflection.

3.Letting go doesn’t mean not caring. It means releasing the need for others to be different in order for you to feel okay. That is hard work, but it is freeing. 

4.Therapy helps. Especially modalities that explore attachment wounds and nervous system regulation (like IFS, EMDR, or somatic work). You deserve support in learning how to stay grounded in connection, or separation.

You’re allowed to protect your peace, even from people you love.