6 months of no memories of therapy. That was my intro. Too much too soon is my lesson learnt. Referred to a psydoc who taught me to put on the brakes first. Not to say there weren’t some dreadful slips that left me shaken for hours or required us to walk outside the office for much of the...
Front brain goes off line. Reptilian survival brain kicks in. Academic, smart professional to mute in nanoseconds. Envelope things? Pillow slips apparently.
My psydoc (weekly T) asks much more challenging questions than my psychologist (now Equine) ever has. So it may not be you but the skill set of your T.
It’s awful isn’t it. The best advice my psydoc (weekly T) has is to reassure my body that I’m listening and that I’m going to provide comfort. Wrap my arms around my body. What I need is often to curl up under the doona with my cats and dogs but sometimes I need to get up and have an iced drink...
The relief I feel to be forced into isolation and working from home makes me realise just how much I’m triggered by people.
I’ve got a strengthening plan from my physio (3 x week), going to walk my older dog (2 x week) and exercise/train all 3 dogs and 2 puppies every day. I’m going to try to...
Wow. Tough question. The thing you need to remember is that you have a CHOICE now. You can take a break. See how you cope without therapy. Or without intense therapy. Without dredging up the past. I’m starting to realise I’ll likely never stop being triggered. But I can be kinder to myself when...
My psydoc reminds me that I don’t have to remember. I don’t have to describe in words. She teaches me that self-compassion is more important than anything. But yes, talking and more importantly FEELING is the key.
I go to sleep no problems. But I wake up in a panic multiple times a night. Sometimes every 20 mins. If I can get enough awareness I’ll get up and have an icy drink of water. Otherwise I try to process whatever I remember.
I go to bed and my dogs and cats pile themselves around me. It’s nurturing and comforting. Sometimes a cup of tea and toast with butter is another comfort. I can sleep for several hours no problem. When I wake up I will usually stay in bed but catch up on any work as I work from home on that...
One psychologist (who I now do equine therapy with every 3 weeks) who referred me to a psychiatrist who, unusually, I see for weekly therapy. Both I like but the latter is much more experienced. Sessions are never not challenging, draining and exhausting - I pretty much go to bed for the rest of...
Funnily enough my equine T is lovely but my psydoc is much more skilled. I would still be a mess if not for her. So it’s definitely about skill set as well as setting.
Self soothing is so important. My psydoc encourages me to hug myself, stroke my arms like I would my dogs and cats, and acknowledge the pain but assure my body that I will protect it. Finishing the story how you wished you had is also very empowering. Terrifying but empowering.
I don’t like the concept of a particular therapeutic approach. PTSD ain’t that simple. I think a good therapist is one who has a bunch of tools in their toolbox and then TEACHES you those tools. My psydoc is my weekly therapist (yup not cheap!) but she has given me tools that empower ME. She is...
Cuddling my cats and dogs, heavy blankets, walking (seeing, touching, feeling and smelling leaves and flowers), talking about or imagining a lovely memory, sharing a special photo/video with my psydoc...
Spent my whole life placating, helping, supporting others. Saying “I need” is enough to trigger me. Slowly making progress with the help of my psydoc and equine psychologist.
So much of my volunteering is like I’m trying to pay back all the animals I’ve witnessed being abused.
My psydoc apologised for triggering me but said that she was glad she could be there for me. To my absolute surprise - shaking, crying, dissociated - I replied that so was I. It was always my fault so this was extremely powerful.
Tried Trauma Sensitive Yoga for 18 months. Denied how triggering it was (no idea why it was) until it culminated in shaking and tears for I don’t know how long. Took another hour of walking and every grounding technique I could think of before I could drive home. There’s a time and a place but...
I think it’s different for everyone. I’m kinda still in denial after 2.5 years. Successful professional that I am. I don’t have clear memories to explain my responses. Lots of flashbacks. But it MUST start with safety. And I struggle to define that - because I really like my psychologist but I...
For me the struggle is that I don’t have a “pre”. That has always been my normal. Hence I struggle to accept my experiences as traumatising. So knowing what “post” looks like is a total WTAF moment.
Being selfish, self-centered and ungrateful was exactly what came up with my psydoc this week. I push myself to go to work whatever it takes and then crash out the instant I get home.
Oh fortunately I have no free to air TV reception and am very selective about what I watch. It’s the sitting quietly that does it. Yes audiobooks have been absolutely wonderful for me.