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Spirituality And Ptsd

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Hi Chondra,
I am sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. I'm away from home and had limited internet as well as a couple of triggers that have made communication difficult. I want to make one thing clear before I tell you any of this. I am not talking about what we get in church. Church is one of my biggest triggers right now. I am talking about my own encounters with a very real God and the relationship that came out of them.

The first time I "saw" Christ was after a terrible arguement with my first husband. I went to bed begging God to tell me why he hated me so much. At some point during the night I woke up and Christ and two other men that I did not think I knew paid me a visit. He told me that he loved me and he had ever since I was knit together in my mother's womb. Being the skeptic that I am I believed it all to be a dream. The next day we were informed that my husband's father had died the night before at exactly the same time as my heavenly visit. I did not put much store in that as I had never met my father-in-law. Well the next day we all gathered at his family's home. When I walked in I noticed immediately a picture of my father-in -law on a desk. I was a bit shocked to recognized him as one of the men who had visited me.

Well as the queen skeptic I passed this experience off as weird and went on living my life just as before. Well about six months later I was at the end of my rope and did not know how to find relief. I decided death would be the easiest way. I drove to a bridge that runs over the gulf of Mexico. I stood on the side of the rail and told God I was sorry. Just as my foot left the rail I felt a very strong hand grasp my shoulder and pull me back. When I turned to see who was there I was alone.

On another occasion I was held at knife point and told I would die before the end of the night. I felt God's presence calling to me. I knew if I died I would go to hell. I think I could even smell it I was so close to dying. I asked God to intervene one more time and let me live to make things right with him. The man who had only minutes before held a knife to my throat passed out. I ran away. The next night I fell on my knees and asked God to forgive me for all the bad things and choices I had made in my life and asked that he teach me to serve him. I have not been without Him one minute since that night.

Even with every time God had proven himself to me I still doubted his love. I thought a loving God could not allow everything I had been through. So I sulked and once again God found it necessary to prove himself to me. On December 22,2009 I once again faced death. I had a massive seizure going in to deliver my baby. My heart stopped beating at one point and the crash cart was called for but thankfully my heart started back on its own. This is what I remember about that moment.

I remember the electrical shock that signaled the beginning of a seizure. I remember coming out of this state off and on. I was not afraid at first. I said "God if you are calling then I am coming but please save my baby. After my heart stopped I remember the first moment of fear. "God," I begged,"I am alone and afraid, please make them pray."

My friend who lives 1300 miles from me says she was just sitting down to dinner when the urge came over her so strong to pray for me that she had to go off by herself and pray for me like she never had for anyone in her life. She stopped when my husband called her and told her what had happened. We later talked to one doctor who said it was a miracle that had me in the right place at the right time and that they were able to get my daughter delivered as quickly as they did. Apparantly seizure to delivery was 6 min.

I know faith for a traumatized person is difficult. I know we have a hard time believing in a God who allows such horror to strike those he claims to love. I am living proof that God while loving us will never interfere in the freedoms of others but he will help us pick up the pieces.

Sorry about the length of this post. I also had a lot of repairs to make because I am a terrible typist.:D
 
Good to know there are therapists out there willing to assist on the spiritual side. .:D

I started out searching on "Jungian" and "psychotherapy". I see my T for counselling, though, not psychoanalysis - I don't want to spend years going over my childhood. It's important to me as well that she's not exclusively Jungian. I checked that she's accepting of the client's individual spiritual beliefs and not tied in to a single approach. But I'm extremely cautious about who I see, and given that I don't identify with a religion it was the best way for me to narrow down the field of therapists who work in the area of spirituality while also making sure the person would have sound training and qualifications.

Also, Jung originated some wonderful ideas about spiritual responses to trauma.
 
My PTSD has made me realize there is a higher power but it is not as complicated as most churches and "religious people" make it out to be. The book "The Secret" simplifies the higher power and religion to what I believe it to be. I also have learned through my life experience that what holds us back a lot in life is not GOD it is ourselves. I hope you find peace with your spiritual self. Much love.
 
OK, Just got back from my T and she was great. She was pleased with the effort I was putting into my spiritual reconstruction. She actually seems well versed in this area, but she also wants me to send her a copy of the Spirituality Care and PTSD Handbook. So :tup:

But, we dug around a bit and I learned that I need to first address the overwhelming grief I have. Whoops, just writing that brings the grief boiling back up. Ugh! Oh :poop:!
 
Religion is a crock
I understand the sentiment Linda, but I disagree with the statement.

I see religion as just another flavor of spirituality. I may disagree with the dogma, but I can still connect with Religious people on a spiritual level.

Religions also form community, and community can play a significant, positive role in PTSD recovery.
 
I think this conversation is all about misunderstanding. In the end it comes to linguistics. This is what I wrote to a friend on the forum. I can share it here. I hope she (my friend) doesn't mind...:x3:

..

For me the real problem is misunderstanding and the tragedy of language. Words are the triggers not the reality behind them. We use words as if they are real. We say the word God as if it is a piece of wood you can carry in your hand.

I love to use words and play with the meanings people give to them. I go into their systems and language patterns. I can do it for a while, but usually my PTSD takes over and I have to step back.

If I am feeling triggered by God, it's because I am associating the word with a memory. It still can happen. I had nightmares I remember oh they were so terrible. I still am sometimes afraid I have to go back to my ex. I have a story that explains the whole thing. But I havent shared it yet.

I sometimes feel like I am in constant translation. I am translating someone's meaning for a word to my own word for the same meaning. It a real complicated process. It's a constant process of filtering and translating.

I really like what you said about God being the cure for spiritual abuse. It turns the whole problem on its head. For me God is everywhere and everything. It's love and light. It's what makes me feel good. You, my children, my friends.

..
 
I sometimes feel like I am in constant translation. I am translating someone's meaning for a word to my own word for the same meaning. It a real complicated process. It's a constant process of filtering and translating.

.. For me God is everywhere and everything. It's love and light. It's what makes me feel good. You, my children, my friends.

I believe that.

I recognize that in myself also Nadia. Such as (also) including- or perhaps caused by(?)- EFB's.
Such as, I can hear a word, idk eg 'belonging', and think, well, I don't and therefore it's great if others do. Then I feel happy for them, then maybe sad, but most of all responsible to distance myself.

Or gosh-idk- strange how a 'word' can lead to a thought, then to an action.

What's really weird, is that it can be a really inocuos(sp?) word (unlike the example above).

Of course, that's no one's fault but my own, I'm trying to stop that, I think the connotations to the meanings may sometimes be a trigger? Even maybe tone of voice, etc. Ugh. :(
 
Such as (also) including- or perhaps caused by(?)- EFB's.
Silly question but I do not know what EFB's are.

Of course, that's no one's fault but my own, I'm trying to stop that, I think the connotations to the meanings may sometimes be a trigger? Even maybe tone of voice, etc. Ugh. :(
Communication is complicated. In my opinion, PTSD magnifies this effect. Especially when it leads to triggers.

I enjoy this discussion on Spirituality and PTSD, but it is also very difficult for me at times. And it is not just the triggers. I have this overarching sense of frustration. It is like I do not have the language I need to address this issue. I suspect Religion plays an important role in providing people with a common language for discussing spirituality. This might be a part of the reason why I fumble for words. Sigh. Maybe it is just PTSD Brain again.
 
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