Somatic Pain/memories And Trauma

[Hashi]

I'm sorry to jump in this but do do you all believe that the body memories are real and that they are actually telling us something even if we don't remember ? ... Please say no

I would respond to you but I'm worried about taking the thread off topic. Maybe you could post a new thread yourself asking this question? I sympathise with you and understand why you asked here, but think maybe this topic could be a different thread?

 

[safenow]

That what our bodies are 'telling'us really happened?

I believe they are real. I've had them so for many years, and find when I can work through the trauma event, they don't come as frequently, plus I can make them stop.

TeaLeaf, I can so relate to you. Bless your heart. I"m so sorry you have this issue even today. When I'm switching (I have Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) ) and my little who was molested is close, I feel that same pain. It is hard to describe, but many doctor's deny it is real. I finally had one therapist who helped me because she was able to tell him in her words what was happening. While doctor's fixed us body wise, most the mental damage went untreated for years and years.

She was between 2-5 years old when he pushed his hand inside her. But physically, we had such trauma after when we told our step-mother about it, that what he did seemed mild. So we just held it inside for years and years. Since that time, as an adult, we had other situations that caused even more trauma, which didn't help at all.

I do hope that between you and your therapist you can work it through and get some relief from this horrible sensation.

 

[Maggiemay]

I sadly relate all too well.

I've struggled with somatic memories for many years, but it's since finally talking about it in therapy last year that I understand it a little more. Doesn't make it any easier tho :'(

Xxx

 

[shoulderblades]

I have no memories of being anally molested or raped, but I seem to have emotional and somewhat physical memories of something like that happening to me. I was gang molested when I was 3½, possibly on numerous occasions (my memories are very fragmented but the fragments I can remember seem to be different times). I've always had a deep almost terror of things to do with anal sex or anal play and if I allow myself to think too much about it, I become panicky and want to flee, and I sometimes feel a deep pain in my rectum. Because I have no memories of ever being anal molested, I really can't clarify why I have these reactions. All I know is something must have happened to me to have caused such a deep-seated emotional and physical fear in me of that.

I also have body memories of being vaginally raped. Those events, I remember very clearly, and so does my body.

 

[Anna]

Yes. Sometimes I get a stinging pain inside me where the scar is. It really feels like someone is inserting a knife inside of me. There is no cause for the pain, it happens for what I see as being no reason, so it can only be psychological in origin. It is a bitter memory indeed. So far, I have found no way to stop it. It would be nice to know how to relieve it.

 

[safenow]

It would be nice to know how to relieve it.

Have you processed that particular trauma (not the memory, but the actual trauma) with your therapist yet? Doing that work has helped me a lot. It might for you as well.

When I had tissue/body memories, I go into the body and ground myself with flashback protacol and it stops quickly. You can find a copy of that on page 10, Item 250 in my diary/journal. "How it began".

I don't recommend you read other pages, they might trigger you. I don't want that to happen. But time to time I might suggest certain pages and item numbers to people.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

You can find a copy of that on page 10, Item 250 in my diary/journal. "How it began".

Safenow, you can get a link for your diary by right clicking the time stamp on the diary post you want, then clicking 'copy link location'. Then just paste that into your post where you want it. :)

 

[Maggiemay]

Urgh...

I want these to stop! I need to process the trauma but can't because it's too triggery & unsafe to do so - it makes me too unwell! :( boo!

I had pretty bad episodes wed & Thurs night. :( I woke up at 5am this morning in agony. Turns out I now have a bladder infection & am on antibiotics - scary realising I had blood in my urine & it hurt sooo much :(

This is what used to hhappen after I was abused - I remember staying up all night in pain as a kid, too scared to tell anyone.

I said to dr I was worried it could be linked to the somatic memories & my body reacting in response. He thought I was talking nonsense. .. Am I?...

 

[safenow]

He thought I was talking nonsense. .. Am I?...

since it was bright red, that means it is fresh blood. So that is not a body memory. That is a current issue.

The reason you were hurting was probably from the current issue as well. When you have a body/tissue memory, there will not be fresh blood.

This is one of the reasons it's important to ground yourself and be in your body when you have any type of pain. To determine which it is. Current issue, or memory.

You really need to process that trauma, even though it's scary to do it. Once you're done with it, then those tissue memories will not crop up on you.

 

[Maggiemay]

I get that it's a current physical issue that needs to be treated (I made emergency appt & saw him very quickly). But, I think it's more than coincidence that it's happening now when it used to after abuse..

If nothing else, the uncomfortable-ness and shooting pain feels like constant sensory memories today.... :'(

Why am I still suffering 16yrs on... it's not fair!...I'm SICK of it all!

 

[safenow]

Then just paste that into your post where you want it.

Thank you for that. I'm going to try it today.

 

[safenow]

Why am I still suffering 16yrs on... it's not fair!...I'm SICK of it all!

I so agree with you. It is not fair. Wouldn't it be nice if life was fair? Only the bad people got pain. Only the bad people bled.

Bless your heart and mind. I do know how frustrating it is when you are hurting so bad you can't even stand up, and it is all from what happened in our past. But I promise you, once you've processed with the right type of therapist, you will not be suffering any longer unless you have another trauma.