bellbird
VIP Member
Supporters are such integral parts of this recovery, for so many of us. They witness and experience the worst of PTSD, often putting their feelings on the back burner for the sake of our own.
I know I speak for many of us when I say that this shitstorm of a disorder would be unbelievably more difficult were it not for them.
So, what things does your supporter do that you are grateful for? (maybe you could thank them for it IRL, too :tup: )
This past weekend my supporter (my boyfriend) and I stayed with his family.
On the drive there, we passed through an area that I hadn't been in since being with my abuser. It was one of those instances where I got far more triggered than I'd thought I would.
Without me even asking, my boyfriend mentally rerouted our drive home, so that on our return trip we bypassed that area completely.
I'm grateful that even though there have been many nights where my nightmares have woken him, he has never once blamed me or made me feel guilty, but tries to wake me from them to calm me down, instead.
I'm grateful for how safe he makes me feel; for the way he holds my hand a little tighter to let me know he's there and I'm OK if we're out together and there's a sudden noise.
I'm grateful for the way he'll put on my favourite music if I'm having bad flashbacks, to help ground me.
I'm grateful for all times that I have needed to talk and he has listened.
I'm grateful for his desire to learn more about PTSD in order to understand how best he can support me.
And I'm grateful that he sees me as so much more than this mental illness.
I know I speak for many of us when I say that this shitstorm of a disorder would be unbelievably more difficult were it not for them.
So, what things does your supporter do that you are grateful for? (maybe you could thank them for it IRL, too :tup: )
This past weekend my supporter (my boyfriend) and I stayed with his family.
On the drive there, we passed through an area that I hadn't been in since being with my abuser. It was one of those instances where I got far more triggered than I'd thought I would.
Without me even asking, my boyfriend mentally rerouted our drive home, so that on our return trip we bypassed that area completely.
I'm grateful that even though there have been many nights where my nightmares have woken him, he has never once blamed me or made me feel guilty, but tries to wake me from them to calm me down, instead.
I'm grateful for how safe he makes me feel; for the way he holds my hand a little tighter to let me know he's there and I'm OK if we're out together and there's a sudden noise.
I'm grateful for the way he'll put on my favourite music if I'm having bad flashbacks, to help ground me.
I'm grateful for all times that I have needed to talk and he has listened.
I'm grateful for his desire to learn more about PTSD in order to understand how best he can support me.
And I'm grateful that he sees me as so much more than this mental illness.
