scout86
VIP Member
My T has talked about THIS a lot too. (Not surprisingly, I guess.) I work pretty hard at stepping back and objectively looking at my reactions to things and try to decide whether or not they are in proportion. I have a couple people whose judgement I trust that I actually ask, when in doubt. I don't remember a "before" so I look at this like I'm learning how to do this.
My T, early on, mentioned that a PTSD type response was more appropriate back when there really WERE saber toothed tigers behind every bush and outside every cave. "Looking for tigers" has gotten to be a bit of an inside joke. But he went on from there to point out that a well adjusted antelope runs like mad when there's an actual tiger that's an actual threat, but it also know when the tigers are far away, or too stuffed to chase antelope, it knows it can relax and eat. And it does. And it goes 60 to 0 as easily as it goes 0 to 60. We have all kind of versions of this and jokes about it, but the goal is to learn to be a "well adjusted antelope". But you DO have to learn. And it's uncomfortable sometimes. Just like learning a physical skill can be uncomfortable sometimes. I work to notice the discomfort, recognize it for what it is, and let it go, rather than to dwell on it to the point that I'm chasing myself in circles over something that's not a real threat. Like any other skill, you won't be good at it the first time, or the second, or maybe even the 100th, but you WILL get better at it. with practice. It also helps if you can be somewhat patient with yourself when you do this less than perfectly, because you will.
