Being In Mental Pain In Order To Function?

[bethinhfx]

This video/concept shaped my thinking of the PTSD mind. . .
His video is reflective of how a normal brain experiences a moment of the amygdala's grip.

This guy is smart- I am in love. Beth

<Edited full quote.>

 

[bethinhfx]

I think meditation helps access the " other parts of your brain". I recognize I have been living in a highjacked state for a long time because I keep getting triggered. Very helpful. Thanks.

 

[Hashi]

Thank you for this reply, Hashi. It definitely put some things into perspective for me, particularly the reference to our cognitive framing of a primal experience. That is something I am aware that I do all too often.. but have a very difficult time refraining from it. I intellectualize my issues to the point of numbness. It has become such a reflexive cycle, and it's hard not to fall back on it. Do you have any advice on breaking free of that cycle?

I'm also wondering Hashi how you would go about making a new identity, whilst reframing trauma? I always thought that integrating the emotions and the experiences of trauma was the best way of being able to move past them, but I have had real trouble with the identity building side of things...I want to be me.

I'm sorry I didn't come back to you about this sooner. I wanted to respond to what you asked but I was worried about going off topic. So, trying to keep my answer short:

For reframing and getting away from intellectualising/cognition I've found imagery to be really helpful - using a metaphor, creating an image or piece of music, doing visualisations etc. Therapists like Belleruth Naparstek and Peter Levine have written about how non-verbal and symbolic approaches are needed for trauma recovery, at least initially.

For identity, I just replied to a Discussion post about this (Knowing Your Own Mind) and mentioned journalling and journal exercises. For me, it's also been helpful to work with archetypes. I know this may not be for everyone, but I think some sort of approach like this which looks at your values and patterns of thinking and behaviour is very helpful.

Thinkingman, this may be taking things a little bit away from your original reason for posting. I'm not sure, so I won't go into any more detail here. I'm no expert, just another person finding a way through all this, but if anyone wants to talk further about anything please feel free to PC me.

 

[Thinkingman85]

For reframing and getting away from intellectualising/cognition I've found imagery to be really helpful - using a metaphor, creating an image or piece of music, doing visualisations etc. Therapists like Belleruth Naparstek and Peter Levine have written about how non-verbal and symbolic approaches are needed for trauma recovery, at least initially.

My personality is very visual now. If not, my mind will race and be overanalytical. The only way that I can connect with people is living in a poetic way. When I live in a scientific fashion, it seems like my morality disappears and life becomes mechanistic. I think the overanalyzing is a survival mechanism in order to understand oneself.

 

[Emilie]

freeanimal, that's good advice and a great post. But i'd also caution that meditation isn't for everyone because if you are someone who is "always in your head", meditation can serve to keep you in your head. It's important for some(not all) to begin to expose themselves to the outer world; by doing things that involve your 5 senses. Just some advice my T imparted to me when I told her about me going to meditate at a sangha for a few weeks. She also let me know to be careful after meditation because you can feel especially vulnerable afterward, and susceptible to a lot more pain if something happens that triggers you after meditation.

 

[Curvy]

Is it possible that you feel like you need to be in pain in order to function, because so far the only way you've been able to get out of pain is through dissociation? Often in mild dissociation one is less functional because they are "numb" so to speak and their mind is purposely not focusing and just being distant in order to avoid the pain. Therefore you only feel you can focus and function with your normal daily activities when you are in pain. (mentally)

Through further healing of the mind you will be able to lessen pain without dissociating and therefore still be able to maintain your functionality. I have definitely experienced this.

Did any of that make sense? Or am I not explaining it well? lol

 

[Red Feather]

This thread is amazing. Why couldn't the people in the hospital just give me this information instead of just negating my symptoms? :cautious::mad: