Gut Instincts? Has Anyone Ignored Them And It Lead To Ptsd Diagnosis?

[jenny2682]

I had to consider being willing to do things in an unfamiliar way so I didn't keep attracting the same sort of people into my life. It worked. Not easy but it worked.

This. So much this as well as what others say. We somehow are groomed to attract the wrong. My problem was that the group of boys that attacked me, well one wanted to date me and I said no. It was in retaliation. After that I think I had victim written on me. I also didn't say no because I think I subconsciously picked up something was wrong and didn't want to say no. I still don't like sticking up for myself with men. I fear payback. I am trying to do the unfamiliar.

 

[Dana1010]

I know personally I was drawn to what was familiar cuz that's what I thought I deserved in some circumstances. In others I had unwanted experiences because some people could sense the victim mentality and wanted to play/prey on it.

I often wonder how I managed to walk smack into the hands of sociopaths right out of my parents' house for the first time. I know that with some of them, I would think, "You know, he has nothing in common with my father, but for some reason he reminds me of him. Just a scent or something." Of course I had no inkling what it was all about until much later and much too late.

Then there was the isolation and social deprivations I suffered growing up. I look back and see that I was getting taken all over the place by people who would not have lasted five minutes with me if I'd had the opportunities for social learning that everyone else had. So much wreckage that could have been prevented so easily. There were situations where my gut screamed for me to get out, but I talked over it, reasoned it away with very rational sounding arguments. Funny, but I guess sometimes our gut is smarter than our brain.

 

[Pencil]

Funny, but I guess sometimes our gut is smarter than our brain.

Not funny. Absolutely correct.

I've not read Gavin de Becker's book 'The Gift of Fear', although I've wanted to. I saw an interview with him once, in which he said that humans are the ONLY animals who overrule their instincts. We (with trauma backgrounds) have all switched our fear off in order to get through those frightening situations. We need to learn how to switch it back on.

 

[Dana1010]

We (with trauma backgrounds) have all switched our fear off in order to get through those frightening situations. We need to learn how to switch it back on.

This actually doesn't apply to me. I feel scared all the time these days. When I ground and meditate I find that the underlying state is just sheer terror.

 

[Pencil]

@dana to stretch the electrical switch analogy a bit further: This is exactly what happens when we override the system, and there is an electrical short - and you are stuck in 'on'. And when we have this generalized fear, we are forced to try and ignore it all the time. The point is to get the switch working again.