Harm Reduction and Resilience Come in Many Colors

[Bobbyrobbydo]

Sometimes I feel like I have two sides to me: I'm the person people see who appears to have my life together, but there's also the person underneath who is dealing with deep-rooted trauma, toxic shame, and challenges.

I’ve suffered from long-term complex childhood trauma that’s shaped my life in many ways, yet I don’t believe there’s a one-size-fits-all therapy that could provide the answers to all my struggles. I’ve had to forge my own path, find what works for me, uncovering hidden strengths, making mistakes, and confronting difficult emotions in order to move forward. I don't believe in the one-size-fits-all approach to therapy; I have certainly not taken the conventional route and my healing and growth has come from a multifaceted and multi-layered approach, both internally and externally.

It hasn't been easy, but I'm thankful for the journey because it has made me the strong, resilient, and overcoming person I am today. I do believe we need to be careful not to put harm reduction and what we consider resilience in a box, and make sure our encouragement and guidance for someone else has them leading the way, not our ideas and perspectives.

 

[Friday]

It hasn't been easy, but I'm thankful for the journey because it has made me the strong, resilient, and overcoming person I am today. I do believe we need to be careful not to put harm reduction and what we consider resilience in a box, and make sure our encouragement and guidance for someone else has them leading the way, not our ideas and perspectives.

It takes pretty low self esteem to think if it works for you? It would work for anyone. Still, low self esteem is a pretty common byproduct of trauma.

I figure whatever someone is offering? Is usually the best they have to offer. Whether it works for me, or not? It’ll help others.

 

[Friday]

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[oops!]

and make sure our encouragement and guidance for someone else has them leading the way, not our ideas and perspectives.

I almost wanted to argue this. Not because I disagree but because I have seen it said so few times.

I have many close companionships, family, friends etc. I have found that they place a ton of value on my input. Way more value than I give myself for giving.

We may not always be communicating what our trauma is/was but it is natural for us to try not to let it happen to others.

There is a very adaptive part of our brains that has been activated by trauma. It actually has some advantages. If we can access that in others without causing trauma would be awesome.