Have You Been Able To Help Heal Yourself Without Therapy?

[Applecore]

Although, peer based, I learned a fast & dirty way of doing exposure therapy. And then tweaked it, to do solo.

Can you talk us through that process?

I am asking because right now I am thinking through two pieces of contradictory wisdom:

(1) One is to treat rumination over past trauma and intrusive thoughts as a form of addiction: so put the past behind you, go fully abstinent and make new, happy memories by taking up new hobbies and friendships, going no-contact with trigger people, just walk away and even change location.

(2) The second piece of advice seems to be to maximise your focus on past trauma, write it all out into a journal, talk it all out to a therapist (which in my case caused horrendous, debilitating rumination and intrusive thoughts between weekly sessions), and tell your truth to the trigger people (which may well cause them to go no-contact!). Seems to be two very different courses to navigate.

(On the sub-topic of telling your truth to the trigger people - I think this could be very empowering for those having trouble 'speaking truth to power' but also very dangerous. It might utterly destroy families. Tough call when you've always known since childhood that your aunt hit on your dad, and then in adult life you tell her - she may simply deny it and then never speak to you again out of the shame of being unmasked as having betrayed her sister, your mother.)

 

[Applecore]

@knert

I would understand if you prefer not to say, but if you can - which are the cults you have had experience of?

Am sure cults deserve their whole dedicated section on this forum.

 

[PlainJane]

Mod Note:

@knert

I would understand if you prefer not to say, but if you can - which are the cults you have had experience of?

Am sure cults deserve their whole dedicated section on this forum.

This would be a great opportunity to create a thread on the topic, if you would like to discuss cults with others.
Otherwise, keep this thread on topic.