Managing Trauma with Bathrooms

[LeiaFlower]

I have sexual trauma with bathrooms. I previously was had difficulties using public bathrooms because the idea of having to use the bathroom with others was scary and disgusting.

As a kid learned how to hold in void urges until we were either home or in a residence private bathroom.

I have been able to overcome this side. But I am still struggling with having background noise on when going to the bathroom due to trauma response with my abuser previously interrupting/abusing me in the bathroom.

Should I actively manage or overcome this? I think the public bathroom fear worked itself out on its own, though I have issues with memory recall to know of I took steps. What am I in control to do?

 

[Dr. Catalyst]

I have sexual trauma with bathrooms. I previously was had difficulties using public bathrooms because the idea of having to use the bathroom with others was scary and disgusting.

As a kid learned how to hold in void urges until we were either home or in a residence private bathroom.

I have been able to overcome this side. But I am still struggling with having background noise on when going to the bathroom due to trauma response with my abuser previously interrupting/abusing me in the bathroom.

Should I actively manage or overcome this? I think the public bathroom fear worked itself out on its own, though I have issues with memory recall to know of I took steps. What am I in control to do?

I'm sorry to hear about the traumatic experiences you've had with bathrooms. It's a significant achievement that you were able to overcome your fear of using public bathrooms.

It's understandable that background noise triggers memories of your past trauma. It sounds like this is still impacting you, and it's important to address it if it's causing distress or impacting your daily life.

Since you're unsure if you took specific steps to overcome your fear of public bathrooms, would you like to explore strategies to cope with the background noise triggers in a safe and gradual manner? It can be helpful to have some tools to manage these triggers when they arise.

Understanding what you feel comfortable with and what steps you are willing to take to address this issue is crucial. What kind of support or coping mechanisms have you found helpful in managing other trauma-related triggers in your life?

 

[LeiaFlower]

I'm sorry to hear about the traumatic experiences you've had with bathrooms. It's a significant achievement that you were able to overcome your fear of using public bathrooms.

It's understandable that background noise triggers memories of your past trauma. It sounds like this is still impacting you, and it's important to address it if it's causing distress or impacting your daily life.

Since you're unsure if you took specific steps to overcome your fear of public bathrooms, would you like to explore strategies to cope with the background noise triggers in a safe and gradual manner? It can be helpful to have some tools to manage these triggers when they arise.

Understanding what you feel comfortable with and what steps you are willing to take to address this issue is crucial. What kind of support or coping mechanisms have you found helpful in managing other trauma-related triggers in your life?

Background noise isn’t the trigger, it helps me cope with triggers. However, I am unsure if changing it where I no longer need the noise will be beneficial.

I am always looking for things to fix about myself instead of allowing things to just be, for me to exist with my trauma feelings.

I need help figuring out whether I should allow things to fix itself or if I should actively work on this. The bathroom issue isn’t causing me distress.

 

[Dr. Catalyst]

Background noise isn’t the trigger, it helps me cope with triggers. However, I am unsure if changing it where I no longer need the noise will be beneficial.

I am always looking for things to fix about myself instead of allowing things to just be, for me to exist with my trauma feelings.

I need help figuring out whether I should allow things to fix itself or if I should actively work on this. The bathroom issue isn’t causing me distress.

It's great to hear that background noise helps you cope with triggers while using the bathroom. It's essential to recognize what supports you in managing your trauma-related feelings.

It's understandable to feel the need to constantly fix things about yourself, but it's also important to acknowledge that healing doesn't always mean fixing everything. Sometimes it's about accepting and learning to coexist with our trauma feelings.

Since the bathroom issue isn't causing you distress currently, it could be beneficial to consider whether you feel ready to work on changing your coping mechanism with the background noise. Reflecting on whether this change aligns with your overall well-being and goals is crucial.

Would you like to explore the potential benefits and drawbacks of actively working on reducing your reliance on background noise in the bathroom? It might help you determine what approach feels right for you at this moment in your healing journey.

 

[LeiaFlower]

Can you instead help me use the miracle question connected to solution based therapy? And the scale that’s associated with it

 

[Dr. Catalyst]

Can you instead help me use the miracle question connected to solution based therapy? And the scale that’s associated with it

Of course! Let's explore the Miracle Question, a technique commonly used in Solution-Focused Therapy.

Imagine waking up tomorrow, and overnight, a miracle happened, and your bathroom triggers were completely resolved. What would be different? How would you know that the issue has been resolved? Can you describe a day in your life where these triggers no longer have an impact on you?

Now, on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 being completely controlled by bathroom triggers and 10 being completely free from these triggers, where would you rate yourself currently? And where would you like to be on this scale in the future?

Reflecting on these questions can help you gain insight into your goals and aspirations when it comes to managing your bathroom triggers. It can also provide a starting point for exploring potential steps you might want to take towards achieving your desired outcome. What thoughts or feelings come up for you as you consider these questions and the scale?