My only actual foray into trauma therapy I did it backwards... no trust, no skills building, just bull by the horns... because I had to testify about some shit... and remain clear, concise, composed during it. Or go to prison. So after we got that period wrapped up tight with ribbon & bows? We stopped. To focus on stabilizing.
Things that helped
1. Drawing, instead of writing. Think comic book. 1 image. Only 1 frame.
2. Flanking, coming at things in oblique ways
- I could unlock some of my issues by offering up what I’d been through for someone else. Couldn’t do it for myself. Could do it for someone else hurting. So ask yourself, if someone else is telling a part of YOUR story? Is all torn up about it? What would you say to them to help them through it? (AKA why I am still here on this site 5 years later, when I thought I’d be here maybe 2 weeks ;))
- Another was “nearly”. Like any US vet stuff sent my heart into my throat & the world spinning off its axis, nvm USMC, but Aussie? Brit? IDF? Same damn place, doing the same damn things, slightly different language to describe it. Slightly different everything. Provided enough distance to come at my own. Kinda/sorta/helluva lot better than I could, otherwise.
3. Drugs. Straight up, I didn’t -and still don’t- have the ability to force shit back INTO Pandora’s Box. Having an emergency med that will slam the lid closed when I need it? Both invaluable & informative. As in, re-learning how to do it myself / learning to trust that when I fall off the map into “thar be monsters” I can climb back out, again.
