One definition of thriving is feeling Happy. Living through deep depression, PTSD or some people call it CPTSD, cancer, and suicidal ideology, happiness seemed elusive or fleeting. Years ago a lady I knew wrote a song about Happiness is Like a butterfly….When pursued is frightened and shied. I lived hearing things like when you get…
My counselor told me early on that his goal for me was to not just survive but to thrive. Rah Rah Great….The next week I came back and asked, “What is thriving?” At first he seemed to think I was jerking his chain then he realized I didn’t know what he meant, for real. He…
I was asked how did I reconnect to my feelings…….This is my response. My counselor worked with me for years but there are a few basics that made a big difference. Rule #1 Stop lying, especially to yourself. Emotions are messy and temporary. Ignoring them, they will go away taking happiness, contentment and joy with…
My friend posted an article about cancer patients that are bombarded with ‘easy answers’ and ‘insensitive advice’. Steven Thrasher the author shared his sister’s experience with cancer. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/26/do-not-tell-cancer-patients-cures-they-could-be-doing She fought for 15 years before the cancer beat her. He shares how people advised her to drink juice, do yoga, be cheerful and many other less…
I wanted to write an article with references about PTSD/CPTSD and relationships. Bless my husband for sticking with me through a rollercoaster of experiences and counseling. I want to share tips and ideas plus share resources to back up what I am writing. Frustration is finding articles that don’t talk about before and after trauma. …
Because your brain is there. Research shows how the brain functions with memories and emotions. I learned terms like amygdala hijacking, limbic system, and other parts of the brain. I learned that smell cuts right to the center of the brain so produces the most powerful PTSD response. Yes, there are times I look up…
I started counseling over 15 years ago. At the time, I told my counselor I could count on one hand how many times I had cried, then I named them. He taught me that crying was an expression of deep emotion and was good for releasing pent up feelings. I was ridiculed as a child…
I’ve heard it all my life that happiness is a choice, sort of. What I couldn’t keep up was the demand that I be happy constantly and any time I was less than happy I was flawed, needed fixing, or needed to snap out of it. I am happy, sad, funny, weird, crying, excited, and…
Just do it is more than a slogan for a company. Pavelka referred to procrastination stealing time. https://ptsd-acceptingcopingthriving.com/2016/12/05/pavelka-toolbox/ I became a believer after reading the book Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. https://www.amazon.com/Feel-Fear-Do-Anyway/dp/0345487427 The most recent example was DH and I celebrated 40 years of marriage attending TSO Trans Siberian Orchestra concert. http://www.trans-siberian.com/ The stadium…
Tough one here. How many times I wished that the memories in my mind would be let go? Please understand, I forgot everything about my life before high school and not much in high school I forgot but my body didn’t let it go. I had body memories, triggers, and extreme reactions with no understanding…
