Worry is a Bully

Late at night, I know I should be trying to sleep and I am watching a rerun of NCIS.  It is the episode that Gibbs persuades Timothy that after an ordeal he should seek counseling.  The counselor listens to Timothy’s concerns then states, “Worry is a bully.”  It was like a huge light bulb moment. …

Emotional Mindfulness

The title to this article intrigued me: Emotional Mindfulness: What Anger, Vulnerability & Despair Teach Us Emotional Mindfulness: What Anger, Vulnerability & Despair Teach Us I enjoy coming across an article that agrees with me.  I spent a large portion of my life unable to access how I felt.  Through brutal childhood experience I learned to separate…

Here and Now

Here and Now is the ultimate in accepting my past and recognizing my future has not arrived. 11. Being in the present here and now. https://healingfromcomplextraumaandptsd.wordpress.com/2017/07/16/25-obvious-non-obvious-self-care-issues-complex-trauma-survivors-struggle-with-lilly-hope-lucario/ Judy writes her perspective here: https://theprojectbyjudy.wordpress.com/2017/11/15/self-care-11-of-25/ Another interesting thing about Here and Now is how often I dreamed of being anywhere but where I was.  My counseling sessions opened…

Lizard Brain

One of the many cognitive dissonance moments was learning about the amygdala.  That pesky part of the brain that sees a T-Rex instead of a barking dog.  The amygdala kicks in when danger is perceived….unfortunately, long term abuse leaves me seeing danger everywhere.  Examples a black cat is a pouncing panther, a test precedes a…

Crafting works

I’m always on the look out for articles that back up what I experienced.  One of them is doing crafts, drawing, or photography.  For me it is crocheting, for others knitting, or any of the other numerous creative endeavors that help a person feel more relaxed.  One of the benefits is the need to be…

Grounding another perspective

I was interested that when I went on to Facebook this article was posted by PTSD Break the Silence.  I like the specific suggestions on what to see, taste, smell, touch or listen to you.  Using all the senses to help ground my mind in this moment goes along way to loosen the strangle hold…

Grounded

I was grounded….often….it had advantages.  My mother would be awake when I got home from school to make sure that I came straight home.  If I wasn’t grounded, she would be mostly likely napping.  Since I got home from school first, I would wake her up….I’d get spanked and then grounded and would start all…

Mindfulness

Wow.  Mindfulness is what I would call a MEGA tool.  It helps people with all sorts of issues not just PTSD.  A lot is written about it.  All 3 of my counselors talked about using mindfulness, being present, counting breathes, and several other references.  This to me is like hitting the pause button when you…