Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group
Find support with others who have gone through a traumatic experience. Whether you have chronic or acute PTSD, we are here for you.
It's amazing what the imagination can do! I was doing a session of EMDR with my psychiatrist. What came up was amazing - he had me remember a terribly traumatic incident at a drug and alcohol rehab I went to. I was 27 years old at the time.
Anyway, I'm imagining the scene - 27 years old - and feeling fear and fear.
Then, I imagine 55 year old me coming into the room, and telling young me that this is wrong, she's fine - the set up is ridiculous. then 55 year old me takes young me into her arms for a long hug - in front of all those people. Telling them off for upsetting young me.
Then 55 year old me takes young me to her grandmother's place, and puts her to bed.
Young me is crying, but is being soothed by 55 year old me, who assures her she's done nothing wrong. Young me falls asleep, and 55 year old me goes into the kitchen to have a cup of tea with grandma, which is really enjoyable.
then, 55 year old me tells young me she's going to get well - and takes her to meet my psychologist (who was terrific).
By the end of it all, I felt really good. I also felt I'd changed the past to have a different outcome. It was really powerful!
Anyway, I'm imagining the scene - 27 years old - and feeling fear and fear.
Then, I imagine 55 year old me coming into the room, and telling young me that this is wrong, she's fine - the set up is ridiculous. then 55 year old me takes young me into her arms for a long hug - in front of all those people. Telling them off for upsetting young me.
Then 55 year old me takes young me to her grandmother's place, and puts her to bed.
Young me is crying, but is being soothed by 55 year old me, who assures her she's done nothing wrong. Young me falls asleep, and 55 year old me goes into the kitchen to have a cup of tea with grandma, which is really enjoyable.
then, 55 year old me tells young me she's going to get well - and takes her to meet my psychologist (who was terrific).
By the end of it all, I felt really good. I also felt I'd changed the past to have a different outcome. It was really powerful!
I wouldn't do that to someone else; I would have empathy. So he went through exercises like you describe. He had me go back to my past and meet my past self in a more objective way.
It helped me get a more balanced perspective on my past, too. It was a real relief, a turning point. The question was: why was I so hard on myself about the chaos in my past, when I'd never be that hard on a stranger?
It really helped me begin to build self esteem and to assert my own worth. Glad you're doing it, too. It's not easy, but it was worth it for me.