Sometimes, I write down stuff and check it later on. I have this old torn notebook that I found in my drawer today. When I started antibiotics for Lyme disease I wrote all the improvements 3 and 6 months etc. Was a real eye opener as we do forget.
My therapist keeps telling me I have made huge changes, I do notice some but not as well as she does I think. I am able too see more of my patterns but feel it is a long road and I guess we have to be happy with where we are, what else can we do

I like lists, too. They are a great tool for memory checks, and for monitoring both my emotional stability and hypergraphia. Yes, it is a real eye-opener. Since my first official psych dx (1974) was "Trauma Induced Amnesia," the memory part is not so much of a surprise in my own strictly personals.

It remains extremely hard for me to see the changes in myself. My mirror tells me the same sad story as yesterday. Sigh. Would a make-over help?

My unlicensed therapy dog is calm and taking orders today. A dog's tail never lies. We are working on the leash-free heel. She is close to mastering it in an empty parking lot. I got to test her leash training on a police drama this morning. Not a big drama, though. *Just* two squad cars and a domestic incident. My Persilly is so good. She passed that leash test with flying colors. Best road buddy ever, even without the leash free heel. One of the cops looked like he wished he could abandon the domestic incident duty and come over for some dog talk. Maybe?

For me a clear sign of healing is that I can discuss my trauma with others and I can do so without a melt down every time. For years, I couldn't discuss my trauma at all, period, no way. Then I could discuss it but there would be tears and upset for hours, which made it hardly worth it. Now, as repetition has brought mastery here and with my therapist, I can discuss my trauma without falling apart. To me that's measurable progress.

((((hugs))))

Persilly is doing very well!!! you two are doing very well : )

my hubby started pointing it out for me. but the real signs for me were when i stuck to my boundaries. figuring them out was all well and good, but enforcing them took me a while. at first i was so scarred and felt so guilty. then i kinda got fed up and felt enough is enough. not only did hubs see the change i felt the change.

i've had other healing milestones but that was the real big push off starter moment for me.

while i do feel it is important to have those around us validate our healing milestones because from the inside looking out it can be hard to really see all of it sometimes, the very act of reaching out and asking just how far we've come shows great depth of personal awareness which is an enormous part of the healing process.

in the words of the great "Bob"- "Baby steps and i can do anything...."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncFCdCjBqcE

I find that I go back and forth at times emotionally however I find I can move on with my quiet life without raw pain or shutdown when I'm coping pretty well

I'm at a different point in life then I was years ago when I was very productive with 2 jobs and volunteer work however I can accept where I am now and feel sort of okay about it.... I feel blessed and gratitude

I've accepted that as we work through things we do move on however some things can change who we are or at least they did me ...Years of care giving and loss changed me ... I'm okay now but they took a toll and I'm not the same as I once was but I still have a sense of humour

I agree with baby steps sweetie.... Processing takes some time

Life continues though and I'm glad you're here Arf...... Gentle hug.....xo

I think you gage healing by a decrease in the emotions after you encounter a trigger. Time, time, and learning to lean into peaceful moments to retrain your mind to relax.