Another question for you all.

Another question for you all.
D

Don-NY

Registrant
I've become convinced that Recovery work requires that we experience emotional episodes or events that are equal in intensity to the original traumas.

Ideally, they will be controlled, even scheduled experiences, like a retreat experience, or role-playing type of thing, but even unexpected experiences have a great value I think.

Flashbacks, triggers, panic attacks, crying jags - these things suck when they happen and can seem like huge setbacks, but I have always seemed to learn something from them; something about them - cause and effects; and how to stop or divert them; sometimes it's a big ole STOP sign for me, letting me know I shouldn't be doing what I'm doing.

I've been to two retreats. They were both almost excruciating emotional experiences.

The first really gave me a glimpse of the idea that I was a Survivor, not just a Victim.

The second rattled me so much, that on the drive home I kept missing my exits, and then missing them again when I turned around and went back.

But this second one showed me how strong I was, and how quickly I could recover (get over!) this new traumatic (not too strong a word) experience.

Ok, so what do you think. Do you agree? Have you any examples?

Ken - what is the professional opinion or consensus on this idea, if any?

What is the value of trauma in the recovery from trauma? I have found that it acts like a release valve. Am I alone in this?

Donald
 
I think 'trauma', when experienced as a reliving of anf an earlier trauma, is the best release we have from the baggage of the early trauma, it allows us to see all the side issues and deal with them, however painful.

But it's something that must be done in a safe environment and under control.

Dave
 
Don,

I keep telling myself that the truth cannot hurt me, and my money is still on that horse!

No one likes the emotional experiences you mention, but when they happen to me I try to see them as a signal of something that I still need to work on. That helps me to stop from getting down on myself for them.

Much love,
Larry
 
Jake
you're right to be cautious, but one day it will probably happen.

Just when you don't expect it you'll go through the barrier and 'feel' those emotions, and feel safe.

Recovery doesn't happen overnight, and neither is it completely painless. But it's possible and worth that bit of pain.

Dave
 
It is important to stop reliving the trauma in a self destructive manner and work towards experiencing the trauma in a theraputic manner. And finally to integrate it with the many sides of ourself that we split to protect us from feeling the horrible feelings.

Courage-Wisdom-Spirituality
 
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