How We Change Lives
Closing the Wound
Recovering from PTSD is not a walk in the park. It feels more like being lost in the woods. We feel alone in the dark and unsure which way to go. Often times we follow the wrong paths towards drugs and alcohol, or just dissociating into our phones to avoid the anxiety and discomfort in our bodies. When we start our recovery, we find it can be painful and the progress often feels interrupted by setbacks. We wonder if we will ever recover.
Just as the brain was able to rewire itself from the trauma it experienced, it can rewire itself to overcome that trauma. But we must know what direction to walk in and keep going until we are out of that forest. There is no straight path out of that forest, it will always have ups and downs, but the sure way out requires two things be implemented in your recovery plan: a method overcoming the traumatic experiences and a felt sense of safety.
Sense of Safety
Recovering from trauma is a journey from fight, flight, or freeze back into social engagement, where we feel safe and secure. In order make that journey, we must be able to consistently communicate a sense of safety to the body. We will learn many practices that you can apply throughout the day to build awareness, a tolerance for frustration, and a feeling of comfort.
Overcoming Trauma
Trauma creates triggers. We cannot develop a felt sense of safety when these triggers still function. Luckily, there are evidence-based practices to take away their power. EMDR, TRE, mindfulness, and exercises to rewire the brain can all contribute to overcoming trauma by desensitizing triggers. PTSD is not a past event, it is a body conditioned to expect more trauma.
