"2 Situations Everyone With Childhood Trauma Should Prepare For"
While we deal with our childhood trauma, it is important for us to stay SAFE. It is important that we do not cause more hurt, pain, and trauma to ourselves so that we do not move BACKWARDS! We want to move FORWARD!
Make wise decisions. Do not make decisions soley based on your emotions or your logic. Instead of doing what you "feel" you ought to do or what you "think" you ought to do, do what you "know" you ought to do.
Situation 1: Your friend wants you to do things that you know you ought not to for your OWN sake
First thing: You need to be able to describe to your friend what you are dealing with.
If you have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and your friend asks you to watch a horror movie with him, assertively say, "No.". And tell him what PTSD is and the possible negative outcome that would occur if you agreed to watch the movie. "I am hypervigilant and I get startled very easily because of my trauma. I would get overly anxious watching horror movies and it could bring up some negative experiences up from my memory. I hope you understand. I'd prefer we do something else for fun."
Other examples would include getting drunk (lest there is unsafe behaviour involved) , doing drugs (lest you are vulnerable to addictions because of your mental illness)
Situation 2: Somebody asks you out
Here is the truth: If you are dealing with trauma, you are NOT ready to have an intimate relationship! You KNOW this! You cannot have a good relationship unless you are healed! You do NOT want to give yourself more trauma to deal with. If this person really cares about you, they will be willing to WAIT. Remember, do not follow your emotional brain all for itself. Listen to the advices of people that KNOW about mental illnesses/ have experience with them. People that don't have mental illness or education on mental illness do NOT understand what you are going through--they may tell you you should "follow your heart".
Preparation
Learn as much as you can about your mental illness. You will be more ready to explain to others the reason behind your "wise" choices. You will be able to understand why you feel a certain way and even WHAT the feeling is. You will be able to understand yourself and find answers to the numerous question marks you have in your mind.
As a victim of severe child abuse, I'm learning about my Borderline Personality Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I'm staying at a psychosocial rehab where I can always talk to the support workers and the nurse. While I deal with my trauma, it is important for me to stay safe. It is important that I do not cause more hurt, pain, and trauma to myself so that I do not move BACKWARDS! We want to move FORWARD!
Your turn! ONWARD!
