DIY THERAPY: Trauma – Excerpts

This is a practical guidebook and workbook outlining the products and techniques used by the author when she experienced the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Topics covered include: depression; suicidal thoughts; panic attacks; nightmares; flashbacks; shock; out-of-body-experiences (OBEs); grief and mood swings.

The author also explains how the trauma resulting from abuse requires a slightly different approach during the healing process – the necessity of the victim reclaiming her or his power from the abusers. She outlines how this may be accomplished in very safe and simple ways.

A must have for anyone requiring day-to-day help getting through the tumultuous experience of PTSD. (This book is currently only available as a PDF document that you will receive as an email attachment. For more info, submit a request via our Contact page.)

Part One: Tips, Tools and Techniques

Reclaiming Your Power

This is specifically for survivors of Abuse Trauma – taking back your power from your abusers involves confronting them in one way or another. Attempt the following in therapy initially then when you are strong enough, do so in your own time. You should feel more empowered or energized after these experiences even if at first you are emotional.

• Write letters to your abusers and burn them (send them if you need to but make sure that no harm will come to you or anyone else in the process). Be as honest and as brutal as you need to be – it is the least you can do to them and the most you can do for yourself.
• Make believe you are confronting them in your mind (via visualization) or in a role playing exercise where someone has taken on their persona or you are talking to an empty chair imagining them sitting in it.
• Confront them in person. This needs much preparation beforehand between yourself and a therapist. Then you will need support during and after the event. Be prepared for them to deny any wrongdoing. It will hurt when it happens even though you may go in expecting to be disappointed – this is why you need ongoing support.

Part Two: PTSD Symptoms

Anger

Anger is a very powerful emotion that does need to be released in safe and healthy ways. In relation to PTSD it is the result of feeling ripped off in some way – betrayed, cheated, violated and so on. The intensity of this feeling may prevent you from experiencing it fully because you are not sure about what might happen if you unleash your wrath – this is particularly relevant for victims of abuse. Suppressing this emotion is the number one cause of depression. Here are a few tips on how to dissipate your fury:

• Rose oil
• Rescue Remedy
• Any art form that taps into aggression
• Writing
• Reclaiming your power (the writing exercise aimed at abusers)
• Get physical