As a counselor, I don't consider myself an expert on the topic
of PTSD, although I have done a considerable amount of
counseling related to trauma involving childhood sexual abuse which obviously
has components of PTSD.
It is important to note that memories and emotions
are 'Triggered' by sights, smells and sounds which
remind one of hurtful experiences from the past;which tend to keep people
"stuck" in the past.
There is a 'brand' of counseling referred to
as "Exposure Therapy" which includes the
individual talking about these experiences, and more than once, so that the
person gets familiar with their past circumstances, and begins to realize that
these things can no longer exercise power over them. Exposure Therapy may also
include revisiting the actual places where the child or adult was exposed to
emotional, physical or sexual harm.
Journaling is another approach to overcoming
trauma. The individual would keep a written journal of their hurtful memories,
and circumstances when they begin to re-experience thoughts and emotions
related to the past. I personally think this approach should be time-limited,
and should be permanently discontinued at some point. However, it can be
helpful during a structured counseling process.
Beyond counseling, there is a technique which
I refer to as "Changing the Channel" which means
the person immediately gets busy with another activity when they begin to think
of hurtful memories which cause them to be anxious; for instance, reading, or
jogging or listening to soothing music.
I once made a statement that "Mindsets
are Everything." Proverbs 16:3 reads, "Commit your works unto
the Lord and your thoughts will be established." Another
similar verse in the New Testament reads, "Take off the old man (old
mindset). Put on the new man (new mindset)."
(Ephesians 4:22,24) Finally, in 1st Peter 1:17 we read, "We serve a God
who judges men according to their actions." The implication in
all these verses is that if we are to overcome the things which keep us stuck,
it will require us to take purposeful, positive
actions in spite of the thoughts and emotions which intrude on our
lives. I will attach a homework assignment related to "Rewriting
Faulty Mindsets," a technique I created, though I'm sure
other counselors use similar approaches. Our rewritten mindsets would include
the actions we take, and the words we speak.
I have often encouraged my clients to renounce
the impact of people, places and things from the past which negatively impact
them.
I refer to this as "Renouncement." As
a 'for instance,' I have a couple of 9x great Uncles who you can read about if
you do an internet search on Joseph and Jarvis Ring and the Salem Witch Trials.
They gave false testimony about a woman named Susannah Martin, and as a result
she was put to death. Well, I don't want their influence to impact me so I have
verbally renounced their impact on my life. This same technique applies to
those things in our lives which have caused us to experience hurtful memories
and emotions.
I often use Ceremony in
my counseling process. I have encouraged my clients to write down various
people and experiences which linger in their memories and cause them ongoing
pain. When they have done this, I ask them to fold the page, put it in a
matchbox, write "no fishing" on the box, and bury it.
We must begin “leaving the past behind and
turning to all that God has prepared for us.” (Philippians 3:13). It is far too
easy to (figuratively) dress ourselves, and others in the tattered clothing of
the past. We should remind ourselves, “That was then, and this is now.” While
there aren’t any time machines, we are prone to spend our time reflecting on
the past. As a result, we remain stuck. I refer to this sad state of affairs as
a State of Stuckness.
In terms of the offender(s), there are three
possible responses, all of which are optional depending on the individual and
“what works” for them.
Some people choose to Confront
the individual who wronged them. Of course, if one chooses to do so, he or she
should do so in a safe, neutral environment. Obviously, the offender may not
agree to meet with the person whom they offended, or they may deny they did anything
to harm the offended party.
Forgiveness is always in order; either in the other party’s presence, or in
the privacy of one’s own home. I have often encouraged my clients to speak the
words out loud in my office or at home. “I forgive you, (insert name).”
Forgiveness is as much for the offended person as it is for the offender. I
have often told my clients that “Forgiveness begins with words” (and) “You
don’t have to ‘feel like it’ to speak the words” (and) “It may be necessary to
listen to yourself say the words many times before the feelings catch up” (and)
“Forgiveness is a process that may take a great deal of time.”
Of course, forgiveness does not necessarily
mean Reconciliation. Forgiveness and Reconciliation are two very
different things. One can forgive without reconciling. Obviously, when the
offender is a family member, Alienation is not always possible.
There are any number of other approaches which might be helpful to someone who is experiencing PTSD, and what works for one person may not be helpful for another. Obviously, if an approach is not helpful, but actually reinforces someone's memories and emotions, it should be discontinued.
by William McDonald, PhD
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