Treating PTSD: 10 Questions About Healing

A note before we begin today’s post: For those of you working through the BTG healing workshop, you have until midnight Sept. 30 (that’s Wednesday!) to enter this month’s contest.

And now, on with PTSD healing…

Let’s just say you achieve your PTSD healing goals (because you will).

And let’s just say you reach a day when you look behind you and realize all of the great progress you’ve made (because some day you will).

Suddenly, you realize you’re living a new life. What would that life look like?

For a few weeks you’ve been developing your PTSD healing goals. It’s time to look ahead and check to make sure the goals you’re conceiving will produce effects that are in line with the life you want to lead.

How do you do this? I’m so glad you asked….

In order to ensure your goals appropriately fit the entirety of your life it’s necessary to consider all of the areas of your life and figure out how healing will change them.You’ll be different. How will those changes affect all of the significant aspects of your life?

It’s time to begin asking yourself – and answering - 10 basic questions:

1. How will healing affect my life and my relationship to myself?
2. How will healing affect my relationship with my family?
3. How will healing affect my relationship with my friends?
4. How will healing affect my relationship with my signifcant other?
5. How will healing affect my relationship with my colleagues?
6. How will achieving my healing goals affect my school work/my career?
7. What will be different about me and my life when I achieve my healing goals?
8. How do I feel about all of these changes?
9. What will be the benefits of these changes?
10. What will be the drawbacks of these changes?

You didn’t realize healing post-traumatic stress was so complex, did you? Maybe you thought you could just go to some professional or join a workshop and healing would miraculously appear. Of course, that’s the wish we all have, but the truth is, HEALING TAKES WORK. Lots of work. That YOU have to do.

No one can hand healing to you like a dish you order in a restaurant. You’ve got to go back into the kitchen, strap on an apron and get your hands dirty preparing the meal.

What’s on your menu?

BRIDGE THE GAP Exercise

Your task today: Answer each of the 10 questions above. Be thorough. These answers are important. Visualize details, imagine outcomes, look ahead and gauge what’s in store.

If you feel completely in tune with your answers, then you’re on the right track!

If you feel uncomfortable with any of your answers that’s pointing up an area you need to explore. Feel free to email me privately for more direction.

(Photos: jonesprimavera, jroo)

Tags: healing, post-traumatic stress, ptsd, Setting Healing Goals