Treating PTSD: Becoming Hypervigilant About JOY

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Over the weekend I hope you turned your (hyper)vigilant eye toward some good things for a change. What did you see?

Of course, seeking joy may feel like a foreign exercise right now – noticing joy is not the usual PTSD plan. But that’s exactly why it’s an important part of moving forward! As much as PTSD keeps you looking in the past it also keeps you looking at all the bad, negative and depressing things in your life. Flipping the power balance between you and PTSD means changing those patterns; means looking forward and seeing the good. This is a new muscle group you’re developing; flex it.

Noticing what brings you joy is one step in taking back your power, but it isn’t the only step. The next step is planning how to engage in that activity more often.

So, what do you love to do? I know there’s something you love….

When I decided it was dance that brings me an incredible joy I decided to do that – a LOT! Literally, I committed to dancing for at least one hour a day every day of the week. That meant finding a class, going to a dance studio, going to ballrooms and clubs…. I gave myself the command that joy must be experienced no matter what.

Sure, there were days I was in a deep funk, but I danced anyway. And you know what? For that hour or two the funk lifted and another self came out to play. The idea of being able to release our real selves is important in healing.

You know, too, don’t you, that your post-traumatic stress disordered self is an aberration. It is not truly who you are. Your joyful self is your pure, untramatized self and practicing a commitment to joy is dedicated time every day (or at least some time during the week) that woos that self back into the forefront of who you are.

That original self has become afraid to live and engage and be free. But things are changing now. It is safe to let that self out. You are stronger than before. You are more powerful and secure and ready to heal, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this right now. There is a part of you that knows you want to move on. Connecting to your purest, original self — through joy — is a strong powerful action to take.

I think you’re ready. Now, go take it! Find a way to put joy into your life for some portion of every week. Do this through physical or mental action. Sign up for an activity, volunteer, set aside time to do the thing you most love.

You are paving the way for your post-trauma identity. It will include joy. It’s time.

(Psst, if you’re still not in touch with your joy: 1) go back to last Wednesday’s post and last Friday’s post and do the exercises again. Sometimes you have to get used to the idea, goal and process before the creativity flows, 2) If you’re still stalled don’t despair! My next post will help to clear this up on Wednesday.)

BRIDGE THE GAP Exercise

It’s great to (re)discover your joy, but it’s useless if you don’t engage in it. Today, sit yourself down with a calendar. Look at the upcoming week. Where can you fit in one hour of joy connecting?

Find an hour in your schedule and commit it to joy. It’s important that you decide this event is as important as every other on your schedule. It’s as important as your job (it IS part of your healing job!). It is as important as your therapy appointment (it WILL support the work you do!). It’s as important as breathing (because both air and joy are LIFE-sustaining).

Go on, give yourself permission. You’ll be surprised how easily making the decision and sticking to it helps you transform.

(Photo acknowledgement on Flickr.)

Tags: hypervigilant, Joy, post-traumatic stress, ptsd, The Healing Power of Joy