Treating PTSD: One Last Word About JOY
Monday, November 30th, 2009 • Uncategorized •
So, a few weeks ago joy seemed like a strange concept for a blog about PTSD, didn’t it? And now….??I hope this idea of joy has given you a new concept of how to develop your quest for healing. It’s easy to get caught up in the work of post-trauamtic stress recovery — joy adds a touch of play, plus a touch of power when we need it most. And why not? You deserve those things, you are capable of feeling them, and you can use them to further empower your recovery.
One final thought about joy: It’s impossible to hold two opposing emotions at the same time. This means if you deliberately elicit a state of joy the PTSD state will have to take a hike! Isn’t that the goal…. permanently? Joy is part of making that happen.
BRIDGE THE GAP Exercise
OK, you joy seekers! Going forward joy should become a normal practice in your world. I promise you, the more you seek it, experience it, and make it a part of your life the more strong, empowered, and effective you and your PTSD recovery will become.
And now, for those of you who do not feel committed to the joy quest: What’s holding you back from taking the joy plunge? Today, think long and hard about what thoughts, ideas and beliefs stop you from taking this empowering step. Let’s work it out so you can get on with the joyful idea of becoming PTSD-free.
(Photo acknowledgement on Flickr.)
Tags: Joy, post-traumatic stress, ptsd, recovery, The Healing Power of Joy
Michele, thank you so much for this indept study of joy. Such a simple thing… yet it was good of you to remind me to include it in my daily life. One can get so consumed with our PTSD struggles, flashbacks, & the whole wagon load of problems that we carry with us & to think that I were to consistenly include JOY … mayB there may not be room for all the other crap.
“Your post-traumatic stress disordered self is an aberration, (a disorder in one’s mental state), it is not truly who you are. Your joyful self is your pure, untramatized self and practicing a commitment to joy… woos that self back into the forefront of who you are.”
HOW AMAZING & POWERFUL!
@BlkPumpkin – Hi! We do need to be reminded that we deserve more, don’t we? It IS such a simple thing and yet it’s one of the most difficult things for survivors to connect with – which is why it’s so important to make it a priority because joy really is out there waiting for us. You’re so right! I like the image of filling ourselves up with so much joy there just isn’t room for anything else!