Trauma Support Check-in April 10th - 16th
Hi everyone, I hope things are going well for you, and if not now then soon. :)
This week's topic is comfort.
Different things are comforting for different people. One person might love hugs, while another can't stand it. Other things that are comforting might be a childhood stuffed animal, a scented candle, music, homemade food, and/or flowers. Feel free to share what's on your mind, and/or answer the questions below if you like:
1. What is some thing(s) that you find comforting?
2. What's something that others find comforting, that you don't personally find so?
3. How are you doing?
Best wishes, WriteToHeal42
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1) i find hugs from my husband to be very comforting. Also when he plays with my hair. It reminds me of when I was a little kid before everything happened. I also have a stuffed tiger that I find comforting. And my favorite icecream is another comfort :)
2) A lot of people find being with their family to be comforting, but my trauma is connected to family so I can’t stand physical touch from my family.
3) this past week has been a lot better. I had one rough night with lots of nightmares and such but overall this week has been a lot easier :) being on this app helps so much.
Hi @TessaVee1008,
Those are good comforts you have :) Having things that remind you of the time before trauma, such as hairbrushing and hugs can be especially comforting too.
It's totally understandable to not find family comforting, especially when the are connected to you trauma. Stuffies and ice cream are sweet comforts.
I'm sorry to hear of the rough night of nightmares, but glad to hear the week overall was better. I'm glad too that this app is so helpful for you, and I hope it continues to be a good support for you in the future :)
Best wishes, WriteToHeal42
1. Being next to my favourite wild flowers in their habitat
2. Phonecalls. I dread hearing the sound of the phone ringing even it is from friends
3. Started working on a second memory for EMDR, many strange dreams followed. But I can finally say I feel good to wake up in the morning as I got excited over a small trip I'm planning after long months of inactivity and darkness.
Good day 🌼🌼🌼
Hi @anonyLemon4233,
Being next to your favorite wild flowers in the wild sounds very comforting. I can imagine their sweet scent and colors can ground you in the present.
That's understandable that you don't find phone calls comforting. A lot of people feel dread and anxiety when they hear the phone ringing, it seems pretty common.
Well done on starting to process a second memory in EMDR, that can be really hard to do. Yeah, dreams can be pretty strange when we process heavy memories. I'm glad to hear you are feeling good about waking up and excited about your trip. How was it? (if it has happened yet) I hope the days continue to get brighter and filled with good activity for you :)
Best wishes, WriteToHeal42
@WriteToHeal42
1. I find comfort in little things overall. Right now I'm finding it in what I mean to people close to me...
2. I can't stand the smell of a freshly mowed lawn. I also get unsettled by things that seem overly happy to me.
3. I feel lonely, selfish, and disgusting.
3.
Hi @Torean,
The little things can really make a big difference, right? Our relationships and what we mean to people close to us can really comfort and lift us up too.
That's understandable that you can't stand that smell, and that you get unsettled by those overly happy things. It's certainly not for everyone, and that's okay.
I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling lonely, selfish, and disgusting. Please remember that feelings are feelings, and are not always facts as well. I hope you get chances to feel more pleasant feelings this week.
Best wishes, WriteToHeal42
@WriteToHeal42
1. What is some thing(s) that you find comforting?
Watching familiar shows I've seen before, certain foods, warm tea, warm bath with candles or essential oils, the soft fur of a stuffed animal, cotton fabric, being validated, validating conversations, casual conversation, glitter jar, spikey ball, soup
2. What's something that others find comforting, that you don't personally find so?
Reaching out to other humans, being told it's going to be okay, being told that I'm strong, being told that I'm doing a good job, being told that people look up to me or admire me or couldn't be ask strong/wise/capable/put together as me. Music. Coloring/Drawing/Making art, being around family, dogs.
3. How are you doing?
Been better been worse.
I live on my own now: Better
My medicaid auto-enrolled me into a sub-medicaid that doesn't cover my therapist anymore: Worse
I decided with the money I'm not spending on therapy I can get more self-help books and workbooks for my disorder and do therapy at home: Better
My (now ex-) therapist's office said I might qualify for sliding scale, 90$-125$ a session. I only went 2x a month as-is because I only had 80$ to spare at 40$ a session: Worse
We've agreed to do reduction instead of abstinence as a system when it comes to alcohol, resulting in members doing less binging and heavy drinking so far: Better
Hi @DichotomousDetia,
Those are good comforting things you listed there, and it's helpful to know for when you need something like that. Having familiar show and things that use our five senses can be especially comforting, as well as being validated like you mentioned.
It's understandable you don't feel comforted by those things. Those are not always for everyone, and that's okay. You know yourself best.
I'm sorry to hear therapist isn't covered by your sub-medicaid, and that you can't afford to get as much therapy as you feel you need, that's really rough.
I'm glad to hear you're living on your own, you have enough money now to get more self-help and workbooks for yourself, and that you and the members of your system have come to a compromise that works out better for all of you. I hope that there continues to be more good things happening in life and that you find whatever you need to weather the hard parts of life :)
Best wishes, WriteToHeal42