Trauma Support Check-in: October 2nd- October 8th 2021
Progress
A common pattern amongst trauma support survivors is the expectations they have for their journey towards healing. We question ourselves and start to consciously set out on this daunting path of recovery. What do we expect at the end of it? For many, it is to reach a point where all those difficult memories won't hurt anymore. I expected that too.
Is it really like that, though?
There is this particular quote that I connect to: "We're all a work in progress, through the good days and the bad". We may never reach that perfect destination or ever completely move on from our trauma but throughout this journey, we are in it together. We make progress. We move on with our trauma and don't let it control our lives anymore.
For me, progress was when I learnt to accept that there will be days where all the memories come rushing back. There will also be days where I feel that I've finally left my past behind. My journey is a combination of those days and I don't have to meet any unrealistic expectations.
Questions:
1. What is your personal weather status(cloudy, foggy, sunny breaks etc)?
2. What does progress mean to you?
3. How has your past week been?
4. What is something you came across recently that gave you hope or inspiration?
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@cuteeeezombieeee
I love this post, it's super helpful and just so supportive 🥰 And my fav little rabbit friends!
Personal Weather status is probably rainy, with some sunny spells trying to break through.
I think progress means to me being able to see positive changes. Sometimes it may be three steps forward and two steps back, but you are always one step ahead of where you used to be.
My past week has been pretty stressful, I have been referred to social services which feels like progress depsite being scary! I think this has given me a lot of hope :)
Hope you are okay :)
@CalmCoral
Hey Coral,
Aw, glad to hear you like my post! Smh, I still call them bunnies, not rabbits😛
Rainy with sunny spells peeking through? 😮 Won't be long before we see a rainbow! The comparison was made solely to express how one kind of weather never lasts forever. It may be rainy today, sunny tomorrow and stormy the next day but it will *always* pass, sooner or later..❤️
Love your definition of progress! I agree that even when things don't seem to go our way, we're always a step ahead of where we used to be. Someone once told me "In order to relapse, you need to have a streak first". Your definition reminded me of that statement.
It certainly does sound like a stressful week. Change is always scary, regardless of whether it is good or bad. I hope social services are able to provide you with the help you deserve..
Take care
~Sierra
@CalmCoral
stupid, stupid post not let us post and we fix it all so many times. you not want us to post want perfect people who only say what you want to hear
Right now it's cloudy and foggy.
Progress to me means being able to recognize when I'm thinking negatively and to stop, breathe, and change my thoughts. I try not to dwell on the past but sometimes I can't help but be reminded.
My week has been great! I took a road trip to visit family.
Family gives me hope and inspiration to continue to do better and to be myself.
@MeeshyRB
Hey Meeshy,
Cloudy and foggy certainly sounds hard. The fog sure does make it difficult to see clearly, doesn't it? I hope the clouds clear out soon and let the sun shine through..
Your definition of progress is quite unique! Just remember that being able to arrive at a stage where you consciously work towards changing your thoughts is *progress* in itself. It's okay to be reminded of the past at times. It's a reminder of how strong you are for surviving it all..
It sounds like your family means a lot to you! I hope they continue to support and inspire you on your journey towards healing❤️
Take care
~Sierra
@cuteeeezombieeee
1. What is your personal weather status(cloudy, foggy, sunny breaks etc)?
Not sure what you mean by personal weather, but it's supposedly nice today.
2. What does progress mean to you?
Functioning like a normal human :D
3. How has your past week been?
Wacky, long, and draining. Better now though
4. What is something you came across recently that gave you hope or inspiration?
Learning a technique to get to sleep by saying/thinking "my bed is so comfy, these blankets/sheets are so soft, my pillow is so fluffy" stuff like that. It works really well to ground yourself and make you feel safe.
@ShapeshiftSystem
Hey Shape,
By personal weather, I simply asked "how are you?" haha. The metaphor was applied to express how the same kind of weather doesn't last forever..❤️
I agree that simply fighting through every day is progress! You don't have to meet those expectations of acting like a "normal human". The definition of normal has been distorted by our view of a world where people constantly have to pretend and hide their struggles..
Sounds like a difficult week *offers hugs if comfortable*. Good to hear you're feeling better now..
Definitely going to try that new technique! Grounding oneself in the moment is a fundamental aspect of feeling safe.
Take care and I hope you've a better week coming up
~Sierra
@cuteeeezombieeee
Hi, I hope you are doing alright. Thank you for the next nice post/topic for us all in here. It is very kind of you.
Sure do wish we could have some color font in here. We would like that very much. It would be hard for everyone to decide on a color for us all now but we want some color font.
think we copied your questions. will see..... ahh they came up....we did....thank you
1. What is your personal weather status(cloudy, foggy, sunny breaks etc)? story/clouly for most of us
2. What does progress mean to you? a hope of it being better for our host and some of us helping her
3. How has your past week been? know there was lots of personal financial business worked on by our host who is very good at that. She got some where with some very challenging hurried things. It has been very stressful for her and for some of us trying to help her. It has been frightening lately for her and the rest of us, even the 2 little ones. We are all very worried.
4. What is something you came across recently that gave you hope or inspiration? we can think of 3 things. 1) your other nice post 2) a post by Marcelo 3) your nice post here.
can we please have some color to pick from--not this blah black color font. We want color. we each like our own colors and we like different ones at different times. we would like some color to pick from please.
@cuteeeezombieeee
I really like this check-in thread. It hits me right in the gut. Real true points to ponder over.
Questions:
1. What is your personal weather status(cloudy, foggy, sunny breaks, etc)? I would have to say, It feels like I am in a storm. riding the angry waves being tossed to and fro the waves thrashing against my boat and me hanging on for dear life. Yet I know if I can just weather this storm I will be alright. This storm has to pass.
2. What does progress mean to you? Progress to me means being able to look back and see my footprints from where I came from. I measure my progress by the thoughts in my head sometimes. the ability to see tangible results.
3. How has your past week been? pretty low key and uneventful
4. What is something you came across recently that gave you hope or inspiration? making sleeping mats for the homeless out of grocery bags.
@scarletPear1945
Hey Scarlet,
I see you've written a detailed description of your "personal weather status". Personally, noting down my feelings this way really helps as it can be hard to describe emotions. Keeping hope- even through the hardest of times is something I really admire in you.. In your own words, the storm *has* to pass. The storm *will* pass.
Measuring progress by your thoughts sounds like an awesome way to be able to observe how far you've come! We are all working to get better, bit by bit, every day..
Helping others in whatever way possible and seeing the smile on their faces is heartwarming and inspiring. I want to take a moment to appreciate this gesture of yours towards the homeless. As someone who has personally struggled with homelessness, I know how much it means to them❤️
Take care
~Sierra
@cuteeeezombieeee
thank you
How are you today?
Thank you for creating a space where we can safely share our struggles. 🙏❤️
My weather today is cloudy. My insomnia has been very bad for the past few months and it's been really tough to get a handle on it.
I'm not sure about progress other than I want to stop being frozen in my life from these events in my past. I'm also trying to deal with why as I'm getting older it's getting more difficult to manage my health regarding trauma... I would think time would help but it really hasn't I'm finding out.
My past week has been crappy. My social assistance suddenly ended so I'm scrambling to see what disability benefits are available to me and my family. Also my daughter has been sick which compounds everything else. Under lots of pressure...
7 cups is giving me hope. I've been here for a few days, as a member my chats have been ok but I do have a scheduled one this evening that I am really looking forward to. To be honest I've completely fallen in love with the listener-side of the program... instead of self-medicating with my addiction I'd rather connect with another person like me and hold space for them and validate their feelings. It's been a beautiful gift that I cherish and am looking forward to expand my skills to offer better sessions.
Thank you again for providing me with a safe space to share my journey. ❤️
@sensitiveSea852
Hey Sea,
The insomnia must be hard to deal with *sending comfort* From your definition of progress, it sounds like you're struggling to move on with your trauma. I know that feeling where we just want to feel in control. Always remember- your trauma consists of certain events that *affected* you, your trauma is not *you*. We embark on this journey expecting that time will heal everything, but it doesn't. Time teaches us how to cope better with the pain. Time teaches us how to live with the pain.
Certainly sounds like a stressful week. Your daughter's sickness on top of everything must be so overwhelming. *hoping for her quick recovery*
I'm glad to hear 7Cups has been a source of hope for you. I hope the scheduled chat went well!
I look forward to seeing you bloom into an amazing listener. I would like to share one of my favourite quotes on listening- "With the gift of listening comes the gift of healing"
Best wishes
~Sierra
@cuteeeezombieeee
1. I. Almost always cloudy, and I am right now. Maybe a bit stormy. I feel interesting.
2. Progress means never stagnating in my mind. I always have to be learning and spending some of my focus on creating things, bettering myself, having fun, and enriching the lives of others.
3. I have been in both the worst and best mindsets ever this past week. Overall, I'm glad to have been through most of it.
4. I met up with a friend from out of state for dinner. I've probably been inspired to a lot of good things lately, but his take on things helps me a lot. We think a lot alike, and he came up with a good suggestion that I really hope works.
@Torean
Hey Torean,
Sounds like the weather hasn't been on your side lately. *sending beams for the storm to pass and the clouds to clear away*
Your definition of progress is interesting. The term stagnating can go both ways. As in moving forwards and falling back. Even when we do take a few steps back, we're always ahead of where we once used to be. We are never stuck in one position❤️. I love how you see it as working on yourself and being involved in the lives of others at the same time.
The past week has been something like a rollercoaster, huh? There were highs and lows and I'm proud of you for making it out.
I'm glad to hear this friend is a source of inspiration for you. Finding someone who thinks alike can be immensely helpful in figuring out how to tackle problems in a way that works for you.
Take care
~Sierra
@cuteeeezombieeee Hey :)
1. What is your personal weather status(cloudy, foggy, sunny breaks etc)? Right now I guess it's after a big storm. It's still windy - the water still pretty rough but for the moment I have survived
2. What does progress mean to you? I guess allowing myself to see the small steps that are being taken and not being so hard on myself when things don't go right
3. How has your past week been? There were a few rough spots but things are alittle better. There's things I'm learning - things that brought better understanding
4. What is something you came across recently that gave you hope or inspiration? Theres people I talk to here - I see how hard they're trying to overcome things and I admire how hard they're trying to get where they want to be. The roles that they take here to help others and it makes me want to do better
Thank you for the checkin! Take care :)
@mytwistedsoul
Hey Soul,
Sounds like the aftermath of the storm is yet to pass. Nevertheless, the most important thing to remember is *you* survived. The storm has passed, the winds will move on and the water will calm down.
Your definition of progress has to be one of my favourite ones! It's vital to think of every small step as important. Each of those small steps are part of a larger breakthrough.
I'm glad you see the rough spots as a learning experience. They are indeed freaking hard to get through but in the process of coping, we learn so much about ourselves..
It's amazing how you view other's strengths as a source of empowerment for yourself. One of the things I love about the 7Cups community- we empower each other. ❤️
Take care
~Sierra
@cuteeeezombieeee
1. What is your personal weather status(cloudy, foggy, sunny breaks etc)?..... Its actually been really beautiful over the past week, however, today, it turned cloudy & rainy. And even though I taught my Fitness class early this morning, since then its been an awesome "DO-NOTHING" Kind of day!
2. What does progress mean to you? .....Progress to me, means seeing my hard work pay off. Seeing myself "get ahead" & accomplishing & succeeding at the goals that I have set for myself to achieve.
3. How has your past week been?..... The past week has been really amazing. My hubby & I just took a little "Stay-cation" at home from things. Attended a few local Fall Festivals, and lots of Self-care time doing things we enjoy.
4. What is something you came across recently that gave you hope or inspiration? .....To be honest, its this time of year. I love this time of the year, Fall weather, Seasonal change, the holidays ahead in the air. It always gives me renewed hope, faith and inspiration.
I love this post, thank you for sharing. The bunnies are cute!