SAFE what does it look like?

PTSD has a way of intrusive mannerisms when it is just plain inconvenient! So? How can we help manage and potentially bring resolution to these triggering and painful memories or thoughts? What is it that can invite a peace into the moments where past traumatic episodes re-enter our minds and bring the feeling as if it were only now just taking place for the very first time?

There are several therapeutic approaches, let me give you a few here. I am not endorsing or condemning any of these approaches, and you will have to consider your own unique circumstances, and see how to move forward toward healing.

EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This approach seeks to help those with PTSD to make sense of what they experienced. This, as the name might suggest attempts to bring the focus on the trauma in their mind with the expectation to help reduce pain and other trauma. This is unique, and uses finger movements (almost like a Horizontal gaze nystagmus which cause involuntary jerking of the eye for impaired drivers) for the individual with PTSD to follow with their eyes. As this intervention continues, the individual should be able to think about the trauma, which will help them focus on the here and now as well.

Written Narrative Exposure: The client writes about the trauma, sort of like journaling, thoughts, emotions, experiences. The therapist will give the individual a writing assignment, with a set understanding of timeframe to complete it. Once this has been done, the therapist and individual can discuss the emotions, and other feelings (Guilt, shame, freedom, joy, pain, anger, etc.) which were prompted through the writing assignment.

Narrative Exposure Therapy: The person with PTSD begins the session by relating a story which is based on a stressful event which took place in their life. The individual with PTSD must relay a stressful event, as well as some other positive experiences (from the same story if possible). This is designed to help the individual understand the process of what he or she went through, and also begin to process those experiences differently. The counselor will offer some written document to remind the them of the process, progress, and forward ability to move ahead with new tools.

Again, I am not endorsing or condemning any of these measures for seeking support and hope in your life, you will have to walk the journey, find appropriate healing interventions and learn how to process such intrusive thoughts, painful reoccurrences of past memories on your own, with others in your circle of trust to help come along side of you.

Why have I brought these approaches up? These are not exhaustive, as there are many other approaches. What works for you, may not work for someone else, and just because it may not work for you now (depending on where you are on the journey) it doesn’t mean it may not work for you later on down the road as your healing journey continues.

Okay, so now we have some interventional approaches which may or may not interest you, but don’t give up - your journey isn’t over and you are on your way to being and feeling safe from those moments of hypervigilance, painful memories which creep in uninvited, and other reactive measure your body may take to protect you.

Being safe, and feeling safe are not the same necessarily. Did you catch that? If you are safe, sitting in your house, the birds are singing, you are enjoying your favorite book by Brian Selznick and things are going well, you are most likely safe, in a safe place, and doing safe things. However, the intrusive nature of trauma knows no timing other than bad timing to knock on the proverbial door of your heart and mind and declare loudly and abruptly “I’M COMING IN NO MATTER IF YOU WANT ME TO OR NOT!”

What? Where did that come from? Why does this happen and can those approaches listed above really help me to grow and challenge the invasive nature of the trauma?

Triggers are interesting, and if, as in Written-Narrative Therapy you are able to write down things, it may bring about an AH HA moment for you where you see some connections between smells, sights, words in a book, or noises and the intrusive thoughts from trauma which enter your brain. Does that make sense?

Let’s consider smells - I enjoy a fragrant whiff from time-to-time of a cigar scent floating through the air, it reminds me happily of my Pépère, who has passed away several years ago now. This is a pleasant reminder for me, and yet also a moment of sadness because he is not with me anymore.

What smells are good for you? Spaghetti, pizza, broccoli (umm, never mind the broccoli comment)… What smells bring you thoughts and memories of grief and trauma? We all have something that triggers a response. We need to continuously learn to reprocess those. It is difficult, I know, but as we learn, and apply new tactics and healthy tools in our lives - it is possible!

I will always turn you (and me) to Jesus. A song that I deeply enjoy is called, Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Here are some of the lyrics -

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace

O soul are you weary and troubled
No light in the darkness you see
There's light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free

(Helen Lemmel).

Is your soul weary and troubled? Look full into the wonderful face of Jesus, and the troubles and things of this world will grow strangely dim, they will disappear.

Keep pressing on, and know this, in the Savior’s embrace, you are more than safe - you are loved, comforted, and healing is awaiting.

Be strengthened in the journey my friends,