Stress Center Peer Support

Every now and then, I "re-live" situations in the past (many happened over 10 years ago) where someone tried to take away my dignity. I guess the reason I experience these is there is something I have not processed. It sounds weird, but sometimes I wake up at night and as soon as I awaken, a memory will come to mind and I'll actually start talking like I'm experiencing the situation again. I'm meditating and journaling and that is helping a little. Any other suggestions? Has anyone else experienced this?

Oh yes! Many times throughout my lifetime! If I still feel upset by something, it will come up while I am in the shower..and I feel ANGRY!! How dare they try to hurt me and steal my dignity!! WHO ARE THEY?! I actually start talking and yelling outloud like I would if they were in my face! Thank God I do that when noone is home! I used to feel like this was a bad thing, a CRAZY thing to do. I felt so much shame and horror about it. Little by little I started to talk about it with someone...then I found out they do it on differing levels, too! I then found the courage to talk to my, then, counselor and she told me that it was a very theraputic thing. I was releasing steam about it, processing it so to speak. After talking about it with others, the next time this happened, I wasn't as ashamed. I started thinking about what I said and how I felt after it was all done...so I could see why I needed to do that and what I needed to see to let go of. Sometimes I find a will do a situation over and over until I've gotten through all the layers of healing to let that issue go.

After saying all that...is that what you are talking about?

This is good posting. I sometimes wonder which is therapeutic and which isn't. I was just reading about "raging" in my anxiety book, I think, it could have been another source. But they say that raging or being angry doesn't disipate after expressing yourself. It seems to make the brain more addicted to it.

Maybe this was on Dr OZ the other day, when a guy was on to help with relaxation techniques and calming the brain with breathing methods and thoughts about the "physical heart" and then thankfulness thoughts. The guy's name is Depak or something like that.

Anyway, I'll recheck what I recorded from TV. So I guess from what Lucinda says and others, it is good to talk about what is bothering you, to yourself or a trusted and qualified person. Also, to work on letting go of it the best you can so that you can feel your mind with good thoughts that are more peaceful and productive.