Showing posts with label emdr. Show all posts
Showing posts with label emdr. Show all posts

7/21/10

Whoaaaaa Trigger

Roy Rogers and his horse Trigger
This week has been full of em...Triggers that is.
I started EMDR last week. I think it's going to be a good tool in my recovery. The first session was mostly work setting a base line and finding my most CORE issue...you know, the Grudge-y one.
Turns out my worst one, that clawing, freaky grey-colored skin with dark eyes and dark haired one is a sense of belonging.
I don't belong.
Just typing that makes it hard to breathe.
This trigger is definitely an 8 or 9 on the SUDS scale.

While we were talking, I also noticed the "I should've/shouldn't have done/said" something reference being a pretty strong trigger.
Last week I offered some unsolicited advice to a co-worker. I thought about it before hand, approached the person cautiously and asked permission prior...and was well received...
But I still had a hard time fighting the urge to binge.
Worse yet, at each milestone of beating the binge (read: each drive-through I did NOT go through), the ugly feeling became stronger and the thoughts of failure more ominous.
THAT was very frustrating
Beating my demons is supposed to be empowering dammit!
By the time I got home I felt so small...and I didn't even eat! *sigh*

Last night I challenged a grade I received on a writing assignment.
I felt my points were valid. I worded my challenge respectfully. I felt as though my questions deserved an answer.

But after I hit send (it was a response to an email), I felt doom and gloom.
"You should't have said that."
"You don't have the right to question authority"

I ate
I didn't binge
but I did treat myself to some graham crackers with pb and jelly that I wasn't really hungry for
so I soothed with food

This morning I woke up and felt like it COULD be a binge day.
I talked with my hub about it.
We shared similar stories.
It made me feel good to know he understands.

I got a response from my professor today.
We agree to disagree...
...but I did get a higher grade ;)

I'm glad I said something.
A friend of mine said,
"Wow, I'm proud of you for saying something. I would've just taken the lower grade then complained about the teacher."
This is true.
I am glad that I acted from my belief "better to ask and know then say nothing and always wonder."

I'm not sure how I feel about the end result.
Don't read that wrong...I'm very glad the outcome of my challenge was a re-evaluation of my grade.
I still don't know what to do with my feelings about "challenging authority."
Those still loom.
I still don't know what to do with my feelings about "winning" the challenge.
Those loom even larger.

So I write them down...
I'll bring them to therapy...
I will not eat them.

But if I do, I'll at least understand why.

xxoo

6/24/10

Things that make me feel GOOD

In two weeks I start EMDR. Part of my preparations is to list at least one way (per day) that I made my heart 'gush.'

Heart gush comes from my "Always remember..." notebook that I started when I first met my husband.
It's a simple little notebook where I write one liners that remind me of times my hub made my heart gush with love for him. Little books like this are necessary because it's easier to get hung up on piddly little things that make you mad at times.

So my counselor charged me with writing down things that I do for myself that make my heart gush
I haven't written any...I've thought of some but haven't taken the time to put pen to paper
so I'm putting pad to key

  • I chose NOT to battle with my son about a napkin
  • I bought amazingly fantastically funky curtains for the living room
  • I sang my birthday song LOUD in the living room on my birthday while dancing like a happy me
  • I painted the 2nd coat on the living room walls...it feels so nummy in there with the great colors
  • I LOVE MY decorating style :)
  • I've been dressing more 'babsy' lately
So the running theme is I've been letting my creativity flow
I notice tunes humming through my head (and out my lips) more often now and lyrics dancing around my brain...earworms planted years ago only to resurface as I sweep the floor or re-tie a bow so it's "just so."
I even dabbed a dot of patchouli on each wrist and behind my ears

Huh, whodathought that being myself would make my heart gush
now THAT phrase just made me chuckle
Miss AuthentiCity :)

6/23/10

Acceptance

I haven't written in a while
Can't really explain why
Some of the reasons I write are

  • to avoid a binge
  • to work through a feeling
  • to document a breakthrough
  • to have a place to dump what's in my brain
Guess I haven't really needed any of those things lately
Which...can be seen as a good thing :-)

I turned 38 this past weekend
No, I don't feel any older

We're getting closer to the finishing touches on the living room...I'm am uber excited about this fact
My 'design' self has had a chance to flex her idea muscles and it feels glorious

I've come to a place of acceptance with my size

It's not a bad thing
or an "I'm settling thing"
It's just where I am
It doesn't bother me to buy bottoms that are XL or to start with L tops rather than Mediums
(mind you...I'm talking summer clothes here, not an entire wardrobe of shopping)
I even bought a bathing suit without thinking or blinking twice.
Acceptance is good

“Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.” William James


I start a new kind of therapy next week ...and I'm back to group this week too (due to a hiatus at school).
I am quite excited about the new form of therapy...it's mostly used with those who suffer from PTSD and should be able to help me unlock the disconnect between my brain and my good monster. Yes, I'm still nervous about it...but as my therapist said last week, "You've already lived through it, so you don't have to be afraid."

School is to Food still exists
This week it crept up on me because I FORGOT that I have a Monday night class 
so I didn't have time to fret about it
our campus has moved...so there is no fast food between work and school (bonus)
and hopefully this new therapy will help me unlock the 'is to' portion and move on

These days, I'm feeling good
Marriage is good
Family is good
House is good

Nothing is perfect...and that is good

Ahhh I've missed writing
I look forward to reading your thoughts

more soon...off to finish painting a wall
xo