This Healing Mindset That Helps Overcome Trauma Symptoms

As much as I try to imagine life without trauma or try to believe I will make it through this.. I literally can't. I really try too.

I don't know what else to do.

Regarding the spinning wheel metaphor; as someone who was very compassionate as a child and was the shoulder to cry on for other kids, the strength of that spinning wheel just pulled me under. All my trying to help did not accomplish anything.
The same way that lifeguards know that people who are drowning try to grasp at anything and can end up drowning someone else; other people can intuitively (or by experience) tell that when you're in that dis-regulated state and looking for support, you may just end up pulling everyone under. They can't help until you snap out of that feral mode.
It is not that other people don't care about you or desperately want to help you. People care a lot! I just wanted to give that clarification in case someone reading this feels alone. Sending a big hug to anyone out there who needs it.

When I first started therapy years ago, my therapist said: 'Well, I see you made yourself pretty comfortable in your misery.' Of course, I didn't like this and thought how stupid from her. But after a while I found out, she wasn't so wrong. Somehow it felt easier to stay where I was and not constantly trying and trying without seeing immediate progress.

Writing what frightens & makes you angry or sad is one of the best things you can ever do for yourself. writing lets you "scream" on paper, even if you cannot do so with your voice, for whatever reason. Same with meditation, if you can't do it, at least pray either out loud, or in your mind, or on paper. Remember, no one has to see or read what you write. it's for you to get those feelings out.. when there's no one you can talk to, it's a way of releasing the feelings that you can do any time you get the chance. in fact, write exactly how you feel & rip it up later if you think someone may read it & do something because you wrote not nice things about them. Writing helps you get it out of your head, so you can calm & begin to think in a way that helps. Talking when upset or talking too much is not always the best way to calm. Get writing & get your life back, one word, one sentence, at a time.

Excellent, excellent post. Thank you. "Recognizing your own agency." Perfect.

“Night Terrors” could this be a symptom of PCSTD or is it really a sleep disorder?

Trying so desperately to heal from my husband walking out on our 2 daughters and me a couple of weeks ago.
Unfortunately he's still living in the same building, so I've had watch him be around but actively neglect and ignore us, as tho we're all invisible or just don't exist
It's so triggering and keeps the wounds open, allowing them to grow even deeper.

Omg this is amazing thank u so so much...I was trapped in self pity and hopelessness now I believe i stand a chance

Wonderful advice! I can so relate!! I find grattitude to be a good practice to stop the wheel. I can't always remember to do it or feel like doing it, but it helps when I do. I also love the beauty of trees. Trees are like my friends. :) They're just tall, still, un-concerned with little human issues, and the shade feels good in FL summers. I like meditating / picnicking under beautiful old oak trees.

Really loved this video! I have been stuck on the wheel for years, and stuck in my trauma. When I finally opened up about what happened to me it's all I could speak about. I just kept getting stuck talking about it, answering questions about it, and reliving it! Once I moved out of speaking about it incessantly, I was able to begin my healing journey! I'm very much a work in progress, but I feel like I'm FINALLY making progress!!! Great video!

Such important, meaningful messages in this video!

Hello! Today is the day I coubcuously start healing
I will take it day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute
I go ti a therapist,in september will be two years, and I can say that it has ups and downs but you must see hiw far you ve come how much you've healed because evolution means expansion
I hope I will get iut if my head, I end linerance and get over depression
And it all started with a boy,because of him I started this self healing journey
We don t meet people by chance
Trauma is hard words can really hurt so be a better person
Be kind also with yourself

I was abused for two years in my childhood by a family friend. My moms dad is a functioning alcoholic with a business, and my moms closest friend is a meth addicted business owner.. see the parallel 🤷‍♀️🙅‍♀️. All I can do is exist most days because I have no say… life… ha. I shouldn’t complain, maybe my mom is just ungrateful.. but it hurts me so much.

I'm stuck.

Really needed this today

Healing mind set? What I am broke with no education to speak of no connections or real friends no hope of any kind job or career just at mercy of other people great.

I'm the second kind. My mom is the first kind. That's heart breaking for me.

thank you so very much, I have lived with cptsd all my life, I understand so much of all you say, my biggest mountain to travel is overcoming the guilt and loss of my 2 children from suicide and not being able to be reached or reach them also to stop the wheel with the son I have left and my granddaughter. Your videoes have helped so very very much, I've been a single mother of 3 children with various relationships did not work, I know nearly all the senerios one can go through, am now going to be 61 this month and my hope is to help the ones I have left and myself to overcome and be a family again, its been a long road of searching and am greatful I found you!!! Bless you Anna

Dear Anna, this video is pure liquid gold. What you are doing in general with this channel and with your content is so hugely valuable and is always so spot on. Every last word resonated here; you get it. Please continue to produce more messaging around this very crucial transition stage and the “moving on” / moving into the journey of healing and freedom. On behalf of this community of your followers, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. 🙏

Yes I agree, the last thing you want to do is be re traumatised. ❤️

How do I talk to people when I feel like it always goes to an obsession of mine like personality types something I got into so I could imagine what friends were.

I did Somatic Experiencing therapy to heal much of the childhood trauma. I still have two triggers but I know what they are when it happens. I am much better than I used to be - I was constantly dysregulated. Even though, small whispers come and and I have a new realization of something else that I need to heal. Lately, it is relationships - I have so much difficulty with keeping in touch with family and friends. I constantly think that nobody wants to hear from me.

Where do we send our letters for you to read and respond? Do you make videos for all the letters you get?

Do you see it ? DO YOU SEE IT ? CAN YOU SEE IT ! Laughed so hard ! Thank tou for that vidéo !

Anna, your videos are changing my life. It’s taken a month of DP but this morning it happened-a breakthrough. This morning a hurtful comment that would have triggered an angry response and ruined the entire day had no power over me- I recognized that it was my husband’s opinion, not the TRUTH, and can now accept that we are very different people with different values and goals for our lives. I’m not sure what the future holds, and the current situation is dicey, but I trust this process, I feel hope for the first time in my life. Thank you!

I want to change but don’t know how. But want it so badly

You are so rigtht but until I saw your videos I didn't understand the dysregulation and the magical thinking. Therapists made me feel damage forever and I crap fit in every areas of my life.

♡♡♡♡

I don’t want to talk about the past at all. I want to figure out what’s holding me back right now. I want to move forward.

So, not being able to see a future is part of this! Wow! No wonder I've never been one able to create a 5-yr plan... As a newby here, I'm very relieved to hear the statements about the future at the very beginning of so many comments. Just learning that is a gift! TY, Anna. And TY to all of you who took the time to share a comment on this post. Your experiences help expose, as well as validate, the peculiar signs and markers of my own CPTSD. As I listen to you, Anna, and read others' notes, it becomes obvious to me that some of the previously curious, unexplainable and seemingly unconnected stuff in me is actually part and parcel of my chidhood experiences. I wonder if CPTSD might explain some ADHD and a few OCD tendencies as well. We are so perfectly created, adaptable and strong, yet intensely fragile as children. Again, TY, Anna, and thank you everyone who gives of themselves to help others on this path to healing and a better life. 🌟🦋

I love Anna you have literally been the biggest blessing

Oh mah gaaaaaahd Anna did it again! I've spent the last few years just talking and gabbing and analyzing every little thing about my past and getting nowhere 🙃 sometimes it helps but ok, then shush up and take some action... thanks Fairy!!!🥰🥰🥰

okay but to reach the stage of letting go of the story only comes after a lot of venting and if someone is given space for all that venting apart from just our therapist cos we want our pain to be acknowledged and seen. letting go can also only happen after a good amount of healing??? so sure we can do the letting go and i believe i can heal but we have to be allowed to, how am I supposed to break the wheel on my own that sounds cruel to me

I don't know where or how to start.

Why am I crying while watching this lol

No blame they were more sick then me I excuse people because they are sick it is what it is @lorraineamicothemakeupartist

I feel like my future has died the minute I was assaulted

Anne , I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, I simply started by doing the Daily Practice religiously, I was amazed from the first day that I started I began to see a tremendous change with in my mind/body, being able to recognize when I am dis-regulating,doing the The Daily Practice no matter where I am, (I'll write on my leg in the car, if I have to), never knew talking incessantly about all my trauma and pain was a part of the problem...stepped back from talk therapy-had been triggered 3 times in a year by my therapists. Thank you there is HOPE!!

I agree…ruminating does not help anything.

What kind am I? We were conditioned not to talk about it?

Am at that stage where I repulsed even the closest people to me my siblings, my therapist. I resent them for not being there for me, I'm soo isolated that I'm a failure with no hope, that life will always reject me. No support, no hope.

I cant get to the online quiz! Its supposed to send something to my email but I didnt get anything

It was so hard to imagine the symptoms going away from the 70% - you lost me 😢

I find myself at 44 years old ashamed of my past. All the mistakes and people I hurt. The fantasy I've created in my head. I'm seeing a therapist tomorrow, interestingly enough I will have to borrow money for the session. Maybe the universe is telling me how important this is to ask for help.

I have decided something today.
My 25th birthday is in 6 months. Which is around 180 days.
I will use each day to move forward. Forget the past me. And let time heal me

Thank you ..

....amazing 🙏🏽🙏🏽

I am doing everything I can to change. However, the people around me aren't and my efforts feel in vain. I'm facing possible homelessness because of horrible neighbors and landlord situation and it's making me learn how to swim in shark infested waters. Basically, my landlord wants me to be perfect while just letting my neighbors here abuse me all they want. Moving isn't an option for me, I'm unemployed and flat broke. I don't need to be in a prison, my life is one. Yay. 😞