Traumatic Experiences Community Daily Check-in Wednesday 4th April 2018
Hi Trauma Family
, when going through a traumatic period or recovering from a traumatic event, we look for support from our friends family and peers etc. However, support (comfort,encouragement, inspiration) can also manifest through "creative means". For example a friend commented that the song "Don't give up" by Kate Bush and Peter Gabrielle had brought her great comfort in her darkest times. The well know singer Adel is known for her heartfelt songwriting, and as a result many have felt comforted by her songs.
How about books? "The Colour Purple" written by Alice Walker explores themes such as child abuse, domestic violence, empowerment and liberation. This book has strengthened many over the years.
Have you watched the film The Matrix (1)? I first watched this film in 1999. There is something about the last scene of this film that I found strangely comforting. In this scene Neo (the main character played by Keanu Reeves) died. His oppressors had succeeded in killing him and you think that it is all over, but then he comes back to life. This time when the "Agents" (baddies) try and kill him he is far more powerful than before, and he easily overcomes them. Neo now know's who he is (his identity), and now the Agents (baddies) have to acknowledge who he is. Acknowledging that he is strong, resilliant, and powerful! I just love this scene, because it's about "fighting back" overcoming those who try to destroy you, and stepping into your identity.
How about poetry? one of my favourite poems is by Maya Angelo "Still I rise", here is a verse from this poem;
You may shoot me with your words
You many cut me with your eyes
You may kill me with your hatefullnesss
But still like air I rise.
So how about you? As you walk on your road to recovery are their songs, books, TV series, films, music, artwork, poetry etc that has inspired you or provided you with comfort, encouragement or strength along the way? If so what impact did this have on you?
How has your day been? this is a your place a safe space
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My name is Heather and Im 33
a little over over two weeks ago I was a passanger involved in a almost fatal car crash when a woman ran a red light crashing into my friends car as we drove through an intersection.
Its crazy how life can completed change in a matter of seconds.
Its been about 10 days since the crash happened and Im grateful to be alive but, the ptsd and my injuries have been intense. My family and friends dont seem to understand how traumatic this has been for me but literally its changed my life forever.
My right knee is injured pretty badly, Ive been on crutches unable to walk due to swelling and what is believed to be a torn meniscus. I have constant pain in my shoulders neck and back. Riding in a car especially going through intersections causes so much stress and anxiety.
My emotions are all over the place and crying constantly. I just feel so alone in my struggle to overcome and Im battle through recovery.
@Passionatebeyez
Hi Heather, so sorry to hear about your near fatal car crash. You mentioned that your PTSD and injuries have been intense, and that your emotions are "all over the place". This car crash has been traumatizing for you, and It will take time to recover from the emotional and physical impact of this crash. Are you getting support for PTSD?, and can your doctor suggest any options in terms of pain relief? I know you feel alone right now in your battle to overcome, but we are standing with you. Sending hugs your way
@Amandisa16 I have some of the best doctors treating my injuries. Its the emotional side of things that I am now battling through.
My physical pain will be present for a while as my recovery is far from over. Managing the ptsd and emotional state are the battle.
@Passionatebeyez here is a link to our Community Resources Page https://www.7cups.com/home/trauma/#resources. Here you will find more information about the support you can receive from the Traumatic Experiences Community. We have resources on grounding techniques, discussions on PTSD, support sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays. There are lots of different trauma forums were you can share your story and receive support .
@Passionatebeyez
You have been through something so scary and yes, your life has forever been changed. First let me give you a BIG HUG!!!! Next, let me say everything you're feeling is normal. Last, you survived for a reason! And I am very glad you did!!! As you recover physically and emotionally, please know you are NOT alone and you have every right to feel and grieve. And it was scary!!!!!! I hope this site and hopefully a caring counselor can help you move forward. There's no rush or time frame for dealing with what happened. HUG!!!! Also, I'll be praying for you! God protected you and I hope you are able to turn to Him and feel His comfort. One more BIG HUG!!!
hey lovely trauma family <3
on my way to recover i ve come across many things that inspired me.
poetry has helped me a lot. There are many poetry books that helped me to fight and made me feel understood.
also music. music always made me feel comfortable and understood and calm (it still does!) :)
How is everyone doing? Hope you are all having a good day. <3 <3 much love
@Hope3729
Hi Hope, I love the fact that reading poetry has "helped you to fight" and made you feel understood. Music is extremely calming, and can be extremely grounding. You said that music also made you feel understood, do you mean through songwriting? or just by identifying with the lyrics of a song?
@Amandisa16 both. first i only listened to songs but now i have already written many songs and they help me a lot to express my emotions :)
@Hope3729
Hope it's great that through this gift of songwriting, that you now feel free to express yourself emotionally.
@Amandisa16 Hello everyone :)
I think that today is a good day. I got loads of stuff done, went to work, even arranged two meetings with friends and other students from my university, that I don't know yet.
To cope with my trauma I started to write. I still write up to thisday and it really helped me with coping.
I also used theatre and musicals to cope. By both preforming and watching them.
@sincerePark336
YES!!! Music and theatre is a major way for me also!!!!! What's one of your favorite shows? ❤️🎭
@sincerePark336
Hi Sincere well done for getting so much stuff done today! You sound very organised! I'm trying to become more organised now, actually using the calendar on my phone!
So pleased to hear that writing, watching/performing in musical and theatre have helped you to cope with trauma. I don't know what is about musicals, when I was younger I watched West Side Story nearly every day after school! I think Musicals have a power to transport you into another place, and to bring some joy.
I should start this off by saying I have 3 very young siblings.
There is a song in Moana when she realizes the lava monster is actual the beautiful goddess who had her heart stolen.
"They have stolen the heart from inside you
But this does not define you
This is not who you are
You know who you are"
And the lyrics kind of remind me of myself. Kind of embarrassed I quoted a Disney cartoon. 😂
@DakotahWasHere
Not embarrassing at all !!!!! Disney is amazing and they touch my heart to!! I cry at Bambi and Dumbo and I LOVE "Lady & the Tramp" ❤️❤️❤️
@DakotahWasHere
Hi Dakota, don't be embarrassed! I am a certain age yet I love the Disney film frozen and the song "Let it Go" !
Love these lyrics "They have stolen the heart from inside you, but this does not define you. you know who you are"
Thank you for sharing this, these words are so powerful.
@DakotahWasHere
I actually sang that song for our last karaoke event! If you go dig around the forums you can find it lol. That
@Amandisa16 The things that I've always loved where those things that addressed the types of issues I had. Most of the time when you look up songs about abuse or whatnot you find it mostly focuses on emotional and physical. It's always the father who gets physical, and the mother is trying to protect the child. It took a long time to find songs that addressed my issues, but eventually, I found two songs one is called Daddy's Girl by The Scorpions and the other is If Her Tears Were Stars by Colleen Laylon. Another thing I love is Ellen Hopkins for her books about teenagers and adults dealing with relationship issues, drugs, anything that happens in the world. I love her book Identical which is about two twins living in a house with their parents, and the mother never wants to be home, and the father is looking for the love he has lost. He does this by looking for it with his one daughter. It reminds me of my childhood. The only poetry I have ever really put as my favorites were Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" and a poem with an author not many are sure about, but they wrote "Cutter's Lullaby". I don't relate to those, I just really love them. I don't know about movies that much, but I do like the anime Higurashi: When They Cry. It deals with family issues and abuse in the midst of all the other craziness going on.
Anyway, this day is good so far, cold, but good.
@FangsInsanity
Thank you for sharing so openly from your heart. HUG!!!! You seem like a very strong person ❤️❤️
@KLM3278 Thank you. :D
@FangsInsanity
Hi Fang 😀, yes there's always more impact, when the song you listen to or the books you read address your issues. Glad that the songs, poetry and books were a help to you. I have not heard these songs before but will definately google them! The Ellen Hopkins books sound really good too. It must make such a difference when your situation is reflected in this way, comforting.
I'm glad you've had a good day, and thanks for sharing💗
@Amandisa16 good afternoon everybody :)
For me reading always has been a way to escape to a different world, I've always been reading a lot, well my favourite genre is horror, but I read nearly everything, even Jane Austen...
Music is really important for me, it's kind kind of an outlet out all the pain and anger I'm not able to really express and keep inside of me... So well, my favourite music actually doesn't fit me, I'm a calm and shy person, but I love Metal 🤘 😁 more precisely Death Metal, Thrash Metal and some kinds of New Metal, if anybody can imagine what this is about 😋 well, I could discuss music for hours, so I better stop now, but yeah, music means a lot to me and helps me when I can't handle my emotions...
Hope you're all having a good day 💕🐇
@courteousNorth5140 hey hey!
this sounds great! :) reading helps a lot to escape from the reailty and to calm down and to take a break from all the chaos in the world :P
and i completely understand that listening to metal music helps to exoress the anger, i listen to metal sometimes aswell and it helps everytime :) wish you a great day and take care!
@Hope3729 hey!
I think all of the things mentioned, if books, music, films or poetry, it's an escape from reality and a way to deal with our demons... And well, Metal is agressive, but there are really thoughtful lyrics sometimes, there's lots of pain between the lines and well, I can't write myself, but I can relate to others words :)
Yeah, I'm having a quite ok day today, a bit low, but calm 🐇 hope you're having a good day 😊
@courteousNorth5140
Good afternoon Courteous 😀, reading is a great way to escape into a different world. As a child when I was stressed I loved to disappear into the pages of a good book. I didn't read horror (I'm too jumpy), however I did read Jane Austen and Wuthering Heights.
I can see how Death/Thrash/and New Metal could be an outlet for you to release anger and pain. Really pleased that music helps you to cope with your emotions💗.
What inspires me most is seeing you all post here on Trauma with your words of trial and triumph each day.
Your support and encouragement to everyone is what keeps me going and knowing that there is hope
and others are here in our low and dark moments.
@emotionalMaple9419 this is great!
We are glad to have you here in our trauma family and were always happy to be able to support you <3
wishing you a good day and take care!
This song is very healing to me
It is in Dutch. It is like a prayer kind of.
Do you know me? Who do you know?
Do you know me better than I?
Do you know me? Who do you know?
Do you know me better than I?
Eyes that look through the sun
Searching for the place where I live
Are you imagery for someone
Whom is nice, or immeasurably far,
who doesn't stand and doesn't fall
And doesn't feel as I do,
not cold and haughty
Do you know me? Who do you know?
Do you know me better than I?
Do you know me? Who do you know?
Do you know me better than I?
Here is the place where I live
A chair on the water,
A window where the light comes up and
the falling darkness passes by
Did you call? Here I am
Do you know me? Who do you know?
Do you know me better than I?
Do you know me? Who do you know?
Do you know me better than I?
I would like to speak a word
That is true and mine
That contains who I am,
I would like to speak a word
That stands up for herself as a human who is looking at me and says
I am your truest self,
Fear not, Understand me, I am, I am
Do you know me? Who do you know?
Do you know me better than I?
Do you know me? Who do you know?
Do you know me better than I?
Are you the only one for whose eyes
Have seen my nakedness
Do you want it
If no one else,
Even if I give no light, I am not warm,
I'm not beautiful, Not much
That no source rises
from deep inside me
That I only have this face,
No other.
I am with you, without shame,
Seen, taken.
By no one less?
wouldn't that be worth far too much?
wouldn't that be worth far too much?
Do you know me? Who do you know?
Do you know me better than I?
Do you know me? Who do you know?
Do you know me better than I?
@MaschaV
That
@MaschaV
Hi MaschaV love this poem! Do you know me?, do you know me better than I am? I completely identify with this poem. As some people will always make you feel as if you you don't know yourself, or that they know you better. .Thank you for sharing this
Hello :)
I just wanted to say hi. Today is a rough one. Anxiety is high, thoughts are confusing. No idea whether to try a new psych medication. I don't understand what my doctors are recommending, and I'm attempting to clarify. I'm struggling. I'm struggling to focus, to concentrate. And this is my second week without working; anxiety is very high. Already said that. I haven't been searching for work because I decided to freelance, but now I'm struggling to focus on getting freelancing together. Really struggling. Paid rent this month, but really, really need income to start coming in. Really struggling with pulling myself together to choose a direction and then focus on that direction to get income to start coming in. Second guessing myself after conversations with my mom. Second guessing myself anyway. as things evolve and change.
Wish I could just have hugs (and feel them). Seems like I'm not really "feeling" things lately.
Signing out.
- Singer
@singercrystalspirit
Singer, I know its so difficult to believe, but things will work out. Breathe hun. You got this. Take a day to relax and just *be*, and then go back to getting things together with a clearer mind. I truly understand the stress involved with unemployment, but you got this Singer. You will figure it out, but youve got to rest first! You need to give your brain a break so it can think more clearly! Just keep telling yourself itll be okay. You got this. Dont doubt yourself. You can do this Singer!
***hugs***
@BeeLeigh
Hug. I'm taking your advice. No email allowed today for me, no work preparations, no social media...
I've never been unemployed for so long before (and it's only been about two weeks). It is insanely stressful. I mean, I've been "unemployed" in the past before, but, I was always bringing in income -- collecting unemployment plus working cash jobs. Here, I wasn't eligible for unemployment, and I couldn't FIND a cash job.
Okay, well, that's not true. Technically I was unemployed for two months when I first moved here. The first month wasn't particularly stressful, because I had savings to live off of. The second month was pretty stressful, but I still did have savings. Now.... I do not have savings AND I have more bills than then AND I was already really depressed.
Anyways. Will try to keep telling myself those things today. It'll be okay. I've got this. Thanks.
- Singer
@singercrystalspirit
Hey, how you doin hun? 💜
@BeeLeigh
Hey :) I actually had a pretty all right day! Every time I start to think about what I am going to do tomorrow, all the panic and overwhelm comes back, but I am not allowing it in for today. Sooooo we'll see what happens tomorrow. But maybe I'll wake up feeling more capable.
:)
@singercrystalspirit
I
@singercrystalspirit
Hi Singer❤ sorry that yesterday was a difficult day for you. I hope that today will be better. I have had periods of unemployment so I understand the anxiety, insecurity and fear that arises.
You mentioned that you would get some clarity from your doctors on a new psych medication, I think this is a good idea. Maybe when your medication is sorted out, it will be easier for you to make decisions regarding work.
Hang on in there Singer, you never know what fresh opportunities are around the corner !💜 Sending a double portion of hugs your way💝💘💞💖
@Amandisa16
It makes me feel better to think that I am not alone in having had a period of unemployment (or periods).
@singercrystalspirit
No you are not Singer😊, I have friend's and family members that are currently looking for work.💜
@Amandisa16
@Amandisa16
i make my own art
and hide under my blanket
@LifeIsMyCanvas
You make magnificent art Life! And hiding under the blanket is basically the favorite pastime of this whole forum so youre in good company here! 😉😊💜
@LifeIsMyCanvas binding under blankets works great for me to
@LifeIsMyCanvas I hide under my blankets too...
@LifeIsMyCanvas
Hi Life 😊, Art is a great outlet to help cope with trauma. I remember the creative self care box that you did (the one you posted on your feed). It was soo creative! Also hiding underneath a blanket is good too!