Messages

 

Hi Bach,
Sending you a big hug of support     I hope that parts of your day will be better, and that they will become some good parts of today.

Hope

Hi SanMagic,  Thank you so much.    

Hi Dollyvee, Thank you.  I do think that I've had quite a few body pains in the past few days - mainly focused in the head, but also throughout the body too.  I didn't speak about what happened, I didn't think it would go well if I tried to speak about it, so I didn't.  I do realise that seeing any 'family' members seems to be really triggering for me, hence I am trying to cope with it rather than bring it up as something to discuss with the family members - I really do think that I am maybe extra sensitive to stuff, and therefore I try to handle it without talking to the person/people about the issue.  I really don't feel they would be understanding at all.  Thanks for the support, Dollyvee, I appreciate it 

Hi SanMagic,
I hope your time with your galpal went well.

Finger's crossed for your daughter's treatment.  I hope they can help her with the narcolepsy.

You've made quite a few changes - do you like the greek yoghurt?  I like the taste of it - had some with a curry and it really helped to take away the heat of the curry.

Sending you love and hugs   
Hope

Hi StartingHealing,
Sending you support, whatever you decide - you're taking your time to decide what feels right for you, and I hope whatever you decide to do works out ok.   

This is something I have personally found very helpful, and so I wanted to put this Podcast here.

It is called 'Attachment Focused EMDR: Tools & Techniques to Heal Trauma' by Dr Laurel Parnell.

https://therapistuncensored.com/episodes/emdr-170/

Dr Parnell speaks really well about her work, and I think it's a very helpful resource.

Hope

Hi Nearlythere,

Welcome 

I really found your progress to be so positive and it's I also very much appreciate the work of Janina Fisher.  It's great to hear your experiences and I feel sure you'll find kindred spirits here.

Hope

Oh no, I hope that the mechanic you know will be able to help.  Finger's crossed for a good outcome for you!   

Hi Natureluvr, Thank you and I'm glad you also find journalling really helps you.  I definitely hope to turn to it more often.

Hi NarcKiddo, Yay, it is Monday - and I am happier today.  I also don't like hot weather either.    

Hi SanMagic, Yes, it was down to Janina Fisher's suggestions that I consider any feeling/thought as a potential communication from 'parts' - and it has helped me to focus on situations in a different/often more helpful way, so I'm tending to continue with that frame of mind.  I was pleased that I didn't reach for a snack, and that writing about it here did help.   

*********
1st September 2025
I ended up with a headache yesterday that stayed with me through the night as well - I had had a visit to see my in-laws, and whilst it went ok, I think the intense concentration of that - both in terms of the apprehension beforehand, then the focusing during the interactions, and then the after-effect (just relaxing and realising it had been better than I thought) - I still had a headache, which hurt a lot.  However, I am thankful that I did sleep ok, and woke feeling better - the headache had gone.  I am relieved.

Today has been much better - managed to do some things I needed to do.  Feels good.

Hope

Hi SanMagic - Yes the BLS has been helping, and glad to hear you also find it helpful too.  Sending you love and hugs too 

Hi NarcKiddo - Thank you - I felt it was significant that the fearful part showed up, and that I saw that part.  It's a bit like when you see a fawn who is trembling, and you want to encourage it that it will be ok, rather than frighten it so it runs away.  Or at least that's what came to my mind as I wrote this to you.

********
31st August 2025
Finding that I feel excessively hungry this morning - but don't want to give in to those feelings, as I am not keen to snack mid morning - I am usually ok till lunchtime, but today I feel excessive hunger.  So wondering if maybe that's a communication from a part - rather than real hunger. 

I prefer week days to weekends.  It is of course the weekend now.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow, but I am also keen to ensure that today's hours are spent in a way that will be ok. 

I reckon you'll get on well with that task tomorrow, as you sound very prepared with what you need and hopefully that will help a lot.

Whatever you have for dinner tonight, I hope you enjoy it

Hope

Welcome Meggles 
Hope

31st August 2025
Currently reading a really interesting and useful book by Ethan Kross called "Shift: How to Manage Your Emotions so They Don't Manage You" - this feels really timely as I have been attempting to self-regulate in recent months/years.  Ethan Kross is a professor at the University of Michigan and directs the Emotion and Self-Control Laboratory there.  I am enjoying his book and on p.63 he commented that "effortful emotion regulation tools are often effective, but they require time and concentration".  He talks about how journalling is especially effective - so I felt motivated to put in some effort and turn up to journal here.  I am hand-writing first - but will most likely also type it out to my journal in the trauma forum - then tear up the pages. (Indeed, here I am now typinc).  This will be for the part of me who fears the paper pages being found and read by anyone.  Weirdly, I think about someone finding them if I had died - an not being sure who that person might be.  I don't mind the trauma forum people reading the words.  I've appreciated being able to read what others have written and hope that whoever reads these words also gets something positive from it. (As I'm typing this now, reading what I wrote, I feel as if part of me was being a bit doom-laden, as I really do want to live and don't want to die - but yet I'm writing about what might happen in the event that I'd died).

I have been doing a lot of processing in recent weeks.  I am using bilateral stimulation (eye movements and sometimes tapping) and leaning more towards memories, sensations and feelings.  I have definitely found that helpful and I think I've managed to keep my brain online more to enable me to process.  I've noticed a lot of somatic type things - noticing how that can move through my body as it hopefully exits more.

I also had an experience a couple of nights ago when I felt intense fear - but instead of reacting to that, I was able to stay curious and mindful (sense of self was engaged and online) and I spoke to the fear as if it was a part and I thanked it for being there and showing itself, and said 'I know yoiu are afraid, I'm glad you're here, and I don't want you to feel alone with your fear.  I'm here too, and I care about you.' (Can't recall the exact words in my mind - but it felt really significant.  Really important to me.)

Sitting here blankly now - I think I'll type this up and then remove the written pages.

 

Hi AppyRedman,
It's nice that you've taken the step of beginning your journal.  Wishing you the best with all the steps you are taking.
Hope