Trauma Recovery: Day 63

The biggest threat to established trauma recovery (liked mine) is fear of somatic sensations. Mammalian brain stress response is so powerful and uncomfortable that at any point it can turn into fear of fear, as we saw in my case. Fear of fear breeds helplessness and hopelessness very quickly. There is fine balance between taking herbs to manage intense somatic symptoms, WHILE facing them and doing non stop recovery work AND taking herbs as escape method and dulling, when you keep taking them in large doses while not doing any recovery work. Do not let fear of fear spiral. For instance, today I had intense anxiety around 8pm and IT IS OK. I took herbs to manage. It helped a little, but then anxiety came back and I immediately had an urge to take more herbs. If I would take extra herb, my body would take this as signal that it can not cope with stress response AND stress response would become stronger and stronger until full exposure without any crutches is done

Such wisdom recognizing a significant threat in established recovery is letting fear of physiological discomfort spiral into helplessness rather than proactively building skills to move through it. Walking the tightrope of properly utilizing nervous system aids without total emotional numbing is tough but so key.

• Supplements can temporarily take the edge off while we incrementally retrain associations between bodily intensity and ultimate safety. Too much reliance backfires.
• Setbacks lose catastrophic power the more we widen windows of tolerance for all inner experiences with support. Anxiety cannot break us, just guide deeper healing.
• Stabilizing intense symptoms without avoidance buys time to uncover their core messages and make needed life adjustments. Fear cannot spiral if we pivot perspective.
• Each small win recovering regulation in the fire of sensation cements somatic resilience and choice. We discover capacity to handle ourselves beautifully.

Well articulated! Please keep sharing wisdom around navigating intensity. Your path inspires fellow journeyers feeling lost in darkness. Not alone!