Tuesday, March 20, 2012
The Superpowers of Survivors
A lot of the work in therapy surrounds not just the "problems" the client presents with, but also the view of the problems. Clients often feel they are "crazy" or too sensitive, and even mistrust their recollection of events. The symptoms themselves are the source of frustration and are used as evidence against self (i.e.: "if I am reacting to things from the past rather than what is in the present, something is wrong with me"). When someone has been triggered into a flashback, is plagued with redundant nightmares or invasive thoughts, these difficulties are used as evidence of poor mental health. I have a different perspective on survivors and symptoms. "Hypervigilance" (a diagnostic requisite for PTSD) could be viewed as something like a sixth sense, for example. Survivors often know, far before anyone else does, that there is something awry. There seems to be an accuracy in predicting which people are safe and which are not (the challenge here is listening to intuition). Survivors sensory systems are often on high alert and thus they pick up on environmental cues with greater acuity than most. This is not an argument to attach to PTSD symptoms because it is exhausting to manage that kind of perpetual awareness for long periods of time and places a lot of pressure on the psyche. However, it seems that there is likely a degree of functionality associated with how PTSD presents itself; there are reasons for increased responsiveness and awareness of external subtleties. Perhaps the symptoms of trauma are an effort to prevent future injury; our triggers are telling us to be wary and pay attention. Nightmares and flashbacks help navigate healing in that they clarify the most disturbing aspects of trauma; they tell us where the work is and what needs to be resolved. I propose that symptoms will relax a bit when we listen to them, try to develop an understanding of their function and act on them. Essentially, viewing the way PTSD manifests in someone allows us to use the specific symptom set to resolve the trauma. The superpowers are helpful in healing and unnecessary once it is resolved.
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I think you are right. While nightmares and flashbacks are torture, I see they do serve a purpose. If I was so okay about the events why do I re-live them? I think my mind is trying to heal itself. But, by myself I cannot heal. I need a perspective like this. There really is a lot of bad help out there. Meds can help manage symptoms but they do they heal in themselves. Rather, they lessen the symptoms of the underlying issues.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. I know it is difficult to find a therapist who is a good fit. What I recommend to people is preparing questions prior to contacting a therapist; the questions would reflect your needs and what kind of perspective you are hoping they work from. It is okay to interview your prospective therapist! It's an opportunity for both parties to see if it is a good fit and it also puts you in the driver's seat. You are right about medication. It's tricky. It certainly can help soften the symptoms and provide some relief but don't always "fix" whatever underlies the symtpoms. Sometimes I notice that there is enough relief from the intensity of symptoms to be able to do some more difficult work, although that isn't always true. Thank you again for sharing and I wish you luck in your healing.
DeleteI am intrigued. Can you think of an academic source or study related to these points? I had heard very much the same things stated by two other therapists, specifically that the hypervigilant will appear to have a superpower or sixth sense in knowing a threat (in the form of a person with mal-intent) is present before any threatening action takes place.
ReplyDeleteAlso, a few related thoughts:
* That the H-V person may find the exhausting work *altruistic* in that he or she seeks to prevent harm for others-- not just (or even primarily) self-- particularly if others in a position to have mitigated their own trauma failed to do so(?);
* That the H-V person may find that he or she often tends to be the first to constructively respond in crisis-- the H-V being the only one not taken by surprise; and
* That the H-V person can learn to trust that "intuition" in identifying the *absence"* of threat while others may fail to act in caution due to confusion of a startling event-- an undue caution for the H-V.
A favorite example...
At night and at table on a restaurant's outdoor patio.
Non H-V, with tone of anxiety: "What was that flash of light-- where did it come from?"
H-V, calmly: "Professional photographer on the roof of the building over my left shoulder."
Non H-V: "And you just happened to scan the roof-line of the surrounding buildings?"
H-V, with wry grin: "Always. And if he shot something other than a camera, the out-building behind me to my right is made of cinder block."
Non H-V: "You need another beer."
Thank you for your response cregil! I am toying with these ideas in my own mind currently and thus am unaware of specific research surrounding the concept right now (although that doesn't mean it isn't out there!). I appreciate the idea that there may be a sense of altruism in the perpetual scanning of one's environment~I need to sit with that for a bit but intuitively that seems applicable. In various ways trauma survivors take on the role of protector, not only of themselves but of others. There is also a conditioning that seems to happen-that if one is perpetually scanning there will be discoveries that others will miss, thus reinforcing the need to scan. The newfound capacity sometimes provides a sense of mastery (and safety) over surroundings; asking someone to relinquish their power can be a challenge because there is a protective quality that makes sense to hold on to. Thank you again for your thoughts. Should I discover further information or data on the concept I will post a link to the information. ~Athena
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