C-PTSD and Childhood Trauma

[avant-garde]

@Jynx @Appleblossom @Till23 

Do you know how great it feels to talk about my inner child with people who understand!

Mine is literally jumping up and down shouting that she doesn't have to be invisible anymore!

The little actions I do on here are my inner child feeling safe enough to be seen, that she gets activated when I get triggered and hurt.

Incorporating her in my daily life is one of my greatest joys, from happy meals to art class and going on adventures. She's the sweetest thing, she's who I could've been without trauma.

I think about a few years ago, it was mother's Day and she was so so sweet that we had pancakes and she said to me that this is what a daughter would do. 

To love her like I do is to love a part of me which is so so healing.

It's not dissociative identity disorder, it's just me living with every part of me and it's not like we switch personalities, we do things together, she's the daughter I never got to be and I'm the mother I always wanted to be. 

@Till23 - play is to have fun, do things a child would do, like climb the kids playground, have a Teddy's bear picnic, go get a happy meal.

One of mine is to do a kids puzzle book or watch Octonauts.

My little ones favourites are Octonauts, the original my little pony series with Twilight sparkle and she really likes the animated Barbie movies.

We like watching the little princess movie and enjoy Madeline! 

Maybe we need an inner child thread?

It's something I've thought about before...

[Jynx]

@Till23 exactly as @avant-garde described!! Play is just as important to our mental health as relaxation and rest 😊

I found a lil article about it if you're curious!! The Importance of Play

@avant-garde honestly that is SUCH a good idea!! Do you wanna kick start it? 

[Till23]

Thanks @avant-garde and @Jynx 

I will have to explore these options.

I think I’m not good at self care.

I coped by pushing through and trying to be successful in my job, so I could be self sufficient and not have to rely on anyone else. I found early on that many people weren’t reliable.

I had to go through my trauma history today for a new counsellor. I coped with that by mowing my lawn! I do find physical activity is good.

[tyme]

" Lawning the mow", as my nephew used to call it, is a good way to distract yourself. It's so therapeutic to have freshly mown grass.

Jobs jobs jobs... work to live and not live to work 🙂 @Till23 

[Till23]

Yes @tyme I do like the smell of a freshly lawned mow. Also looks good and you feel you’ve achieved something.

I know many people say work to live, but working does have some good points- like earning money, sense of purpose, social interactions, sense of achievement plus for some people it’s a good distraction from their “life”.

Who know ls where I would have been without work.

Overall though it’s not good just to live to work.

[Appleblossom]

@Till23 Yes what @avant-garde said re play.

 I was/ still am pretty serious.  Lots childhood trauma and being too responsible at young age. Yes WORK was huge and also largely beneficial in many ways… distraction, money, social contact and learning about life and the world…

to be able to be and feel playful… was a big inner shift and came late in life Eg late 50s.

 guess I needed to be safe and secure… if the stakes are too high… the lightness of play won’t be possible… I know some people play hard… but that hasn’t been me.

and find my inner smile and relax and laugh… find things genuinely funny without too much ironic twist… 

bit by bit… learning to think of jokes and laugh with people… getting more confident socially 

lately… a couple of new kittens are helping me expand my playing… they are pretty good at it 

also realising “play “ had been missing and keeping a lookout for moments 

as a kid and teen I had been the butt of jokes so it took a while to unpack that and claim my ow sense of humour 

@Jynx @tyme @Pinkcushions 

[Till23]

@Appleblossom I did love playing with my dogs especially when they were puppies. Even when they were older they often give you a laugh.

 I have “my” magpies that can give me a laugh.

@avant-garde and @Former-Member I do look at clouds and see animals and faces etc in them and actually do that with trees as well.

I like wearing funny socks because you can look serious when you’re standing up and if you have to be, but you also have the chance to surprise people with your socks. I have a lot of socks! 

[avant-garde]

@Till23 @Former-Member 

Gremmy and I both have a lot of socks, my current pair have playing card symbols on them

[Former-Member]

@Till23 have you seen my socks collection? I love wearing funky socks. 

[Former-Member]

@avant-garde we do have alot of socks. Gotta love the sock collection 😂.