Banded iron: National Museum of Natural History
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“You do not need to get rid of thoughts, just cease to believe them.
If you are not seduced by the story that they represent, the thoughts will not disturb your mind.
Tenzin Palmo, a nun in the Tibetan tradition wrote:
There is the thought, and then there is the knowing of the thought.
And the difference between being aware of the thought and just thinking is immense.
Normally we are so identified with our thoughts and emotions, that we are them.
We are the happiness, we are the anger, we are the fear.
We have to learn to step back and know our thoughts and emotions are just thoughts and emotions.
They’re just mental states. They’re not solid, they’re transparent.”
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My two cents: We let the emotional storyline go, then explore the body sensations connected to the narrative.
I healed when I stopped thinking about my scary abusive thoughts and emotions.
Introduce yourself to your inner world, this is where we will find healing and wellbeing.
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PTSD - A Way Out 
Posted by rudid96 on February 27, 2020 at 2:29 pm
I’ve a question – Daily, I’m practicing “let go of the storyline.” Some days are easier than others. Here’s my question. How does one drop the storyline if I’m sleeping? Most nights I’m jolted from a deep sleep with heart-pounding fear. I’ve lots of strategies to reclaim sleep which work inconsistently. This nightly episode leaves me bleary eyed in the morning and sometimes leaves me afraid to fall asleep.
Posted by Marty on February 27, 2020 at 2:35 pm
Thanks for participating and sharing. I too had horrible nightmares. In fact I would wake up drenched, triggered out of my mind, feeling the nightmares were real.
We can not change our sleep inside our sleep.
My changes were made in waking time and in due time my sleep was free of those nightmares as I healed.
Our goal is to let the nightmares go, do not fuel them or give them energy with thought or judgment.
Accept that you are stirring the demons as you heal.
Remember healing is not easy or calm at times.
Our trauma and ego are used to having control of our life
We are changing that and the ego is pissed
That means you are healing and taking back your life
This is the road less traveled, not easy but very rewarding
Keep going, keep letting the noise go as you come back to now.
Posted by Marty on February 27, 2020 at 2:36 pm
Accept the ego wants you to fear sleep because it has control
You not fearing sleep promotes healing
You are doing the work and this seems like a setback but it is moving forward and doing the work
Congratulate yourself,you are going right at your trauma in a mindful way
Posted by Marty on February 27, 2020 at 3:16 pm
You would think I run this blog responding this much
Ideas and answers arrive for me so here goes
Our healing has to go thru our trauma
We have to face and integrate it
So first of all we have choices how we react
Ptsd and nightmares do not ask permission and damn sure do not need it
If we try to escape, avoid in an anxious state Ptsd grows
We just gave it power and fear and cloudiness
The more we run the less we know about healing
If you can be thankful, that is welcome your nightmare for showing itself
Accept, be thankful then release it
Focus on the breath then go to the body sensations these nightmares ignite
Become friends with the body sensations
Be curious about them
Know how they feel
How long they last
How they leave
What is left after they exit
Assess any physical damage
Mental damage
None and none
You are healing
Surrender to your nightmares. Know they can not hurt you
You are always secure alone with your focus
Posted by Human Performance Psychology on February 27, 2020 at 4:41 pm
You’re so helpful. Thank you.
Posted by rudid96 on February 27, 2020 at 8:38 pm
Thank you very much for the reply. Right now, in the sunshine of a cold day the child’s part of me breathes in a sigh of relief. The words are my CareBear. They tell me “You’re Not Alone”. The suggestion to befriend and then name the sensations offer a balm for the terror these demons create. My pressing fear, the nightmares have free rein over my psyche is counter balanced with action. That mindful questioning will be my shield for weathering the next storm to come.
Posted by Marty on February 27, 2020 at 9:07 pm
You are safe
Breathe and focus surround yourself with a blanket of kindness
The terror is a mirage
Withstand the bluff and the bully will recede