Congratulations! PTSD recovery freedom is an amazing testament to your growth and willingness to move forward. You deserve it!
Now... How does it feel to “feel better”?
Does anticipating life and relationships without the ever-present fallout of your condition feel the way you imagined?
Does working through it with the right support and a plan in place feel good or worry you in other ways? If you are experiencing the fear of recovery. Don't be alarmed. This isn’t uncommon.
Why PTSD Recovery Freedom Can Be Scary
The fear of feeling better-- of actually living without the fear, worry, and reactivity you've grown accustomed to-- can be nerve-wracking in its own right. It is okay. Don’t get down on yourself or bury those feelings. Think about it, feeling better is simply not the norm for you. You may have been distracted or even wholly occupied by trauma and its repercussions for some time. Your PTSD illness shaped your self-image and encourage self-protective behaviors that were indeed harmful but still very familiar. They may have even felt natural.
To recover means to let go of what once felt normal to embrace what you know it's truly productive and healthy. It just may not feel that way for a while. To feel “good” may feel awkward, uncomfortable, or scary initially. It's no wonder that you might want to just fall back into old patterns. Anxiety is normal at this point. Your brain is changing, adapting, growing new neural pathways to manage this new way of life. Life in recovery is a new frontier.
It is in fact very natural to fear the unknown, to experience some insecurity, and wonder if you'll ever truly feel the way you want to. Don't give up on recovery or yourself. Try to take these feelings as a strong indicator that you are normal and well on your way to building a stockpile of mental health gains for your future. Resist the urge to compare your recovery to what you think is normal or right. Comparing yourself to a perceived idea of “normal” won’t make your recovery experiences any more or less uncomfortable. In fact, you may do yourself a disservice by not showing yourself acceptance and self-compassion. Those internal gifts are important parts of your journey too.
Stop. Breathe. Think things through.
Mental health experts remind us all the time: feelings are not facts. Hopefully, you now know that your PTSD and PTSD recovery freedom are not processes to be ashamed of. How you feel about recovery, even if it is negative, isn't abnormal or shame worthy either. Those feelings are happening and they are valid experiences. Thus, they should be acknowledged. However, do understand that just as you may have acknowledged the harmful tension in your body created by PTSD, these anxious feelings too, aren't necessarily true or helpful.
Instead of indulging your fear of recovery, using it as a reason to regress or allowing it to cause the lost sight of your gains. Take time to breathe and process your fear.Use your fear of PTSD recovery freedom to gauge your progress. Challenge these thoughts just as you challenge your PTSD responses. You’ve undoubtedly come a long way since PTSD ruled so much of your life and relationships. Give yourself some well-deserved praise and press ahead.
With the help of your therapist, you can determine how to proceed.
PTSD can keep you stuck in unproductive, negative thought patterns ruled by sensations and emotions that are tied to trauma. Recovery from trauma means breaking away from feelings to challenge them and yourself with facts and forward movement.
Perhaps you need to deal with anxious reactions on physical and emotional levels regularly. Maybe it is wise to schedule extra time to deal with this aspect of your recovery. You’ll likely find that, with guidance, your sense of normalcy and calm is sustained by a continued willingness to accept yourself, face discomfort, and clearly define your future.
Remember, you’re not alone as you move forward. Recovery does not mean linear progress or pushing ahead without help. Healing often happens in fits and starts. Lasting change occurs amid trustworthy connections and relationships. You won't always have to know what’s coming or be anxious about it getting better.
When you do feel this way, we can help you face your fear. Be patient with yourself. Remain open with the people invested in your wellbeing. Reach out for a free consultation.
To find out more about our services click here: PTSD Treatment. Serving Boulder, Longmont, Denver...
