I often write about using spectrums as frameworks. I believe we all exist on a mental health spectrum and also all exist on a creativity spectrum and my work is at the intersection of how those overlap.
I think it's helpful because sometimes our linear brains still look at a spectrum and think "oh well mine's over here so it's not as bad as those over there" ... which, as you are clear about, isn't true at all. We all have our experiences and there's no comparing even though our brains are primed to constantly compare.
Yes to normalizing trauma as a universal experience that we can all relate to and heal from together.
That makes a lot of sense in regards to our linear ways of thinking, rather than circular and overlapping Venn Diagrams/Intersections. Thanks for the link; I'll check it out.
Hope you find it helpful in some way. Regardless, grateful you've shared here about trauma. Every conversation helps destigmatize further conversations about it.
BAM! You’ve finally hit exactly what I be needed to hear, especially because repeated trauma disrupted the ability of my mental health to function at a functional level. I struggled through my childhood with abuse, unknowingly carrying problems, yet I was able to graduate from a good college with a bachelors degree, enjoy living in a large metropolitan area, participate in an intensive sport, and eventually marry a successful man. I lived the good life.
It all looked so good on paper, and in photos.
But there were deep-seated problems that developed because of my marriage. I was badly abused by a narcissist, nearly 1,000 from anyone who could help me. And it was s systemic to his family. You would have thought his sister was his wife, not me. After he died in our Ruth year of marriage, my freedom only unrolled the outer layer of mental health problems, the one evident from the marriage. PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression. Paranoia also became prevalent.
My mind unrolled into hallucinations. I had bouts of anger at the drop of a hat. I alienated people with accusations. Everyone was talking about me I was sure. I stopped going outside.
But these were only more symptoms.
Layers of abuse from years led me also to BPSD, and Schizoaffective disorder, I’m sure relating back to my childhood.
These layers have given me relief, instead of blunt diagnosis of so many things. My abuse didn’t happen overnight. It started when I was three. I’m now 58.
For years I lived in a shell, living as a social chameleon, in order to survive and succeed. I met my match with a narcissist when I was trapped. It was a living hell.
Layers of mental health trauma affected me in different ways at different times. Ebbing and flowing with stress. A few months ago I found a book, “Relationship Rescue” by Dr. Phil back in the early 2000s that I had given to my husband to share as a second copy, hoping to improve our marriage. I thought i threw it away.
Reading the resurfaced copy brought bad feelings of entrapment, confusion, and lies back to me.
I decided to take it to my therapy session. I told my Therapist to, “Meet Lee in his own words.” By the surveys he completed, previously unbeknownst to me. She looked his answers over in somewhat of a horrific look on her face.
At the end of the session I tossed the book in her trash can and left.
I often write about using spectrums as frameworks. I believe we all exist on a mental health spectrum and also all exist on a creativity spectrum and my work is at the intersection of how those overlap.
But recently, I've been exploring new frames that are slightly less linear but still apply (spirals, keyboards?) ... this post gets into it: https://createmefree.substack.com/p/is-the-depression-spectrum-really
I think it's helpful because sometimes our linear brains still look at a spectrum and think "oh well mine's over here so it's not as bad as those over there" ... which, as you are clear about, isn't true at all. We all have our experiences and there's no comparing even though our brains are primed to constantly compare.
Yes to normalizing trauma as a universal experience that we can all relate to and heal from together.
Kathryn,
That makes a lot of sense in regards to our linear ways of thinking, rather than circular and overlapping Venn Diagrams/Intersections. Thanks for the link; I'll check it out.
Hope you find it helpful in some way. Regardless, grateful you've shared here about trauma. Every conversation helps destigmatize further conversations about it.
BAM! You’ve finally hit exactly what I be needed to hear, especially because repeated trauma disrupted the ability of my mental health to function at a functional level. I struggled through my childhood with abuse, unknowingly carrying problems, yet I was able to graduate from a good college with a bachelors degree, enjoy living in a large metropolitan area, participate in an intensive sport, and eventually marry a successful man. I lived the good life.
It all looked so good on paper, and in photos.
But there were deep-seated problems that developed because of my marriage. I was badly abused by a narcissist, nearly 1,000 from anyone who could help me. And it was s systemic to his family. You would have thought his sister was his wife, not me. After he died in our Ruth year of marriage, my freedom only unrolled the outer layer of mental health problems, the one evident from the marriage. PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression. Paranoia also became prevalent.
My mind unrolled into hallucinations. I had bouts of anger at the drop of a hat. I alienated people with accusations. Everyone was talking about me I was sure. I stopped going outside.
But these were only more symptoms.
Layers of abuse from years led me also to BPSD, and Schizoaffective disorder, I’m sure relating back to my childhood.
These layers have given me relief, instead of blunt diagnosis of so many things. My abuse didn’t happen overnight. It started when I was three. I’m now 58.
For years I lived in a shell, living as a social chameleon, in order to survive and succeed. I met my match with a narcissist when I was trapped. It was a living hell.
Layers of mental health trauma affected me in different ways at different times. Ebbing and flowing with stress. A few months ago I found a book, “Relationship Rescue” by Dr. Phil back in the early 2000s that I had given to my husband to share as a second copy, hoping to improve our marriage. I thought i threw it away.
Reading the resurfaced copy brought bad feelings of entrapment, confusion, and lies back to me.
I decided to take it to my therapy session. I told my Therapist to, “Meet Lee in his own words.” By the surveys he completed, previously unbeknownst to me. She looked his answers over in somewhat of a horrific look on her face.
At the end of the session I tossed the book in her trash can and left.