Note: I have seen lots of discussion about the benefits and risks of mindfulness and meditation for trauma survivors. Most often, sitting meditation has not been desirable, possible or helpful for me. If one has little kids, periods of silence may not seem to ever exist.
And stopping or being totally quiet and alone with myself is sometimes anything but calming or quieting. I've used guided meditation or yoga nidra instead to help me shift to a more calm and relaxed state. Sometimes I'll try it right before bed and other times while in the tub.
While I have rarely made a sitting meditation part of my self-care practice, I have found that a state of mindfulness and observing what's happening within my own self, psyche and post-traumatic symptoms can always be helpful. I think we can continually explore what does and doesn't work in our own lives and in our own healing. It's great to read research and what others say but experiential practices require a bit of experience.
I like knowing that meditation/mindfulness can be counterproductive for some trauma survivors at some times and that there are other body-based approaches to consider as well. That is validating and useful information and it's been true to my own experience. Sometimes, being less full in the mind requires me to get super physical first. Sometimes, being with a full mind when it's in a fear state feels like I'm putting a microscope on angst.
But that doesn't mean we should fear mindfulness entirely or that as trauma survivors we should not ever visit or revisit having a meditation practice. There are times I've been able to meditate in groups or with eyes open or by making modifications so that I feel more safe and grounded.
We are in charge of our own healing process. Recovering from traumatic stress is not a time-limited phase for most, especially when the trauma is developmental.
Meditation might help some and not others or help some people some, none or all of the time. What is your experience? What have your experiences been? How might your experiences change over time? To me, those are the most important questions to ask.
To read more on this topic, here's an article by Anna O'Faolan
The Problem with Mind
Mindfulness refers to the process of becoming aware of the thoughts, feelings and sensations in our body. The aim is to take a clear view of them, without judgement, and accept them rather than block them. But the mind has limitations, and rational pathways are not always useful.
As we sit to centre our minds in a practice or therapy session, many people encounter a range of distracting sensations. Worries, discordant thoughts, and uncomfortable sensations come uninvited as we embark on our inward journey. Mostly, we can sit with them until they pass. But for some, they don’t pass. Rather, the uncomfortable sensations persist, becoming so unbearable that it is impossible to continue.
As a Clinical psychiatrist, Bessel Van der Kolk has dedicated his life to the study and treatment of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. For those who have experienced trauma, the practice of mindfulness can become physically intolerable. The physical sensations experienced as the mind turns to focus on itself are overwhelming; to a point where intense agitation and physical pain or illness occur. For others with PTSD, the experience of physical discomfort has meant that they have learnt to dissociate themselves from feeling anything at all. The benefits of mindfulness then become inaccessible.
Comments (0)