[innocentjoy]

My youngest part is the one who holds all of the memories of our abuse (at least the stuff that happened when I was very young). My abuser died when I was 10, and so I have been able to reassure her before now that he is dead and so can't hurt us. We even visited his grave, where we 'talked' about how he's just dust and decay now (20 years later).

A couple weeks ago we had an image pop into our head of him sitting beside our bed, smiling at us and watching us sleep. It was so vivid and completely disturbing. She (the youngest) is now convinced that he is trying to haunt us. I don't believe that he is (although I do believe in ghosts - but that is not relevent here) because I know all of his thoughts toward us. When I was in session, my t asked what he was doing here, why he was here, etc. and I knew all of the answers. So I've been trying to explain that he is part of our mind, like the flashbacks. While it feels real, it isn't, and he can't hurt us. It's not working well.

Has anyone else had anything similar to this happen? It's sounds crazy, but I am trying to help her work through this.

Thanks,
IJ

[Claritytoo]

I have many young ones who have memories from when I was very young. One will come out just as we try to sleep. She is crying and filled with fear. All she does is say no no no over and over and over. I can hear her. My t suggested that maybe she should say "I am safe" instead of "no". So when she started to say no I asked her to say "I am safe", like we talked about in session. It calmed her down the first few times she said it. And a little later that night when she came out again, it helped her to sleep. Maybe if your little one said "I am safe" when she is feeling afraid, it will help her.

[innocentjoy]

I can try that, thanks. If she doesn't believe something she won't say it, but perhaps we can get to the point where she believes it. I can help by looking at the evidence around us that proves we are safe, and it will be easier for her to believe it.
IJ