[chalmette70043]

Someone i know sent me an email in response to an email i sent her. She told me i'm still in survival mode. And going through therapy where t is trying to bring it all out of me is going to keep me in that survival mode until everything comes out.

Do ya'll know anything about survival mode? How long it lasts? What are syptoms of it?

I'm just feeling absolutely rotten today and trying to find answers.

[MyBestKids2]

Yes ma'm, one active survival mode participator here and accounted for.

I don't know Chalm, geez, I've been on different levels of the mode for over 20 years. Have you asked your T his/her thoughts on this? Maybe its different for each of us, and dependent on current environmental stressors....I dunno know.

Looking forward to some responses on this!


Dee

[Kiya]

If you can get The Courage TO Heal workbook, you may find it very helpful. It talks all about survival mode... i don't know your issues, but that book is around abuse and healing. I have found it helpful. how long you're in that mode depends on each individual, of course. and it is cyclic, so you'll probably be in it more than just one time.
Hope that helps.
Kiya

[Waif123]

I think of Survival mode, as a way of coping, it is defenses we put up to protect ourselves, and we hang on to those defenses as long as we need to. Through therapy as you release some of the feelings, you will find some of the defenses do come down. And you can move past just surviving to a place where you can enjoy life, and not feel the need to keep your guard up all the time.

I know for myself, I lived along time just surviving, getting by day by day, but now slowly I look to enjoy each day.

Give it time.

[chalmette70043]

Thank ya'll for answering. I'm sorry ya'll are all in survival mode too.

My t has me this week for homework writting down what, who and why of anger in me. She's told me that when i work through all that anger and get it all out, i'll feel much better. I guess thats what gradually releases the survival mode.

Kiya, thanks for mentioning the workbook you used. I'm glad it helped you out. My trauma came from Katrina. And i'm finding out in thearpy from earlier moments in my life.

I saw my pdoc today and he gave me a diagnosis of bipolar now. So, i'm going to be on a new med. I'm thinking maybe finding this out might help me along. I dont know. I dont know that it even matters.

Thanks again for ya'lls responses. I send ya'll all hugs from me.

[Kiya]

(((((chalmette))))))) ahhh katrina. you have my hugs and sympathies. I also have some ptsd from that gal... but i was just a relief worker. lots of hugs and support to you!
kiya

[chalmette70043]

(((((kiya)))))thank you for coming down here to help out.

I've talked to and know alot of people that have volunteered down here. Some in the beginning and some more recent. Ptsd runs rampant among tya'll too.

I'm sorry you had to see this area in despair. I hope one day you make it back down here to gulf coast region, when we have rebuilt and gotten some life back.

[Kiya]

Me, too. I feel that New Orleans now owns part of my heart and soul. I want to really see how things are - see the French Quarter alive and bustlin' - not a ghost town. And all the rest of the area relishing life again. I was also down in Venice, along Lake Ponchatrain, Queen Mary's, and the 9th among others. I also want to go back now and keep helping - was there in December after she hit.
I remember i was trying to get mental health workers into an area and the local guy helping us felt i was misguided. I do hope people are doing alright - not a day goes by i don't think about everyone down there.
kiya

[chalmette70043]

Oh the Quarter is up and running. Hasnt been a ghost town for quite a while. Cats Meow even has their webcam of Bourbon street up and running again. It was packed for the Sugar Bowl and BCS game. And with Mardi Gras season here, its getting wild down there.

The Lakeview Area is coming back. More people rebuilding in that area. The ole' Lighthouse at West End on the Lake is going to be rebuilt i hear. And where Joes Crabshack use to be is Landry's now and looks really good.

Where i am in St Bernard, the lower 9th, new orleans east and plaquemines all look pretty much the same as it did back when you were here. More houses and businesses demo'd. Us areas still have a long long way to go. But we chugging along and trying to hang in there.

I tell ya one thing Kiya, the entire gulf coast region holds all ya'll dear to our hearts. Without ya'll we wouldnt be where we are today.

[Kiya]

I remember how shocked i was as to the spirit of the people in the lower 9th and plaquemines. Standing with roof tops to my knee and people asking us how *we're* doing - i ... just lost for words. I know we're forever changed by all of it - the disaster of course, but the kindness of the people i met, the spirit to keep going, the graditude, ...
actually my T at the time was from there, and i called her 2 and 3 times a week. it's like a different life - all of it. And yet, so close when i see certain things; blue tarps on any house, pelicans, ..for the longest time everytime i crossed our river here, i thought it was the mississippi.
i have to pull my thoughts back - i'm on my way out the door.
talk with you later, kiya

[(JD)]

I wouldn't go through the workbook without T's assistance. But you could read the HANDBOOK for some ideas on topics to cover with T.

Survival mode is ok...it does keep you alive. It really takes it's toll on the physical body though, the stress and how that changes your whole system chemically.

Go slowly with your T, and you'll get there faster. If you push yourself (such as immersion with the workbook) you might end up really triggering yourself and going "backwards" for a bit.

Trust the therapy process.

[Kiya]

Huh - curious. I found the hand book to be far too triggering to read. I've done nearly the whole workbook and T's never seem interested to even open it.

[_Hope_]