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Hi, I have PTSD and from time to time I post here, recently about power and feeling empowered, something that is central to many mental health issues and recovery from them.

I often struggle with power, questioning myself if I have enough sources of power, if my power is permanent enough to rely on it or if I might lose it, and often react strongly to powerlessness in others, such as people close to me or if I hear news of something unexpected and harmful happening to others.

Me and my T have talked about power, I told my T how I was religious but a few years after the first major trauma in my late teens lost most of my faith in God but also my parents (and other caregiver/authority figures) and after the subsequent traumas (I'm in my 30s), those same struggles with faith in being protected painfully returned to the surface. I also started to wonder what it was that gave me my power, and what it is that give others theirs, is it money, looks, job, etc.

So I've talked about that with my T and my T also told me and if you "feel" powerless does not mean you don't have power (though I often point out if you do "feel" empowered also does not mean you have objective source of power).

But I feel it's best if I talk it over with you good folks, who been through tough times (many are currently) and see where you get your power or your sense of power, it would be a great help in terms of practical advice and also hope but also me not feeling alone in this.

This is a sensitive topic for me so I've found it difficult to do a face-to-face talk about it with anyone, so hopefully this allows more easy exchange. Thank you.

When i do well at my job.
when people give me compliments on my job.
when i make hard decisions.
when i stick up for whats right.

[growlycat]

When I accomplish something difficult.
When I have a choice in a situation

What makes me feel empowered, is realizing that I DO indeed have a choice about being in therapy. Or not, if I so choose.

Realizing that I have choices. I just have to choose to recognize them and act on them in my own best interests.

[kecanoe]

Sticking up for myself in a calm, non-defensive way.
Making good decisions about what is best for me.
Being kind to others just because I can be kind

I don't do the whole empowering thing.
I feel best when im connected to myself. When I believe in myself.
When I'm doing what. I en joy.
In fact nowadays, even when I'm feeling down, I feel connected with myself, so that no longer has the affect it use to.

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great replies, thank you.