body memories

certain activities and touching certain areas in my body triggers body memories and im in pain for the rest of the day.

do they ever go away? do i have to avoid these activities for the rest of my life? could i get used to them and they would go away if i do it often enough and just deal with the pain?

i'm sick of explaining why i can't do some things, which are pretty innocent really, normal things, and i avoid doing them because i get triggered. stupid scaredy cat. people think i'm difficult when all i want is to just say i went through certain stuff and they left their marks on me but don't pity me or treat me differently because of it.

i just wanna live that's all.

is it true that all i need is a good kick in the arse and then i can be normal? am i exaggerating or faking it?

i don't think anyone would believe body memories.

I wish I had the answers you seek, but I'm in the same boat as you. At my last session with T, I asked some of those same questions. Does time heal all wounds??? I'm beginning to wonder too.

safe hugs to you (((angel)))... much strength.

i believe katie... lyn

(((Katie Kaboom)))

I believe body memories.

I'm actually quite impressed that you've made the connection between touching areas of your body and triggering -- that is a level of awareness that I'm still working on. For me, there were areas of my body that I could not feel at all, and that really freaked me out.

I read a book on Trauma called 'Waking the Tiger'. The author talks about how our bodies are wired, and how we hold trauma in our body. He gives an example of a bird flying into a window. After the bird hits the window it it stunned, and then it will suddenly flap its wings and move a bunch. After that movement it had 'released' the shock of running into the window, and can fly away. If you pick up the bird before it can shake, it will not be able to recover.

In other words, it is normal to hold the trauma, but we need to let ourselves release it in some way.

One exercise that is suggested (that I do off and on), is to take time in the shower to pat each body part, and just 'notice' how it feels. No judgement, just notice it. Change the water pressure or temp, and repeat.

You are not stupid, or a scaredy cat, from what I know you are experiencing something that is normal for people who have experienced trauma.

Listen to your body, it is powerful and beautiful, and if it is trying to tell you something, then honor it.

Do you have a T you can talk to about this?

Be kind and gentle to yourself.

Many

(((lyn & spottedowl)))

thank you. i better rephrase the thought i brought up in my original post: "i don't think anyone who hasnt gone through abuse believes body memories".

they are rather amazing because i don't usually think a body part can think or rememeber things. but apparently it does.

i don't have a t really, i see a psych nurse but i dont think she believes me.

thank you for the lengthy reply.

i'm sorry i can't write much, i'm not in a very good place myself.

(((((((((((((((Katie))))))))))))))))
hope you are ok!!!!

(((kiya)))) - i'm managing.

I've had a lot of body memories. Especially since attempting to talk about stuff in therapy. Some of them are really strange, and start out of nowhere. I talked a recently about having my head held in compliance by my hair. Last night out of the blue (don't even recall thinking about stuff) my upper back and hair suddenly went into hypersensative mode. It was like my hair was standing straight up and tingled so intensely that it actually hurt to touch my head and back.

I'm sorry but I don't know if this gets better with therapy. For me therapy has made these episodes more prevalent. Luckily for me they don't seem to last too long. I can usually change what I am doing or distract myself in some way and then it fades away.

I think it is great that you are able to connect these symptoms with specific things. Maybe next you will be able to override them or establish new connections between touch and how the brain interprets/perceives it.