Video 5 of 10 – PTSD Recovery Series
In the previous video, we talked about developing a sense of inner safety through a simple mindfulness awareness practice. The idea is to gradually reconnect with our body sensations and feelings so that we can be more present in the moment without automatically being triggered into fear, panic, or the perception that life is dangerous.
But there is another important part of PTSD recovery: learning how to experience and process the unresolved emotions associated with past trauma.
Why Do Emotions Remain Unresolved?
When we experience something extremely painful or overwhelming, we may not have the ability to emotionally process what is happening.
Perhaps we were never taught how to be with difficult feelings, or perhaps the experience was simply beyond what we could handle at the time.
When something is too much to take, our subconscious mind may protect us by disconnecting us from those feelings and creating coping behaviours that help us survive and continue with life.
These protective patterns can be very helpful at the time. They allow us to push painful feelings away, adapt to our circumstances, and carry on.
What happens to the feelings we never fully experienced?
My understanding is that when we disconnect from an overwhelming emotional experience, aspects of that experience remain unresolved within us.
If we had been able to safely be with what we felt at the time, to breathe through the experience, allow our feelings to be there, and accept them, we may have been better able to process those emotions.
But when that wasn’t possible, those unresolved experiences may continue influencing how we feel and react to life today.
The Present Moment Is Where the Past Shows Up
One of the important things I want to share in this video is that we don’t necessarily have to go back and relive the original traumatic experience to begin working with the emotions associated with it.
Think about what happens when we become triggered in everyday life.
Perhaps we experience sudden fear, anger, anxiety, panic, or an overwhelming desire to withdraw or disconnect.
Sometimes our reactions are much stronger than the present situation seems to justify.
What may be happening is that our unresolved experiences from the past are influencing how we’re perceiving and experiencing the present moment.
In a sense, the past is coming through into the present, mixing with what is happening now.
And this is where mindfulness becomes so valuable.
Because if those old emotional patterns are showing up in the present moment, we have an opportunity to begin developing a different relationship with them right here, where we are.
Reconnecting With Our Body Through Mindful Awareness
In the previous video, I introduced a simple awareness practice involving our breathing, body sensations, and feelings.
We begin by finding a place where we feel reasonably safe and comfortable.
Then we take some time to be with ourselves.
We notice our breathing and gently bring our attention back to the present moment.
As we become more comfortable, we can begin noticing the feeling sensations within our body.
Rather than automatically pushing uncomfortable feelings away, we practise allowing them to be there, little by little, without judging ourselves for what we’re experiencing.
Over time, this can help us develop a greater ability to be present with our feelings and emotions.
And when an old emotional trigger arises, we may begin to recognize it, accept what we’re feeling, and experience a manageable amount of that emotion without automatically disconnecting from it.
This is an important distinction.
We’re not trying to force ourselves to experience something overwhelming. We’re gradually learning that we can be with some of what we feel, in a supportive and compassionate way.
Allowing Rather Than Resisting Our Feelings
Something I have noticed is that when we continually push uncomfortable feelings away, we can become caught in a pattern of resistance.
We don’t want to feel what we’re feeling, so we tighten up, disconnect, distract ourselves, or try to escape the experience.
But when we begin allowing our feelings to be there, even a little, we may notice a sense of ease.
We’re no longer fighting ourselves in quite the same way.
Through mindfulness, we can practise experiencing these feelings as sensations within the body, while maintaining awareness of our breathing and surroundings.
As we develop this ability, some of the emotional charge associated with past experiences may gradually lessen.
And this is how I see an important part of the healing process: learning to be with ourselves, accepting what we feel, and allowing unresolved emotional experiences to gradually become more manageable.
Take Your Time and Don’t Push Yourself
This is especially important when working with PTSD.
We need to approach these practices gently and gradually.
Start with small, manageable experiences in a place where you feel safe. You don’t need to push yourself into strong emotions or force yourself to process anything.
There may be times when reconnecting with your body feels difficult, or when the feelings become too overwhelming.
That’s okay. You can return your attention to your surroundings, take a break, or choose another grounding activity.
And sometimes we need additional support from a qualified trauma-informed professional to help us work safely with these experiences.
The important thing is to develop a foundation of inner safety, self-awareness, and acceptance at a pace that works for you.
Free 1-Hour Video Consultation
If you’re struggling with PTSD-related anxiety, emotional triggers, disconnection from your feelings, or difficulty feeling safe within yourself, I offer a free 1-hour video consultation. We can talk about what you’re experiencing, how it’s affecting your life, explore possible underlying patterns, discuss your goals for healing, and look at my counselling hypnotherapy process to see whether working together feels like the right fit.
Free 1-Hour Video Consultation: https://calendly.com/arnepedersen/free-consultation
Understanding What’s Real in the Present Moment
Another important part of this process is learning to recognize the difference between what is actually happening right now and what our mind may be telling us is happening.
For example, we might begin worrying about something that hasn’t happened or imagining that a situation will turn out badly.
Our mind creates a story, and our body may react with fear and anxiety as though that story is actually taking place.
It’s a little like waking up from a frightening dream.
For a moment, our body may still be experiencing the fear, even though we can look around and recognize that the danger was part of the dream.
Something similar can happen when past trauma influences our present perceptions.
When we recognize that a frightening thought is not necessarily a reflection of what’s actually happening, we can begin bringing our awareness back to our breathing, body, and surroundings.
We may then discover that we’re safer in the present moment than our initial emotional reaction suggested.
In Video 6, we’ll explore this distinction more deeply, looking at direct experience versus the stories and perceptions our minds create.
Explore the Complete PTSD Recovery Video Series
This article is part of my 10-video PTSD recovery series, where I explore how overwhelming experiences can influence our subconscious coping patterns, emotions, relationships, and perceptions of safety.
Throughout the series, I share simple mindfulness approaches for gradually rebuilding inner safety, reconnecting with body sensations, developing self-compassion, and working with the emotional patterns that may continue affecting our lives.
You can explore the complete series here:
https://www.hypnotherapyvictoria.com/ptsd/
FREE Self-Help Mindfulness Series
Developing the ability to reconnect with ourselves in the present moment is an important foundation for the approach to PTSD recovery I’ve been describing.
My FREE Self-Help Mindfulness Series introduces practical awareness skills that may help you gradually:
•Reconnect with your breathing and body sensations.
•Develop greater awareness of emotional triggers.
•Recognize when your thoughts are pulling you away from the present moment.
•Practise accepting feelings without automatically resisting them.
•Build a more compassionate and supportive relationship with yourself.
•Develop a stronger foundation of inner safety and present-moment awareness.
These practices can be approached gently, at your own pace, without forcing yourself to experience overwhelming emotions.
FREE Self-Help Mindfulness Series:
Counselling Hypnotherapy
Sometimes working with unresolved emotional experiences can be difficult on our own, especially when PTSD-related fears, anxiety, or subconscious coping patterns have become deeply established.
Through mindfulness-based counselling hypnotherapy, I work with people to explore the patterns influencing their present experiences and support them in developing greater self-awareness, acceptance, and emotional well-being.
You can learn more about my approach here:
Counselling Victoria:
Hypnotherapy Victoria:
Moving Forward With Greater Awareness and Acceptance
PTSD recovery doesn’t need to involve forcing ourselves back into painful memories or overwhelming emotional experiences.
We can begin by learning to feel safer within ourselves, reconnecting with our body sensations, and gradually developing the ability to experience our emotions with greater compassion and acceptance.
The present moment is where we can begin practising these skills, one manageable step at a time.
In the next video, we’ll look more closely at how to distinguish between what’s actually happening in the present moment and the fears or stories our minds may be creating.
I hope this video has been helpful, and I wish you a wonderful rest of your day.
Arne Pedersen
