Healing Plan

[Cascade]

Hi group,
I wasn't sure where to put this; feel free to move it.  Things have been a little fragmented for me since starting therapy about six weeks ago.  This is my attempt to start fitting some of the pieces together.  I've been working on some of these pieces in therapy, but also started some of it on my own through psychoeducation and by using this forum before I found my therapist.

This is kind of a big picture of some steps to expect in the healing process.  My therapist and I had a review day yesterday.  The first three steps are what she laid out.  I added the fourth one to remind me that we're setting expectations.  I'd been getting upset about not being "fully functional" yet.  My therapist pointed out that things I thought to be stabilization (like returning to work) were more realistically likely to happen after some of the most intense processing is behind me.  Stabilization is more like just meeting basic needs and trying new coping skills... the first two steps.

Of course, the disclaimer is that this is the plan I discussed with my therapist.  It was helpful to know she is facilitating or guiding me along a known path, and that she is being transparent about what to expect along this particular path.  Everyone's path is different.  This is where I am!
   -Cascade


Healing Plan

1.  Establish trust

• This began with myself, by seeing that I could actually minimize my life and manage to take care of my own basic needs.
• It remains a work in progress.  Whether I actually do take care of myself is still hit or miss, though gradually improving.
• In therapy, this is establishing trust with the therapist.

2.  Gather resources

• Continue to meet basic needs.
• Practice neuropathways of safety and protection.
• Practice neuropathways of comfort.
• Practice neuropathways of success (to feel big instead of small).
• Practice neuropathways of play.

3.  Process trauma

• Trial run with a small, minor trigger.
• Identify negative cognitions (beliefs).
• Work with several larger triggers and arising cognitions.
• Reprocessing will naturally flow to other instances and triggers.
• Slowly dissolve the shame-based identity.

4.  Return to functionality

• Working
• Social activities

[Papa Coco]

Cascade,

I really like your list. You are truly taking your healing plan seriously. Making an actionable list like this seems to me like it's something only a person who is ready to take control of their life would do. 

I wish you absolutely the best as you work through this plan for healing and getting back into mainstream working/social life.

   

[Cascade]

Thanks so much, Papa Coco!

I appreciate your encouragement.  I'm really glad I have a therapist who is willing to be so transparent about what to expect.  It helps ease my anxiety a lot when I know the process and feel ready.
   -Cascade

[Chart]

Hey Cascade! Excellent plan! Sounds like you've got a really good T and having worked out this plan is excellent. I'm fascinated by the "diversity" of all of our healing strategies. It helps so much to be able to integrate certain parts to refine our own treatment. Thanks so much for posting this and I'm right there with ya supporting all the way.
👍 "pouce en l'aire !"
 

[AphoticAtramentous]

Thanks for sharing this, Cascade. It's interesting to see people's individual experiences in therapy. Also helps to see where I might be going wrong on my own path. Of course, everyone's journey is slightly different - but the added perspectives help a lot to rethink and refine things.
Also interesting how easier it is to feel optimistic when you have such a transparent plan laid out like that. Most therapists are supposedly meant to follow planned structures like this but don't actually make this apparent to their client, and only usually follow it in the background. But that makes progress so much harder to track, and it can make it feel like there's no end goal in sight.

Regards,
Aphotic.

[Cascade]

Chart,
Thanks for your support and enthusiasm!

Aphotic,
Glad you found the transparency helpful.  I always need a plan so I can stay on track, and in this case, avoid putting the cart before the horse.  I also think I'm trying to manage my own expectations... of therapy and myself!
   -Cascade

[Lakelynn]

Cascade,

I want to add my admiration and  for your list. 

I'm reading this thread and seeing strong, powerful ideas, commitments and plans.

[Cascade]

Hi Lakelynn,
Aww, thank you for your perspective on this as strong and powerful.  It's a little intimidating because now that it's laid out, it looks so simple but is devastatingly difficult.

So glad you're here with such support! 
   -Cascade