Posttraumatic Revelations with Afrah Caraballo

In this episode we explore the idea of not just physical suicide, but emotional, psychological, financial, and professional suicide. You are invited to explore the idea of allowing yourself to feel and heal, instead of being weighed down and drowned by your posttraumatic pains. If you or someone you know is thinking about killing yourself/themselves, call the national hotline at 800-273-8255.

The perfection police are those negative thoughts that work to control and constrict your imagination and freedom. Those negative thoughts that tell you you're not good enough, smart enough, worthy enough. The perfection police try to keep you from being hurt, abandoned and betrayed by trying to convince you to stay small and out of sight. But perfection is about knowing you're complete and perfect now and can only get better.

Anxiety lets us know we care, and anxiety symptoms are coping strategies. Anxiety disorders are characterized by feelings of fear and anxiety and are all attempts at regaining a sense of control over our lives and potential future threats. This is an invitation to sit in your anxiety and discover your peace and freedom in the present moment, because while we cannot always control our environment, we can control ourselves. 

While the posttraumatic prison has it's place, we are created to be free. Our very essence demands it. Inside the posttraumatic prison walls of the judgement, guilt, and shame are the keys to freedom. This is an invitation to plan your escape to posttraumatic freedom. 

In the darkness of every winter is the seeds and promise of spring. In the posttraumatic darkness sits the seeds of love, hope, and healing. Just as all of nature responds to the call to rise out of the cold darkness of winter, we must respond to the call to move toward the light. Posttraumatic spring can be delayed and resisted, but not avoided. Our natural state is love, joy and health. Will you answer the call?

Depression is a coping strategy made up of various thoughts, feelings and behaviors all designed to reduce pain and suffering. Depression is the result of unresolved sadness, invalidated trauma, grief and loss. 

Where people are concerned, there is no ALWAYS or NEVER . There are always exceptions. These exceptions are like loose bricks in the wall of extreme and often rigid thinking that can happen posttaumatically. This episode looks at moving some of these bricks in the posttraumatic wall of judgment, guilt, and shame.  And creating windows of possibility. 

After every traumatic event, there's a door and at every door, there's a gatekeeper. Addressing, and negotiating with your gatekeepers for your freedom. 

Validating resistance and delayed healing

What does it take to start the healing process posttraumatically? Who has permission to hurt and heal?