"In some sense, a person is her wounds. A sapling, planted beside a supportive stake that the gardener neglects to remove, will grow around the stake. The stake's presence will injure the growing tree; the tree will adapt by distorting its "natural" shape to accommodate the stake. But the mature tree will be the shape it has taken; it cannot be "cured" of the injury, the injury is an intrinsic aspect of its nature." (The Mystery of Analytical Work, p. 175)- Carl Jung
So lately I've been in a little bit of an emotional hot spot lately. I did some reading about it, especially on the neat website metanoia.org. There's a section on there devoted to trauma, specifically how heightened emotional events can be traumatic.
I've always perceived trauma in relation to a very specific, isolated, physical event (abuse, war, etc.) Generally, something where the outward circumstances of everyday were different from, well, everyday life. The article talks about how trauma can occur anywhere, at any time, and has more to do with our emotional state than physical. For instance, a traumatic emotional event at home can leave someone feeling traumatized just because of their perception of something.
I realize this is a question of blurred divisions between physical and emotional circumstance, but it's made me reframe my way of thinking about events in my life.
What are the traumas I've experienced that I didn't know were traumatic? What things left me in a weakened or sensitive state that, because I thought they were "normal," were never given the care and consideration they deserve? What old hurts am I still healing from because I never knew what they were or what they would do?
There's lots of serious introspection here. I hope you do some, too. Maybe it will help you release the past once you've found where it's been stored up.
So lately I've been in a little bit of an emotional hot spot lately. I did some reading about it, especially on the neat website metanoia.org. There's a section on there devoted to trauma, specifically how heightened emotional events can be traumatic.
I've always perceived trauma in relation to a very specific, isolated, physical event (abuse, war, etc.) Generally, something where the outward circumstances of everyday were different from, well, everyday life. The article talks about how trauma can occur anywhere, at any time, and has more to do with our emotional state than physical. For instance, a traumatic emotional event at home can leave someone feeling traumatized just because of their perception of something.
I realize this is a question of blurred divisions between physical and emotional circumstance, but it's made me reframe my way of thinking about events in my life.
What are the traumas I've experienced that I didn't know were traumatic? What things left me in a weakened or sensitive state that, because I thought they were "normal," were never given the care and consideration they deserve? What old hurts am I still healing from because I never knew what they were or what they would do?
There's lots of serious introspection here. I hope you do some, too. Maybe it will help you release the past once you've found where it's been stored up.
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