PTSD Suffering and Why You Might be Holding Onto It

Let's talk about why you hold onto PTSD suffering.

Suffering can be just as self-indulgent as pleasure. When you live with the aftermath and symptoms of PTSD for a long time, they become a part of you.

Therefore you adapt, for better or for worse, in order to cope and survive.

Attachment to Suffering from PTSD

When you begin working and processing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms, you may become aware of the attachment you have to your past and even to your symptoms. You might also notice that they have become part of your character structure and give you a sense of self, ultimately giving you a sense of safety, even when it hurts.

This in itself can feel conflicting at times, as part of you wants to get rid of the suffering, while another part of you wants to hold on to the suffering as a sense of control. This is because the "unknown" is perceived as possibly more dangerous than your present "known" state.

Constructive Steps in Healing

Constructive trauma therapy needs to essentially address two parts in order to assist in alleviating suffering from PTSD:

  1. Process and work through emotional residue related to past experiences or periods; and
  2. Deal with the attachment to the "known", by addressing the habit of self-affirmation, which is tied to the need to control.

It takes diligent work to resolve suffering from PTSD.  You must restructure your perspective and examine the need and validity of holding onto control; this will allow new possibilities to open up, and help you to live a life that is no longer based on the past.

  • Kelly says:

    This is an interesting thought. I sometimes perceive that I keep myself caged by not letting go of the past; and more often I understand that it isn’t that easy. My trauma occurred over years and began before my earliest memories. It is truly woven throughout my personhood.

    That doesn’t stop me from wanting to heal past it… and this article helps me see another reason isn’t easy as simply letting go.

    • Roland says:

      It is not an easy to approach topic; to address one’s attachment to the known – which can be suffering. Good to hear it made you think about it.

  • Remy says:

    This writing resonated with me. I have PTSD from relationship trauma. My S/o took his own life in 2008. I found him. It’s really hard because I want to move forward but I don’t want to forget the past.

  • Nancy says:

    I am constantly having to reevaluate my thoughts and feelings to not continue the old path but to accept the new pattern. I don’t have to listen to those old tapes anymore I can go on a new journey without that baggage, it’s so hard not to slip back into those old thought patterns . I’m so thankful to be able to walk away from the pain and the fear and into freedom that I was meant to walk in all along .

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