What does it mean to me?
Not getting on the fast train to nowhere.
Choosing to get on the slow train - the recovery train!
Having more intuition and discernment on board to know when I’m in a triggering situation.
Having my loving parent on-board to guide me through the feelings, and what to do next.
I can talk with fellow travelers to get my head “set back on straight.”
Unconditional acceptance.
Meetings help, literature can help, journaling, physical activity.
Take care of HALT issues (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired)
Taste something, touch something, hear something to ground me.
Ask myself what am I feeling? (A “feelings check-in”)
Pay attention to JADE (Justify, Argue, Defend, and Explain)
and Shame/Blame/Criticize/Judge.
Often the triggers are one-time issues and someone else is making global statements…
“You always…”, “You never…”
My loving parent talks back to these statements with specifics that refute the current statement.
Helps me get grounded and know it is not true.
I also have a glass bell jar on my fireplace mantel.
It has a little Japanese pagoda in it, representing me, my body, and my safety.
I think of verbal statements and assaults hitting the glass bell jar and hitting the floor.
I get to decide if it is mine, has anything to do with me. If I will take it into my heart.
Ah, boundaries! Such a great thing too.
Many more tools than the hammer (sledge hammer?)
that was in my toolbox when I found the program!
Lena L
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