Individual Therapy: The Spiritual Journey Continues

7/26/2013

It's strange for me. I am looking for spiritual fulfillment and I am still not able to find something that will work for me. When I sat down with my therapist to continue our discussion, I told her that I have had no success in finding anything that I think I can incorporate into my daily life that will provide me with the spiritual fulfillment that I need. I told her that I was talking to a buddy I served with in Iraq that had offered to take me scuba diving. I plan on taking him up on the offer. The problem is that I can't go scuba diving every day.

It's giving me fits.

So I am putting the call out there. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I have been driving myself nuts looking on the internet for any type of spiritual practice that I think could help me find peace. I decided to back off the search for a while. I think that I have been looking too hard and people say that when you stop looking, you find what you are looking for. Time to sit back and relax and just enjoy the coming week.

It's all about focus. I am going to put my efforts into the non-profit and find some fulfillment there. It will help short-term AND it will put my plans for the non-profit into sharp focus. It's not like I don't have anything to do. Logos. Business plans. Newsletters. Board meeting. Business meetings. Continued tweaking of the websites. It's a lot to do but I love doing it.

My therapist expressed concern that I may be over-extending myself. I thought about it but I just can't see it. If running the non-profit is the only thing that gives you at least some semblance of spiritual peace, wouldn't you work on it a lot?

Pamela Foster link

7/26/2013 03:24:10 pm

We towed a trailer the length of Mexico and set it up on the Caribbean. THAT will get your adrenaline flowing. Then we dived twice a day for five years. My husband's PTSD was still there, no doubt of that. But his rage and anxiety and, well his PTSD was much more manageable.

K. Dault link

7/27/2013 05:22:12 am

Sometimes just peace and quiet can help re-center you. I commute to work each day, a drive of about 25 minutes which is mostly in the country. It's often the only time during the day it's quiet enough to hear myself think. :)
(That and first thing in the morning, in the bathtub, while the countryside is still sleeping...too much info, I know)

The car is like a cocoon of sorts; you control the temperature, the music, no music. Sometimes I listen to audio books to learn something new, other times just for sheer entertainment. In the quiet of that car, I've tackled Christmas lists, To-Do Lists for our Charity, given myself pep talks, ..even had arguments where I "play" both sides so that by the time I'm home, there IS no future argument because I've talked myself out of a moment of anger...and saw that perhaps the other side had a point. Other times God and I have a little chat or I enjoy the sound of silence while seeing the turkey, deer, fox, squirrels and raccoons making their way to and from.

Just saying that although scuba diving is a great goal, you're right, you can't do it every day. But you can find a space for you. That doesn't make you anti-social, it makes a human who needs a chance to re-boot. :) Good luck!

Amber

7/27/2013 05:37:30 am

What works for me is anything that either helps me to connect with nature or the present moment. Yoga, meditation, stargazing, hiking, etc are all good. Surprisingly enough documentaries can be great for feeling inspired, if they're about nature or the universe.

For yourself, I wonder if it'd help to look at what aspects of the non-profit you like the best (helping others, creative control, mentally engaging, etc) and see how you can extend those positive aspects into other hobbies? For example if you like the creative aspect, you could try out something like art, music, writing a novel, freelance web design, etc. Whatever you choose, take your time with it and try not to overthink things.

Max Harris

7/28/2013 10:23:26 pm

Amber, thanks for the advice. I am actively looking into yoga for PTSD. As for the other bits of advice, I will have to think over them and see how I can adapt them for me and find out if any of them work. Thanks!

7/28/2013 10:25:14 pm

The quiet time I already take for reflection. I used to like bike rides but the drivers around here no longer respect the road. Grrrrrrr.

Dad

7/30/2013 04:01:03 am

Max - The closest I get to spiritual is while observing the sky on a dark night. Happy to "share" with you sometime if you want to give it a try.

Max Harris link

8/2/2013 02:22:09 pm

Thanks for the offer, dad, but both of us crammed into your observatory staring celestial objects is not my cup of tea. Now, the Perseid Meteor Shower, that's cool.

Donna

7/31/2013 04:15:05 pm

Being in nature is always the best, places with wind and water have a lot more energy..better for clearing blocked energy. It is always good to set the intention before you go if your trying to clear blocks. Deep breathing many issues of PTSD reside in the solar plex area, deep breathing into your gut.. In with healing energy out with the bad.

8/2/2013 02:24:26 pm

Donna,
I already use the deep breathing exercises as a way to manage my anger. My wife is a massage therapist and is also certified in Reiki and Shiatsu. She can do some amazing things...

Shelby Matthews

8/5/2013 02:54:58 am

You are in my prayers often, Max - for what it's worth.

8/5/2013 12:21:26 pm

Thanks, Shelby. It means a lot to me.

Comments are closed.

Living with PTSD:
Every Day is a New Day