PTSD
Today, post-traumatic stress disorder is more recognized as a legitimate mental health condition than it ever has been. PTSD has commonly been associated with military veterans traumatized by the horrors of war, but all humans, male and female, from all walks of life, are susceptible to mental health disorders. Trauma occurs without warning, often changing one’s life from the moment of the trauma onward, and mental health struggles can make life difficult to navigate. Understanding the mind and how it responds to trauma starts with the memory and the subconscious. This subject should certainly be navigated with the help of a mental or medical health professional. That being said, whether you have trauma or not, daily practices that support mental health should include some programming or reprogramming of the subconscious.
SUBCONSCIOUS AND MEMORY
The subconscious stores the memories we’re not conscious of. Our subconscious memory storage ranges from everyday procedures to bodily maintenance to
emotional conditioning. Trauma tends to imprint the mind in a deeper way than other experiences due to the heightened emotional energy that is released when the traumatic event takes place. This deep imprint in the memory can change behavior, causing unconscious responses
to triggers that remind the subconscious of the event.
IMPORTANCE OF EMOTIONAL REGULATION
Emotional control, as a whole, is a key trait needed for self-improvement, with or without a mental disorder. Our emotions are one of the leading causes behind imprinting the subconscious. This imprint is stored and influences the subconscious response to our actions in the future. A reaction from the subconscious may seem unintentional, but there is a direct correlation to a past emotional response that was stored by the subconscious. Whether we like it or not, we are constantly passing information to our subconscious. Learning to control your emotions is a sure-fire way to allow your subconscious to manifest a better you that is more in alignment with the change you seek.
EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS
Learning your triggers (things that upset or excite you) is very important when it comes to the ability to check and regulate your emotional response to outside factors. Unchecked emotions leave you at the mercy of the subconscious reaction, rather than giving you the ability to form a thoughtful response. So, it is in our best interest to become aware of our emotions and what we’re communicating to our subconscious. Becoming more emotionally aware is not an overnight process. To function optimally, we need to come to an understanding of why we’re reacting the way we are. The reason is usually an attachment that has been deeply imprinted in the subconscious. Attachments like fear, insecurity, and embarrassment are some of the main emotions that will cause an uninvited reaction and usually leave us feeling out of control, or worse.
SELF-TALK AND PTSD
On a daily basis, our perspective is shaped by our internal mental conversation. How are we talking about ourselves, others, and the world at large? Self-talk that rationalizes the events and triggers that come up daily is an effective way to reimprint your subconscious and your opinion of past trauma. Daily positive affirmations and mantras, instead of negative, critical, or limiting self-talk, is mandatory to convince your subconscious of a change in personal opinion. Personal feelings about trauma can be frightening and it can be very difficult to understand the root of the repeating experience. Consult a mental health professional if available. However, we still have a responsibility to ourselves to communicate with our subconscious daily in a way that brings out the healthiest versions of ourselves.
WAYS TO IMPROVE
- COGNITIVE REFRAMING: Positive self-talk that is geared specifically to reframing negative thoughts changes the subconscious over time.
- COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY: Therapy helps identify and change negative thought patterns.
- MINDFULNESS / MEDITATION: Daily awareness will be needed to stay consistent. Awareness can be increased by paying attention to the nonstop chatter of the mind. Meditation brings the consciousness inward, increasing awareness and allowing for a more direct approach to positive self-talk.
- JOURNALING: Writing out affirmations, or just writing down your thoughts and feelings, can help you get perspective on those feelings, especially if they are negative and need adjustment.
- PROFESSIONAL HELP: Mental health professionals can provide tools and techniques to help raise your awareness of your self-talk.
THE LONG HAUL
Mental health is just as important as physical health. Whether you have a diagnosed disorder or not, mental health is something that is crucial to a life of longevity. Being aware of what you’re feeding your mind, from what you’re watching, listening to, or telling yourself, plays a big role in determining how your subconscious interacts with you. Though subtle, our daily mental inputs are either triggering negative feelings or positive, encouraging feelings. The flow of data our brains are bombarded with daily is astounding and can’t be completely controlled. That being said, when we do have control, we need to be diligent and only allow those influences that encourage healing and health for the body as a whole. Remember, some of these issues may need to be discussed with a mental health professional, but whether you need professional help or not, there are plenty of tools that can be used from the privacy of your home or within the comforts of your private life.
Becoming more aware of your energy and learning to calm yourself through breathing exercises, such as belly breathing or counting down every exhale from 10-1 while relaxing your stomach, can help you manage your energy and emotions. Let this encourage you to do your own research with an open mind, and organize a daily system for checking in with yourself and monitoring your mental state. Adjust it as needed. Self-love is the best love and taking charge of your mental health will only make you better for those around you.
