Traumatic memories and spiritual peace and calm

[Robert_Sock]

It seems that our world is filled with trauma, whether actual life events, dreams, or through the mass media, such as violent movies and the news. I believe that when such emotionally-charged memories become activated, whether, in the conscious or deep within the unconscious, our spiritual state is going to suffer greatly.

There are even psychologists who believe that we remember everything that takes place during an operation at a deep unconscious level even though we were under anesthesia. These traumatic memories too, I believe, can cause all sorts of havoc, such as anxiety, when they become activated and we are totally unaware of them. Needless to say, I also believe that these unconscious memories can affect our spiritual peace and calm if, and when, they become activated.

On a positive note, I believe that God has the miraculous power to circumvent these things and make our spiritual life whole again, no matter the trauma we have been through!

On a more personal note, I have been having relationship problems with my daughter, for who know what reasons, and the more I try to work things out, the more painful traumatically memories have been entering into my consciousness and disrupting my spiritual peace and calm. I think I have come to the realization that God may want us separated for a while, perhaps to bring about a greater good! It’s difficult, but I think I have come to the realization that I should just let things be. Besides, I believe that God should be my only true source of consolation!

I would be most interested in what people think of my comments and theory?

 

[pianistclare]

These are questions for your therapist.
The internet can give you other people’s (strangers) ideas, but it matters little unless you reflect on your personal situation with a good adviser who knows your history.

 

[BarbTh]

These are questions for your therapist.
The internet can give you other people’s (strangers) ideas, but it matters little unless you reflect on your personal situation with a good adviser who knows your history.

Sound and excellent advice!..I am a bipolar disorder sufferer and had traumatic memories of 20 years in the revolving door of a psychiatric unit. The trauma of those events have now passed in the main, while memory of course remains on a come and go basis and I have no idea if I can recall it all at any time. I do not indulge or dwell in either memories of those 20 years nor the trauma of it all. My journey was and is with both spiritual direction and my psychiatrist.

Ten years ago quite suddenly all serious bipolar episodes ceased altogether. I am still a sufferer of the illness but thinking and behaviour remains totally in my control not out of control as during serious episodes. I continue to see my psychiatrist on a quite voluntary basis and am very strict on myself about taking medication prescribed.

God bless
…and do speak with a therapist of some kind and a good spiritual director would be helpful as well .

 

[Robert_Sock]

These are questions for your therapist.
The internet can give you other people’s (strangers) ideas, but it matters little unless you reflect on your personal situation with a good adviser who knows your history.

From my own personal experiences, having traumatic thoughts is mostly spiritual in nature, and can be best cured by developing a good relationship with God. Atheistic therapists, in my own experience, are counterproductive and spiritually dangerous for Catholics.

 

[Robert_Sock]

These are questions for your therapist.
The internet can give you other people’s (strangers) ideas, but it matters little unless you reflect on your personal situation with a good adviser who knows your history.

Keep in mind that I myself have much training in psychodynamic psychology and received my Ph, D. from UCLA in 1990. What I presented here really psychodynamic in nature, which many therapists are ill prepared to deal with since their training is often from a cognitive behavioral perspective.

 

[acadiANNA]

I will definitely pray for you, and your daughter.

 

[BarbTh]

From my own personal experiences, having traumatic thoughts is mostly spiritual in nature, and can be best cured by developing a good relationship with God. Atheistic therapists, in my own experience, are counterproductive and spiritually dangerous for Catholics.

Some truth for sure in the above, although not always so and not accurate as a sweeping generalization. My own traumatic thoughts were related to past trauma I had experienced. Returning memories sometimes were accompanied by the traumatic feeling level too. The returning traumatic feelings have all ceased now and gradually ceased once my serious bipolar episodes had ceased.

Also my psychiatrist over many years now (probably at least 12 years, at least!) is an atheist. She respects my Faith and acknowledges that it has been a help to me. In fact we sometimes discuss Catholicism and she raises the questions. She was my psychiatrist both
pre and now post serious bipolar episodes now ceasing. She has certainly been a better help and support to me than a Catholic psychiatrist I consulted in the past and one with a very sound reputation in our diocese.

My initial spiritual director (pre and post onset of bipolar when I was 28yrs old - now 72 almost) was a priest religious and theologian who lived and lectured in our seminary. He remained my SD until his death of cancer.

One day he said to me “The priest and the psychiatrist work together, you see”
Me “Do you know my psychiatrist?”
Father: “No I don’t”

Later reflection told me of course, that the above communication is an underscoring of our Catholic Doctrine of Divine Providence. See CCC :

scborromeo.org/ccc/para/313.htm
V. GOD CARRIES OUT HIS PLAN: DIVINE PROVIDENCE

No. 313 “We know that in everything God works for good for those who love him.” The constant witness of the saints confirms this truth:

St. Catherine of Siena said to “those who are scandalized and rebel against what happens to them”: “Everything comes from love, all is ordained for the salvation of man, God does nothing without this goal in mind.”

St. Thomas More, shortly before his martyrdom, consoled his daughter: “Nothing can come but that that God wills. And I make me very sure that whatsoever that be, seem it never so bad in sight, it shall indeed be the best.”

Dame Julian of Norwich: “Here I was taught by the grace of God that I should steadfastly keep me in the faith… and that at the same time I should take my stand on and earnestly believe in what our Lord shewed in this time - that ‘all manner [of] thing shall be well.’”

As with a spiritual director, if consulting a therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist etc. one should prayerfully discern … and the first couple of appointments or so (whatever needed) are for that purpose. If one starts to doubt one’s professional, it might be (prayerfully) time to move on. Divine Providence is always with us as is The Holy Spirit - i.e. we need to prayerfully use our intelligence and common sense. The Doctrine of Divine Providence is not a call to passivity.

Nowadays I am completely at Peace even in quite difficult situations.

 

[BarbTh]

I see my psychiatrist probably four times at the most yearly nowadays. When our sessions are talking about Catholicism in the main, I regard that as an opportunity to evangelise.
One of the last things my priest religious theologian director said to me was "Go merrily through life casting your seeds…and don’t you hang around to see what happens, will you?’

Some time later in reflecting on the parable of the Sower Sowing Seed, it struck me that the sower throws his seed willy nilly into all sorts of soil and never hangs around to see what happens it seems

Evangelising can be sowing seeds.

 

[pianistclare]

Robert, you local Chancery can give you the name and number of any number of CATHOLIC therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists.
Just ask.

 

[Robert_Sock]

Robert, you local Chancery can give you the name and number of any number of CATHOLIC therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists.
Just ask.

Thanks, but I just found a strongly spiritual Protestant therapist that I felt very comfortable with during our first visit.

 

[BarbTh]

I think that God is our only source of comfort and consolation always in all circumstances and many indeed are His channels of same - and that He can and does work miracles at times. We don’t presume on this however.

I regard medicine for example as God’s Gift to mankind in the struggle against suffering in all forms. I am grateful to God for medicine in all its forms. That does not mean of course, common sense tells me, that all medical professionals are of necessity good. The other thing is that one doctor is very suited to one person, while another doctor to another. - and the same can go for spiritual directors.

As pianistclare posted, Catholic therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists are available through one’s diocesan offices usually - as are spiritual directors. In my diocese, a phone call to diocesan offices will provide a list with names and contact telephone numbers.