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What brings you here to see me today?
These thoughts in my head, that won't go away.
Can you tell me what these thoughts are about?
My buddy was killed, but I made it out.
How do you feel about his untimely death?
Just remembering, takes away my breath.
My chest tightens and my heart will race,
In vivid detail I see what's left of his face.
I watched helplessly as he was blown to bits.
As the sky rained fire from an aerial blitz.
I can't get the picture out of my head,
of his shattered body, as he lay there dead.
That must have been extremely difficult for you,
As it's likely there was nothing you could do.
It is impossible to know the reason why,
you lived that day and he had to die.
Did you think you were going to die as well?
I didn't think I'd make it through that living hell.
I felt guilty when I looked at the bloody debris,
and ashamed that I was thankful it wasn't me.
We can look back and say," If only I had....."
Could you have foreseen it would turn out bad?
How could you have stopped a missile shower?
Unless you are God, you had no power.
How did you manage to stay alive?
I dove in a bunker and prayed I survive.
To this day I jump when I hear a loud sound,
and fight the urge to drop to the ground.
What aspect of the trauma troubles you most?
This may sound crazy but I see his ghost.
I see fear in his eyes, and hear him scream.
I can't be sure if it's real or a dream.
How are these dreams affecting your life?
Well I once woke up and was choking my wife.
I'm afraid to sleep, so I'm tired all day.
I'm convinced God no longer hears me pray.
I feel irritable and angry for no good reason,
particularly when there is a change in season.
Could you say more, so I'm on the right track?
The damp smell of spring takes me back.
What kinds of things do you do to cope?
I run five miles a day, and like to jump rope.
It helps me to chill and numbs the pain.
It stills the madness churning in my brain.
One of the first steps towards reaching healing,
is being in touch with these powerful feelings.
Trauma can leave the mind in torment.
It is a normal response to an abnormal event.
Numbing and denial are ways we withdraw.
It doesn't mean you have a character flaw.
The mind will 'time out' until a person is capable,
of confronting the feelings that become inescapable.
So are you saying I'm not going stark raving mad?
Sounds like you're ready to stop feeling bad
Together we will figure out, what you can do,
for psychological wounds need attention too.
Your experience is now part of who you are.
The challenge is to learn to live with the scars.
Trauma can hold blessings in disguise.
You've survived thus far, all the more wise.
It is time to end our session today.
I feel better already. I 'can' be okay.
Yes, you can, if you want it that way.
Take caution to not let your hope decay.
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(intrusive memories)
(panic, anxiety)
(ruminations)
(preoccupation with the trauma)
(survivor guilt)
(exaggerated startle response)
(triggers)
(hallucinations/disassociation)
(re-experiencing/flashbacks)
(sleep disturbance)
(altered belief system)
(anger/rage/depression)
(trigger)
(psychological numbing)
(avoidance)
(coping mechanisms)
(integration)
(empowerment)
(reframing)
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