The Serenity Prayer

GOD, GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO
ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE,
COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN
AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW
THE DIFFERENCE. 

GOD, GRANT ME PATIENCE WITH THE CHANGES THAT TAKE TIME,
AN APPRECIATION FOR ALL THAT I HAVE,
TOLERANCE OF THOSE
WITH DIFFERENT STRUGGLES
AND
THE STRENGTH TO GET UP AND TRY AGAIN

…ONE DAY AT A TIME!

The Real Meaning of the Lord’s Prayer

Radiant sunshine beauty over water

As you know “Lord’s Prayer” was given to us directly by Jesus Christ and most Christians pray it daily.

However, most Christians recite the Lord’s Prayer without thinking about its real meaning.

You will be astonished by my sharing that the prayer is meant to help the growth of our soul or spirit and for a closer relationship with God. It contains all we need for our salvation.

“OUR FATHER”

This first phrase tells us “who” we are. Our relationship with God is like that of a father and child.

Jesus said: “If you, who are so full love, nevertheless do your best for your children, how much more will God who is altogether good, do for you.” It is a cosmic law that “like begets like.” We the offspring of God’s Divine Nature must be essentially Divine Spirit too.

It also tells us God exists, is not a punishing God but the loving Father of mankind. “Our Father” indicates we are all brothers and sisters and that all individuals and nations on Earth are equal.

It also implies it is important to pray for all mankind as well as ourselves. There is no spiritual bondage in our Oneness.

“Who Art in Heaven”

Our Father Who is in heaven, the term declares the Presence of God. God created humans to express through his soul, His Love here in many glorious ways starting with the human physical body, his home, his work, and play. God and man have their different roles in the bigger picture.

“Hallowed Be Thy Name”

This is old English meaning “holy,” “whole,” “wholesome” “heal,” or “healed.” In other words, His nature is altogether good and sends us not our difficulties. This prayer shows us that we must acknowledge Him as “hallowed” and He will show us how we can overcome the problems that we create ourselves.

“Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done, on Earth as it is in Heaven”

”Thy kingdom come” means that it is our duty to be always occupied in helping to establish the Kingdom Of God on earth.

Each man is an individualized consciousness here on earth and individualized also means undivided, not divided in Spirit. Our work is to bring more and more of God’s ideas into concrete manifestation/form on this physical plane. In constant prayer we find what God’s Will is for us. Once our will is God’s Will we have established heaven on Earth.

“Give Us this Day Our Day Our Daily Bread”

Dear Reader. Surprise. In the Bible bread means much more than food clothing, shelter, our jobs for our physical body. It also means that it is the Will of God that we lead a fulfilling life moment by moment and all times in unfolding fashion.

In our life on Earth, we must recognize God and God alone as the Source of all our good, our total Being physically and Spiritually. The most important inner meaning of our daily bread is realizing that He is present with us; feeling this makes us totally spiritual Beings. Because God, all good, all powerful, all wise, and all-loving, we have nothing to fear. As we think about Him, in our experiences, we get a glimpse of Him as our Creator.

It is our realization, our experience which marks the progress of the soul, bread is the substance of this hoped for, evidence of things not seen. Jesus refers to bread, as our hidden manna, as the nourishment of the soul, that gives humans all things for action in truth.

This must come spontaneously as a result of regular daily praying the Lord’s Prayer. This will remind us to live in the present moment, of realization of God. right here and right now. This makes us the instruments and expression of God Himself.

This Enlightenment gives us temporary and eternal Joy.

“Forgive Us Our Trespasses, As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us”

This is the main part of our salvation.

Here Jesus teaches us that forgiveness involves 2 parts which must occur simultaneously.  First, we must declare we have forgiven ourselves and all others. Second, our own forgiveness is dependent on that.

We must not only forgive personal experiences but also extend forgiveness to all humanity which is the Truth of our Being.

But much more is implied in the “Forgiveness Statement.”

Sin is a sense of separation from God. Separation does not exist. Our true Being lives in Him and are all One with God, undivided, expressing His Nature of only a Loving God. It is all spiritual because we ae one with the greater Whole it follows that we are one with all humanity.

Perhaps the Reader has learned that we are actually a soul/spirit living in a body temple and not the other way around. This helps make sense of all the implied information.

When the Truth described is not believed, thinking we can live apart, we are in the state called “fall of man.”

That is why Jesus taught the far-reaching power of forgiveness.

We must positively extend forgiveness to everyone who we think we have injured, or they have injured us. So again, for us to be forgiven we must forgive all others. Now having discontinued our own mistakes, we have to accept the forgiveness of God for them too.

Forgiveness includes people who have not hurt us very much and people who have injured us deeply and caused much suffering.

All of the above must be completed to set others free in order to set ourselves free. The Christ Truth has set us both free, and our soul is saved.

More must be mentioned.  If we find forgiveness difficult, we should know that all we need to do is be “willing” to start the process and must be repeated over and over again until forgiveness is completed.

Also, we are “not” obliged to “like” everyone, but we have a binding obligation to “love” everyone, as “charity” is used in the Bible. Jesus said we must love one another, as I love you.

Finally, we should practice general forgiveness every day. Simply say: “I freely forgive everyone.” Slowly, we find ourselves cleared of all resentment and leave the judgement to God. This will make our life happier physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

“Lead Us Not into Temptation But Deliver us from Evil”

God could and would not lead us into temptation. The more we pray daily and the more spiritual we become, the greater difficulties we meet which may lead us to “spiritual pride.”

So, we must remember that our greater knowledge brings us to greater responsibility, and we must not violate it. Let’s not forget the Lord’s own ordeal in the wilderness. Therefore, Jesus inserted this clause that we may not have to meet anything that is too much for us at the present level of our understanding. “Nothing shall by any means hurt you. Behold I am with you always.”

“For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory For Ever and Ever”

The Kingdom here means all Creation in all dimensions.

Power is only of God Let’s hold the thought that it is really God who is working through us. We gain efficiency by saying, “God is inspiring me.”

The Glory is God’s too. All three bring us inner eternal Joy.

Author’s conclusion.

Every time I recite this Prayer, alone or in groups, I feel warm fuzzy Love in my heart. My soul lights up because the prayer shows how God brings me closer to Him because He loves all of us/humanity.

Amen.

Note:  Some of the content was found and simplified from  “The Sermon On The Mount” by Emmet Fox.

 

Life’s Big Questions Answered: A Dive into the Beatitudes

Why am I here?  Who am I?

These are two of Life’s big questions that most people on Earth ask themselves.
I believe they are answered here .
Life’s Big Questions Answered: A Dive into the Beatitudes

Why am I here? My purpose on Earth

The Beatitudes Sermon on the mountTo know this, we must understand the deeper meanings of the beatitudes from the Sermon on the mount. This post is a collection and summary of many of the sermons or teachings of Jesus Christ.

The word “mount” means “highest.”.  In other words, the Beatitudes are the “best” of Christ’s Blessings/Teachings /Advice for us to apply every day to overcome our problems, and help our souls grow. This is why we are!

This is the purpose of our life. It is to do our best; not try to be perfect.

The Beatitudes refer to our state of mind, of what we think and experience.

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This is for us to realize that we, “our spirits or souls” live on earth as a person in a physical body. It is a challenge to have a loving relationship with Christ or God – this makes us poor in spirit. So, we must learn to eliminate everything blocking our Way to God.

This includes overcoming worldly attachments: importance of $$$, money, public honor, approval of others and, are not over-awed by human authority anymore.

Our past errors or mistakes are allowed.

I call the past beliefs: FIBS- false ideas and beliefs. We were mistaken, and need and are able to change them. When we do this by re-examining our lives and correcting our thinking and behavior a little bit every day, we can also live in the kingdom of heaven every while on Earth.

Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.

The mourning results when we experience struggles and pain. We are comforted by feeling the Truth of our “feelings” which set us free.

Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.

This means that our painful experiences (earth) give us dominion or ability to transform them all into harmony and true success.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.

“Righteousness” is the Bible word meaning not only the right human behavior. It also means, what we think in our mind we will be produced in our experience. As within so without. We cannot think of a certain thing and produce another.

Therefore, righteous are spiritual, God thoughts that we must think in order to be filled, that is, satisfied. Like begets like. …as a man soweth in his unseen thoughts, so shall he reap in that which is seen.

All things work together for good to those who love good.

When we awaken to a knowledge of these great Truths, we naturally begin to apply them in our lives, i.e., put order in our house. Our progress is slower in physical expression and takes unceasing vigilance. As we claim we are in the Presence of God, we must also claim by praying for wisdom and guidance.

When we are truly wholeheartedly in our efforts – hungering and thirsting for righteousness, we shall surely be filled – or satisfied and content in God.

Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain-shown mercy.

It really matters whether we are merciful or forgiving in our thoughts. The true thought about our fellowman blesses him spiritually, mentally, and materially; and blesses us as well. That’s the Christ Truth that sets us all free. In freeing others from my condemnation, I make it possible to absolve myself for self-condemnation.

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

Who does Christ say is “pure at heart?” For the answer we must go to our Bible. It means much more than physical purity. It is those of us humans who believe that only God is our Creator and the only Real Power that exists.

We then not only believe this in out “conscious” mind-in head. We all have found this Truth in our sub-conscious mind,” -in our heart. It is moving “head” knowledge to “heart” knowledge. This makes the real Presence: “wholehearted” in all our thoughts, words and actions bringing our wills into perfect harmony with His Will. Like Jesus can be pure of heart to pray and practice Presence of God.

That brings us to “seeing” God. There is nothing corporeal, physical, about God. We only have spiritual perception seeing Him and call it Heaven. It is another name for the His Presence that is in us, our livingness, around us, without space or time and is unlimited and eternal.

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.

This is the most practical teaching of Christ -showing us how prayer is the means to directly communicate with God. It is the only way: action with conversation, vocal, mental or contemplation.

We are acting and changing our character for the better and the growth of our soul.  It is as though we have been born anew. “…let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. This gives us the sense of the Presence of God that leads us to peace of mind and serenity. Serenity is found by prayer of forgiving others and ourselves. The peace revealed in our soul makes us children of God filled with God Thoughts of Wisdom and Love.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Persecutions are only struggles and temptations within us, even as Jesus had experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Our surroundings and other people cannot harm us.

Jesus taught that the Will of God for us is harmony, peace and joy cultivated by our right thoughts, the kingdom of heaven.

Author Bettina “Sparkles” Obernuefemann Conclusion

Author’s book “Modern Disciples” shows us how to apply these teachings of Christ and can be found on Amazon.
Bettina Sparkles click here.

I trust these clarifications helped the Reader and remind everyone that we are Children of God, little Gods, and can never be separated according to Christ, only Love is “real” and “fear” is only illusion.

I like to reflect on what Jesus Christ said that the Father and I are one, I in you, and you in Me. All this shows us the Oneness of God and most spiritual meaning is beyond human understanding. At least we got a glimpse of His great Love for us in the Beatitudes.

INNER CHILD’S BEST CHRISTMAS

When you use my way to connect with your Inner Child (IC) it will make you happy anytime and especially at Christmas time.
Every one of us individually and all humanity globally is burnt out after dealing with the Pandemic over two years.

People around the globe can pray for each other.

Or you can also follow the old saying, “Let there be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me.”

I did this by finding Inner Peace by having conversation with my Inner Child. IC., my little girl.

For you to start, open your journal and place a baby picture of yourself on top of page.

Start the first paragraph with
“Dear little…”    using the name, you were called first.

You then continue, “I have neglected you way too long and not acknowledged all the bad things that happened to you as a baby and young child. But I am here for you now. Believe me when I say that you did not deserve the ill treatment. I am your good new caretaker and will always keep you safe.  Would you like that?”

Little Child: “Oh, hello. I thought that you would never come to take care of me.  I am so excited.  You mean, you are really going to keep me safe?”

Adult You: “Yes, dear One. I promise you. I will also pay attention to how you feel, what you say, understand and love you?”

Little Child: “You mean it? It would be a much better way to live. It’s a new beginning.”

Adult You: “Yes, it’s a new start for both of us. We will both be happier. We can do this together.”

The above is one example of many dialogues you can have.

It will be the best Christmas present if you now, at this present time, let your inner child know it is good enough and deserves Love.

Our Inner Child feels so neglected because we often turn away from it and look on outside for happiness.
Happiness never comes from the out-side, NEVER.

Use my Soul-ution and find a joyous Christmas by connecting with you Inner Child, Guidance, or soul.

HAPPINESS IS AN INSIDE JOB.

Living in an Unlimited Bubble of Safety and Love

We all live in bubbles now. How safe is yours?

Actually we live in an unlimited “Bubble” of safety and only Love.

The word “bubble” is well known in this Global Corona Virus Pandemic as a safe place to live and doing the things you want to do, i.e., professional basketball players – they protect themselves from external sources that would interfere with being able to play basketball. 

I use the word ‘bubble” in this article for our Creator, all-loving God, “All there is,” our safe and Divine orderly Cosmos, all beyond our understanding and limitless. 

Our “limited” life is living in faith in a smaller “bubble,” while at the same time living within the larger “endless Bubble” (represented by the my choice of an image with the bubble inside a bubble.)

Unlimited Love and safety bettinasparkles.com

Many of us have learned that we are not our body but spirit. This part of us lives forever, before we were born and after death of our body.

I call our eternal part of us, our soul, our Inner Child. Our Inner Child is our connection with our unlimited “Bubble.” 

Wouldn’t you agree that “bubble” is a wonderful metaphor for God and all the other names we have for the heavenly state of mind?

Faith and connection with the unlimited “Bubble” makes me feel good and my life becomes meaningful.  This belief truly makes me happier.

My Fearful Life

I am speaking from experience of a fifty-year chaotic and fearful life which I was able to gradually turn into my content life now at 80 years of age. Praise the Lord!

I’ll retell my story as long as I live to pass the information to younger generations so you can have a happier life on Earth.  You see I finally found out why I always felt alone, unhappy, was addicted to alcohol and was unable to have long-lasting loving relationships.

Inner child healing Betting "Sparkles"I had a “recall” of child abuse, was diagnosed with Complex PTSD.
My recovery process led me on to a spiritual path i.e., discovered my unlimited “Bubble.”

The main process I used was conversations with my physical inner child who I never acknowledged for her suffering. My little girl stuffed all pain and carried hurts into adulthood. 

In my talks with my little girl, I discovered my Inner Spirit. It took two years, but it was worth it.  Slowly my faith grew.  I learned more about the teachings of Christ.

From His Wisdom I began to believe in the visible and invisible, the physical and metaphysical. Also, that our soul lives forever.

In addition, Christ taught that everything that happens, happens for a reason.  If it “seems” bad to us it may be an opportunity for our soul to grow.

Growing is loving ourselves and one another.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is another biggie to make that happen! That’s how we love the big “Bubble” and that is our purpose in the little “bubble”.

Yes, dear readers, even though we don’t know our expansive, eternal “Bubble,” Christ said we are One with IT.

Living in our life’s “bubble” and knowing we connect with the “All there Is Bubble” means we are together, safe, never alone and loved.

You too can have more Inner Peace, by believing that Christ said, “I AM with you always, in all ways forever.”

Appreciate yourself and be happy! Don’t you agree, we are happy children, playing in the small and big “Bubble” forever.

If you have difficulties with this, please recite the Serenity Prayer used by Alcoholics Anonymous.

I include it here with its other verses rarely read. 

The Full Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;

And wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him

Forever and ever in the next.
Amen.

Mental Health Cases and Covid-19

Women sharing in conversation

MENTAL HEALTH CASES SKY-ROCKET SINCE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

What can you do to help yourself?

First of all, You must acknowledge that the virus touched everyone on planet Earth.

The Mental Health Community is unable to address the increased volume of mental ailments caused by the Pandemic, at least in the near future.

PTSD symptoms such as depression, anger, high anxiety & others have increased, causing more suicides, as well.

Since not enough help is available by the Mental Health Communities, I recommend we take 3 simple steps ourselves to prevent these mental, emotional, or spiritual health issues from taking root in our bodies.

Here are 3 healing steps which worked in my PTSD Recovery:

STEP 1

The moment negative feelings come up, share and express them. “Revealing is healing” is a mental health motto.

Choose someone you trust. It can be a family member or close friend.  Even though one may have Covid-19 or even perceive the Pandemic from a distance, all of us experience some trauma symptoms.

STEP 2

In case you have no one to talk to start a FEELING JOURNAL right away.

Journal your feelingsFor example, start writing, “Today, when I saw a young nurse, mother of three, pass on to the other side from the Virus, I was filled with sadness.”  You may have actually had tears rolling down your cheeks or were choking on them.

Write down how that felt.

  • Did it remind you of the loss of someone in your family?
  • Or were you feeling fear of your own death.
  • How terrible for you.
  • You must acknowledge every detail.

STEP 3

This is my favorite method.

Another approach is to have a dialogue with your Inner Self to acknowledge that your event was traumatic for you.

  • “Dear ____,(use your name)  you had a good reason to be upset.”
    Pause a moment. Let the feelings come up.
    Feel your feelings.
    You may hear an Inner Voice Answer.
    WRITE IT DOWN.
  • The inner voice may be saying something like, “WOW. I am glad I am recognizing this upset. I feel relief and not so upset anymore. Thanks.”
  • Write as much as you like, then stop.
    See how you feel the next day.
    Make another short “How I AM FEELING RIGHT NOW” journal entry.
  • Keep doing this until the event isn’t getting you down anymore.
  • Try rating the pain each day. I usually rate the pain from 1-10, 10 being the highest.
    When the number is lowered to 1, we have been successful with our self-healing.

OTHER PTSD SYMPTOMS

  1. We often project our anger at others when we don’t do our feeling work.
    (I was accused of being a “snapping turtle” years ago before counseling.)
  2. We may also be triggered to remember specific childhood maltreatment.

Again, these issues can be released by repeating Step1,2, or 3. Most issues can be healed with this process.

THE STEPS MUST BE DONE IMMEDIATELY as soon as you become aware of them.
This allows you to start healing your painful wounds sooner than later and you will be much happier in the future.

If you wish to have a conversation with me, please contact me. Start with an email. Bettina [@] BettinaSparkles.com

How to Avoid COVID-19 PTSD

Avoid Covid-19 ptsd and stress

 

The Corona Virus Pandemic has had an effect on us all. It has been over a year with many loved ones gone, life situations changed, and the end of the confinement and cautions still months out.  

No matter how you experience the Corona Virus Pandemic, you may experience strong, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms for years. To prevent PTSD from taking root in your physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual bodies, you must take at least some of the following steps. 

Step 1

Immediately share whatever you are feeling with someone you trust like a family member or close friend. The experiences you have may be different but common symptoms include severe anxiety, depression, anger or sadness from loss, fear, and many more similar feelings.

Step 2

In case you have no one to share with, start a FEELING JOURNAL right away. 

For example, start writing, “Today, when I saw a young nurse, mother of three, pass on to the other side from the Virus, I was filled with sadness.” You may have actually had tears rolling down your cheeks or were choking on them. WRITE DOWN HOW THAT FELT.

  • Did it remind you of the loss of some one in your family?  Or were you feeling fear of your own death. How terrible for you.
  • You must acknowledge every detail and express the feeling.

Step 3

This is my favorite method.

You can also have a dialogue with your Inner Self to acknowledge that your event was traumatic for you. 

“Dear ____,(use your name)  you had reason to be upset.”

Pause a moment. Let the feelings come up. Feel your feelings. 

You may hear an Inner Voice Answer.  WRITE IT DOWN. 

It may be something like, “WOW. I am glad I am recognizing how this upset me. I feel relief, more self-compassion. I do not feel so upset anymore. Thanks.”

Write as much as you like, then stop. See how you feel the next day. Make another short “How I AM FEELING RIGHT NOW” journal entry. Keep doing this as long your experience comes popping up in your mind. I usually rate the pain from 1-10, 10 being the highest. When the number is lowered to 1, we have been successful with our self-healing.

Take Note: 

Your mindset may also show up in relationships. If you don’t do your feeling work, you’ll project your anger at others. I was accused of doing that and was called a “snapping turtle” years ago before counseling.  

Repeat using Step1,2, or 3 often.

You may also be triggered to remember some childhood maltreatment.  Please address this in the same manner. Use the above steps to move yourself through these memories. 

You are not alone in reacting to the Pandemic. The crisis is affecting everyone.   

It is most important that you prevent the PTSD to be with you in the future and use the 3 Steps listed.

Heal your painful wounds sooner than later and you will be much happier.   

WHY “GET OFF’ THE ROLLER COASTER RIDE

Trauma as a rollercoaster BettinaSparkles.com

Has your life been like a chaotic roller coaster ride way too long?

            I, too, suffered many ups and downs from a very young age into adulthood. All of us deserve smoother sailing in life. I was finally able to get off my wild ride. 

I am eager to share how I stopped the roller coaster.

Please note 2 important facts:

1st Abused children carry the burden of trauma usually without ever healing it.

2nd The weight of unhappiness increases constantly because many new traumas are laid upon the original trauma.

            A divorce was one of my added traumas piled on top of all the earlier ones. This event made me feel worse than ever. I married at age 26 & divorced at 28. The man I had married was a good man but I was the unhappy one and never looked for solutions. 

Instead I chose to run.

            Even though “I” chose the separation, I felt horrible immediately afterwards and for the next 15 years. I felt like “a total “failure” -helpless, hopeless and all alone with many inner struggles. At the time I didn’t know that my destructive behavior was caused by the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress –PTSD-which infested my mind.  Instead, I wrongly blamed My Higher Power or God for the mess I was in.

            You can probably relate to the following actions.  I tried to fill the emptiness by looking for Love in all the wrong places. I focused on physical good looks. I searched for a “prince charming” who I believed would solve my problems.  I also drank more alcohol.  It gave me temporary relief but caused me to make more foolish choices. “Failing relationships” is a major PTSD symptom.

How was I able to finally stop the roller coaster of insanity?

            Some people must have noticed that I was “smiling on the outside but crying on the inside” and, showing a lot of insecurity.  One day my friend, Linda, reached out to help me.  She knew I didn’t have any relationship with God. She shared that years back she had also gone through rough times, just like me, but with the Grace of God she found new happiness. 

            Here’s Linda’s solution. A friend gave her the Unity Daily Word, a devotional booklet.  Now, she was risking doing the same for me. She said for me to simply read one little page per day.  I did as she suggested.  Dear Readers, I was praying again and soon felt comforted.   

            Slowly, my ideas about an unfriendly God changed. After a year, I began to believe that the Nature of God is only Love, which does not punish.  Also, praying opened the door for me to be diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD – and, gave me the strength to choose recovery.

As my PTSD healing progressed, I was led unto a beautiful spiritual path.

            As a closer relationship with God evolved I became happier and happier.  All my spiritual practices and reading materials gave me more inner peace than I had ever experienced before and still does to the day I am writing this. 

The “Helping Hand of God” working through Linda saved my life. 

I hope my example shows you how easy it is to get off a chaotic roller coaster ride.

Blessings.

 

PTSD TRIGGERS: 3 BEST STEPS TO COPE

#1    First, we must totally understand “triggers.”

WHAT ARE PTSD TRIGGERS?

   Those of us who have been diagnosed with PTSD have had an “original” trauma and experience natural human responses of shock, helplessness, panic, screams, tears and more.

 As we move on with life we could have “new” traumas.

   These usually “trigger” the same emotions we experienced for the first one, and are not necessarily related what is happening in the “now.”

#2     This takes us to the second step. We question:

WHY DO I REACT SO FEARFULLY ALL OVER AGAIN?

   My PTSD experience may help explain. I had Child Abuse Recall at 50. When horrific traumatic memories surfaced, I experienced “original reactions in real time” because I never was allowed to express my emotions and I never had a chance to heal my old wounds.

   You see, I had been threatened to keep “it” all a secret and was told no one would help, not even God.  The threat was abandonment which is death to a little girl. All my fears were stuffed deep inside of me, forgotten and festering causing me to be very unhappy most of my life.

   Now other victims “choose” not clear up the deep wounds of trauma.  They dread to face the past and hate to talk about “dirty death secrets” because they wonder, “What will people think?”  Sufferers also may not know where to turn and how to start the process of healing.

#3     The third step is the most important one. If we don’t heal the “original” trauma as soon as we can, we will experience “PTSD Triggers” more severely. If we heal the first trauma and we experience new crises, then we can handle them more easily by using the tools we used the first time around.

   We me must feel our feelings of the new chaos. Processing the trauma is not only expedited but we also don’t get stuck in the PTSD symptoms for years, as we did before. It took me years and years of living in fear and unhappiness after my “original” childhood trauma, and now I get over the new crises in three weeks to three months. Isn’t it worth a little effort to cope better with “PTSD Triggers?”

Here’s my PTSD mantra: “Set Your PTSD Free and Live in Harmony.”

To learn more check out my book “Set Your PTSD Free” click the link below.

SET YOUR PTSD FREE: 7 Effective Ways to Heal Trauma

TOP SECRET ABOUT CHILDHOOD PTSD

Are you experiencing too many PTSD Triggers? Do you still get “startled” or “react with rage or suffer other symptoms?

I have shocking news for you. You haven’t fully released all your childhood demons or core PTSD issues.

The least known fact about PTSD is that it may have started in the womb. I experienced my first trauma in the womb because I survived an abortion attempt. Babies learn mistreatment quickly by taking snapshots of facial expressions. These are wordless clues interpreted by the newborn as loving or not. For example, the frowns at diaper changing meant, “I must be bad, it’s my fault, I am in the way and I must please.”

Too many negatives or abuse in childhood form a gloomy outlook on life.  Since as children we have no options, we bury unfelt emotions of shame and unloved feelings in the bottom of our hearts where they stay. The early deep wounds block us from experiencing love and cause our self-destructive behavior as we become adults. New traumas are piled upon us. The inner wounds fester, keeping us from living a healthy, normal life.  For us to find our “real” joyful self, we must revisit our childhood just one more time and go deep to thoroughly clean out past hurts for good.

Here’s part of my story.  I lived in fear with high anxiety, hyper-vigilance and chronic depression. Then I had sudden Child Abuse Recall and was lucky to find a wise psychologist. He diagnosed my Child Abuse PTSD and immediately asked me what I remembered about my first 7 years of my life.  “I don’t remember anything.”  The counselor said “I’ll help you dig.”

The therapist suggested I have pretend conversations between my abandoned little girl and my adult, a new loving caretaker. The following is an example of how easy it is to have inner conversations. The counselor would have me take deep breaths to relax.

I, as the new compassionate caretaker, began. “Hi, little Bettina are you there. I am here to help you. I am so very sorry I’ve neglected you for such a long time.”

            I, as the Inner Child, spoke up with surprise and in manner of a child. “Hello. I never thought anyone would come.  I’ve been so alone, lonely and scared.”

            I, as the caretaker, spoke softly, “I am here for you now to pay attention to you.  It’s difficult for me to believe that terrible things happened to you so long ago and you thought you were all alone.”

            I responded as I felt my child quiver, “No one came to help.  When you were anxious you had no time for me.”

            I, the new caretaker felt her pain. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore. I will take care of you and listen to you.”

            Again, I felt my little girl, who seemed so relieved. “When you calm down, I can calm down. You have come to understand and love me?”

For both of us I was encouraged and felt hope, “Yes, You are very important to me.

We can help each other. I love you.”

            Tears of joy were rolling down my cheeks. This process of having verbal or written conversations for my child and me healed my ancient deep wounds.

Are you ready to clear up your childhood PTSD and live in harmony?