The Value Of Values

Contrary to what many think about PTSD, the illness impacts more than just the individual. It affects the loved ones too. Truth be told, I’ve seen first hand how my PTSD has impacted those I love and care about, and the good news is it doesn’t have to be that way — we can all get better.

My journey to understanding how PTSD has impacted my life has been both refreshing and troublesome. They say knowledge is key and in my experience knowledge about how my mind works, and how I’m impacted by PTSD, has helped me stay reminded of the obligation I have to take care of myself. I’m also reminded of my responsibility to take care of those I love and care about.

For me, one of the defining moments in my journey to managing PTSD was when I came to understand the power of my values to help me move past an episode.

Years ago I was in a therapy session and my Doctor, as is his way, was challenging how I viewed a certain situation. I was sharing how, because I was caught up in my head and lost to deep negative emotions, I had gotten “stuck” in my tracks. I was unable to process my feelings and thoughts in order to moving forward because I “knew” things were just so bad and there seemed no good way to move past where I was.

One of the things I had learned during therapy was I needed to find a way to push past my resistance to engaging with life (and my relationship) when these episodes occur. This lesson was particularly difficult to learn because I am so close to my thoughts that it’s sometimes hard to step back and consider them. The exercise that helped me to refocus and begin to “unstuck” myself was both simple and impressive.

On a piece of paper my Doctor wrote two words: one on the front, and one on the back. He informed me the paper represented my value and the two words represented the result of my decisions — one result good, the other bad. My Doctor went on to tell me the choice was up to me… I could choose one option or the other, and that I could make the right decision if I could focus on something other than my feelings or thoughts. That something is my values. If I value family then I should make decisions that support that. If I value living in a state of perpetual duress, decisions I make can also push me in that direction. It all got down to what I focused on, my values or the thought I’m ruminating on…

Since then my ability to make better decisions have increased because now, when faced with how to move forward, I can take a moment and reflect on my values. Once that happened, I can then decide to move forward because I trust that my values are rooted in love and caring, not fear.

at many think about PTSD, the illness impacts more than just the individual. It affects the loved ones too. Truth be told, I’ve seen first hand how my PTSD has impacted those I love and care about, and the good news is it doesn’t have to be that way — we can all get better.

My journey to understanding how PTSD has impacted my life has been both refreshing and troublesome. They say knowledge is key and in my experience knowledge about how my mind works, and how I’m impacted by PTSD, has helped me stay reminded of the obligation I have to take care of myself. I’m also reminded of my responsibility to take care of those I love and care about.

For me, one of the defining moments in my journey to managing PTSD was when I came to understand the power of my values to help me move past an episode.

Years ago I was in a therapy session and my Doctor, as is his way, was challenging how I viewed a certain situation. I was sharing how, because I was caught up in my head and lost to deep negative emotions, I had gotten “stuck” in my tracks. I was unable to process my feelings and thoughts in order to moving forward because I “knew” things were just so bad and there seemed no good way to move past where I was.

One of the things I had learned during therapy was I needed to find a way to push past my resistance to engaging with life (and my relationship) when these episodes occur. This lesson was particularly difficult to learn because I am so close to my thoughts that it’s sometimes hard to step back and consider them. The exercise that helped me to refocus and begin to “unstuck” myself was both simple and impressive.

On a piece of paper my Doctor wrote two words: one on the front, and one on the back. He informed me the paper represented my value and the two words represented the result of my decisions — one result good, the other bad. My Doctor went on to tell me the choice was up to me… I could choose one option or the other, and that I could make the right decision if I could focus on something other than my feelings or thoughts. That something is my values. If I value family then I should make decisions that support that. If I value living in a state of perpetual duress, decisions I make can also push me in that direction. It all got down to what I focused on, my values or the thought I’m ruminating on…

Since then my ability to make better decisions have increased because now, when faced with how to move forward, I can take a moment and reflect on my values. Once that happened, I can then decide to move forward because I trust that my values are rooted in love and caring, not fear.

t PTSD, the illness impacts more than just the individual. It affects the loved ones too. Truth be told, I’ve seen first hand how my PTSD has impacted those I love and care about, and the good news is it doesn’t have to be that way — we can all get better.

My journey to understanding how PTSD has impacted my life has been both refreshing and troublesome. They say knowledge is key and in my experience knowledge about how my mind works, and how I’m impacted by PTSD, has helped me stay reminded of the obligation I have to take care of myself. I’m also reminded of my responsibility to take care of those I love and care about.

For me, one of the defining moments in my journey to managing PTSD was when I came to understand the power of my values to help me move past an episode.

Years ago I was in a therapy session and my Doctor, as is his way, was challenging how I viewed a certain situation. I was sharing how, because I was caught up in my head and lost to deep negative emotions, I had gotten “stuck” in my tracks. I was unable to process my feelings and thoughts in order to moving forward because I “knew” things were just so bad and there seemed no good way to move past where I was.

One of the things I had learned during therapy was I needed to find a way to push past my resistance to engaging with life (and my relationship) when these episodes occur. This lesson was particularly difficult to learn because I am so close to my thoughts that it’s sometimes hard to step back and consider them. The exercise that helped me to refocus and begin to “unstuck” myself was both simple and impressive.

On a piece of paper my Doctor wrote two words: one on the front, and one on the back. He informed me the paper represented my value and the two words represented the result of my decisions — one result good, the other bad. My Doctor went on to tell me the choice was up to me… I could choose one option or the other, and that I could make the right decision if I could focus on something other than my feelings or thoughts. That something is my values. If I value family then I should make decisions that support that. If I value living in a state of perpetual duress, decisions I make can also push me in that direction. It all got down to what I focused on, my values or the thought I’m ruminating on…

Since then my ability to make better decisions have increased because now, when faced with how to move forward, I can take a moment and reflect on my values. Once that happened, I can then decide to move forward because I trust that my values are rooted in love and caring, not fear.