Yehuda Shull.com
 
This is a correspondence I had recently. I thought it might be valuable for readers of my blog. 

I was asked the following question: (Personal details have been kept private).  I was wondering what you think about someone living in the same city where they developed PTSD. After moving back to this city to be near my family, I find it more and more uncomfortable, and my panic attacks have returned.

Do you think the L-rd sent me back here to conquer my fears or that it would be best to move. I seemed to do much better when I lived in another town.

My response:

Hi ...

Thank you for being in contact.

Questions like these depend very much on each individual, what circumstances caused your PTSD, what your coping skills are like, what kind of support system you have, your individual personality etc.

It makes a lot of sense that when you are closer to the source of what caused your PTSD, that it will become more active and prevalent for you.

Obviously living somewhere else doesn't mean that it has gone away but simply that you don't have as much triggers setting it off.

Ultimately it is very unpleasant to live with PTSD as it will always be beneath the surface of many experiences that you have no matter where you are.

Any opportunity to face it and deal with it is in a way a blessing because it is an invitation for you to heal and come to terms with what you have been through. Of course you need to assess for yourself how difficult it is for you living near your family. If it becomes very difficult to cope normally you may want to consider moving away again.

I believe that G-d guides our lives and brings us opportunities to grow. I also believe that we have the solutions we need within us as well as the ability to be well. Obviously this is easier said than done. This doesn't take away from the fact that we still need a whole lot of guts, courage and willingness to face our fears and change how we see ourselves and how we act in the world.

At the very least you have an opportunity to tune into your inner world and listen to what is going on for you. I encourage you to trust yourselves and believe in your ability to be well.

I also suggest you consider praying for guidance to receive the clarity, courage and health that you are looking for. Make yourself open to receive G-d's blessing and healing. This in and of itself is a very important and beneficial step towards healing.

Let me know how this has been for you. I know that my response has been brief and that there is a lot more we could discuss and explore to really get to the bottom of what is going on for you. Perhaps you would want to be in contact again and we can set up a time to work together.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes

Yehuda `Shull

2 Comments
 
 

For me the term "holistic" involves an integrated approach to emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing.  Our "systems" are all inter-connected and influence one another. In the vast majority of cases physical symptoms are nothing more than the body's expression that something emotional or spiritual is "out of synch". G-d designed us in such a way that our bodies know what is good for us and what we need for healing to take place. The "work" is learning how to listen and respond appropriately to those "messages".
 
Listening has a lot to do with healing.

I would not consider myself "new-age" in the traditional sense. The traditional meaning of new-age, as I understand it, is a combination of pagan and atheistic beliefs which amount to -"whatever feels good goes". If there's something to take from religion which feels good- take it, the rest you can trash in the garbage.

This is not my approach or belief system. G-d sends His blessing and healing into the world via various vehicles and agents. This is what I mean by being a "messenger". If I am worthy G-d will use me as a conduit for His healing and light to come into the world and be directed to whoever needs it. If we make ourselves into open vessels then we may merit to receive this. By "open" I mean to move ourselves, and particularly our egos, out of the way. 

How exactly to do that is what a lot of my work (both personal and professional) is about.
2 Comments