Posted by R.Anne on October 29, 2000, at 16:11:47
In reply to HOW DO I FACE MY DEMONS ? TOM, posted by GLYN on October 26, 2000, at 11:45:14
Therapy is a good idea and so are self-help books. I found that even in therapy I could not feel at times but later at home (where I felt more safe) I would feel things. There are plenty of books that help with childhood trauma, especially those by John Bradshaw. JB also has tapes available and he is excellent in dealing with being the child of a person who abuses alcohol. Keeping a journal can be helpful, too. Whenever some feelings arise express them to someone who understands (this is important)and you will gain support. There are also groups for children of alcoholics and possibly groups for abandoned persons as well. Local community mental health agencies would have lists of them. I truly know the pain of what you have been through as I have been there, too. I am truly sorry that you had to suffer that way and hope you find the sources that will help you get in touch and heal the wounds. You need people to support you and care about your needs-you can find them here and within your community. Best wishes! r.anne
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> Tom,
>
> I, of course, am also one of those men desperate to "get in touch" with myself. I dont think I have too much of a problem on a day-to-day process but I sure find it hard to get in touch with past childhood events. My mother was a chronic alchoholic and a total neurotic and my father left me when I was 18 months old and even though he visited his mother who lived just half a mile from us he never bothered to see me in the last 28 years - nor has his mother. How do I feel? Angry? Sad? Rejected? I wish!!!! Although I operate quite well in relationships now and experience the whole spectrum of emitions (sometimes within the space of a minute) I just can't feel anything other than philosophical about my childhood but I am aware of this terrible fear and bleakness lurking just below the surface and this is definitely the source of all of my depression and a extreme anxiety. If only I could grab hold of those emotions at the source but alas I doint know how. I can talk about the past and even admit it was horrible and I have forgiven both parents (WELL TRIED ANYWAY).
>
> Have you or anybody else got ideas how to tap into the garbage from the past. I reckon if I can just touch it I'll start to be able to face the demons in my life now which appear just out of reach. Pretty scary thought but better to face the monster than spend a lifetime running away from it.
>
> How do I do it without spending a fortune on therapy?
poster:R.Anne
thread:47316
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001022/msgs/47704.html