Do you have conversations with "voices" in your mind?
Here's some common things people experience and rarely talk about:
Here's some common things people experience and rarely talk about:
1. Racing, intrusive, crisis thoughts
This can feel like getting stuck in a spiral of worst case scenarios, or having obsessive thoughts that seem to take over.
This can feel like getting stuck in a spiral of worst case scenarios, or having obsessive thoughts that seem to take over.
2. Someone says something to you and suddenly it triggers a past memory and you zone out of the conversation
We can experience age regression. Age regression is when a present experience brings us back to our past, and past (younger) voices come up.
We can experience age regression. Age regression is when a present experience brings us back to our past, and past (younger) voices come up.
3. You try to do something new and a hash inner critic tells you how terrible you are.
This is a symptom of C-PTSD and can come from internalized voices of critical parents, bullies, etc. Thoughts of loathing and self hatred become an inner narrative.
This is a symptom of C-PTSD and can come from internalized voices of critical parents, bullies, etc. Thoughts of loathing and self hatred become an inner narrative.
4. When in romantic relationships, you have thoughts of being abandoned or rejected.
Shame based thoughts of not being good enough or being rejected and betrayed are common when we've experienced developmental trauma or insecure attachment.
Shame based thoughts of not being good enough or being rejected and betrayed are common when we've experienced developmental trauma or insecure attachment.
5. You hear a variety of "voices" that are having inner chatter or what seems like conversations with each other.
People report getting lost in this space for large periods of times and may dissociate completely appearing to be present.
People report getting lost in this space for large periods of times and may dissociate completely appearing to be present.
6. An irrational voice tells you to do something scary or overwhelming.
Irrational, bizarre, or angry thought patterns can come up when the body is in fight or flight (a threat based state)
Irrational, bizarre, or angry thought patterns can come up when the body is in fight or flight (a threat based state)
What people tend to fear most is their own thoughts. And that those thoughts are true or mean something about who they are.
In reality, thoughts are neural firings that happen within the brain. They are impulsive and habitual.
In reality, thoughts are neural firings that happen within the brain. They are impulsive and habitual.
Which is why we experience the same thoughts over and over again.
If you experience, this the first thing to understand is you aren't crazy. It's taboo to talk about, but many people experience this.
You are not your thoughts.
If you experience, this the first thing to understand is you aren't crazy. It's taboo to talk about, but many people experience this.
You are not your thoughts.
How to work through these thoughts:
1. Breathwork: breathing is a powerful way to return to the body and to regulate a dysregulated nervous system. You can search for tutorials online: box breathing, wim hof, or simple breathwork practices
1. Breathwork: breathing is a powerful way to return to the body and to regulate a dysregulated nervous system. You can search for tutorials online: box breathing, wim hof, or simple breathwork practices
2. Journal the thoughts: consciousness allows us to witness our thoughts as separate entities. Many of us are living life as if our thoughts are reality. Write down all your thought stream, uncensored. Let them flow and watch them leave the mind.
3. Move the body: the mind follow the body. Move the body and notice how the mind shifts. This can be a brisk walk, yoga, stretching.
4. Find a somatic therapist: somatic therapists understand the nervous system and will incorporate the body into your work.
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