Help to stabilise

We received this from Lia in our mindfulness workshop:

Flashback-Halting Protocol

People who have experienced trauma sometimes experience intrusive memories called flashbacks. In flashbacks, sensations, sense impressions and emotions from the past inundate current physical reality. This protocol has great potential to reconcile the experiencing self with the observing self and halt traumatic flashbacks.

FLASHBACK PROTOCOL

Say the following sentences filling in the blanks, following the instructions:

• “Right now I am feeling ______ ,(name the current emotion, usually fear)

• and I am sensing in my body ______ ,(describe current bodily sensations, try to name three or four such as cold, shaking, hard around my stomach…)

• because I am remembering ______ .(name the trauma by title only — no details)

• And, at the same time , I am looking around where I am now in ______ 

(name the current year)

• here ______ ,(name the place where you are)

• and I can see ______ ,(describe some of the things that you see right now, in this place),

• and so I know ______ (name the trauma by title only)

• is not happening now/anymore.”

Flashback Protocol from

Rothschild, Babette. (2000). The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment. New York: W.W. Norton.

Notes and modifications in italics from Lia Feraren, www.soul-solutions.de