We often struggle with where our minds lead us. Our mind can go into a tangent about something, focus solely on how we feel, obsess about flashbacks. We have to learn how to break the focus that our PTSD mind is controlling and learn how to refocus on something else. This is the basic meditation to start learning this skill.

You need to pick something (a person, place, event, or thing) that is comforting to you in someway before you start attempting this.

For example:

Many people pick a house, park, or body of water that is safe to them or soothes them in someway. Some people have a specific person that makes them feel like this. I have a favorite animal that works for me so I will use my image of a wolf howling to further explain this skill.

Now, when your mind begins obsessing on something that is negative or scary or simply driving you crazy, bring your safe image up in your mind. Try to hold it in your mind and see the details. If you can feel wind, feel it. If you can hear howling, hear it. Try to see the wolfs fur, it's stance etc. Try to focus on it.

Chances are that you will only be able to do this for a few seconds at first. With practice the time you can hold this image in your head will increase.

Now, if your mind jumps right back to what was upsetting you or to another thing that upsets you, do this again.

The point is to break your PTSD minds concentration and learn how to control what you are thinking about. It's not easy and takes a lot of work.

Good Luck!

bec