Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) comes directly from a traumatic experience in the past. Symptoms can include flashbacks, anxiety, racing thoughts, fear, intense stress, and depression.

PTSD doesn’t just take you back to your trauma—it relives it for you.

If that trauma involved narcissistic abuse—you know exactly how it feels to be triggered back to the times you suffered the most, and perhaps the most—forever wondering if this is your destiny from now on.

You want and need a plan for healing, but it seems crazy to know where to start.

Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.

You can start here.

UnderstandYourInnocence

Would you have accepted PTSD knowingly and happily as part of your life if you knew what you were getting into?

Related : 12 Biggest Mistakes That Allow Narcissists to Control You

Narcissistic abuse is done by anyone with the traits who can get close enough to you to form the kind of bond that starts the whole process.

I was young—it was a parent. I was in love – he was a husband. I was kind and accepting – he was a friend.

I was working a new job – he was a colleague. Where do we go to escape from the narcissist? We can’t.

Understanding your innocence will help you realize that it’s not your fault – you fell in love with a narcissist – and now you’re experiencing panic and trauma.

Rereading the Same Chapter

As you begin to heal, ask yourself – would you pick up a book and keep rereading the same chapter over and over again? What would happen if you did?

Rereading the same chapter in a book will make the words more and more ingrained in your memory. You’ll soon anticipate what’s coming and what’s going to happen next.

PTSD is similar.

Revisiting the past and reliving the trauma is not only detrimental to your present, but also to your future.

How can you move forward when all you’re doing is pulling you back by the invisible magnetic force of abuse?

Plant a Seed of Hope

Planting a seed of hope is like giving yourself a second chance.

People who plant seeds of hope often forget to water them. They sometimes leave their seeds dry and in a dark corner, and then wonder why they don’t grow and flourish.

We all have seeds, and we can all plant and nurture them, but PTSD can make people feel like they don’t have seeds. And the strength that comes with remembering that you have seeds is extraordinary.

You survived every moment of the abuse you experienced. You got through it all—even the pain and trauma.

Now is the time to plant a seed of hope and shed the layers of pain that have kept you cocooned for all these years.

Understanding the Mind-Body Connection

The mind and body are connected. They affect each other, so positive thoughts lead to positive feelings, and vice versa.

When you’re affected by past memories, they feel so real and vivid that your sympathetic nervous system will trigger the fight-or-flight response.

Your heart rate speeds up, your pupils dilate, your immune system goes to sleep, you start sweating, and your blood is pumping.

You’re ready to fight that bear in the woods.

But wait… where’s the bear?

There’s no bear.

Memories of your abuse trigger the same physiological response, and over time, your body will become so hyper-aware that anything close to what you went through will produce the same effects.

Understanding how your body and mind work together can help you reduce all of this.

Breathing.

Meditation.

Exercise.

Self-care.

Self-love.

It’s time to boost your happy hormones—say hello to dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin.

EmpowerYourSupportSystem

Never underestimate the power that family and friends can offer you. From talking to leaning on them when you’re not feeling well.

It’s possible to endure the darkest days with the reassurance of your loved ones that they’re there for you when you need them.

Related : Can Narcissists Change Their Behavior if They Really Wanted to?

Doing things you never would have done during those periods of abuse can be therapeutic for you, too. Allow yourself to love the things you were once criticized or belittled for.

Does it take time? Sure.

Is it worth it? No question.

Therapy vs. Self-Help

There comes a time when you may need to reach out to a therapist and get the help you need. Fortunately, there are many different treatment paths you can take, especially when it comes to healing from PTSD.

From cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), there will be a treatment concept that works for you, helps you notice your triggers, and works with them to reduce them.

Whether or not you choose traditional treatment approaches, you can still help yourself.

That means being aware of PTSD, learning how and why it exists (in fact, it exists because your body and mind are trying to protect you from what they perceive as a present threat), and understanding how to gain emotional and mental distance from it over time.

Patience – You’ll Get There

Patience may seem like a lost concept, but if you dig deeper, you’ll find yourself wading through its waters effortlessly.

We can all dig deep for patience, and even in the toughest times, you’ll appreciate what it means to give yourself a break from time to time.

Life is hard enough, without the added pressure of putting a time limit on your recovery.

Move from surviving to thriving—but do it on your own time.

NewBeginningsArePossible

Healing is not linear. You won’t wake up one morning and find day after day, each day getting better, before you reach the finish line.

Related : 8 Things Narcissists Say When They Lie To You

You must be unconditionally dedicated to your desire to release the severe PTSD symptoms your mind and body are currently experiencing. Only then can you begin to see how wonderful new beginnings can be—and how possible they actually are.

WhatYouCanDoToday:

Start finding a meditation that works for you. Full body scans are great for identifying stress and trauma in the body.

Breathe mindfully. Every breath is a healing aspect of your trauma.

Find a way to better understand PTSD. It could be through a podcast, a YouTube channel, or a health page.

Practice mindfulness. Being present in the present moment is one way to shift your senses from your traumatic past to your peaceful present.