68 Wrapping up triggered memories
TO THE TRAINER
PART II: THE TRAINING
Wrapping up triggered memories
Aim. To link triggers and flashbacks to the next sessions, that deal with tools for coping.
DISCUSSION
Discussion. Wrapping up triggered memories.
This session examined the nature of trauma-reminders. The wrap up discussion bridges into the following day, which will focus on coping tools and skills that can help survivors of GBV.
Ask the participants to identify what helped the Butterfly Woman to become calmer and live in the present when she was distressed by trauma memories. Write the answers down on a flipchart. Ask the participants to say what kinds of strategies they use to calm survivors of GBV. Ask them what they do if the survivors lack energy. Get them to think forward about the next day’ s session. Then end the day on an upbeat note with the Hug exercise.
GROUNDING EXERCISE
Grounding Exercise 2. The Hug.
This exercise deepens and anchors positive feelings and messages. It is taken from a trauma treatment method called Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing( EMDR: Shapiro 1989). This trauma processing method combines bilateral physical stimulation, in this case tapping, with positive spoken messages, which deepen and anchor positive feelings. The sentence can also be spoken silently.
After being traumatised, a person often says horrible things to herself. This exercise allows us to change such thoughts into positive ones, and feel their positive impact on our body, mind, breathing, feelings and heart.
Ask the participants to propose sentences that they would find comforting, and try them out.
Here are some sentences you can suggest:“ I have value”,“ I have survived”,“ God loves me”.“ I do the best I can”.
TEACHING INSTRUCTION.
Different sentences may be preferred by collectivist and individualist cultures. Sentences may also make different kinds of appeal. For example:
Individual: She sees me. I am alive. God knows me. I am safe now. God listens to me. Collective: They know me. I belong to them. Support:
They will support me. We need each other. We belong together. God is watching over us.