84 Recovery skills 1
TO THE TRAINER
PART II : THE TRAINING
Recovery skills 1
Aim . To learn how to reconnect to the present moment through our senses .
Recovery exercises redirect our attention and our senses
When we are traumatised , our attention focuses entirely on anticipating and avoiding danger . When memories of trauma are triggered , our attention is flooded . The Butterfly Woman needs to learn skills that bring her back to the present moment . When we focus on what we see , hear , touch , smell and taste , these sensations connect us to the here and now . They act as anchors to the present moment . By the same means , we can awaken our senses to good experiences . We can learn to calm ourselves when we are overwhelmed by feelings and energise ourselves when we lack energy . By attending closely to our immediate sensations , we can recover the feeling that we are here and now , in a safe place .
When body and mind are resynchronised in this way , it stabilises the nervous system and nervous responses . The effect is to calm a person who is over-aroused and waken one whose nervous system has ‘ closed down ’ and lacks energy . When we connect to the present , memories of the past stay in the past .
KEY POINT
The story shows
• How to reconnect to the present moment , through our senses .
TEACHING INSTRUCTION .
Remind the group that all the exercises on the training need to be practised if they are to work . Wherever possible , they should be practised in an environment that is peaceful and safe , because this will help survivors to gradually internalise them . Eventually , they can make use of them whenever they need , even in stressful conditions .
Reassure the participants that you will demonstrate each exercise , using role play , and that you will show them how each exercise can be used to calm a triggered survivor .
Remind the participants that exercises are most beneficial if you follow three rules . Practise them
• When you are in a peaceful and safe environment .
• When you are calm ( this assists learning ).
• Over and over again , every day for some time . If the participants do this , in time they will be able to use them even when stressed .