Here are links to each part of the article. Simply click on each link and that Part will open on you Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7
Over the past 3 days, I have been developing a series on Traumatic Brain Injury and the Process of Grieving. Through my process, I discovered that I was using huge amounts of spiritual and emotional energy in ways that undermined my creative capacity.
Undermined my creative capacity to use my passion (s) through my gifts, talents, and abilities.
In my experience, I found that I needed to grieve the losses created by my traumatic brain injury through confronting and facing my denial and anger.
Confronting my Denial and Anger
In Part 3 of this series Traumatic Brain Injury and the Process of Grieving, the second stage in the grieving process was introduced: anger. Per my experience, as I slowly became aware of my anger I realized that I had bought into a denial system.
A denial system that sought to keep me in denial through shame. Because I believed that I deserved to be shamed for not being enough, I internalized my anger. Debilitating guilt and debilitating shame then convinced and contained me in my denial because I believed that I was the problem.
Believed that I was the problems and thus deserved to be shamed and blamed for not being enough. In the process, shame undermined my ability to trust. Trust myself and my judgment.
Shame set the Stage to Control and Manipulate Me
Shame set the stage for me to become a reactor rather than an actor in life. Debilitating guilt and debilitating shame left me feeling helpless. Debilitating guilt and debilitating shame sabotaged my ability to trust the process, a loving God and myself. Debilitating guilt and debilitating shame drained my spiritual and emotional energy as I attempted to overcompensate for my unknown deficits and limitations. Through my process, I also discovered that much of my anger was buried under a mountain called debilitating guilt and debilitating shame.
Consequently, I needed to address my debilitating guilt and debilitating shame.
Note: “As I understand, guilt is something one experiences when they do wrong. There is a way to resolve one’s guilt by making an amends. Shame, on the other hand, is a being wound that reinforces to the individual that they do not just make mistakes, but that they are a mistake. Debilitating Guilt and Debilitating Shame reinforces that no amount of “punishment” or “amends” can take away one’s guilt and shame.
Debilitating shame and debilitating guilt leave the individual feeling helpless and isolated.
Turning Anger Inward
When I started to experience my anger — in my helplessness — I turned that anger inward. For many years I unknowingly allowed my anger to fester in the realm of resentments. I had resentments toward various people, but the biggest resentment I had was toward myself. I was resentful towards myself because I was unable to prove to other people that I was not a mistake. Specifically, I spent huge amounts of energy chiding and berating myself for not being able to do enough to be enough to prove that I was enough.
Consequently, I spent much of my life apologizing to other people for not being enough.
Through my process, I found that much of the criticism that I had toward other people stemmed from self-criticism. Moreover, the judgment and criticism that I showed toward other people were often in direct proportion to the judgment and criticism that I showed toward myself. I found that my relationships with other people mirrored the relationship I had with myself. I also determined that my resentments were in a way a cry for help, however, no one was listening.
Instead, the direct opposite occurred. My judgmental attitude and criticisms of other people and myself alienated everyone and anyone who may have been willing to help.
In my process, I discovered that as I held onto my anger and my resentment I pushed people away from me. I also found that in the process of alienating other people, I was in effect alienating myself. Consequently, I became my own enemy.
An excellent book to understand and find freedom from the impact of debilitating guilt and debilitating shame is Shame and Guilt — Masters of Disguise by Jane Middleton – Moz. This book has been instrumental in my recovery, healing process and ability to come out of denial. This book helped me to begin to love and accept myself as an individual before I realized the impact of my traumatic brain Injury and invisible disability.
This book helped me to find the freedom to discover my creative self.”
Please read Part 5 of this series by clicking on Part 5. Thank you.
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