Voices
During recovery, it’s common to hear two general "voices": good and bad. In fact, when people are dealing with an issue that’s involved with trauma, many of them experience hearing these two opposite voices speak from within. One of the voices will be our inner strength, and the other may stem from subconscious beliefs surrounding depression, anger, or low self-esteem. Either way, they will come from your mind or body.
From my experiences, I know these voices all too well and I’m familiar with the messages that they give. So how do you know what voice to listen to? The voice that inspires you of course, not the voice that tries to coax you back to the very thing that destroyed you to begin with. The voice that tells you that you're strong and that you're worth it, as it encourages you to stand up when you've been knocked down.
From my experiences, I know these voices all too well and I’m familiar with the messages that they give. So how do you know what voice to listen to? The voice that inspires you of course, not the voice that tries to coax you back to the very thing that destroyed you to begin with. The voice that tells you that you're strong and that you're worth it, as it encourages you to stand up when you've been knocked down.
Frantic Voices
- What are frantic voices?
This occurs when the "voices" that stem from our negative emotions and beliefs become loud and overwhelming. This is usually seen as a bad thing, but that isn't always the case. Sometimes this can actually mean that you’re going in the right direction! From my experience, when I decided to let go of my anger and pain, these negative thoughts would pop up as if they’re trying to hang onto me for dear life. When negativity has made our minds it’s home and taken control of our lives, it isn't willing to move out so quickly. Sometimes these negative “voices” will try to lead you astray from your recovery by sounding positive, but don’t be fooled. The offer may sound good, but you’ll end up getting scammed if you accept it.
- How do I handle frantic voices?
Try some of the meditation techniques on Fight Anorexia or the millions of them on the web! Meditation requires deep breathing which naturally relaxes the mind and body. The techniques here encourage the release of negative thoughts and emotions through visualization.
Another thing you could try is taking advantage of any inspiration you feel when the negative voices are quieted. During times of struggle, it's common to have a sudden revelation or feel inspired by either your inner strength, a person, a quote or a success story. Unfortunately though, when negative voices barge back in, they take that uplifted feeling away from us. That's why it's important to write about any positive emotions and thoughts you have, or to collect inspiring quotes and success stories to look at when you're feeling low. It would be the perfect reminder to you to ignore the "bad voices" and keep walking among the road to recovery.
Hidden Voices
Sometimes the "negative voices" will become dormant and hide away until something happens to draw them back up. A little example of this is when I felt as though Body Dysmorphia had been knocked out of me when I had it in the past. If this happens to you, always consider why the voices and symptoms subside, because I was too focused on the absence of my BDD to focus on why it suddenly left. In actuality, it was due to a debate that I had with my then boyfriend when I told him that I had BDD. He kept pushing me to get help, and although it was out of concern, I became frustrated and angry. The next day, I felt as though the disorder had gone away. But as soon as I saw a trigger, I had an anxiety attack. The BDD hadn't left, instead it only went into hiding because of his reaction. Mental disorders and habits so practiced and severe won't likely go away overnight.
So, how to know when you’re actually winning the battle?
So, how to know when you’re actually winning the battle?
- Negative voices have subsided gradually, not suddenly
- Negative voices have quieted for weeks or months
- Triggers don’t encourage the same negative reactions or have as much of an impact as they did before
- Strong negative emotions occur less often or becoming less overwhelming
- Anxiety attacks or outbursts (if you experience them) occur less often