[Compassionate-mind Guides 01] • Compassionate-Mind Guide to Recovering From Trauma and PTSD by Lee, Deborah A. -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Acknowledgments Foreword Preface

About part I

Understanding your reactions to traumatic life events

Is this book for you? What is a compassionate-mind approach? The impact of traumatic events How do you cope with trauma? Do you have PTSD? Other ways trauma can affect you Dissociating, daydreaming, and disconnecting Summary

“Old brain” desires vs. “new brain” dilemmas Understanding your emotions Your emotional regulation systems Summary

Understanding your trauma memories: Flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts

The difference between everyday memories and trauma memories Flashbacks are normal Trauma memories as warning signals Why do flashbacks happen? Trauma, the frontal cortex, and compassion What do flashbacks feel like? Past memories that haunt you What triggers flashbacks? Nightmares What keeps a sense of constant danger going? Memory banks Summary

Understanding shame and self-criticism in relation to traumatic events

Shame and social threat Understanding your shame How do you try to protect yourself from your fear of other people? Trauma and your self-identity Shame and your traumatic experiences How you avoid your shame Self-criticism and shame Dealing with shame-filled trauma memories Summary

Understanding your need for compassion in your life

The compassionate mind Threat-focused mind, traumatized mind, and compassionate mind The power of emotional memories What happens if you didn’t feel cared for? What can happen when parents or caregivers don’t make you feel safe? “But nothing bad happened to me in my childhood!” Was emotional nurturing on your family curriculum? Summary About part II

Preparing your mind for compassion: Attributes of compassion

The compassionate mind Important qualities of compassion Bringing aspects and attributes together: a model of compassionate mind training “Hang on a minute, this stuff is not for me” Compassion myths Experiment with self-compassion Summary

Preparing your mind for compassion: The beginnings of skills development

Compassion training Mindfulness and mindful attention Activating your contentment and soothing system Summary

Developing your skills to access compassionate feelings

Using compassionate imagery Understanding compassionate imagery A small (but important) note about smell Soothing rhythm breathing Developing your “safe place” Developing your compassionate mind through imagery Compassion flowing out from you to others Compassion flowing into you Creating perfect nurturing imagery Self-compassion Start your day the compassionate way Memory prompts Summary About part III

Using compassion to understand your life story

Making a compassionate commitment Managing flashbacks “I’m really struggling to sleep” Nightmare imagery rescripting What’s next? Engaging our compassionate minds Understanding your life story with compassion Getting to know your inner bully The compassionate way to make sense of your traumatic events What was the outcome for Amanda? Summary

Using your compassionate mind to resolve your shame-filled flashbacks

What’s the way forward? Engaging your compassionate mind Developing compassionate self-talk to replace self-criticism Compassionate reframes and working with your flashbacks Using perfect nurturing imagery to revisit shame-filled flashbacks A compassionate note on disgust Summary

Using compassionate letter writing to bring compassion to your trauma story

Compassionate letter writing Steps to compassionate letter writing Looking after yourself Eleven steps to developing a compassionate letter Summary

Moving on in your life with compassion

Ten key insights to a compassionate approach to trauma What changes have you noticed in yourself? What exercises have you found the most helpful? The new version of you A compassionate commitment to yourself A compassionate first-aid box Looking forward

Useful resources

Books Support groups

References