I recently self-diagnosed with PTSD. All of a sudden I had an explanation for the metaphorical sense that something is about to come crashing out of the sky at any moment and knock me down. I suspect that some people who have repeatedly witnessed death and severe injury or repeatedly experienced the real fear of death must have debilitating inner experiences similar to my own, only worse.
I have been doing transformational work for about 20 years now. I have had a lot of experiences that profoundly changed and healed me, experiences where I felt truly safe, supported, and held. I have also had experiences where I thought I would be safe and I ended up feeling shamed, violated, re-traumatized, hurt. There are many people doing growth and healing work who are NOT qualified to work with individuals who have suffered profound traumas.
This coming weekend in Maryland there is a training scheduled for combat veterans and other veterans who carry inner wounds from their service. The training is free for veterans; the costs are covered by the hosts and by the volunteers who staff the training. The training is called Vets Journey Home:
http://www.vetsjourneyhome.org/
More below the fold.
I don't remember my trauma, but based on what happens in my body and psyche, I think I have a glimmer of what it would be like to live with the echos of fear and death. Obviously combat vets are not the only people who can carry this kind of psychic wound, and there are resources for people with all kinds of inner challenges or stuck places. There is outstanding psycho-technology available today, and while growth and change still take time, I have seen amazing inner changes and breakthroughs in myself and others that I would not have thought possible.
The purpose of this diary, though, is to make East Coast veterans and those who love them aware of the specific opportunity that is available this weekend. Hopefully once I get the hang of this whole diary thing I may be able to post more information about transformational technology in general.
There are lots of people and organizations offering healing and growth work these days. Some of them are simply not competant. Some of them may have been compentant at some point, but lost themselves in their quest for money and importance. Many are competent and capable insofar as their skills go, but simply do not have the skills to work with people that have certain needs and backgrounds. And there are a number of people and programs out there who really are qualified, capable and competant to work with the people that they are reaching out to, people and groups who have the skills and training that allow them to be safe and effective in the work that they do.
Vets Journey Home is one of those organizations.
http://www.vetsjourneyhome.org/
The Vets Journey Home training is offered and held by people who have experienced the power of transformational healing work themselves and who sincerely want to honor, support, and welcome the men and women who have given more deeply of themselves than most of us can imagine. The training was designed and is led primarily by veterans, but by supportive civilians as well.
There is space in this training for more veterans than have signed up. I am putting out this diary in the hopes that one or more combat vets might read it and might be able to manage the logistics to register and come to Mount Airy, Maryland for this weekend. I promise that this container is respectful and safe, and that all of the people holding the space are competant and capable. If you take this on, you will be in good hands.
If you are interested, or know someone who might be interested, please check out the website and contact the folks listed on the site.
http://www.vetsjourneyhome.org
http://www.vetsjourneyhome.org/...
This is my first diary. I have never posted a diary nor a comment since I got my DK id some months ago. I will seek to be available tomorrow to respond to comments. I request your grace as a rookie. I am posting this diary in the hopes of changing someone's life for the better in a significant way.
Sweet dreams to all.