Sometimes the origin of an issue is not as clear as it seems
Imagine you have a leak in your ceiling. You call the builder and he patches the roof above it, believing he has found the source of the problem, but the leak continues. You call another builder who turns up with a different perspective and sees the water coming in from a different area and running along to the place where it’s seeping through the ceiling. Finding the origin of the leak was essential in fixing the problem. This analogy works in the same way when trying to overcome panic and anxiety.
When tracing life experiences, some people tend to focus on events that may not be the origin of the issue. For Example, Someone with a phobia may overlook the incident when the schema or belief was installed. Instead, they may vividly remember their first phobic response, their first exposure to the stimulus after the belief was created. For this reason, it is essential to create a timeline where you are encouraged to think back to previous events that may be relevant in finding the origin of your issue.
The following story is from one of Trauma Research UK’s mentors who facilitates our Help And Support Programme. She explains how mistaking the origin of an issue is easily done:
Finding the installation point
I was talking to a young man about his plans for the summer, he shared that he was going on his first holiday abroad, yet seemed subdued, even uncomfortable at the prospect. I asked him if something was causing his apprehension. “I don’t like beaches”, he replied, “they make me feel sick, it’s the water”.
Intrigued by his admission, I was keen to understand what caused him to fear water.
“I had to take swimming lessons to prepare for a school trip when I was about 11 and I just remember freaking out when I walked in and saw the water, I panicked”
As he was talking I noticed him rubbing his stomach in an almost childlike manner.
Further in the discussion, he disclosed that thinking about water caused him to feel that he would become unwell. I asked him if he could think of anything before he was 11 that caused him to believe water was responsible. What did he see on a swimming pool or beach that made him uncomfortable? What water source was it? Was the water in a bath or shower too warm or cold?
His head lifted and goosebumps appeared on his arm, “The bath, it was the bath”. Hidden in his memory he suddenly remembered the night his mother didn’t believe he felt sick and insisted he had a bath ready for school the next day, he frowned as he recalled how unwell he felt and he just wanted to go to bed. After the bath, he explained that he remembered being sick. Since that night, he felt uncomfortable and nauseous around baths, often throwing tantrums and feeling distressed as a child. As he grew older these symptoms transferred to anxiety. With time, he was so focused on the perceived swimming issue that he never considered baths to be the problem.
As the conversation progressed, it allowed him to see that the water didn’t make him sick, that he simply had a bug and after a few days, was back to full health. I still remember when the light switched on in his eyes when he realised that water was not his enemy.
– A Trauma Research UK Mentor
Be Patient With Yourself
When you’re trying to remember something, it can be frustrating and seem as though you are searching for a needle in a haystack. This can be especially so if you have lived with the symptoms for many years.
Sometimes, the answer is easy to find, right on the surface of your memory. But other times, you might need to think in different ways to uncover more clues to how your challenges began, especially if it’s been a while.
For example, the man above searched for 17 years to find his answer! So, if you haven’t yet found the installation point today, don’t worry. There’s always a chance you’ll remember it tomorrow. A great way to get started is to create a Timeline.
Read More about Timelines
HASP Programme
At Trauma Research UK, we believe that trauma and trauma-related disorders that cause an array of anxiety disorders such as GAD, phobias, panic attacks, OCD, eating disorders, PTSD etc. can be successfully overcome.
Even if you have lived with them for many, many years, we can provide the tools and techniques needed to break anxiety-inducing habits and create new ways of thinking.
This programme has been designed to be simple, effective and most importantly life-changing.
This exclusive service is tailored for members, ensuring swift access with no waiting time.
