Warning: Danger ahead
Here are my therapeutic musings…
🧠 I've been thinking about how often in TV shows the protagonist finds themselves in a sticky situation, and just when you think they're safe, they make a questionable decision that lands them back in harm's way. It’s compelling, yet super painful to watch. Maybe you can relate to this in your own life?
📢 Ask yourself:
“Do I often get stuck in a cycle of behavior that seems to repeat itself, even when I consciously try to break free from it?
“Are there any patterns of self-sabotage that persist, even when I'm aware of their negative consequences?”
“Do I feel a sense of déjà vu when faced with challenging new situations, as if they remind me of past experiences?”
💡The revelation: Sigmund Freud talked about a concept called “repetition compulsion". This is the tendency to recreate familiar patterns and situations from our past, even if they're unhealthy or detrimental to us. It's as if we're drawn to what we know, even if it brings us more suffering. Like that protagonist, who finds himself back in the same scenario he just escaped from.
Freud specifically said that many of us have a propensity to repeat traumatic events from our past… over and over again.
Traumatic events leave marks on our psyche, regardless of their severity. Whether it’s a humiliating experience, being in an abusive relationship, having an accident, or encountering a conflict in the workplace. Freud proposed that our minds have a strange tendency to recreate these painful experiences, almost as if we're trapped in a twisted rerun. It's like our subconscious is replaying a scene from a horror movie.
But why would anyone willingly subject themselves to reliving such distressing moments, I hear you say? Well, Freud believed this compulsion stems from our deep-rooted desire to master and control the traumatic experience. By replaying it, we hope to gain a sense of power or understanding over what happened, as if we can somehow rewrite the script to create a different outcome.
Just like a cliffhanger in a TV show that keeps us hooked, the compulsion to repeat captivates our minds, urging us to confront and resolve our traumas.
However, this compulsion often leads to a paradox. Instead of gaining control, we become trapped in a loop, constantly reliving the pain and relishing in the frustration of not being able to change the outcome. It's like being stuck in a psychological Groundhog Day.
By understanding this strange phenomenon, we gain crucial insights that empower us to break free from the repetitive patterns that hold us captive. And find healthier ways to cope with our past traumas. Essentially, it’s when we actively decide to take a different route that real healing can begin. By consciously charting a new course, we embark on a transformative journey where freedom and profound change await.
💛 Product I’m loving: Not a particularly ‘sexy’ product, but my handheld Portable Misting Fan is a lifesaver on hot days. Most of the fans out there are just for cooling, which actually takes water from your body, leaving you feeling even more dry and uncomfortable. Not this one, instead you can enjoy being spritzed with cool water.
Thanks for being here,
