Connections between the mind, body & soul

Connections between the mind, body and soul

Most of us are familiar with some kind of disassociative experience – Think of a time when you have been driving (either a short or long distance on a familiar road) and all of a sudden you reach your destination – what thoughts come to mind “I am here already, I don’t even remember the journey”.  Of course, minor disassociation such as the driving experience involves a harmless break in consciousness and is not of a clinical concern.

For survivors of sexual abuse and in particular self-harmers the experience of disassociation can be a regular and constant companion throughout their regular daily activities.  The experience of disassociation has been explained in many ways by researchers over the years but for many ‘cutters’ the experience of disassociation is unexplainable and unable to be voiced through language.  How can a survivor of sexual abuse explain the progress of their physical self being torn apart from their mind and soul?  How can a survivor explain the alteration to their environment/surroundings, the auditory, sensual and physical changes that occur at a frightening pace?  Some survivors reveal that when the body feels disconnected from their mind and soul – ‘cutting’ the skin brings the survivor back to realty. 

Many alternatives have been given by health professionals to self-harming behaviour – what is required now are to learn from those who ‘self-harm’ and what works for them.

Alternatives to self-harming behaviour

• Punch a pillow
• Punch a ‘punching bag’
• Scream into a pillow
• Sing loudly
• Take a cold or hot shower
• Squeeze ice-cubes
• Place an ice cube on the area of skin where you want to harm
• Call a help line
• Talk to a friend or family member
• Find a skilled professional
• Visit websites about self-harm
• Join a self-harm support group
• Go for a walk
• Write in a journal
• Draw a picture
• Thought stopping