[stylist] Remembering dreams

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Jacqueline,

Talk about a dynamo, lady. You seem like a very brave soul.

I've dealt with psychological and physical abuse in the past, and for
years I struggled with a lot of things; the biggest probably believing I
wasn't loveable. Intellectually I've overcome a lot, but the emotional
depths of understanding take a long time to unravel and make anew.

Writing is definitely a catharsis allowing us to relive our souls of
hurt, pain, anguish. I use to be on anti-depressants, but have always
shyed away from drugs if there's a holistic or substance-free way to
deal with something, so years ago I learned to channel negativety energy
into artistic expression. As a kid, my dream was to be a performer. The
stage always felt like home for me. And writing always provided a
release and escape for me. Whether it was journaling or a story, I could
release all the pent-up emotions onto the page. Any form of artistic
expression has always allowed me to feel "normal" especially when it
feels like my life is full of turbulence. Between this and breathing
exercises, I've been able to deal with my mental state without drugs.
This isn't for everyone, but so far it works for me. And thank god for
lucid dreams! smile

Sometimes I feel like my own mind is going to eat me alive, but then I
write about it and it lifts something off of me. I literally feel
lighter. It also helps to finally have a person in my life who loves me
as unconditionally as a human can. Home now actually is a tangible,
physical place- or rather person. Smile

I think you're brave for not only sharing this info, but for finding a
way, a voice, setting you free. It's never easy, and the pain doesn't
leave altogether, but you're a survivor, and I'm sure your story
resonates with many.

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
 
"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

Message: 11
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:57:10 -0700
From: "Jacqueline Williams" <jackieleepoet at cox.net>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Remembering dreams
Message-ID: <5D3909FCD7FA4DC494933A88EED44C79 at JackiLeePoet>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Bridget,
I had several counseling sessions with lucid dreaming when I was treated
for PTSD after suffering aggravated assault from a domestic partner.
(The cause of many of my physical, visual and auditory difficulties. It
is true. One can be trained to wake up when certain repetitive patterns
in a dream start to happen. It sometimes works for me. If it doesn't, I
usually wake up screaming just before being killed. Since I have
completed my manuscript, the dreams happen rarely now. I believe in the
healing art of writing. Jacqui