PTSD Freedom Key #6: Focus

I enjoy PTSD Freedom by staying focused with positive thinking and not negative. I manifest my daily reality, good or bad, by how I think and what I think. I now choose to replace the thoughts that are not helpful to me anymore. It is a daily battle as well as a long term battle. How can I win the battle? What do I replace the unhelpful thoughts with?

Let me illustrate the intensity of my PTSD battle by using several military analogies.

The enemy attacks me with negative firepower in the form of: fear, shame, failure, need, anxiety, numbness, depression, irrational behavior, feeling sorry for myself, confusion, playing the victim, isolation, self centered, hatred, rage, anger, jealousy, envy, false pride, greed, boastfulness, deceit, irritable, sadness, outbursts, no friends, social ineptness, survivor guilt, lack of interest, hardship, adversity, dragging baggage, no sleep, no appetite, apathy, being broke, nightmares, flashbacks, low self esteem and many others. The enemy has a lot of ammo to keep my head down until he overruns my position. How do I survive the oppresive firepower that keeps me pinned down and stops my progress?

For me, the only way to survive the ambush is to focus my return firepower on one target and unload everything I have. Then charge forward and attack its position until I break through.

My return fire power is: love, peace, joy, smiles, comfort, engagement, help, encouragement,support, integrity, character, trust and any other component that is opposite to the enemy onslaught. The good news is: I never run out of ammo and I never give up!

There are 2 ways I attack the enemy. The first is a premptive, first strike, sniper attack. I look for long range targets. Because the target is far away and small, I need to utilize the Ready-Aim-Fire method. I need to make it count. I need to focus.

Let me go through my check list to ensure a positive outcome: provide for cover and concealment, establish escape routes, find a clear fire lane, rest the weapon on something that absorbs vibration, become one with the weapon, chamber a round, suppress the adrenalin rush, suppress the mind chatter, relax my muscles, check my breathing, check windage, check elevation, check distance, release the safety, acquire the target, place the tip of my finger on the trigger, take the play out of the trigger mechanism, check the target, exhale my breath through my nose, at the bottom of the exhale, when my muscles are most relaxed, slowly squeeze the trigger back, I should not know when the weapon will fire......target eliminated!

The second, and most effective method, is the quick-kill technique. This method employs the Ready-Fire-Aim strategy. In close combat situations, such as a room search, the enemy can pop up at any moment. My brain cannot go through a check list. I need to fire immediately. No time for thinking. The weapon is usually on full automatic and I've developed trigger control of 3-5 round bursts. Safety off as I focus my eyes forward with my weapon at the ready, the barrel of my weapon goes where my eyes go, finger on the trigger, adrenalin pumping, muscles tense, steady forward footsteps, hearing at peak levels...enemy pops-up....rapid fire, no thinking, just chaos... target eliminated!

Those were graphic illustrations of the every day battle in my mind because of PTSD. I needed freedom and I got it when I focused my firepower of positive thoughts and actions toward the enemy. When I'm focused on my objective, the short and long term barriers are neutralized with positive results. I expected to succeed and gain PTSD Freedom and I did!

The past is now my story and the present is my reality staring me in the face. Is it friend or foe? Am I willing to do what's difficult and hard? If I believe that how I do anything is how I do everything then what do I want to focus on? What do I want to manifest in my daily life? My answer is that I want to focus on good health, happiness, success, wealth, peace of mind, family, friendships and so much more.

Success in achieving PTSD Freedom is more than just "how" I do it. Those are the steps I've taken.
My long term success is achieved by understanding "why" I do it. That is my motivator.

The bottom line: When I stay focused on positive goals the enemy is eliminated.

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