Today I was reading a chapter in a book called "Collaborative treatment of traumatized children and teens : the trauma systems therapy approach" by Saxe, Ellis and Kaplow (2007). I liked the manner the ideas are presented in this book. I have just read one particular chapter. I don have the entire book. I have got access to this chapter through ebrary.
The book gives guidelines as how to treat traumatized children. Children who were exposed to different forms of physical or psychological abuse and children who were involved in traumatic experiences such as car accidents.
One of the earlier interventions involves helping the child stop intrusive thoughts and images related to the traumatic experience. For example, a 10 years old girl sexually abused by her grandfather might have disturbing thoughts of guilt. She might think that her grandfather punished her for doing something wrong. Of course, this is not realistic and interventions and talks are needed to help her understand that raping a child cannot be justified. It is wrong and must be punished.
The suggested intervention is thought stopping. Every time the child or the worried adult finds him / herself thinking negative thoughts he / she should say silently to him / herself stop. Alternatively, he / she can imagine a big red sign saying stop.
The authors suggest that after repeated practice the task becomes easier and disengaging from those thoughts become easier.
There is no doubt that disengaging from those negative thoughts elevates the spirit. Take away bitterness and hope will find its way to the heart.
But what does teachings of the messengers of God tell us in relation to this ?!
God asks us to guard ourselves from our number one enemy: Satan. It is he who tries to make us think that there is no hope, that it was our guilt, or that poverty awaits us. God says in the Holy Quran:
الشَّيطـٰنُ يَعِدُكُمُ الفَقرَ وَيَأمُرُكُم بِالفَحشاءِ وَاللَّهُ يَعِدُكُم مَغفِرَةً مِنهُ وَفَضلًا وَاللَّهُ وٰسِعٌ عَليم
الفرءان الكريم - سورة البقره ، الآيه 268
The devil promises you poverty and bids you sin, but God promises you pardon from Him and grace, for God both embraces and knows.
Source: The Holy Quran - The Heifer 2:268, translated by Edward Henry Palmer (1880)
By making us worry about things that happened in the past, the devil achieves his desire of making us forget to remeber God and ask Him for help and guidance. God says that nothing good is going to happen to you without Him wanting it. God is the address for all good and prosperity and He is the one to ask for protection.
So, what is the best way to deal with negative thoughts ?!
- Trusting in God fully.
- Asking God for protection against Satan.
- Doing things that we like and that give us sense of peace, mastery and satisfaction. For me I find reading the Holy Quran, being with family, going to the mosque, working on my sites, reading about web-development as such activities.
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