But what if it is my swamp?

There are times when I have found myself struggling in my own swamp and, following the last entry on "The swamp metaphor", I began to reflect on how I had survived these times and how I had managed to remove myself from the swamp. Life will always give us swamps!

When I thought about reflecting and reflections  and considered photos that I could use to illustrate this post, I recalled our boat trip in Chamberlain Gorge at El Questro in the Kimberley, and as I thought further, this became the perfect metaphor for this post.

The nature of this "swamp"/ river

On a still day the reflections in the river are almost perfect and it can be tempting to focus on the beauty of the gorge and forget what lurks beneath the water. Estuarine crocodiles inhabit these waters and have been know to attack boats. There are also lots of Archer Fish who catch their prey by spitting a stream of water into the air. Shiny camera lenses are a guaranteed target.

The things that put me in the "swamp"

Experiencing traumatic events and being faced with unexpected challenges tends to put me into my "swamp", especially if these things have shattered my assumptive world. I can never anticipate what life will throw at me.

However the other things that can put me into my swamp are triggers to past traumas and challenges, and I liken these triggers to being spat at by the Archer Fish. These can hit unexpectedly, and when I try to focus on them or look more closely at them (e.g. metaphorically with my camera) they congregate and spit more, but also invite me to delve beneath the surface, where crocodiles (the memories of past traumas) lurk.

Surviving in the "swamp"

I have found that it is important to concentrate on staying on the surface of the water, to avoid further triggers if possible (not photograph the Archer Fish) and to seek ways to exit from the swamp. Mindfulness (likened to concentrating on the reflections in the water whilst still being aware of the danger of the hidden crocodiles) is a good strategy to use, as delving beneath the surface before I reach safe ground can lead to struggling more. I also find it useful to remind myself that trauma reactions usually ease after two weeks (the Gorge does not go on forever) and are more intense during the first week. Knowing that I won't feel like this forever is helpful, as is knowing that my reactions to the trauma are normal.

Experience has shown me that time takes me further down the "river", lays down new experiences and memories, and carries me to exit points from the "swamp".

Processing things

Once I am on safe ground I can begin to reflect and process my experiences in the "swamp". I see the crocodiles as each representing a past traumatic event. Every time I process an event this is like removing some teeth from that crocodile, so that the intensity of its "bite" is gradually reduced, as is the intensity of the impact of my memories. I think that whilst the crocodiles will always be there (we cannot change our past), as they lose their teeth, this is like traumatic events lurking in my memories but no longer having the power to acutely hurt me.

How about you? What is it like in your swamp, and what things help you to escape from it?