What I Learned About Trauma Recovery from Jessica Jones

Who would have thought that valuable survival skills could be gleaned from a Netflix series about a snarky, tormented superhero?

Since my husband left me, divorced me, and erased me nearly five months ago, I experienced my very first bonified panic attack that can best be described as an all body and soul slam- dunk meltdown event that has become an ongoing event. My mental health professional team of doctors, therapists, and energy healers all agree that it is complex PTSD caused by layers of prolonged trauma, and it requires a multi-layered treatment plan in order to recover.

As an anti-hero struggling to deal with complex trauma, Jessica Jones self mediates with alcohol. becomes excessively withdrawn, and battles incapacitating panic attacks and crippling anxiety. What I learned from her healthier coping techniques involved using a kind of mind mapping that refocuses her attention to shut down or re-direct the neurotransmitters in the neural pathways of the brain which are precisely what anti-anxiety meds are designed to do. It is beautifully simple but works quite well: Imagine you are taking a trip and map it as you narrate and observe details carefully. For example, I often begin at my house and map the journey to a favorite restaurant or similar destination. I imagine leaving my driveway and heading toward X street where I stop and turn right on Y…