Chapter 6: Learning to Trust

As you can probably imagine, after being in an abusive marriage, I have trust issues. With so many scenarios, I find myself thinking "what's the catch?", "what's in it for him?" or I'm simply waiting for the other shoe to drop. I had to play detective for so long, I immediately distrust. My therapist encouraged me to build relationships that give me the opportunity to build trust. I have been trying to do that, but it's new and different and absolutely terrifying. So once again, I wrote my feelings out in poem-form. 

Learning to Trust

When trauma has triumphed for decades or more

It makes things so hard to have your faith restored

With every small action, each kindness displayed

The default response is to try and dissuade

For kindness can’t come without something in return

There’s always a catch, it’s so hard to discern

It just feels so foreign to trust someone is kind

When for so many years, good and bad were entwined

The Jekyll and Hyde that emerged without warning

Forced a mental blockade to protect from the storming

But not all folks are like that, there is goodness out there

There are people who’ll love you, who’ll genuinely care

But how does one rewire a brain so distorted,

When everything inside tries so hard to thwart it?

Survival instincts can be deeply ingrained

And even with effort, many triggers remain

It takes so much work to allow someone in

To let someone near you and let trusting begin

There’s risk in so doing, and the fear can be strong

Each inch of your being may scream “This is wrong!”

But one thing to remember is to trust in yourself

You know what to look for, how to protect your own health

You know all the pitfalls, the red flags and signs

Look closely and don’t you ignore what you find

As long as you do this, you’ll be safe and sound

It’s time to start trusting, it’s okay, it’s allowed

Let others show you what kindness can be And then all of the hurt you can finally set free


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