Incredible Hulk Moments

Dr. Jacob Ham Demystifies Trauma with a Metaphor

Do you ever go from calm to “losing it,” and wonder what in the world happened? Suddenly you have no connection to your thinking mind. What is your self-talk like after these moments? Are you hard on yourself?

What if we don’t have to try harder to “control our behavior?” This video by Dr. Jacob Ham offers us a new metaphor for the way we lose ourselves when we become overwhelmed.

What does Dr. Ham’s image stir in you?

I’ve begun to reflect on my own “hulk moments” as intelligence. Rather than shame myself for these moments, I’ve been practicing turning toward them with curiosity. They are rising for a reason, and that reason is usually to protect me from a perceived threat.

I’ve been practicing noticing the subtle shifts within me that signal I’m losing connection with my rational self. When I start to notice these shifts, I can turn anchors that help me regulate, or I can reduce the harm by naming what I’m noticing with my loved ones.

I hope this post helps you feel a little bit less alone — that we can all move towards curiosity and compassion when viewing these experiences as pathways that support us in appreciating our body’s intelligence and resourcing ourselves for the stressful moments that we’ll have in the future.

Photo Credit: Joni Ludlow on Unsplash

If you’re feeling curious about trauma-informed spiritual direction, I’d love to explore journeying together. I offer a free exploration session.