But for so many of my readers who come from relational trauma backgrounds, this – making resolutions, intentions and plans for the new year and for their future – may not be something they feel drawn to do or even capable of doing. Because an inability to visualize a future for oneself (let alone a positive future) is a hallmark trauma symptom.
If you relate to this – if you struggle to envision a future or older/elder version of yourself – and if you’d like to know more about why this might be and, more importantly, how we can help you overcome this, please join me on the blog today to keep reading.
Why do I struggle to visualize a future for myself?
“Why do I struggle to visualize a future for myself, let alone a positive one?”
I’ve been practicing as a clinical psychotherapist for ten years. And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard some iteration of this question.
And the question is always almost paired with some degree of incredulity. That there are people out there who can really, truly do this. Think forward decades into the future and visualize a positive, happy outcome for themselves. And then work backward, taking steps that secure that future.
It sounds as unbelievable to someone with a trauma history that this is possible. As much as it sounds impossible for someone with a normative psychological background to believe that others can’t imagine a future version of themselves.
This may seem incredible to some. But the inability to visualize a future – let alone a positive future – is indeed a hallmark of coming from a trauma background.
Why is this?
Terrific research has been done and continues to be done on why, exactly, trauma impacts one’s ability to visualize a (positive) future for oneself. Detailing the full breadth of that research is beyond the scope of this essay. But I’ll share the three primary ways I’ve personally and professionally come to understand how and why trauma alters the brain’s ability to imagine a future for oneself:
- Trauma alters memory. With trauma survivors, access to autobiographical data points and past memories may be greatly impaired as a result of the brain’s adaptations to the trauma they lived through. And when this ability to reach back into the past and construct a sound, cohesive narrative is impaired, it may make it difficult if not impossible to “mentally time travel” into the future and achieve the mental flexibility required to visualize a future – let alone a positive future.
