Learning to Trust Your Intuition After TRAUMA

Summary

This video explores the challenges autistic individuals face when reconnecting with their intuition after being invalidated or gaslit. It highlights how trauma, manipulation, and masking can disconnect them from their inner guidance. The video offers practical advice for reconnecting with intuition through simple practices like tuning into bodily signals, exploring what feels good, and prioritizing self-care. Emphasizing the importance of small, manageable changes, it encourages autistic people to honor their unique needs and find supportive communities to aid in their healing journey.

Takeaways

• 😀 Autistic individuals may struggle with trusting their intuition due to constant invalidation and gaslighting by others, such as family, friends, or partners.
• 😀 Many autistic people are highly empathetic, but this empathy can be misunderstood or suppressed due to communication difficulties or masking behaviors.
• 😀 Masking can lead autistic individuals to prioritize the needs of others over their own, further disconnecting them from their authentic intuition.
• 😀 Narcissistic or manipulative relationships are common among empathetic autistic individuals, causing further doubt and disconnection from their intuitive sense.
• 😀 The sensory overload many autistic people experience can overwhelm the nervous system, leading to difficulty staying connected to one's body and feelings.
• 😀 Trauma, especially chronic trauma, can cause autistic people to disconnect from their intuition, making it harder to sense danger or identify personal needs.
• 😀 Reconnecting to intuition involves doing more of what feels good and less of what feels draining, without needing to justify your choices to others.
• 😀 Autistic individuals can regain their intuition by staying curious about new experiences and paying attention to how their body reacts to them.
• 😀 Checking in with your body through deep breathing and relaxation exercises can help reconnect with intuitive feelings and signals.
• 😀 Using a mantra like 'It makes sense that I feel this way' can provide self-validation and ease during stressful situations.
• 😀 Slow, manageable changes are key in rebuilding intuition—gradual steps towards healing are more sustainable than drastic life changes.

Q & A

Why might autistic individuals lose connection with their intuition?

Autistic individuals may lose connection with their intuition due to experiences of invalidation or gaslighting, such as being told they are overreactive or overly sensitive, which can cause them to doubt their own instincts. Masking, which involves changing behavior to fit societal expectations, can also prevent authentic self-expression and further disconnect them from their intuition.

What is the relationship between empathy and autism, according to the video?

The video suggests that autistic individuals are often highly empathetic, although this may not always be apparent due to challenges in expressing emotions. The internal experience of empathy can be overwhelming, and masking behaviors may prevent these emotions from being communicated effectively.

How does narcissistic manipulation impact an autistic person's intuition?

Narcissistic manipulation can invalidate an autistic person’s experiences, leading them to doubt their own perceptions. Narcissists often put their needs above others, which can cause the autistic person to question their own sense of safety and intuition, making them more susceptible to manipulation and gaslighting.

What role does chronic trauma play in disconnection from intuition?

Chronic trauma, such as being in a manipulative relationship or experiencing ongoing invalidation, can desensitize an autistic person to their intuition. Over time, the constant stress of feeling unsafe or unprotected can make it harder to trust one's inner voice, which is crucial for identifying danger or discomfort.

How can the nervous system contribute to the disconnection from intuition in autistic people?

The nervous system in autistic people is often in a heightened state, constantly processing overwhelming sensory information. This overactive processing can distract from bodily cues and emotions, leading individuals to become more mentally focused than connected to their physical sensations, which impairs their intuition.

What is the importance of paying attention to bodily cues when reconnecting with intuition?

Bodily cues, such as tightening muscles or instinctively pulling away from certain situations, can signal safety or danger. Reconnecting with these physical sensations helps autistic individuals recognize whether something feels right or wrong, allowing them to trust their intuition more effectively.

How can one practice self-compassion to rebuild trust in their intuition?

Using affirmations like 'It makes sense that I feel this way' can help individuals validate their emotions. By acknowledging that their feelings are a natural response to overwhelming situations, they can reparent themselves and foster trust in their instincts again.

What is the benefit of taking a gradual approach to self-change and transformation?

A gradual approach to transformation allows for sustainable change without overwhelming oneself. Trying to make drastic changes all at once often leads to burnout and disappointment. Small, manageable steps ensure lasting progress and prevent feeling overwhelmed.

Why is rest and recovery important in the process of reconnecting with intuition?

Rest and recovery are crucial for emotional and mental clarity. Overstimulation can cloud intuition, so creating an environment conducive to relaxation, such as using a white noise machine, helps calm the nervous system and promotes a clearer connection to one's inner voice.

How can being part of a supportive community aid in the process of healing and intuition-building?

Being part of a supportive community can provide validation, understanding, and shared experiences, all of which can help rebuild trust in one's intuition. When individuals feel seen and heard in a safe space, it becomes easier to reconnect with their true selves and their intuitive sense.