Scream of fear

In the therapy series on fear, today we pause to reflect on fear.
What does your fear look like? What is its character? What does it do to you?
Create an image of it – then write down what it says to you.
And the final step: is what it says really true? Fear tends to exaggerate everything, making things much bigger than they really are, and it also shouts things about who you are…

When explaining the assignment, she immediately thinks of that painting, The Scream. She uses it in her visualization.

“Fear paralyzes me and knocks me down. It pushes me into the ground until I am no longer there…”

“What does it say to me? So very much! You are worthless, you can do nothing, do you really think you will succeed? Nobody is waiting for you, they don’t want you, you are useless, worthless…”
The page is filled with writing and her courage sinks.
Sadly, she whispers, “But none of that is true!” Fear takes her strength away and leaves her like a lost little heap.
“I do know it’s not true, but those thoughts keep coming back again and again…”

Step by step, with every statement fear makes, we write down the truth.
“I am a beloved daughter of God.”
“I am valuable.”
“God will not abandon me.”
“I am allowed to be here.”
…

And so the lies of fear fade into the background.
The sadness remains. This is a daily struggle that has now become visible.
Confronting, clarifying.
The symbol she made last time to represent the opposite of fear, she takes into her hands. She feels it, carries it with her every day, and it reminds her again and again of the truth.

These are intense and difficult moments in therapy.
Yet they are necessary to move forward, but only in a protected, safe environment and when a person is ready, can this step be taken.
What a victory!