Posted by Ensign Viyara Nazeen (Scientist) in Holodeck 2- Therapy in Unusual Places Day 1, Part 2

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (CNS) in Holodeck 2- Therapy in Unusual Places Day 1, Part 2

Posted by Ensign Viyara Nazeen (Scientist) in Holodeck 2- Therapy in Unusual Places Day 1, Part 2
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

It took her several more long moments, but eventually Viyara managed to calm down enough to talk properly. Wiping her face with her sleeves, and shifting into a sitting position that also brought her a little closer to Janna, she said, “I only have the two things on the list that you mentioned as examples. I started to write going for walks, but … I don’t feel like I’m in control of that. Of anything really. Thinking about what I can control and feeling like I have no real control over anything. It-” Her voice broke and she wrapped her arms tightly her midriff, her fingers digging slightly into her skin. She didn’t actually want to hurt herself. It was an automatic reflex that helped her stay focused and present. Looking at Janna out of her red and swollen eyes, she whispered, “Feeling so helpless and powerless … it brought back a lot of memories.”

~Viyara Nazeen

Janna nodded slowly. “Okay, before we continue along, I want you to do the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 grounding technique. Do it aloud and really focus on each sense.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Viyara nodded and took another deep breath before she started to do the technique; always pausing between each thing she mentioned. “I see the ocean … and grass … I see you … I see clouds … and rocks” Slowly loosening her arms, she touched the things that she could touch as she mentioned them. “I can touch my clothes … I can touch the earth.” She dug one finger a little into the ground. “I can touch my hair … and your hand.” Even as she continued with the things she could hear, she didn’t let go of Janna’s hand. “I can hear the waves hitting the rocks … the wind blowing through the grass … and my voice … I can smell the salty air … and also the seaweed.” She then faltered a little. Her backpack was a little distance away and she didn’t feel able to get up just now, so she didn’t know what to say that she could taste.

~Viyara Nazeen

Janna smiled softly, giving Viyara’s hand a gentle squeeze. “Take a deep breath and tell me how you feel right now. Especially compared to even a few minutes ago.”

~Janna Kingston

Viyara took several deep breath and then looked Janna deep in the eyes. “I’m feeling a little calmer than before. Not like everything is suddenly okay, but … I don’t know … more at ease maybe?” She frowned slightly as she tried to figure out and put into words what she was feeling.

~Viyara Nazeen

Kingson nodded. “Grounding doesn’t mean the triggers aren’t there, but because you are more in your body it’s less likely that you’ll dissociate.”

Still holding her hand, Janna took in Viyara and then looked out over the vista. “I know it’s easy to feel alone in all of this, that what we’re experiencing is untouchable to others, but regardless of the reason, because they are different, I do understand, Viyara,” she said, shifting her gaze back to the scientist. “Did you know I double majored in Exobiology as well as psychology back at the Academy? I was fully planning on being a field biologist after graduation.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS