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Rebuilding a completely new life
Following many stressful experiences, a suicide attempt and diagnosis of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPSTD), I was struggling to cope – until my GP recommended human givens therapy
Martin Baldwin
In the middle of 2015 I was at a very difficult time of life, facing separation and subsequent divorce after 33 years of marriage, and experiencing ever worsening levels of depression and anxiety. However, I gritted my teeth and carried on with life and work, not giving room to the necessary emotional processing.
Then, while working abroad in Central America I was viciously and violently attacked and robbed by two gunmen, which tipped me into meltdown. Shipped home, I was diagnosed with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
I was viciously and violently attacked and robbed by two gunmen, which tipped me into meltdown
The CPTSD was related not only to the recent event, but also to a previous kidnapping, being shot at, suffering various other violent confrontations and, previous to all of that, having grown up with long-term and serious childhood abuse and emotional neglect.
Mine had not been a smooth road, which goes to show how resilient we can be, up to a point where one more straw really can break the camel’s back.
After two months of hardly being able to venture from my own house, I tried to take my own life
After two months of hardly being able to venture from my own house, I tried to take my own life. The suicide attempt failed and triggered a realisation that I had to face the issues head on, in order to prevent further suicide attempts and a complete inability to ever function again in life.
Initially I received psychotherapy from a trauma counsellor, which began to uncover and reveal the level of my illness, but it proved unable to deal with some of the more profound and traumatic events in my life.
I was then introduced to the human givens approach to emotional health and wellbeing by my GP and therapist, and thus began what has been a life saving and life changing journey.
This unique and integrative approach enabled me not only to talk about my life, but to process the traumas, deal with all the emotional baggage and receive real healing of the events, memories and emotions that had lain dormant and repressed for so many years. I had never even thought about my basic human needs prior to this work.
It is no understatement, or exaggeration, to say that human givens therapy has facilitated nothing short of many miracles for me
The practical and holistic HG approach worked by resonating with and responding to what had been crying out within me for years. The rewind, guided imagery and visualisation techniques especially have proved to be fundamental and key to my recovery and healing, along with the focus on my essential emotional needs being met.
It has not been a quick fix and has demanded a lot of hard work, courage and determination, both on my part and that of my HG therapist, but I am now healed and no longer being treated for CPTSD or MDD. The healing is not only liberating from a historical perspective, but has brought me a forward-looking liberty to face life with energy, expectancy and hope in a way that isn’t defined by fear or anxiety.
It is no understatement, or exaggeration, to say that human givens therapy has facilitated nothing short of many miracles for me. I am now rebuilding a completely new life with my partner, family, friends, work and career, and also now myself studying for the Human Givens Diploma so that I can help others to move beyond their difficulties and lead their own fulfilling lives. I wonder what the future holds for all of us when we can realise our full potentials.
