The Heirloom Garden - A Novel - Viola Shipman Page 0,48

or slashed retirement, or that it will place a stigma on future employment if they seek treatment, but they also just want to get back to normal.” Kim stops again and leans even farther forward. “But there is no normal any longer. You must seek a new normal now.”

I look over at Cory. He nods, but his eyes are wide, his jaw clenched, his hands like fists. He is sweating through his polo shirt. My heart begins to race.

“I’m not going to ask you to talk about what happened today, Cory,” Kim says. “About what brought you to me. Instead, I’m going to ask you to try and reset your brain.” Kim looks at me. “You, too, Abby.”

Cory sighs. His shoulders slump with relief.

“I don’t believe in having you relive the trauma, especially at the beginning of our work,” she says. “You already deal with it every day. At some point we will talk about it. But right now you need to find a way to deal with what you’ve been experiencing since then, and that’s extreme anxiety and fear.” Kim looks at me again and repeats, “You, too, Abby.”

“I don’t want to take medication,” Cory says, his voice oddly high, like Lily’s is when she is scared.

“I don’t want that, either,” Kim says. “I want you to deal with this in a healthy way. And I do think that’s possible.”

She continues, “So we’re going to start with a therapy called TARGET, or Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Education and Therapy.”

I look at her. “Say what again?”

“I know,” she says with a laugh. “Counselors and their therapy names, right? In short, what I want you both to understand, especially you, Cory, is that you are in a constant fight-flight response. It’s how you were able to survive a threat on your life. Your brain has shifted into a perpetual alarm state in order to survive traumatic danger. I want to help you use your mind’s capacity to focus in order to reset that alarm system in the brain. This is necessary in order to stop what is a healthy survival reaction from turning toxic. Right now your brain is being hijacked into a constant state of PTSD.”

“How do I stop that?” Cory asks.

“I want to help teach you some very simple tools that will help you. TARGET calls the focusing steps SOS,” Kim says. “I want both of you to close your eyes and listen.”

Cory and I shut our eyes. I feel him reach for my hand to hold it.

“First, sweep your mind clear of all thoughts,” Kim says. “Second, focus on one thought that is the most important thing in your life at this moment.”

Cory squeezes my hand.

“Next, begin to rate your stress level and your level of control over that stress, from one to ten, with one meaning no stress and ten worst stress, and one equating out of control to ten being completely in control. Think of a recent example of a stressful situation.”

My mind whirs to Iris and Cory. Cory squeezes my hand even harder.

What is he thinking about? I wonder.

“Now, sweep your mind clear of the stressful thoughts and focus on what’s most important.”

Kim lets us have a moment of quiet.

“What I’ve learned about PTSD in soldiers just like you, Cory, is that your family members are experiencing the same stress reactions as a result of not knowing if you would come home safely,” Kim says. “That continues because you remain in a constant state of PTSD. Focusing as a family helps you all understand each other’s stress reactions and triggers and helps you join together to heal from the trauma rather than go it alone.”

Cory and I open our eyes. For a while we just talk again, about life, about our schedules, about what normal now means.

“I think that’s enough for today,” Kim finally says. “Any questions before we schedule another time to talk?”

“What about Lily?” I ask.

“I do have an exercise that I think you might want to try with her at home,” Kim says. “It focuses on art, so it’s less frightening.”

“What is it?” Cory asks.

“You make masks to show how you’re feeling,” Kim says. “It’s a way to bring our emotions to the surface. Don’t be surprised if Lily’s mask is sad, even though she may seem outwardly happy. Just be honest. And talk. You’ll know when the moment is right to do this.”

I think of my parents.

“Yes,” I say. “Of course.”

“And Cory?” Kim continues. “Another important aspect is for you