Foreshortened Future and Trauma
Life Will End Early Without Knowing Why
What is Foreshortened Future?
“So a foreshortened future is a matter of what is anticipated, a negative evaluation of what the future offers rather than an altered sense of the future itself” (Radcliffe, Russell & Smith, 2014).
Lack of confidence in the world due to lack of confidence in past and present experiences
Lack of trust in the world due to a breach of trust over time
Anticipating negative outcomes in the future
An incompatibility with the possibility of a hopeful and open future
Time is experienced differently
Trauma Also Impacts Hope
Many survivors feel hopeless as if nothing will ever change or get better
This can lead to a negative confirmation bias and negative core beliefs
Common Statements
I’ve never thought I would make it past the age of 15/18/20/30/40/50/etc.
I will die young
I will not have a family
I will not have a successful career or job
I always thought I would die quickly in some sort of accident
I never thought I would be in a relationship or date
I have the thought things or people would be taken away from me in an instant
There’s something wrong with me
I’m damaged/broken/etc.
Why bother getting a job?
Why bother going to school?
What’s the point?
Is it worth it to try?
I’ll probably die soon anyways
Bad things will happen to me
Bad things will continue to happen to me
Good things do not happen to me
I do not deserve good things
I do not deserve good people around me
People are generally mean/evil/bad
I cannot trust anyone/others
The world is unsafe/scary/threatening
The world is dangerous/bad/evil
I am bad
I am unworthy
And more
What You Can Do
Read more about how trauma and PTSD impacts an individual (esteem, intimacy, trust, beliefs, feelings, identity, etc.)
Join a support group for survivors of trauma
Seek out professional help from a licensed therapist
Think and reflect on yourself at different ages
Future you
What does this version of you at this age look like?
Where do they live?
What brings them joy?
Where are they at this stage in their life?
Past you
What were you going through at this time?
How did you feel?
Where did you live?
Etc.
Present you
What does my present self look like?
How do I feel?
What am I thinking?
Where do I live?
Who is around me?
What resources and support do I currently have?
What areas of growth are still challenging for me?
How have I changed and grown from my past self?
How To Heal From Trauma Without Therapy (Or In Conjunction To Therapy)
Read more about how to heal from the impacts of trauma in addition to therapy or without therapy here.
References
Ratcliffe M, Ruddell M, Smith B. What is a "sense of foreshortened future?" A phenomenological study of trauma, trust, and time. Front Psychol. 2014 Sep 17;5:1026. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01026. PMID: 25278917; PMCID: PMC4166378. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4166378/