Yes, they can.

Here is a really cool article that speaks to this question: http://www.psychotherapynetwor...-the-emotional-brain

They lose their power, they diminish.

Thank you, BLT, for pointing me to that article. Very interesting reading (had to read it twice).

Hi Mayo, yes, that's what I understood, too. Unfortunately, I'm nowhere near that yet. With T having left this week, I've been getting triggered no matter where I am or what I'm doing. The body sensations feel overwhelming. Li'l one feels utterly terrified and desperate that ALL key people in her life (few as they may be) are going to leave and never come back. The adult me has been craving numbness this week by way of alcohol. I sometimes wonder why I started down this healing path, especially while sober. What sane person purposely puts themselves thru this?!! The common sense part of me knows if I don't want to end up dead from a DUI (or worse yet, kill someone else) I cannot go back to the way things were. But the other parts of me just want to numb all the emotions I've been burying the last 20+ yrs. Sorry for the rant...woke up feeling extremely out of sorts today. Li'l one has gone back into hiding.