Brain change and ptsd - has anyone else come across this theory?

[provencepearl]

When I left my therapy session today I was asked to think about three goals for therapy. At first I...

I went to a therapist for ptsd following a car accident. Instead of being helped, I was traumatized by her. So seeing a therapist is so scary I cannot consider it.

For some time, I have been hoping and believing that if I could resolve some of the legal abuse I have suffered, I could recover from the ptsd. I just came across an article that gives me hope from a scientific perspective:

Brain Change and PTSD: Proof Recovery is Possible - HealthyPlace

The theory is (in a nutshell) that something traumatic caused changes in the brain. Something similarly strong but opposite, as in making you very happy, can also cause changes in the brain, but countering the previous changes. I long for time to do things I love, such as quilting, reading, cooking, traveling. As long as I am fighting the legal abuse, I don't have time. I do read in bits and pieces and have found a place to quilt on one night a week. Generally, I feel guilty if I do anything that makes me happy. I now believe I need to think of such things as therapy and make them a priority.

Has anyone else come across this theory? When I first was suffering ptsd from the car accident, I would sit and play solitaire on the computer. It helped me "numb" and block out the thoughts of the accident. Maybe I was also instinctively seeking a form of pleasure but unable to do much more than that.

 

[AnD]

I find this interesting and will follow the thread

 

[shimmerz]

When working with my own trauma, I have followed the adage that love cancels out fear. Neuroplasticity has proven that we can rewire. And yes, it has worked for me. I have literally done this myself.... things I have been terrified of, that I triggered over like crazy, and turning them around by searching for an equally strong link to how I loved others through their fears. It's a long story, but yes, this is how I got out of many, many deep triggers. It does work.

 

[Tornadic Thoughts]

I echo @shimmerz sentiments. Learning to love myself through it all, vs. feeling like I was always at war with myself and having to fight and numb each symptom, was a huge game changer. One particular example is the times I wasted money on gym memberships. The words gym and exercise feel like nails screeching on a chalk board to me. I also hate that space due to the overwhelming smells and other factors, but felt like I HAD to go there for any chance to get moving and healthy. Never worked. I rarely went and ended up donating to them monthly rather than getting my money's worth. I could have been spending that 40some bucks on healthier foods. Not a wise monetary exchange, at all.

Now, I have my living room decor set up to include a mini-trampoline, an aerobic exerciser thingy, yoga and exercise mats, a portable sauna (sweat box), an exercise ball/chair combo, and hula hoops. (all but one of those things were purchased used via craigslist, consignment shops, or thrift shops, and I made the hula hoops myself) Just as my eating habits/lifestyle had to be drastically changed to find my best health, so did the rest of my environment. I have to make things fun and readily accessible for me to continually follow through with it. It's the best therapeutic options, ever, in my opinion. It feels like I'm re-parenting myself back into a healthy existence...one that I was denied as a child. I'm the best hope I've got, and that truly scares me sometimes, as I was never taught that it was okay to believe in myself, while other times it's incredibly empowering. I feel I've definitely changed my brain and hope I can continue to healthily nurture it as it needs to be the most.

 

[jade53]

I went to a therapist for ptsd following a car accident. Instead of being helped, I was traumati...

I haven't come across a theory of how something like winning court battles after the damage caused by the injustice, negligence and incompetence within the justice system helps repair the injury and have had a hell of a time convincing anyone that's really what it's all been about. (I wasn't supposed to ever recover). For me it's been all about the legal principles I spent much of my life learning, so I can certainly attest to the validity of the theory.

I can't count the number of times I've said that all I wanted was my mind back and an apology from the person or persons involved which to date has rarely been forthcoming. Regardless on every occasion I've overturned a misconception and it could be said that at least my brain chemicals have come closer to the way they were. No value can be placed on that, while I still become a babbling idiot when addressing it.

I still have hope and interested in anything about it.

 

[shimmerz]

I just noticed that this was written by Michelle Rosenthal. She has been huge on the PTSD front with media, web, books etc for decades. There is a ton more information out there on what she has accomplished etc. Just google her name.

 

[Deleted member 8714]

I was traumatized by her. So seeing a therapist is so scary I cannot consider it.

I didn't think I could ever see a female T after this other female T tried to get me committed against my will and behind my back. And yet here I am, finally, and it's good. My anxiety was sky high on the intake appointment. I couldn't eat for twenty-four hours prior to it.

It took four years of therapy with another T to work through that conniving and controlling T's schemes. The T that helped me said that abuse by a T is sometimes worse than the original trauma. He also said that I wouldn't be able to work through the original trauma unless I dealt with the T's abuse/trauma.

 

[jade53]

I just noticed that this was written by Michelle Rosenthal. She has been huge on the PTSD front with...

Good read. Thanks

 

[+littlebird]

Thanks for saying that, Incongruous. It's helped me. I spent years being re-traumatized by counselors.

I'm now dealing with a psychiatrist who said some very unfortunate things. My Pastor (the only counselor I trust right now) wants me to at least try to work this out with the psychiatrist. We both believe she genuinely didn't realize she was hurting me. He thinks it will be good therapy for me to finally get a chance to stand up for myself. If I still don't feel comfortable with her it's fine to quit.

But now that I read what your therapist said, I think dealing with this therapy/fear issue needs to be addressed before I can deal with the original trauma. It is so hard, esp. since I'm having lots of related flashbacks right now. My appointment is on Wednesday, and my pastor is coming over that evening to make sure I'm ok. He is awesome.

I'm still dreading Wednesday, but now I see it is probably an important step for me. Thanks!

 

[Fadeaway]

Not long after I joined this site, I asked if it was possible. I am glad to see that science is now saying it is.

I know they are developing video games that help with reversing dementia by engaging different parts of the brain. I think between that kind of science, and strong positive experiences there may be hope in the future for us.

 

[Deleted member 487]

Actually....
THAT is why I have PTSD- I have multpile Traumatic Brain Injuries (4, so far), and the actual physical damage to my brain has decreased the capability of me handling some types of stresses.

 

[jade53]

It would be an interesting poll how many of us at least partially (if not completely) consider their PTSD may not have manifested to the extent it did without exasperation from dealings with professionals.