I Believe PTSD Is Curable - An Anonymous Source

[lrs]

My story is true. For a time, I asked myself repeatedly if I am absolutely certain the symptoms of PTSD have gone away. There is no doubt that they have. I state that based not just on the fact that I feel like a different person. That is too subjective. As we all know there are distinct and profound symptoms associated with PTSD. Among those are nightmares, repeated flashbacks, and the startle reflex. I have not had a nightmare since February or March of 2004. I have not jumped out of my skin from being startled since roughly the same time. . I did not just suffer from flashbacks. My life was almost nothing but one long flashback. Because of the flashbacks, my life prior to this was an existence as though I were a person with schizophrenia,. I was accurately diagnosed as such on multiple psychiatric tests. One counselor, while in rehab, stated I processed about 10% of events of real time. That has subsided as well. This is not merely subjective belief, those identifiable symptoms have completely gone away, and I have been free of these symptoms and that state of mind since I first realized what had taken place, which was in March 2004. With God as my judge, this is not just being honest, I know beyond any doubt, it is accurate.
For some time I have refrained from making posts, I felt it would be appropriate to let this play out, and run it's natural course. I did not wish to sway it in any way. I do believe there was a physiological basis for what I experienced, and it would be repeatable in other individuals, if a similar effort was used.
I believe in time, someone, somewhere will attempt what I described in my story. Perhaps someone might organize some type of scientific based clinical trial. I look forward to that day, because I am convinced the results will mirror my own experience.

 

[ikop]

What can I do , in your opinion , if I don't play musical instruments ?

 

[lrs]

The question you asked is the most common question people have.
Since the time when I realized what had taken place, I have made an effort to see which activities I already knew could be practiced left handed. Most centered around outdoor sports such as fishing, hunting, and shooting. I was able to learn left handed, everything I already knew how to do. This included casting a fishing pole ( even a fly-rod ), throwing a cast net, shooting a rifle, pistol, and shotgun, shooting a slingshot. I also learned to write left handed, and practiced drawing left handed. I even wrote a book left handed. About 2 and 1/2 years ago I took up a form of martial arts, called Haganah. It requires the use of right and left sides of the body. I was able to learn all of these with a little bit of practice.
Conversely, I practiced left hand banjo, and later left hand resophonic guitar, 30 minutes to an hour consistently, for about 5 years. I never achieved much proficiency with either instrument, left handed. Odd though, it did improve my ability to play right handed.
This is speculative on my part, but I believe it is all about the degree of difficulty, which forces the right brain to work hard, and to accomodate this new activity thrust upon it, create new motor neuron connections, perhaps dissipating previous neuronal connections,, and maybe forcing different areas of the brain to interact differently. I am open minded to ideas, but to date, playing a stringed musical instrument is unique among activities I am familiar with, in it's degree of difficulty. I have given this some thought. Assuming you are right handed, I would purchase or borrow a right hand guitar, take some lessons and practice for about 3 months. Obtain some proficiency with it, does not have to be a lot, just some. After 3 months, I would obtain a left hand guitar, and try to apply what you have already learned, but playing as a lefty. Left hand guitars are readily available. Again, this is speculative, but I believe this would work, perhaps within a comparable time frame as what worked for me, which was about 3 months.

 

[Tinyflame]

I believe after 28 years of this and my experience, and a background in science, there is much validity to this on several fronts.
It is just my opinion/ experience, but I think the 'right-brain' interaction with the left is definitely shunted- inaccessible to a certain degree, and perhaps that is why certain right-brain oriented activities (music, left-hand use, eye-patching, creative activities etc) help to re-engage centres otherwise being unconsciously avoided. From my experience in fact I almost wonder if I didn't unconsciously 'scare' my own (future) thoughts into circumventing my right brain/ hippocampus and amygdala, or perhaps avoiding the left-brain (language expression and formation) is more accurate. Perhaps that is why journalling can be of assistance, to find 'words' and expression that have not existed (yet), for things that are so horrific somewhere the brain would rather 'deny' them [yet there they are, stored (somewhere) away].

It means little as it is only my experience, but I think a combination of a form of activities above, in conjunction dealing with physiological issues, stress reduction and management, the application of learning how to cognitively deal with ptsd-related issues (triggers, flashbacks, anger management etc) helps.

But oddly enough- whether it be because truly at it's core ptsd does (emotionally) also have to do with self-worth and self-esteem- at least eventually it seems shot-to-zero, I think being able to form good, safe, healthy and positive new environments/ relations and thus memories, perhaps even simple care/ acceptance/ self-forgiveness etc, learning to re-engage life ie. to love and learn to be 'lovable' and accept to be loved, seems to provide more 'sense' or the hope necessary to be able to even reduce the vigilance to look back and process anything. It seems scary and risky and impossible but perhaps that indicates it's critical.

JMHO, not too clearly expressed.

 

[ComingUndone]

I remember reading about EMDR therapy, and how some doctors think it works by unifying and linking the two hemispheres of the brain, to allow better communication between the two. At first I thought it was nothing more than Voodoo Magic BS, but as soon as I read about you trying to play left handed, I realised it may just be the answer. I think this is an amazing breakthrough, and that research needs to be done on this. I have heard that EMDR can be extremely dangerous to certain people as it makes them relive their traumas, but if I understood correctly no conscious acknoledgement of trauma was made while doing these "excersizes" to equalize the brain, meaning that this could possibly be a much greater risk-reduced form of such therapy. I have been extremely nervous lately as I have a loved one about to undergo EMDR, but this really sets my mind at ease, and gives us a possible alternative. Thank you so much for sharing, I am sure that this will in time have changed so many people's lives for the better.

 

[anthony]

So far, its only ever worked for the member who made the claim, LRS. There has never been another account reported to date, so I wouldn't put much faith in this technique vs. EMDR or CBT, which both have proven majority numbers for success.

There is no way to get around having to talk about your trauma, either EMDR or CBT, it has to be done at some point. Even SGB treatment... so far its only temporary and an aid to allow relief in order to perform trauma therapy and remove the majority of the issues.

 

[ComingUndone]

Agreed, Anthony. I didn't mean to say that people should be trying this instead of the other therapy methods, just that EMDR is likely something either than the placebo effect, which I believed it to be before, or at least something along those lines.

I cannot say I have ever had to talk about a trauma, as I do not suffer from PTSD, but a loved one does, I can only imagine how difficult it would be. I have lived a pretty difficult and stressful life, but there has never been a single event in my life that caused me large amounts of trauma. But another member, who's name escapes me, mentioned while playing difficult songs on the piano which require both hands, they feel more at ease. I play guitar, and my gf with PTSD calls it my "de-stresser", and I too have felt that slight sense of ease after attempting to play "Hendrix" style.

I just think that this is very promising, and could help improve trauma therapies.

 

[anthony]

Sorry... I actually read it wrong... you stated your loved one is about to undergo EMDR... sorry, my bad.

Your relaxation strategy sounds pretty good to me... jealous... I tried playing guitar many years ago, didn't do all that well at it. Used to bash the drums though... very relaxing.

 

[ComingUndone]

Lol I was awful when I first began too. I took a beginer guitar course in grade 9 and made a total idiot of myself because for the exam we had to play something that the teacher approved of in front of the entire class. Of 30 kids. I picked something much too far above my skill level and failed miserably. I didn't really pick it up again until last year, and now I am doing much better. My gf has also told me her dad taught her a little about guitar when she was 5, so I want to see if I can get her interested in possibly trying it again. I am also getting a bass tomorrow, and I am so excited, I feel like a kid about to get a new toy, Lol. I can see the drums as being relaxing though, getting to just beat and slam on something without any consiquences, seems pretty fun.

I was also thinking, does anybody think this could be used to possibly treat other mental health issues? Or does PTSD just alter the brain in such a way that this becomes effective as a treatment?

 

[lrs]

So far, its only ever worked for the member who made the claim, LRS. There has never been another account reported to date, so I wouldn't put much faith in this technique vs. EMDR or CBT, which both have proven majority numbers for success.

There is no way to get around having to talk about your trauma, either EMDR or CBT, it has to be done at some point. Even SGB treatment... so far its only temporary and an aid to allow relief in order to perform trauma therapy and remove the majority of the issues.

When I had PTSD, and I was mandated to go to a treatment center, I did try to talk about specific events that happened. I was unable to do so, without falling apart at the seams.
After being discharged, I was also mandated to seek professional counseling, undergo random urine tests, and see a psychiatrist as well. The trauma counselor, who was top in the field, spent the first year covering the trauma I did to myself, with substance abuse. I saw him once or twice a week. I was a wreck at that time.
After about a year of this, he decided it was time to get down to the childhood trauma. He had me start writing down specific things that had occurred. I started going downhill from there. The correct medical term is decompensating. Between the stress of this, having a demanding job in which I was put in impossible situations, I relapsed, which I described in my story. After the 2nd family and state board intervention I went to another rehab center, specifically chosen by the state board, because they had special counselors for PTSD.
While there, I attempted to talk about specific events, and again, could not get through it without falling apart.
These professionals were very very good, and I was in a safe place. After 4 months, I was sent home unceremoniously. Everyone feared for the worst, that was expected, and there was no light at the end of the tunnel.
If anyone is in this position here, I know the feeling.
IMHO, PTSD is definitely and easily curable, at least getting past the nightmares, flashbacks, startle reflex, etc. More difficult is overcoming the effects the trauma had, what PTSD did to you, overcoming the distorted thinking that has essentially formed your identity as a person. Again, IMHO, what happened with me, is a good starting point, and dealing with the effects of the trauma, and of the PTSD, next, might be an effective way of treating PTSD.
Wish I had more time, I gotta get back to the salt mines now.

 

[member1100]

Okay, I'm new here on the forum but not new to my PTSD. I've had it for almost 4 years.

I read this thread for 7 months ago and decided to try. I play classical guitar and turned it around and get in to omega-3 also. After three months I have become 30% better. I do not get killed in my nightmares anymore. It's nice. But others can be like they are dying or are dead though . In the middle of the period, I had no nightmares at all. I don't have overcome the uneasy feeling to contact people though.

I have been drinking almost every weekend also(partying), which has reduced the effect i think.

I have a theory about this. When you use your left hand you are disturbing the right brain from sending signals of fear. (My PTSD is like looking down a cliff, a constant feeling of fear to fall down)

... Anyway, I think it is that the electricity in the brain cant connect both full effect of anxiety/fear while control the left part of the body in advanced movements. I do not know but it can be like that .. Meanwhile you are disturbing your PTSD ...new synapse is built and take a piece of the brain's capacity
I am therefore looking for new tips to disruptive advanced exercises for my right brain.

I have practiced the alphabet with my left hand and it was relaxing. Started today. I try to write as neatly as possible. (Case & sensitive)

Is there anyone who can confirm if the left eye takes the information into the right brain? I have read it, but i do not know...

Ok these are my other tips for your left side:
Massage unit for feets under the left foot, when watching tv for example (i will try this out)
Swap side for the mouse on cpu. Do it now!
Put butter on sandwich (dont know how to say in english)

All these things get really easy after some weeks! I promise.

Thank's. Keep the good work up!
Member1100

 

[lrs]

I am so pleased to hear of your efforts, and of the improvements you are experiencing. Did you actually obtain a left hand guitar? Are you still practicing playing a guitar left handed? Would like to hear more.
Please forgive me if this comes across as too direct. Speaking from my own experience, I can attest that the abuse of drugs and/or alcholol is ruinous. They will contribute nothing to recovery, except setback. I was damned lucky to have survived. I have known many who have not. The first year of counseling I went through, after being discharged from my first rehab, starting in June 2000, dealt with the trauma I inflicted on myself from drug / alcohol abuse. I would implore you to turn away from this, starting right now. Drug and alcohol abuse tend to do 2 things. First, they take everything from you. Then, they kill you.
I have been sharing my story for a number of years now, because I know what I experienced. In my mind, there is no doubt, it just is what it is. To me, it's just kind of old news now. But I do feel for you, those who still suffer from
PTSD. However I am just one individual, and what I have described has not been tested or validated. To date, you are the only other individual, that I am aware of, that has tried this. Apparently you are stating it has been beneficial. If you continue, AND IF you experience similar results, think of the gift you would have provided to those who suffer from PTSD. You might be providing a gift far greater, and farther reaching, than you can imagine.