How To Cure Myself

[zpargo87]

It seems like I still have some negative beliefs that cause the thoughts that then cause a fear response inside me. I've gone through about 10 months of therapy including CBT and EMDR for PTSD where the negative beliefs have been identified, the experiences processed and the belief replaced with something positive. But the fact that I'm still prone to this fear response would indicate that the negative beliefs are still in place right? Would everyone recommend doing EMDR again? How do I know when I no longer have any negative beliefs?

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Are you sure it's the negative beliefs that are causing the fear response? In some of us the fear is automatic in that when we are unexpectedly triggered, the fear response is almost instantaneous. I can remove all of my negative beliefs, but it won't stop the triggering fear response. Make sense?

 

[zpargo87]

Are you sure it's the negative beliefs that are causing the fear response?

I cannot be sure. But from what I understand the emotion follows the thought. It is my perception of the situation that is causing the fear which leads to the nerves, increased heartbeat, sweating etc. Would you recommend any reading that proves the point that if you remove all negative beliefs then that won't necessarily stop the fear response?

Thanks

 

[quic]

How do I know when I no longer have any negative beliefs?

It is normal for everyone to experience some negative beliefs and fear is a natural part of life. Getting to a point of zero negative beliefs might be too high of a goal for anyone. As you know, in conditions like PTSD, fear or anger is the dominant emotional state, it has the ability to takeover without warning. A reasonable goal may be to get to a place where emotions flow through you, they come into awareness and pass naturally and quickly.

Most treatments are designed to help you identify the core ideas causing the pain so you can release the accumulated emotional energy. They may create a sense of relief temporarily by letting go of feelings that have been bottled up.

Some people are able to change the core idea /belief so that the pain does not return. For others the core ideas may always exist, but they learn to allow the fear/anger/pain to flow out in a natural way.

When I began therapy, I expected that once I uncovered the core trauma I would automatically stop feeling pain. That was not that case. It took time to heal and reestablish healthy emotional patterns.

There are some great resources on this site that can go into more detail on this subject. Good luck with your recovery.

 

[euca]

Everybody feels some level of fear responses don't they?

I like what quic says, about the healthy state being able to the manage the thought and associated feelings appropriately without being overwhelmed.

My T is trying to get me to be more mindful about the interactions between my intrusive thoughts and then the following emotional response. I have noticed that saying to myself "I notice that I'm thinking ...xyz..." makes me more objective about my negative cognitions and if I can I then try to add " and it is making me feel ..abc.."

Have you looked at mindfulness training?

 

[Hashi]

Would you recommend any reading that proves the point that if you remove all negative beliefs then that won't necessarily stop the fear response?

I doubt that there's research specifically about that, but I'm wondering how you feel you can "remove all negative beliefs" when negative beliefs can go so deep we might not even be aware of them. Also, the research and writing about the fear response isn't anything to do with negative beliefs but is about the flight/fight/freeze response coming from the reptilian brain - which is nothing to do with beliefs and is all about animal survival instincts.

I'm sorry to say that, although I sympathise with you wanting things to be straightforward, I don't think it is. In my view and in my experience PTSD (or CPTSD) is about more than this, and healing takes more than this.

The fact that your thread title is "How to cure myself" raises a number of points. I think you'll find a prevailing view on the forum that there is no cure, only management. I actually disagree that the only future is "management" but I don't think there is a "cure" either. We can't follow steps A, B and C and be cured. I do think we can heal completely, so I want to emphasise that. But I think a bit more is involved than looking at negative thoughts.

Sorry this might not feel like a very positive response but I do think there's healing. Perhaps it's a bit down the road from where you are now, but I do believe we can heal.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

@zpargo87

It sounds like maybe you need to keep on working at the CBT skills? What I describe is an automatic response, like when someone comes up behind me unexpectedly. You describe something that isn't quite so instantaneous and automatic in that there is a thought pattern that drives the fear.

I highly recommend "Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Dummies". It was published in the UK but I think it's available worldwide now. (I bought it at borders a few years ago in the US before they went out of business.)

Oh and another thought. Just because we are healing doesn't mean that symptoms automatically get better. When I started a new type of therapy a few years ago, many of my symptoms showed drastic improvement, but a few got worse. I was a lot calmer overall, but the automatic fear response was REALLY bad. I would scream at people if they startled me (and I've never been a screamer!). The same goes for my migraines. I developed instant migraines, and while I've had migraines since I was a teenager, they've never been instantaneous. Both of these symptoms have improved over the last two years, but they aren't down to the level they were before I started that type of therapy. I don't know if they'll ever be that good again, but I deal with it as everything else IS so much better.

 

[zpargo87]

Have you looked at mindfulness training?

Yeah I've been practicing mindfulness for about a year.

 

[zpargo87]

but I'm wondering how you feel you can "remove all negative beliefs" when negative beliefs can go so deep we might not even be aware of them

Ok that answers my initial question. i.e no you can't tell if you've removed them all or not.

research and writing about the fear response isn't anything to do with negative beliefs but is about the flight/fight/freeze response coming from the reptilian brain

So the negative belief and subsequent thought: I am not safe for example would have no correlation with a fear response. Ok got it.

As well as PTSD I have been diagnosed with social anxiety. So any situations requiring interaction with many people I also get panic and anxiety.

 

[zpargo87]

@zpargo87

It sounds like maybe you need to keep on working at the CBT skills? .

I'm trying but it is a constant battle..will I ever win. I hope my thought patterns change to what I want them to be but not sure how long it'll take. I'll continue to monitor my self talk and review my progress.

 

[shell]

I still get the fear response, but the difference is now I can see that my fears is based on a false belief that I am unsafe, rather than what is really happening. It makes it much easier to manage, and shut down.