Poll Can PTSD Be Cured?

[Maze7]

I believe there will be a cure oneday. But at the moment there are just a few treatments which help you deal with the PTSD. I always hoped that re-griefing through psychodynamic therapy would help me get better. It has helped me get a lot of myself back and regrieve through memories that I believe were trapped away when I got PTSD 10 years ago. I thought I would get the memories back that the PTSD would go away, but 10 years later and I still get new flashbacks when and old one disappears. So alas I am stuck with PTSD still.

 

[NarcSis]

I think that the word "cure" in itself is a misnomer because it reinforces the 'disease' interpretation of what we are facing. Mental Health professionals like to tag things and label everything, I can just picture the heads with their little stickers posted everywhere. Recovery is a better way to look at it; I prefer to call it an 'injury' and it needs to heal enough for me to function from day to day. Every injury has the potential to be 're-injured', its a simple fact, just ask any joint in my body - being a medic is hard on your body.

I believe I will heal. I will go back to work and I will once again be able to help others. I may suffer a 're-injury' at some point, or I may be lucky enough not to, I can't predict the future, I can only take each day as it comes.

 

[hapa_gurl87]

I believe ptsd can be cured depending on the person and the severity of their trauma. I never believed I would be cured. I spent four years after high school so consumed in fear and anxiety I didn't think there was much of a way out and it felt like I was living in hell. But I did get better miraculously although my symptoms have come back i strongly believe that if I was cured of my trauma the first time around it can happen again and I'm sticking by that hope.

It wasn't easy, it took me a lot of work to heal myself. Lets just say it was a very unpleasant roller coaster ride far from safe or comfortable.
I had to change my whole perception on reality, myself, people, society, my morals and let go of that ego-self that keeps us contained in a box. I started to break down those walls that had trapped me in a box for so long by letting go of my old beliefs

I was able to journey outside my box. And as scary and horrifying as it was, I kept pushing myself to change. Trauma hates change she wants to keep you in a box forever. You can't let her get the better of you or else she has all the power.

Trauma wanted to make me feel like I was worthless . She was the the bully and I was her victim. As much as she would humiliate me she just wouldn't leave me alone no matter what I did even if I tried to be nice to her or negotiate a deal.

I could have just ignored her, walked away maybe tried to get revenge but seriously what good would that do if it doesn't bring about a sense of justice or closure . Like any bully its not so much what they say or do to you that hurts its how you let it effect you. By no means one should tolerate or accept bullies . But its really how you decide to view her she can either be the evil villain that tries to haunt you for the rest of your life or a person who's really not much different than you are. Maybe you have get to know her better before you make direct assumptions about her.

Once I got to know my Trauma really well, I was able to work through my ptsd. I had to make sacrifices and do things some people wouldn't have the courage to do in making peace with my trauma and completely get rid of the ptsd symptoms that came along with so that life could be enjoyable again.

The reason I decided to personify trauma as a very mean bully is because my trauma is connected with being bullied in high school thats how I got PTSD. Trauma to me is like a bully of the mind and body and spirit. It can beat you down and create fear and distort your thoughts by taunting you with words that trigger a negative response that is beyond your control. Trauma just like bullying is hard to face or get rid of but it doesn't have to stop you from living a joyful, healthy, happy life.

 

[Surefoot]

I agree with what Anthony said about there being no cure because true PTSD creates a permenant change that stays with us forever. I do however believe that we can overcome the effects with great diligence, help along with the mercy and grace of God.

 

[TLight]

I"m going to believe in overcoming too.

 

[Phil1983]

I have voted no.

This is because, although there is help available, I took the help as soon as it was noticed that it was needed and I will admit at the time it helped me in a huge way. It opened me up to the events that led to PTSD and talk about them at the time to the point I was feeling comfortable with myself, my surroundings and life at the time and started thinking of ways to improve myself and confidenced again and re live my life.

Unfortunitely I now realise that there was underlying problems associated with the event that caused my PTSD and at the time I wasn't in a situation to concentrate my mind and thoughts on these aras in my life, when the time came to be concentrating on these areas, "triggers" went off and things flooded back to me and has led to another downfall to the point where I am now seeking help through my Dr who helped me at the time so I can refresh my mind and work out how to deal with the situations for the 1st time since the ordeal.

 

[Anna]

I voted no as well. You can learn to live with it, but it will never ever be "cured".

 

[Panda]

Not sure if it was covered in the thread, research has shown that ptsd sufferers (most common to c-ptsd or being in an envirnment for a very extended period of time under constant threat) actually forces the 5th chromozone in our DNA to mutate / evolve producing a fragile "a" or "g" within that piece of the DNA chain. As far as all educated theories go, it is possible to pass this evolved DNA onto not yet born children.

 

[anthony]

Yes, genetics are still being studied for stress and inheritance. From my latest reading, there is nothing empirical on this subject yet, but studies will decide this over-time. I did read a recent study released last year on this with children who endured prolonged childhood abuse, stems to shorter life spans and inheritance in DNA possibly, though genetics have been a contentious issue now with anxiety for quite some time, depression and other disorders as well.

Not new science, yet not conclusive at the same time, though certainly interesting to read what they test and the results found. I am hoping by around 2015 - 2020 they have empirical data on genetics and anxiety, hopefully to include prolonged childhood effects.

 

[Leah1]

I was doing research on if there was a cure or not and apparently there is an injection called stellateganglion block or SGB. It shuts down the nerve growth factor.

There are some risks such as seizures and the potential for puncturing an artery or lung during the injection.

 

[robi]

I have had PTSD for approx 23 years. I have spent years in therapy, as well as take medications for the PTSD. I voted no, as I believe there is no cure. I have learned over the years that I must avoid situations that put me in the fight or flight response, as this then opens up the hypervigilance, hyperarousal, increased anxiety, paranoia, sleeplessness & the downward spiraling of my life falling apart. However, as I have learned throughout the years, I can be triggered unexpectantly and soon will be in a full blown PTSD episode. So staying away from toxic people and situations is a must for me, however I do not always have that option, as I work fulltime & work with people on a daily basis.

I had a psychotic break in 2009 & it took me almost 2 years to pull myself back together. I am still fragile and was recently triggered this week by a bullying co-worker. I could see the corner on the white fabric of my sanity ripped and could see the psychosis like a dark force waiting to consume me again. I caught myself thinking how much money do I have & where can I move to, to get away from her. I instantly went into the flight response and am working very hard to quell the rearing head of the PTSD symptoms. This is how I have responded to stress in the past, I simply pack up & move. However, after moving approx 50+ times I am tired of running & am making a diligent effort to remain where I am at.

My education and career have also been an attempt to "cure" myself. I have not given up, I am just realistic & realize that I must safe guard myself and my sanity. I am a social worker, have been formally trained to conduct Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing and Yep, you guessed I worked in the trauma field for 4 years. I also worked in hospice for many years, so I guess you could say I sought out my own form of exposure therapy. Right now I am reading the Happiness Trap by Russ Harris and it is resonating with me. We hear & are told there is a cure for PTSD and when we aren't cured feel hopeless and like a failure. I also do yoga, as it works well to diminish my anxiety. So, I guess I would say that the PTSD is a part of me and always will be, and I try to manage the symptoms when they appear.

 

[Jen93]

I vote no, but hold the hope that it may be possible in the future.

This is the way I feel too.