Poll Can You Safely Work On Exposure Therapy?

[becvan]

I would like to know what percentage of us can not do exposure therapy because it causes more harm then it does good. This poll is not for those who have NOT tried exposure therapy (although you will get to check that off) or for those who feel it is too hard to try. This poll is about those who have tried and tried hard. Can you do it? Or have you been told you are one of those few that should not ever touch your actual memories?

I have recently come to the mutual conclusion with my therapist, that I can not do any exposure therapy work. I'm not too happy about it and I haven't accepted that I may have gone as far as I can working on the actual traumas.

Anyways.. on with the poll!

bec

 

[Claire]

I voted yes. I have done exposure work including EMDR too. I am also planning more.

 

[Marlene]

I voted yes. With my therapist, here and on my own I do it. Sometimes when I'm having high sypmtoms, just leaving the house or interacting with people is an extreme form of exposure therapy for me. Of course on those days my brain is telling me to run and hide and, for God's sake, don't leave the house.

As the old saying goes, 'If you can't do the time, don't do the crime'. If I am pushing myself forward I also need to give myself time, space and support for ending up on my ass afterwards.

Bec, I hope that you're able to go forward at a later date. Maybe instead of accepting that you can't go forward, just say you can't do it right now and will address this at a later date. That way the door is left open.

Lisa

 

[TLight]

I voted yes, but I'm terrified as h*ll. I know my T wants to do more EMDR.........I'm petrified even thinking about it and my body goes into contortions and I feel like my brain is breaking.........

But, I'm willing to 'go there' if it helps me cope with the everyday triggering. I really want to get past that part.........to feel safe and confident around jerks and not go into a suicidal tailspin or a raging revenge fantasy every time I encounter a male chauvenist pig.
God knows the world is full of pigs and I want to be able to function in the world someday..........they don't get to win.

So I'll try to do more EMDR........although the thought terrifies me, enrages me, and I want to kill.

 

[liv now]

Hi I voted yes. I have had success in therapy with exposure therapy but it was years before this happened. at first it made me so unstable and my therapist told me maybe going back and accessing memories was not the way to help me. but no other model of therapy worked so in the end I continued with emdr. i have some good sessions and I have some really hellish sessions. the key for me to having a good session is feeling safe and supported and not alone.

 

[2quilt]

I am afraid of it; to me it's like ripping open a gangrenous wound and pouring alcohol in it. I know that it will hurt so very bad, but in a few days I will feel better and be closer to healing.

 

[kers]

I've done two rounds of exposure. The first got me so I could actually begin to think about and talk about what happened. The second was to desensitize me to my memories. However, we aborted that about halfway through. My counselor suggested that my shame was so strong that the exposure was, at that point, useless. For a while that really pissed me off because it felt like we were giving up. But what we did muted a lot of my intrusions and I figure if they get worse, it's something to go back to. I've found that the work we are doing outside of exposure is nonetheless having a profound effect on my symptoms.

It may be, bec, that now is not a good time for this; who knows if a year or two down the road the same will be true. Has your therapist suggested some other ways for you to reduce symptoms and process the traumas?

 

[pandora]

i voted yes...even though I still have bad days before the emdr and cbt, I was really dysfunctional some days...I think PMS ( honestly) can affect my thought processes but if I think hard enough and am honest with myself and others..i would say my therapy has not cured but it has helped and this forum has been wonderful too. I find that one day at a time, helps but I also have some other issues other than just PTSD.

 

[pandora]

Honestly my exposure therapy and emdr did help...fortunately i have been lucky to have both and the help from the forum has also been wonderful. Some days are bad but i am working hard to keep changing my thoughts on a daily basis.

 

[pandora]

sorry..that was meant to be together!

 

[Mina]

I voted yes. The timing is very important, though - some times are definitely safer than others. T and I have held off when I've been under a lot of other stresses, as both of us thought it just wasn't a good idea then...too overwhelming.

I've wondered before if exposure therapy has been "easier" or "safer" for me because I have PTSD from a singular event instead of multiple instances compounded over time...that and the fact that it wasn't caused by direct human action/inaction. From my point of view, it's a lot simpler to relive and work through one event and go out and have positive experiences with dogs than it is to, say, relive multiple instances of sexual abuse and go out on dates. Please understand that I'm not trying to minimize my own trauma or say it hasn't still been really hard, but I really have a ton of respect for those working with multiple traumas. I know how hard exposure therapy on a single event has been, and I can't imagine having to do it for multiple events.

Pandora, I agree that PMS can really affect thought processes! This is something I'm trying to become more aware of as well.

Bec, I think Kers is right. Maybe it's that doing exposure therapy now isn't a good idea, but perhaps the right time will present itself in the future.

 

[dust]

Hi,

I did EMDR when I was in full PTSD meltdown mode. I don't know if I could go back to it now, but I think it certainly helped me get through a lot of the stuff. I am still doing exposure work, but it is a day to day thing... trying to manage to do things and 'break through' the symptoms.

dust