Chronic Ptsd And T's

[shimmerz]

I think it would be a great idea to see what others think about "normal stuff"

Normal to me means that I am seeing things in a balanced way. I am not attempting to defend myself, nor am I numbing out. Instead I am in the moment and have no fear as to the outcome of the situation I am in. I am willing to ask questions if I am confused about something someone says or does. The people that I gravitate to understand that we are all imperfect beings but can see the best that shines through me and I through them.

 

[KwanYingirl]

No fear, shimmerz? I am looking forward to that state of mind.?ive got more DBT work to do, rats....

 

[shimmerz]

@KwanYingirl I don't do DBT but with the healers I work with that is one of the first things they worked with me on. Letting go of expectations and outcomes. Knowing I can deal with things without worrying about everyone else's reactions but my own. Still practicing. Not quite there yet :angelic:

 

[d-art13]

There is hope!!! Thanks for sharing everyone ;)

 

[Bravo06]

@KwanYingirl Knowing I can deal with things without worrying about everyone else's reactions but my own. Still practicing. Not quite there yet :angelic:

I have tried DBT, CBT, and all the others almost been DDT'ed....... Lol...The last one is a WWF move.

Some people have better luck with some forms of therapy then others. Its good that there are multiple types of focused areas of recovery.

Keep an open mind. Its easier for us that are in our heads a lot.

Keep on Keepen on!!

 

[Hashi]

It is these three areas - containment, positive body awareness, dual time awareness - that must first be strengthened, before addressing the memory of a traumatic event can be done productively.

I have a bit of a conflicted view here. I agree with Rothschild 100% that these are essential before doing trauma work. At the same time, I think strengthening them is as much the responsibility of the client as the therapist. I think the therapist has a responsibility to explain and to monitor/support work on them - to do trauma work without them is, in my view, deeply irresponsible.

I think there's a risk, though, of seeing it as the therapist's "job". It's our job. We need to be working on these pretty much all the time. We have to do it for ourselves. That's what else should be included here.

I see containment of out-of-control emotions as different from being in touch with our emotions. If emotions are adequately suppressed, then they aren't out of control. It's not about suppressed emotions but about the ones that are actively disrupting and/or threatening our lives - for example, out of control anger. Or perhaps overwhelming guilt, shame or distress when doing trauma work.

I'm not sure why you put "chronic" PTSD in the title. Could you say the significance of that? Chronic means more than one occurrence, which probably covers pretty much all PTSD. Do you mean PTSD from complex trauma?

 

[shimmerz]

as much the responsibility of the client as the therapist

I so agree with this @Hashi. We are all responsible for our healing - as ultimately it is we who have to live with the decisions we make in our healing. Thank you for this.

I'm not sure why you put "chronic" PTSD in the title. Could you say the significance of that?

Lol. Can't remember specifically why I put in chronic. I am thinking it is because with a chronic case therapy is usually ongoing - just to be able to function. I like this link (although there is much debate as to the difference between chronic and complex if you google chronic ptsd (some scholarly articles) - but this link I found right on this website.
https://www.myptsd.com/threads/is-chronic-ptsd-just-ptsd.4511/

 

[ghotiff]

My first T launched into trauma work and encouraged me to talk about the worst abuser first. It was a disaster and because I didn't know any better I trusted in her, kept going with the process and went really downhill.

They must be responsible to ensure stabilization and containment is properly in place before starting.

Sorry, venting.

 

[Nighthawk]

@ghotiff Many trauma specialist do go after the worst one fitst. It does get worse before it gets better.. But it deffinatly does not work for everyone and it is torturesome.

 

[ghotiff]

Thanks for that information @Nighthawlk . It was a disaster for me and I ended up finding a new T's who is much better for me.

This "getting worse before it gets better" confuses me a bit. I (like most others) don't have the luxury of taking a year off my life to feel "worse" as I have a husband, children and financial commitments. I feel "worse" with my new T but only a bit and I can still function.

Sorry, still venting.

 

[Nighthawk]

Venting is good as the process is painful. I am glad you found a T that you work wth better.

 

[Hashi]

This "getting worse before it gets better" confuses me a bit. I (like most others) don't have the luxury of taking a year off my life to feel "worse" as I have a husband, children and financial commitments.

I think you have to be careful with this. I doubt that any of us have the luxury, whatever our situation. (For example, some of us might be no husband and sole breadwinner.) That doesn't alter the fact that we have to find a way. Personally I don't think it's confusing, I just think it's difficult - and necessary. In my case it meant some time on state benefits (welfare). Whatever that did to my ideas about independence, self-esteem, self confidence, choices, standard of living etc, and it did a lot to them, it was necessary. And that really, really bad time (financially, personally, relationship-wise, and in other ways) was worth it.

Generally speaking it isn't a luxury. It's a necessity. And the definition of "necessity" in other areas has to give.