Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Provides The Best Result For PTSD

[Anglesachse]

Thanks Anthony

......brains wiring has deviated from standard and thus more extremely measures must be taken first to get the person back on a more standard and considered "normal" view of the world, people, emotions, understanding feelings, etc.

Yeah tell me about it LOL. My therapist compares me to a mine field LOL, she states "I don`t think or see the world in black and white! as would be the normal case scenario for someone from the Military. You see it in Very deep black and Very bright White" I get what she is saying.

......When you have a personality disorder, you would find it near impossible to identify emotions, to regulate them and so forth... that is what DBT focuses on as a priority.

It has only been since I started with the DBT 2 year ago, that I have spoken to others about the Military, I still don`t go anywhere near the stuff that throws a curve ball, but learning to "Identify" and "Regulate" (as you have put it) my emotions has certainly helped in opening the doors to Therapists. before that I was just "The stroppy bastard" who didn`t talk in the group, and just got so wound up that I would take it out on myself.

......CBT focuses on these first as well, but its usually a short focus, one or two sessions and a person can get the gist of things to try and regulate the heightened symptoms and emotions that are coming from dredging through trauma and feelings.

While at my therapist we take it from day to day, and generally go down the road of what ever I bring to the session with me. It started with me just being angry with the world in general, but has turned to the Military life in the last couple of months, and I am now at a point where "I" want to talk about the stuff that I saw and all, I still need to be carefull that I don`t screw myself up, but I now know throught the DBT what emotions are being aroused and can steer the session for my good. Something that was unthinkable at the begining. I want to speak to her to see if she can go down the CBT (KBT in German) road aswell.

 

[anthony]

You already are from the sounds of it... DBT is CBT, just a different form. CBT is the foundation of DBT. DBT then adds additional aspects for the above mentioned focuses, which is why the name changed. You are already using CBT if having DBT, just a different approach.

 

[Jimbo]

Aussies have a great program for PTSD in Victoria, at the Heidelberg repat hospital. I have just finish the program and I am sure that it has helped me to understand what the hell was going on with me. Also they provided tools to counter the al the issues with PTSD. DVA will pay and if you are a serving member as I am and diagnosed with PTSD they are responsable (the ADF) to provide you with the full support required.
Jim

 

[Need an Oasis]

"I don`t think or see the world in black and white! as would be the normal case scenario for someone from the Military. You see it in Very deep black and Very bright White"

It's so interesting that someone else has been told that. My psychiatrist told me this a while ago too, but in slightly different words. He said for me there is no grey, only black or white.

 

[JarHed]

When I first returned from 'Nam I truly only saw things in black or white. It took me a lot a years to move away from that kind of thinking. Nothing it seems is ever completely black or white but just shades of grey. My perceptions of things have changed over the years.

My PE therapy at the beginning of this year really helped to crystallize those ideas. Just as an aside, I think that PE was good for me in that I'm a very visually oriented person. Better at remembering a persons face than their name for instance. So talking about and visualizing my experiences was a good way to learn about them and move on.