Cure For PTSD - Does it Exist?

[anthony]

If you read some of the more advanced books mentioned in the recommended books thread, those contain many scientific studies outlining PTSD is currently incurable. If you subscribe to mental health journals, through someone like the [DLMURL="http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/"]National Institute of Mental Health[/DLMURL] and there are so many others. I have subscriptions to two different one's myself. These are what provide scientific fact, evidence as it currently stands. Yes, studies do show a certain amount of bias to what they aim to find, however; none have yet found a "cure" for PTSD.

The only people who really throw the term "cure" around are typically those within the therapy industry who want people to look at them, they want recognition for something, they want attention, but for all the wrong reasons. Again, facts are that PTSD is currently an incurable mental illness. Until the science of the brain damage changes, it will remain incurable.

Maybe you could say that not seeing PTSD as incurable is part of my denial?! All I know is that when facts are being tossed around it should be done so with the knowledge that others like myslef who have just had the kick in the gut that they are suffering from PTSD maybe frightened to see that it is not curable reported as a fact! Perhaps that is something people should be eased into being revealed!

Other forums realm in bullshit, not this one. If you want to sit in denial, you don't want to do it here, plain and simple. I do not want people here who aren't ready to help themselves, as it merely only distracts other members who are here wanting to really help themselves. Remember, you joined the forum, the forum didn't join you. This applies to every single member here, and no member will change that fact. You joined under what this forum stands for, not what you want it to stand for.

There is no argument in this aspect of the forum.

 

[anthony]

Here is another example of where things are going, but not yet achieved with PTSD, though this is only medication. Take note though about how exercise is more beneficial than most medications:

Ronald Duman, Ph.D., is Director of the Laboratory of Molecular Pathogenesis and Treatment Mechanisms within the Clinical Neurosciences Division of the National Center for PTSD

There is a great deal of interest in BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor) as a target in a variety of neurological disorders, like multiple sclerosis, and many more studies like ours are now taking place.

Unfortunately, there hasn't been much success yet in making drugs that act like BDNF in the brain. Typically, a drug is developed by identifying a substance in the body that has a particular effect, and then making a drug that acts like that substance. But we haven't figured out a way to do that yet with BDNF, mainly because the molecule is very large and therefore very difficult to reproduce, though a lot of people have been trying for a long time.

There's also a lot of interest from pharmaceutical companies in Cyclic AMP and various enzymes that could regulate the body's own production of BDNF, and in the results of our genetic studies.

We've also had some interesting evidence that drugs aren't necessarily the only answer. It's been demonstrated that exercise has a very positive effect on neurotrophic factors-actually more significant effects than drugs in many cases. We've found that if we give a mouse a running wheel, he'll get on it and run for miles and within a few weeks we see a dramatic upturn in the production of neurotrophic factors!

The more we understand normal brain chemistry, as well as the imbalances that occur, the more we can work toward designing and developing new medications and other effective treatments for PTSD.

 

[anthony]

There are studies, studies and studies.... fact everywhere, nothing hidden, but still no cure documented. Even Dr. Shapiro has never claimed EMDR cures PTSD, because she knows it doesn't. EMDR helps a person process their trauma, which as a result reduces symptoms, which combined with exposure therapy can get a person back into a fairly normal life.... maybe slightly medicated, maybe not, though able to work for some, not for others. Why? Because it doesn't cure the chemical imbalance that has taken effect within the brain. They are trying to fix this with medications, being they find the missing chemicals or the chemicals that are too high, and replace them or attempt to reduce them.... still though, no cure yet.

 

[spiritofnow]

At the end of the day YES I did join the forum but not to be told that unless I believe that PTSD is not curable that I am in denial and not helping myself or others - what about democracy? Being told to think something or you won't be accepted is rather like a dictatorship. You say you don't realm in bullshit but that bullshit is subjective and people have the right to challenge and find a balanced view.
I don't need the forum as it is a resource that I can replace - I came here to speak freely and from the heart with No agenda! I don't

 

[spiritofnow]

..............want to fight! I have only myself to fight FOR I have nothing to prove! You seem to treat my challenge as if you are under attack! I feel bad for people when they come on here and you tell them 'hey its great you are here well done, oh and by the way what you have is incurable' who gave you the power to take hope away from people? Who gave you the job to point out that unless you believe this statement that you are in 'denial'? Nobody should be forced to believe anything they have not determined for themselves. Its damn right irresponsible behaviour!

 

[spiritofnow]

Is this a forum or one mans mission? I am so disappointed!

 

[anthony]

Spiritofnow, it is as simple as this. Your confusing religious beliefs with scientific fact. I am not taking hope from anyone, I simply present the facts, the realistic solutions, the commonsense approaches.... not spiritual beliefs, hocus pokus or any other form of nonsense. Again, if you do not like it you have the option to leave the forum. Easy, ha!

 

[spiritofnow]

I too do not adhere to hocus pokus beliefs which is why I wrote about how to scientifically deduce what a fact is and how something is deemed a science - I am open to your view and have never once deemed it incorrect - to challenge a belief is not to deny it but to look beyond what it imples.

And yes of course I can take this place or leave it - however, I came on here to help myslef and in turn give anything to others that I may have to offer. I did not come on here to dual over the semantics of PTSD - I know how I feel! I am sure that there are sufferrers of PTSD in this world who maybe not equipped to look beyond what you offer as the facts - that was my concern!

Anyway, I have deflected the task at hand by engaging in this debate with yourself and others - to heal myself and find my own truth to facilitate that process with the best outcome for a positive prognosis, that I am not in denial about.

Spiritofnow - with love - as I mean to go on in this life x

 

[anthony]

I agree with you, in that there are thousands out there that do not want to look at the truth, they don't want to admit or even know they have an illness that has no cure yet.... instead they drink, smoke, drugs, workaholism, and a long list of methods to distract themselves from coming through denial to what is factual, realistic and commonsense. Unfortunately, the facts are, you cannot help someone who doesn't acknowledge the facts themselves. This forum pushes people out of denial, it does it extremely well actually, and it works every single time. People become honest with themselves, and with that honesty they can then realistically go forward towards the hope of getting back into society acknowledging their illness for what it is. If you do not acknowledge the restrictions PTSD places upon you, then you will never manage it well, because you will continue to perform destructive behaviours or patterns, all of which only come back and feed PTSD itself.

This is why there is no cure just yet... but I will never say to someone not to believe one exists... two different statements being made there. If a person comes on this forum and attempts to give advice that is not fact, realistic or commonsense, then I will edit that type of advice because it does not help the other person who seeks the help to begin with. If a person said to another, "well, PTSD isn't curable, however; science is certainly moving towards that direction quite rapidly, but when... who knows? The best thing though is that PTSD can be managed, trauma can be healed, which means you can get back into life, simply you will have to make a few lifestyle changes to manage your stressor intake, but otherwise, you can participate in life again without aggressive symptoms." That is the combination of facts, realistic expectation and commonsense. Three all very good things.

Big difference in that statement of honesty and truth, compared to just: "oh yer, PTSD can be cured." Like, where is the science to back that one up? Doesn't exist just yet.... I am not in the business of lying to people, don't like people telling me lies either. This forum is very much based on honesty, integrity, truthfulness, fact, realistic expectations, known methods, commonsense, and much more. All positives actually, not negatives. If we lied to one another though to tell each other what we wanted to hear, that is a negative actually, not a positive.

I completely understand some people who just don't want to hear the truth, they don't want to accept the truth, they would rather look at beliefs or the like, though beliefs are not always realistic. You play a very dangerous game with PTSD, in that if you set a goal too high for a sufferer and they don't meet it, they feel a failure and they actually do go backwards, as self esteem is a major issue with trauma, hence with PTSD. If you set realistic goals, realistic expectations, and people do it at an individual level, not a collective or my level, then people meet their goals more readily, because healing trauma cannot be gauged collectively, it can only be gauged individually. You cannot apply a time to it either, as every person heals differently. Some quickly, some slowly, some just never really want to heal as they are happy being ill.

This forum has a lot of scope for movement, but I do strictly enforce some things here. I don't want to be debating things constantly, but new members come here with agenda's, some come here with questions, many of which have been seen or discussed here already and can be searched. Those members then make their decision to say or go based on that.

Now this isn't about you.... if you look at Waif, Waif came here attempting to post links to their project / website about healing and curing PTSD... though were edited from their posting and warned. The end of the day, that is an agenda. Waif is working with people attempting to tell them PTSD is curable, Waif attempted to market their project and website here. I removed it all, as I do not allow links or marketing here. Topics like this are created, another person taking something and off on a tangent. Waif mentions their doctor is off telling the world how curable PTSD is. Well, good for them, agenda once again. If PTSD is so curable, then why isn't Waif cured? It is Waif who is stating it is curable.... atleast LRS came here cured, and I have discussed in much detail off this forum with LRS to learn. I back LRS and have encouraged physicians to test the theory whether ambidexterity actually does reverse the balance PTSD takes, as that is what ambidexterity does to the brain, it causes a chemical imbalance, and possibly one may counter the other, which worked for LRS as LRS states. Is that a cure though? One person, NO. What it is though is a good start in a direction other than trying to reinvent medication and techniques all of which are not presenting a cure. That was a completely different course to be researched.... not regurgitated nonsense that we see here week in, week out.

There is a difference, and the forum does serve good overall for the benefit of members. Yes, straight shooting, to the point, no soft approach, but it works best for PTSD, it truly does. If it didn't, this forum wouldn't have so much active interest from physicians looking for ways to help their patients beyond what they know already, because its not working... this forum though does piece together a lot of practicable solutions that when combined are presenting effective results, not a cure, but effective results that providing the sufferer doesn't expose themselves too high daily stressors, they will actually function quite well with very little symptomatic issue day to day.

Spiritofnow, I think your doing the best thing for yourself just by being here. Yes, I am open to being questioned, but some things are just knowns based on fact, and until that changes, I only endorse facts in relation to a cure.

 

[batgirl]

Slightly off topic, but I have a question about a cure... maybe this sounds a little dumb but I'm having trouble wrapping my head around it. I don't believe there is a cure currently, but if in future if I ever am cured, what will happen with the memories I have of my trauma? I mean I watched members of my family die violently and I almost died myself. I am doing a lot better now, the memory of what happened doesn't bother me like it used to, but it still makes me sad and upset. How does a cure factor into that? Will I still remember but just not get ill over it? It's such a big part of who I am, I can't imagine never feeling upset about it again, unless of course I was to get a lobotomy! :p

 

[Don]

curable or merely manageable?

I feel bad for people when they come on here and you tell them 'hey its great you are here well done, oh and by the way what you have is incurable' who gave you the power to take hope away from people?

You're free as are any of us, to grant such a power or not, as I see it. If we find solace in believing the condition's incurable but may prove to be manageable, why shouldn't we choose to believe that? For that matter, how many of us feel the textbook definition of the term "cure" quoted earlier is apt?

Anthony's opinions and conclusions appear sound and quite reasonable as I see it from today's facts and studies. But imo such studies are like 'shifting sands' (and not granite) in today's ever more complex scientific research into brain and mind function. Later studies may lead to conclusions changing a bit or a lot long before say, even another five years pass. Incontrovertible scientific conclusions, have many a time in the past done a complete flipflop based on new studies, so really at times there's a large grain of truth in the saying "the only certain thing about the future is its uncertainty".

(for the twins study quoted here by Waif) Does a smaller hippocampus mean "brain damage" or is it an indicator that people are predisposed to PTSD? I'm thinking, maybe such physical evidence as this is of little importance, as we use perhaps 10% of our brain's potential. Seems there's room for our minds to adapt to considerable physical alteration of our brains and still manage quite well.

Seeing physical 'proof' of our brain's structural change is disconcerting, but does that all by itself define our condition as incurable or only partially curable? Certainly not in isolation imo, but I'm thinking it shouldn't be dismissed lightly.

(batgirl) > if in future if I ever am cured, what will happen with the memories I have of my trauma?

I doubt if anyone who believes or does not believe in cures could know for a fact the answer to that one. But my speculation would be:

If and when you're ever cured, I imagine those memories will still be around but as a much faded version that's become overlaid with newer memories and probably accompanied by mental reflexes that are better adapted at coping with them, so that they've lost their deathgrip on your emotions.

Don

 

[Awakening]

Evie, I'm not sure what would happen to your memories exactly.

But I don't think you would be expected to look at those memories without feeling sadness, anger etc. Even those without PTSD who had those memories would feel sadness if reflecting on them.

I don't expect that I would look at my sexual assault with 'oh that old thing' and feel no emotion. What I am hoping is that like other 'negative' memories I have, that I will be able to feel the emotions appropriate to the memory but not be overwhelmed by them.

I hope to be able to say a) this trauma happened to me b) I can put all the pieces of the puzzle together or acceptance that I can't c) I can feel the emotions attached to it but not become sick d) the memories do not impact on my day to day functioning e) the memories do not cause PTSD symptoms

I know that something you are experiencing at the moment is grief, so I want to be sensitive about this. But sometimes I imagine a similiarity between the process of grief i.e. anger, denial, sorrow, acceptance etc and maybe a similiar process with PTSD???

Sometimes the intense pain I get with PTSD reminds me of the intense pain I get with grief. I wonder if the memories of PTSD & the loss of a loved one are something you don't ever get over. It's never 'okay', but with time, work & healing you are able to integrate the trauma/grief into who you are in a manner in which is acceptable to you. Sort of like a patchwork quilt where you incorporate that square into the patchwork of your life.

Anyway that's just my personal theory.

And I still think we are all pretty much posting the same thing - that PTSD is not curable - yet. The argument is more how you approach that fact. Pretend it's not there & think 'positive', accept the fact & approach it realistically, be distressed by the fact & respond negatively.