Effective Treatments

[scott_1971_h]

Has anyone managed to "get over" their symptoms to the extent they hardly ever even think about them, and how did you do it? (I'm *SO FAR* from that it's not funny the symptoms are part of, and completely hinder everyday life for me at the moment in just about every area...)

Did EMDR work/get quick or good results?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[Spero3]

Scott,
I look at myself as a work in progress. Some symptoms have disappeared with therapy, leaving my ex husband, and recognizing that I am lesbian. I used to get very panicky in crowded areas or whenever I felt like I couldn't escape. Flying on planes sent me into full panic mode. Going on trips with my ex was also scary, because it didn't feel safe. Driving into the city was terrifying. I can now get on a plane with little anxiety and be in crowds with little problem. And, I still hate driving into the city, but it doesn't freak me out like it used to. These problems went away when I left an abusive marriage and embraced my sexuality. In other words, a change of environment did the trick.

Having said that, I still struggle on a daily basis with dark thoughts, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, obsessive thinking, etc. My attitude towards these "challenges" has changed and that has helped me a lot. I used to see myself as weak, bad, and not lovable. Now, I see myself as someone who is strong and has come through a pretty horrific childhood and turned out okay despite the abuse. As a friend said to me recently," it is amazing that you and your sisters are even capable of functioning given what you went through." I didn't end up on the streets, or abusing drugs, or being abusive myself, etc. I am a good person. I changed my attitude towards my problems and towards me by creating a mantra for myself. I say it to myself daily. It's silly, but here it is: I am a good person. I am strong and smart, capable and creative. I sit still in the face of fear and anger. I choose my words and actions carefully.

I picked the words based on what I knew I needed to hear. My mother literally beat it into me that I was bad, so I tell myself I am good. I used to think I wasn't very smart and weak so I reinforce that I am smart and strong. I react strongly to emotions such as fear and anger, so I remind myself not to run from my emotions and to sit quietly with them. I lash out when I am frightened or angry, hence, "I choose my words and actions carefully."

I tried EMDR, and while I cannot say whether it definitely helped, I did have a rather interesting experience with it. During one of the sessions, I regressed back to about the age of 5 and felt like I had done something very bad. The therapist helped me through it. I had never experienced anything like that, and it freaked me out. So, I can say that EMDR got a reaction out of me! It is supposed to help you within just a few sessions. It certainly didn't hurt me.

Might I suggest not looking at yourself as being "SO FAR" from being over your problems but as someone who is working hard to overcome them. Focus on the journey and not on reaching the finish line. You are someone who is aware of your problems and who is working on them. That says a lot about you right there given that so many people are even capable of recognizing their problems. Not only do you see them, BUT you are working to overcome them.

Hope this helps.
Spero

 

[Spero3]

Scott,

I forgot to say that I have learned to say "STOP IT" to myself when I find myself obsessing or beating myself up (or engaging in any type of negative behavior). Then, I force myself to think of something positive about myself or the situation. If I am working on changing a behavior, and then find myself engaging in that behavior, instead of dumping on myself I remind myself that I am not going to get it perfect right away and tell myself that I took a positive step in recognizing that I was engaging in the behavior.

 

[anthony]

Has anyone managed to "get over" their symptoms to the extent they hardly ever even think about them, and how did you do it?

Yes, and plenty of others who have left here over the years have achieved significant reduction.

Its called, hard work and then good daily self management. Everyone is different on severity... I am diagnosed as severe, and providing I manage my stressor intake day to day, I can remain quite symptomless. If I don't manage it and am exposed to more stressors than I can take, I become quite ill, quite quickly, however; I also recover in much quicker time frames now than I did many years ago... along with my responses and actions are much healthier now compared to years ago.

You have to weigh up severity and what is achievable. Some people only just meet PTSD, or have been diagnosed with it when they don't have it... so they recover fully and become a statistic of success. The truth though for those that really do have PTSD, not just post traumatic stress, is that what you endure daily symptom wise can be significantly reduced to provide less impact upon your daily life. For most with PTSD, if working as well, you will be medicated to work more than likely, thus have symptom issues regardless even with medication, because daily management is not occurring, and instead suppression occurs via medication. So you will still eventually blow and fall down again.

You have to review success on how you cannot function when ill, too what you would like to achieve. I couldn't go to shops, crowds, etc... I can now in limited bursts, providing I prepare myself mentally, I relax during the event, and reinforce things to myself in my head during and after, and I don't fall down. Sometimes I still fall down for a few days if an event occurs over days vs. hours.

When my own PTSD was out of control, I was extremely angry, very hostile, drunk, a relationship was just a f*ck, and the long list of being an arsehole went on and on... Now... I am nothing like that, as I never was like it prior to PTSD. PTSD brought out all the bad, I then changed that bad back into more positive behaviors.

Lots of daily management skills are required for severe and complex sufferers....

 

[SimplyComplex]

I am not sure what therapy I am doing...my therapist is cognitive behavioral/eclectic. We are doing trauma stuff. And it is helping quite a bit. But as Anthony says, I think learning how to manage day to day might be very true. I was sure that all these management skills were temporary as I worked through the trauma, but then realized that once I slip up a bit and let them go...even for a day...symptoms come back pretty hard. T says I wont have to be in therapy forever, but I am pretty sure that the skills are going to be a fact of life. Better get used to journaling, mini mindful breaks, having extra help with kids and the house, etc.

 

[scott_1971_h]

Yes, and plenty of others who have left here over the years have achieved significant reduction.

Yes I know. I am having (have had for years) intrusive thoughts all the time. Haven't had a drink for 9 months and the thoughts are getting worse not better... have an appt. tomorrow to be 'assessed', again. Gawd. Seems like it will never end...

Scott

 

[OKRADLAK]

Many people can get a lot of relief. The treatments I have used have been, in order of helpfullness are-

1. DBT. Very very helpful for me!
2. Immersion -I am not sure what it is called. Flooding? Had to do three time a week therapy, 3 hours at a time and then listen to the tape every day. Drive me mad........got heart palpatattions and had to stop.
3. EMDR---horrible, horrible....

There was a lot of talk therapy that really did nothing. Kept me afloat I guess but did nothing to get me moving forward.