Exposure Therapy?

[Wrknprgrss]

My new T has been doing exposure therapy with me. I was just wondering if any of you have done exposure therapy and could share your experiences? I'm having a really hard time with it and T is pushing SUPER hard ... even giving me homework that is exposure therapy. I'm just thinking maybe it would help me get on board if some of you have experienced success with this and could share stories? It's really hard for me to believe that this is worth it... :help:

 

[Nyx]

Have you shared these concerns with your therapist? I wish I could help, but I haven't done this type of work. For me, somatic work has proven to be the most effective.

 

[Wrknprgrss]

I have shared my concerns with T, but she seems to think that it's too important to not do it. I started reading a book about it today. It's helping a little to understand the theory behind it and helping to understand the underlying principles that cause it to be effective or not. Old T always sent me articles and things about how therapy and my brain worked because she knew I was more likely to work with her if I understood the "why." Hoping understanding the why after reading this book will help me be more cooperative on Tuesday...

 

[Rumors]

What book?

I hope you are able to understand why and move forward with it. I understand the apprehension you have with knowing you have to talk about those things in detail. Good luck and I will be thinking about you!

 

[Wrknprgrss]

The book is called "Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD: Emotional Processing of Traumatic Experiences."

I tried out the principle during volley ball yesterday. I play twice a week, but always seem to get triggered early on and end up playing most of the game dissociated. I've kept going, because I really like volley ball and decided to be too stubborn to allow my past to take this from me too.

But after reading about PE Therapy, I learned that it only helps to expose yourself to your trigger if you are recognizing the incorrect thinking that is causing the fear response and slowly replacing those errors with truth. So, last night when I got triggered at volley ball, I started using self-talk to explain to myself that I was really safe and that nothing bad was going to happen and was able to talk/push myself out of the dissociative state and ended up having a LOT of fun and felt happy for the first tme in a few weeks!!!:dance:

I also thought through a couple of the triggers that T has been exposing me too and I think I'm starting to figure out the roots of the fear I feel and I'm hoping that recognizing the underlying problem and proving to myself that those fears will not be realized will help PE therapy to move forward.

If this is how it works ... and it actually STARTS working, I'm hoping it will be easier to get on board...

 

[Nyx]

It has started working :) You said it yourself, you were able to enjoy your volley ball game. Good job! You are doing wonderful!

 

[Wrknprgrss]

Kinda don't want to admit to T that it worked though ...:rolleyes:

 

[Lucycat]

Yes, it is hard to push yourself through therapy that is unpleasant. I have no experience of Exposure Therapy per se, but like you I do need to know how and why something is going to help before I can trust myself with it. T has given me loads of psychoeducation with everything we have done. It really does help me.

There have been times when I have said no to EMDR, simply because I could not face it - at the time. But it does only prolong it, and the work has to be done sometime.

Well done for getting this far and be proud of your achievements. Your T will be feeling proud too, both for you and for herself. As she sees your recovery progress she is progressing too.

 

[Wrknprgrss]

Thanks Brucielucy! T had me disclose my reading list to her last time we met ... after she wrote down all the books I told her I was reading she just stared at me for a little bit, then she chuckled and asked if I was getting a second degree in counseling and wanted to know why I didn't read "fun" books LOL. I promised her I read those too. She mostly just wanted me to promise her that none of them were triggering me and to keep her updated when I start something new.

I've been trying to build myself up for tomorrow, but now that it is the day before ... I'm starting to get really nervous again. It really helps being encouraged by you all ... I try to put all of your encouraging words in my head instead of the fearful ones that are normally there. Thank you everyone for the feedback!!!

 

[SS3]

I have been doing Prolonged Exposure therapy at WOAR in Philadelphia (where Uni of PA did the first studies on PE) and it sucks, but it really works. The worst part for me is to talk about it, to actually verbalize every little detail. I am a very hard headed and tend to avoid, a lot! I have had to completely reprogram the way my brain wants to function. There are times when my counselor has to really push and ask questions that if it were any one else would be really inappropriate (which I am not a fan of) but I know that she is intentionally trying to provoke an emotional response or because I am just skimming over instead of going into detail ("hotspots") I think the most important thing is trusting your T and understanding their intentions.

My T also had me study a little Buddhism. I highly recommend the book, "Against the Stream" by Noah Levine. There is a fair amount of crossover in the theories behind Buddhism and PE.

 

[geishgal]

I have done exposure therapy. And as SS3 says it sucks but it really works. Or it did for me. My T talked about doing exposure therapy fairly early on in our therapy sessions, but wouldn't do it until she thought I was emotionally strong enough to do it. I remember getting a bit impatient with her about that, but she didn't want to rush things, and she was right to wait. I did about six sessions, and with the exception of one session in which I felt really strong and liberated, and felt like I released a lot of anger, it was really difficult and confronting. And it got worse over time, each session worse than the last. My T said she pushed me harder than she did some other clients because she thought I could handle it, so maybe others don't find it quite so difficult. But it was really, really helpful. A lot of my PTSD symptoms have disappeared. No more dissociation, no more emotional numbing. I don't get triggered so easily and no flashbacks. After each session I would be exhausted and go home and sleep for a few hours. And I would feel a little vulnerable for a day or two afterward. But invariably I would feel much better than before the session, and that well being grew over time. The best part is it's been almost 12 months since my last session and those improvements have been maintained. To anyone who is considering it talk at length with your therapist first. And make sure you go easy on yourself in the days after each session. And you really need to be able to trust your T. It is important to have a strong relationship with her/him before you start. Exposure therapy may not be for everyone, but I have found it immensely helpful. All the best in your journey

 

[Lucycat]

Geishgal, it is good to hear of the success you have had with exposure therapy. Also you make a very important point about needing stabilisation before the therapy can begin. I know it is the frustration of many who, once they have taken that huge leap into starting therapy, want to rush in head first.

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. It will be especially helpful to others just embarking on their journey.