Poll How Often Do You Currently Have Ptsd Related Therapy

[7Cs]

Any type of therapy with the exception of seeing a psychiatrist for the sole purpose medication checks.

 

[Crow]

T and I talked about this today. She wants me in weekly or twice a week. I can afford twice a month. Not ideal. And she called me to task about calling and leaving too many voice-mails.

 

[Lee2001]

Once a week to every other week to space it out and have a break.

 

[EmmaOwl]

she called me to task about calling and leaving too many voice-mails.

Ouch. That would be difficult for me to hear. Are you ok about that?

I am a little surprised that a therapist would call you with this info, rather than wait to discuss it in person.

Of course this type of policy varies widely - as types of therapy varies, and there are always different pressures and tough spots.

T and I talked about this today. She wants me in weekly or twice a week. I can afford twice a month...

Could you email instead, maybe? It would be less disruptive yet you could still get needed contact. ? Especially since you are not able to go as often as she suggests. Just a thought.

 

[Deleted member 29920]

I journal and do my own art therapy. Tired of relying on therapists, I don't want to see one again any time soon. I feel happier not going.

 

[Sandstone]

No longer in therapy, but not by my choice. I was weekly, but two T's have said I needed more frequent.

 

[Suzetig]

I see mine fortnightly now with journaling in between times. I don't really need to see her more frequently although if something comes up I'll increase appointments back to weekly.

 

[Ronin]

Bi-monthly, checking in with people responsible for me bi-weekly to once a week depending on their schedules, here about daily, monthly with other support groups I'm a member.

I don't currently have in-person therapy. No trauma therapists, bad general therapists, can't afford bad therapy & still recovering from it.

Ticked 'as needed' with 'self help' because not giving up on anyone involved is most therapeutic, & the sense of self sufficience helps me deal with the gaps and frustration in therapy.

 

[Kallisti]

I go to psychomotoric physiotherapy once a week and my psychologist, who's a trauma specialist. I also go to the dentist every month, which causes me to disassociate badly. I postpone the physio treatment the weeks I see my dentist.

 

[EmmaOwl]

Kallisti:

I have all kinds of dental problems and no dental insurance. I have a legitimate disorder from birth, but it is also difficult for me in terms of "self-care". I'm not always able to do all the things I am supposed to - special fluoride rinses, special floss, PRESCRIPTION TOOTHPASTE (Who knew that existed???) Thank goodness, while insurance doesn't cover the actual procedures, the scripts are covered. But when I combine it with autoimmune asthma/allergies, fibromyalgia, and the ever-present PTSD........ it is rather overwhelming.

I have no desire to end up with dentures (this is one of the rare times I feel too young instead of too OLD - my teeth should not be in such bad shape right now - I'm in my mid-30's) I've found a very good dentist who understands and is willing to help me plan, etc.) But I've found that dental work, however it affects you mentally, can be *extremely* hard in physical terms, your whole body.

I also have an overdeveloped gag reflex (for a completely boring and obvious SA reason) , although after years of this, plus using the same dentist and practice that I have become at least somewhat familiar with, I am better able to control it than before. But they KNOW. They have to. I go in and the surfaces of my teeth are ground down, just from clenching my jaw during sleep. This on top of a syndrome I was born with (I don't have much enamel, it turns out).

I wish I could get physio therapy. Simply moving around helps me...but I'm rarely able to do it completely on my own, without a bit of encouragement and that little push which comes from assistance.

However, my insurance made some sort of determination, once I stopped "improving" (whatever scale they used here, I have no idea), the physical therapists said, "Well, we've done all we can for you, you can do most of these things on your own at home."

Uh yeah theoretically, I can do some of it, but will I? and will I feel safe doing so? And, and, and...??

I miss it. I started to get it after I broke my ankle, and the PT (as we call it here in the States) was so incredibly helpful for my chronic full-body pain, my doc wrote me a script. But after a certain amount of time, they left me to my own devices and I got stuck.

I am so sorry for the dental work, though. I understand the triggers/dissociation, absolutely. And I also find it can wreak havoc on my general pain and anxiety levels and it sounds like you struggle with it, also. :(

Would you share with me what troubles you've got, pain or movement wise or dental-wise? I feel so alone with these things, particularly the dental, which you're right trauma adds to it all.... Sometimes I think, "Haven't I got enough stuff going on??" But no there always seems to be more.

 

[Kallisti]

Kallisti:

I have all kinds of dental problems and no dental insurance. I have a legitimate disorder f...

I have had dental issues since childhood, but not because of a disorder, but I won't delve into that now. I get my dental bills refunded (60-80 %) by the Norwegian state because I have PTSD. Otherwise, I wouldn't go near a dentist! I would happily let all my teeth go. It's taken me a few years in therapy to go now, and I am getting four new dentures in the upper front of my mouth, and I forget (or don't want to think about, you decide ) how many other teeth My dentist has repaired or rebuilt, many of them broken, many ground down from grinding my teeth in my sleep. About pain - in 1994 a dentist tested my teeth for pain sensitivity by running electrical stimulation through them, and he's verdict was that I felt nearly no pain, compared to what's normal. He told me that the norm is that most people tolerate the electrical stimulus (on a scale 1-10), about 2-3, wheras I felt no discomfort before he jacked it up to 9-10. He also told me my mouth was a disaster area, and laughed condescendingly, which resulted in me avoiding dentists for a very long time. My therapist thinks that I have had an active disassociation from pain in my mouth, which seems fair, because I tend to feel no pain in my teeth (no matter how destroyed they are), but after my dentist have fixed them, I feel quite a lot of pain, sometimes for weeks, and I have quite overwhelming, long-running PTSD episoder after each dental appointment.

My physio-treatment is also covered party by the state (Folketrygden, to be spesific), and after 18 months of treatment, I am less numb, more sensitive to muscular pain, and I am able to identify where I feel pain and where I feel numbness - especially in my neck, shoulders and back.

I am in awe that you manage to care so well for yourself, by the way. It sounds like a struggle. Thanks for your long reply.

 

[EmmaOwl]

I get my dental bills refunded (60-80 %) by the Norwegian state because I have PTSD. Otherwise, I wouldn't go near a dentist!

Well, it is excellent that you do get there, and manage so well, despite all the troubles. I couldn't take care of it without the support of my dad (emotionally and financially).

I am getting four new dentures in the upper front of my mouth, and I forget (or don't want to think about, you decide ) how many other teeth My dentist has repaired or rebuilt, many of them broken, many ground down from grinding my teeth in my sleep.

Some things, I think it's okay to forget. A coping mechanism. I've had that kind of work done, too. Metal towards the back, then stuff that looks like regular teeth near the front. In a lot of cases, I don't know what's "real" and what isn't. (except, I assume I didn't grow the metal bits on my own!)

He also told me my mouth was a disaster area, and laughed condescendingly, which resulted in me avoiding dentists for a very long time.

That's inexcusable. I am so sorry you experienced that! My dentist is extremely kind, and thorough. But to be honest, it's kind of dumb luck. I found that practice about 5 minutes from my parents' house.

I am in awe that you manage to care so well for yourself, by the way. It sounds like a struggle.

That is so nice of you to say. I feel like I fail terribly. And here I will add, that I don't think I could do it without the help of my father. But yeah the "little" things (I wish they were little!) Like the flossing between ridiculous places - oh and you know what does make me gag? Mouthwash! I almost always skip that. Who wants to be choking before bed? But thank you for your encouragement.

- I'm nowhere near perfect. I currently have an empty space for a back molar..they had to take the tooth and the idea is to get an implant, basically be a fake tooth put in permanently. I haven't had it in me to get back to the oral surgeon yet. So I'm just missing a back molar :( But it's my next step, making an appointment to at least discuss fixing that up. My father - again a help - has told me I can go when I am ready and he will cover the cost for me...but I still have to make the appointment, etc etc.

It makes me tired just to contemplate.

It's awful that you suffer so much, the troubles you go to! I hope you understand that I find it sort of comforting that I'm not the only one.... I find the whole thing kinda embarrassing. - Like, people might judge me for not taking proper care. This is a topic that can be a day-to-day struggle and I'm sorry you have to deal with it too.. Thanks for explaining your experiences to me - it sounds like you worked pretty hard to do that, too!

Now, I am sorry for writing such long posts! Sometimes I can't write, and sometimes everything comes flooding out.