I Believe PTSD Is Curable - An Anonymous Source

[Jline]

Ha ha, sweet, I am a climber too. Good to know I am not alone in these happenings. I seem to have intense gut instincts about many things. I would love to go climbing in Yosemite, good thing you had a feeling about that anchor...prob saved someones life* I always feel so good when I climb. My ex husband and I built a rock gym in our old house for training. I miss those days.

 

[Cynthiatoo]

Hi Jline
My husband and I have been trying the self EMDR with a swinging fobwatch for a few days. It is amazing how relaxing that is. I go all warm inside and find I cannot continue to think of the things that trigger me.

I am fascinated with the subject of this thread also. I bought my eye patch and wore it yesterday for an hour. I also have been cleaning my teeth with my left hand. I am right handed.

It is strange. I have not felt relaxed yet, probably because I have not been doing something focused while wearing it. Yes that would be it. But one thing of note has happened. Last night I woke up at 3am..after dreaming of my son who died and my husband woke at the same time saying he had a dream of him. His dream involved a greeting and a big hug. Mine was one of my son saying ...do you want the pain back of what it was like?

He had a serious long term illness and I have not had a dream like this for over six years. I had many in the years following his death. I had only recently thought that I had not dreamt of him for so long. It seems like something about wearing the patch yesterday may have triggered something in my brain.

I am going to try wearing the patch and just staring as one of the guys suggested. I also am on the lookout for a metronome so that I can do a self EMDR technique. I have watched a you tube video of it and the T moves his hand in a wide arc, so I will have to attach something longer to the metronome needle to focus on. Maybe a nice glittery star. (I am into faeries). Anyway, thanks so much for your posts.

Is what you call your exercises ...wearing the eye patch while painting for a few hours........anything else..that made the sense of calm happen.?

 

[Jline]

Hi Cynthiajones,

Sorry to hear of your loss, I cannot imagine how difficult it must be to not have him with you in the physical body. I think it is wonderful that you and your husband are doing this together!

I cover one eye when I watch movies and use my left hand when doing simple tasks. I tried to do my makeup one time with my left hand and poked myself in the eye with the mascara, dangerous lol. When I go to bed I close one eye and It seems to help a lot with be able to drift off into sleep. I close one eye or patch my eye when it is safe and convenient for me. I also do it when I take my dog for a walk. I was in a very desperate place in my life when I started doing the exercises. I was trying to write my trauma diary and having so many flashbacks I thought I might die. I feel like a different person today. I do my exercises everyday and will prob do them for the rest of my life. You can get creative with the patch too, like James, who patches and dribbles a basketball with his left hand. Make it a fun thing! Today, I don't think I could have an anxiety attack if I tried. I hope this gives you some ideas for patching. Stick with it as it seems to be a different for each of us, I was lucky and had instant results but it may take longer for some. good luck and peace to you and your husband *

 

[Jline]

I have noticed that spaces I am in seem to be the size they actually are. I live in a small condo but it suddenly feels bigger than before I started patching and using my left hand. I always felt the room was squeezing me, now I just feel here.

It happened in a restaurant too, I always avoided them before....It didn't feel like the people were too close or that the room was closing in and tipping. Sooo nice not to feel crushed. Maybe someday I will drive again. j

 

[SeaBreeze]

PTSD is curable, no question about it from my perspective.

Apple, Inc., offers this inspiring video called "Here's to the crazy ones."

I'm definately a member of these crazy ones as is good ol' Albert Einstein, my lifelong mentor.

I don't dream when I'm sleeping, I dream wide awake. Some call it imagination, as John Lennon had.

Let me know if you are one of these crazy ones.
SeaBreeze

 

[Cynthiatoo]

Hey Jline and James
I have faithfully been using my eye patch. Sometimes I tape down my eyelid as well because it annoys me that I keep trying to use my eye with the patch on. I have had the most AMAZING dreams in the past four nights. Amazing and positive and clear and detailed and I can remember everything about them and they are sooo real and yet include fantasy detail.

I know something different is happening to my brain processes as I have only had dream recall since i got my meds perfect in the past six months and I have never experienced positive, detailed movie-like dreams. I am so excited by this.

We walked at night and we both wore a patch at first, but my husband felt he was not able to be alert enough so he is going to wear his patch at home. Funny, we both had them on and a parked car started up in front of us and scared the hell out of us. How are you going with your feelings and experiences. I am practising saying words I need to use to be assertive while I am wearing the patch so that I have assertive words "on the top of my brain" instead of thinking of them an hour after an event that I did not manage well.

For the first time in years, I can see recovery coming.

 

[Cynthiatoo]

PS I am the same person as cynthiajones, just changed my online name.

 

[Jline]

Hi cynthiatoo,

I like your idea of practicing assertive words while you patch. Self talk has helped me immensely as well as committing to eating properly and exercise. I now get the right amount of sleep too, which is like a miracle to me. I haven't been having many dreams lately, just peaceful sleep. Think I might be making up for all those years of no sleep at all, lol. When patching it is important to feel comfortable and in a safe place...don't want to get hit by a car or something. You and your husband could even take turns patching when you go for a walk. Nice that you are doing it together! j

 

[Cynthiatoo]

I did not 'patch' for three days and I noticed I did not have any dreams those nights. When I remembered yesterday, I spent an hour or more watching TV patching and also checking the forum. Last night, again, I had the BEST most complex detailed dream. I feel sure there is something my brain is doing on the days I patch. Sure of it. I just love dreaming. I was always fascinating when others spoke of their dreams because I never did.

 

[James B.]

Hi Cynthiatoo :hello: that's great news.

Well, either I'm daydreaming, or my anxiety has dropped. Been patching doing yard work/light landscaping. Moved my mouse/trackball (input device) to my left 2 weeks ago, and am looking for a good price on a left hand keyboard. When I can, a Wacom tablet can be easily used left handed for general UI navigation, Photoshop or whatever. It may soon be time to get some tracing paper, and get after the left-hand sketching skills. My confidence is going up. Cool to hear about your dreams Cynthiatoo, good luck! :thumbs-up

 

[Jline]

I have had a few very stressful situations come up over the past few days (financial and personal) Before patching I would have been down with panic attacks and prob not able to leave the house or even keep food down but I handled everything with a calm reserve. I was able to control my mind from obsessing about everything. Actually, I didn't feel I had to control my mind, I just naturally had it. My brain just feels so good.... happy brain lol.

Wonderful to hear you guys are feeling the good of these exercises. I'm not sure if I am cured but my quality of life has improved 100% It is so nice not to be falling apart over normal everyday things and I sleep...wonderful sleep.*

 

[Cynthiatoo]

Jline and James
I found this website that has a huge amount of details regarding patching. It is aimed at treating ADD, but I am sure the same applies to PTSD. Note the point form advice at the bottom which says it is important to be able to keep the patched eye open underneath the patch.

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/ADHD_ADD/forum/1768087-eye-patch-therapy