Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (istdp)

[Mammo]

Hey all,

Does anyone know what this is?? Has anyone else used it?

My T recommended that I read this book...seems this is the thing he's been trying to do...including the part where he asks me to imagine/fantasise about beating my father (?!)...

Has anyone read this book? It seems like a general self-help book. some of the case studies seem a bit banal..."julie is upset because her dad can be condescending over the dinner table..."...so apparently Julie needs to stop her anxiety getting in the way; so she can unleash "anger", which is processed by imagining that she's literally killed her own father...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1508769915/?tag=pf03-20

I'm so tired. I've been told so many different stories as to "why" I am the way I am, ranging from:
a. You have a chemical imbalance in your brain;
b. You were abused as a child;
c. I am suppressing my emotions and covering things up with anxiety (which seems to point to my way of thinking/feeling).

Pick one...!

 

[Fadeaway]

Sounds harmful to me, but I don't know. Th example you gave is a bit disturbing though.

 

[anonymous]

I haven't heard of the book.you are right, there are so many theories about PTSD. As I have found the information very helpful, bottom line, I need to find ways-that work for me, to get me through my days and my nights (therapy, meds, community, meditation, etc.)

It sounds like your therapist is wanting to give you encouragement, to use your imagination as a means to empowerment. I, myself, had my imagination, dreams included, frozen, by fear from early slave-like, childhood abuse. The power of imagination and art is understated, for sure.

Interestingly enough, even though I look to practical awake-time strategies to create self-esteem, and heal, and even though I have abhorrence for violence, their is interesting symbolism in imaging we can overcome, fight back and triumph.

When I first started therapy, I had a dream that was terrifying (since I was consciously so withdrawn from any violent act, as it would trigger my abuse), and yet so freeing (as it revealed the depth and truth of my abuse long, before I could acknowledge the deepest kernel of my abuse), that I still am in awe of this dream.

My dream image from which I awoke, was from driving a stake through my mother's heart; despite the violence, as I put my mother to death, a joy arose in my heart-like I brought back what she robbed me of, self-love.

This is all to say, theories are good and they never erase my PTSD. I'll pass on the advice that helped me: follow what frees you, what helps you, and what brings you peace and joy.

 

[Seasounds]

When learning self-defense, my instructor said something that reverberated into my bones and defied the 'no-right' policy of my abuser:

"it is part of our animal nature to be able to defend ourselves, our own territory (our bodies), like the lions defend themselves in the wild. If we can't defend ourselves, someone else will claim us."

This statement also defied the tenants of my Catholic upbringing; at all costs pay respect to your parents.

It is a natural instinct to fight back. To regain that spirit, and that power, brings me back into the "internal locus of control". Since I live in civilization, imagination, self-defense, and art, have a healing role; I get empowerment without imprisionment.

So I see where your therapist is going, with the imagination exercise. I just don't know if you are comfortable with the idea? I certainly would not have been, until years into my therapy.

The truth in your therapist's suggestion/by way of the book, is true; you are powerful, you can be triumphant in relationship to any oppressive force.

 

[Mammo]

I haven't heard of the book.you are right, there are so many theories about PTSD. As I have found the...

Hi Anonymous...

Thank you for your reply...I can hear where you're coming from.

Part of me is thinking now...is he saying I don't have PTSD? Is he saying it's something else? The book isn't about trauma, its about inner ways of thinking and feeling.

I want "answers" as to what is wrong with me, not yet another fad explanation. maybe they don't have any either...?

 

[Mammo]

When learning self-defense, my instructor said something that reverberated into my bones and defied the '...

Hi @Saetva - I can understand the concept behind it too...but when we've tried doing this exercise previously, frankly it came across as repulsive, morbid and really upsetting. I am not a violent person, never have been. The idea of being violent to people I care about makes me feel sick. If nothing else, maybe because my dad had no such qualms and I don't want to be like him...?

I'm not a pushover...I can stand up for myself the vast majority of the time.

Part of me wants to reply back to his email saying I think this book is BS and I want nothing to do with it. The whole "feeling feelings physically" stuff has been really hard for me...

 

[DID downunder]

Hey all,

Does anyone know what this is?? Has anyone else used it?

Hi I have an extreme form of cPTSD and for the last 4 yrs I have been doing therapy with a psychologist who practices ISTDP. It is a very effective treatment model and way more than just imagining being violent toward someone you love. The purpose is to help a person tolerate their feelings and help the person identify their own defenses against feeling emotions. Its these defenses that create the problems in our life, they protected us in the abuse but now become maladaptive. The problem is the when we try to take away these defenses our anxiety increases because our feelings are triggered. The therapist helps the patient to slowly manage the anxiety and adress the underlying feelings. For me, I have previously done CBT, DBT some EMDR all sorts of different treatment models. These have only helped to give me distraction methods and coping skills but never address the underlying problems and never really diminished the constant distress I was experiencing. With ISTDP I have made great improvements in actually dealing with my trauma issues and I experiencing increased health, better relationships and improved ability to work. Its not an easy treatment because painful emotions and experiences come up and need to be dealt with and a person has to have at least some ability to maintain being stable but the benefits have been great. There is a book that has been written by Allan Abbass who has done lots of studies about the effectiveness of the treatment. This book is called Reaching through resistance, its for therapists who are learning the techniques but I found it very helpful to read so I could understand the methods used and the knowledge base of the presenting problems of the patient. I hope this has helped answer some of your questions. There is so much more to it and there is alot of information you can access on the internet if you wanted to.