My Psychologist wants me to vist a place that triggers me, Why?

[Liberty4all]

I am in something I do not understand, and I do not think she has given me anything but go to marinate in your trigger and remain there until you are good...I cannot see how that will help me

 

[EveHarrington]

If you don’t know if she’s given you grounding skills, then most likely, she hasn’t, or at the very least she hasn’t explained them to you very well.

If you don’t have grounding skills and know how to use them, she’s essentially throwing you in the deep end when you don’t know how to swim.

To me this is akin to malpractice as you could essentially go into a meltdown that results in complete destabilization and a hospital stay.

Seriously question this therapist.

 

[Liberty4all]

Thank you eve, I refuse to do what she has ask I am not ready, I just learned of my condition two weeks ago although I have been suffering from it for years now, sometimes if the veteran does not do what they say they will enter "refused treatment" in our medical records.

This is why:


It sounds like she is using a form of exposure therapy to desensitize you to triggers. There are other forms of treatment, but almost all trauma therapies involve some level of exposure to triggers and learning how to manage symptoms when triggers, and work through the trigger. (I can't think of a single exception...)

You have been avoiding the triggers... but it's perhaps not working as well as you would like. She's asking you try something new. Exposure therapy freaks many people out at first, but can be very effective. It's usually done in steps. For example, for the person who is terrified of flying, the first step may be just imagining going to the airport, and then once that becomings comfortable, perhaps they drive by the airport. Once that shifts, they may go into the airport. Then they get closer and closer to the trigger. They generally don't just go hop on a plane as step one.

Description of exposure therapy from the VA: Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) for PTSD - Mental Health

Throwing you into the depth of your trigger at the get go? That does seem a little intense. I'd suggest asking her ways to break it down, take it step by step, in a slower fashion. The photos and going to motorcycle shops may be her way of trying to approach it at a distance, but maybe you need a little more distance to start.

If you are concerned you can't manage the symptom spike you will experience by going, then ask to work on skills to manage symptoms from triggers.

There is a a great book called Dead Link Removedthat discusses in depth the connection between chronic pain and the psychological impact of trauma. Psychological pain from trauma isn't just held in the brain, but the body too.

Talk to your psychologist about the change in diagnosis. They should be able to discuss it with you in depth.

The diagnosis you have been given seems like a diagnosis given when there isn't a clear explanation for symptoms yet.

Thank you for this great information, I am so new to this and feel like I am in a whirlwind

 

[Liberty4all]

If you don’t know if she’s given you grounding skills, then most likely, she hasn’t, or at the very least she hasn’t explained them to you very well.

If you don’t have grounding skills and know how to use them, she’s essentially throwing you in the deep end when you don’t know how to swim.

To me this is akin to malpractice as you could essentially go into a meltdown that results in complete destabilization and a hospital stay.

Seriously question this therapist.

I do not know what grounding skills are, she has never said "grounding skills" This is all so new to me but I feel like this treatment is a bit aggressive.

 

[EveHarrington]

It does indeed sound like aggressive treatment and you’re in the right by questioning it.

Grounding skills essentially keep your mind in the present, in the here and now. Grounding skills are good for times when you’re dissociated or having a flashback.

There are also self soothing skills. These are good if you’re anxious or depressed or just need to help soothe yourself so that you feel good again. These skills appeal to your senses ie snuggling in a cuddly blanket, eating your favorite food, using essential oils that appeal to you, listening to calming music, etc.

And then there are coping skills that can help you cope with anything and everything.

All of these skills can be quite varied, so I won’t list them all here. I think it would be a good idea to research these skills as having an arsenal of skills can really help, and skill building is a great place to start.

It was 9 years from diagnosis until I could look at the house I was abused in. I actually walked up to the door! It was a kamikaze mission as I was hoping it would push me over the edge, but I was surprisingly ok. Not a recommended way to go about it, just saying it can take time until you’re ready to go back to the place you were traumatized.

 

[Sideways]

There’s a lot of unknowns here, including your diagnosis.l, as well as the exposure exercise she’s given you.

You’ve used the word “trigger” to describe what you anticipate will happen if you go to a dealership. Genuine question: what do you mean by ‘trigger’?

If your T isn’t sure whether your symptoms are PTSD specifically? It may be that she has decided that you’re ready for this, and this is a confidence-boosting exercise. If visiting a dealership is going to be really stressful, but not necessarily set off PTSD symptoms beyond your control? Then I reckon give it a go.

If you believe that going anywhere near a dealership is going to send you into a tailspin that you haven’t got the tools to manage just yet? Then talk to your T about that. Perhaps she can arrange to do the exercise with you. A lot of Ts will do that.

Absolutely, at some point, and with a good T, you will be able to go walking around motorcycle dealerships again if that’s one of your goals. PTSD triggers (and ‘trigger’ means a specific thing in a PTSD-context) are something that can be overcome with a little work. It’s about finding a balance between doing work that feels uncomfortable, without pushing yourself too far:)

 

[Liberty4all]

It does indeed sound like aggressive treatment and you’re in the right by questioning it.

Grounding skills essentially keep your mind in the present, in the here and now. Grounding skills are good for times when you’re dissociated or having a flashback.

There are also self soothing skills. These are good if you’re anxious or depressed or just need to help soothe yourself so that you feel good again. These skills appeal to your senses ie snuggling in a cuddly blanket, eating your favorite food, using essential oils that appeal to you, listening to calming music, etc.

And then there are coping skills that can help you cope with anything and everything.

All of these skills can be quite varied, so I won’t list them all here. I think it would be a good idea to research these skills as having an arsenal of skills can really help, and skill building is a great place to start.

It was 9 years from diagnosis until I could look at the house I was abused in. I actually walked up to the door! It was a kamikaze mission as I was hoping it would push me over the edge, but I was surprisingly ok. Not a recommended way to go about it, just saying it can take time until you’re ready to go back to the place you were traumatized.

Thank you Eve, I will research soothing skills, please excuse my ignorance to my new world, I have to learn the terms and how to deal. This is all so new to me and going to sessions are hard because I have to talk about my trauma therefore, bringing back memories, flashbacks, and especially dreams and I expressed this to her but she is SUPER dismissive of my dreams, she says let's don't talk about dreams for they have no value. I disagree with that statement, because I was nominal just going through life the best way I knew then answered a series of questions the VA asks on a routine visit, and I told them I was suffering from depression and within a half hour from when I left the VA, going home that day I got a call from said doctor to schedule a appointment. After, the 2nd appointment, I told her by talking about my accident has brought back a flood of memories but she is dismissive and wants to discuss the chronic pain cycle and factors that impact pain. I feel this is part of the VA's way to "cover their butt", because they are attempting to "ween" me off a low dosage of opioids. I depend on and have a stable relationship with the med's, I have been on the same regime for 7 years and NEVER abused, sold, ask to go up in milligrams or anything illegal and now (because of this so called opioid crisis) I am being taken off the very thing that helps me manage and get through my day. I am unemployed, (laid off), interviewed for a job but they said I cannot sit down because if I do it they have to let everyone do it. That did not help my depression or morale and all I want is to feel like my old self without medication, if that is possible. Thank you Eve for your information.

 

[Liberty4all]

There’s a lot of unknowns here, including your diagnosis.l, as well as the exposure exercise she’s given you.

You’ve used the word “trigger” to describe what you anticipate will happen if you go to a dealership. Genuine question: what do you mean by ‘trigger’?

If your T isn’t sure whether your symptoms are PTSD specifically? It may be that she has decided that you’re ready for this, and this is a confidence-boosting exercise. If visiting a dealership is going to be really stressful, but not necessarily set off PTSD symptoms beyond your control? Then I reckon give it a go.

If you believe that going anywhere near a dealership is going to send you into a tailspin that you haven’t got the tools to manage just yet? Then talk to your T about that. Perhaps she can arrange to do the exercise with you. A lot of Ts will do that.

Absolutely, at some point, and with a good T, you will be able to go walking around motorcycle dealerships again if that’s one of your goals. PTSD triggers (and ‘trigger’ means a specific thing in a PTSD-context) are something that can be overcome with a little work. It’s about finding a balance between doing work that feels uncomfortable, without pushing yourself too far:)

Sideways, I am going to attempt this tomorrow with my wife, I can not do this alone, just the thought is giving me unwanted feelings. I will do my best but I also have a fear of letting my T down, and my wife said no, I need to focus on what I can do, uncharted waters...Thanks for your insight.

 

[Kubash16]

I would really see if you can find a different therapist. You need to be able to trust your T and not feel dismissed by them. Whether or not they personally believe dreams have value (they totally do) it’s her job to discuss what you want to discuss. Should she push you a little bit to talk about hard topics? Yes. But slowly and after trust has been built and you are nowhere near that.

 

[Liberty4all]

I would really see if you can find a different therapist. You need to be able to trust your T and not feel dismissed by them. Whether or not they personally believe dreams have value (they totally do) it’s her job to discuss what you want to discuss. Should she push you a little bit to talk about hard topics? Yes. But slowly and after trust has been built and you are nowhere near that.

I agree with you, and I will see if we can not slow it down a bit, I feel as if we are going too fast...

I can understand the frustration with everything being confusing. Always remember that you are in control of your therapy, if you feel like she’s pushing you too far and she doesn’t listen when you say so, you have the ability to find someone better suited to you.

I would ask her if you can start with pictures of motorcycles instead. Then work your way up.

I agree, she did ask if I had pictures of my accident and I told her I will look for them, I did make an attempt to go in a dealership but nope, nope, no way, I don't know what she expects from me but it is way too soon, if ever...

 

[Friday]

I don't know what she expects from me

This would be the thing to find out.

Exposure Therapy, done well? Is the single most effective thing I have ever come across. It just f*cking works.

Exposure Therapy, done badly? Is like most other things done badly; surgery done badly, landing a plane badly, seafood stored badly, whatever. No bueno. Results vary, but the point being? There are some things you don’t really care about, and some you want done well. Exposure Therapy is one of the things you want done well. Any kind of therapy is. No therapy is better than bad therapy.

There are a lot of different types of Exposure Therapy; EMDR for example, is one type. Trauma Diaries are another type. Just being on this website is a third. In vivo, aka in real life, is the one I started with & the one I gel with hands down the most.

Some reading for you

Ptsd therapies

Prolonged exposure therapy for ptsd

Dead Link Removed

How to use triggers as a means to recovery?

Reading Forum Increases Symptoms!

 

[Liberty4all]

This would be the thing to find out.

Exposure Therapy, done well? Is the single most effective thing I have ever come across. It just f*cking works.

Exposure Therapy, done badly? Is like most other things done badly; surgery done badly, landing a plane badly, seafood stored badly, whatever. No bueno. Results vary, but the point being? There are some things you don’t really care about, and some you want done well. Exposure Therapy is one of the things you want done well. Any kind of therapy is. No therapy is better than bad therapy.

There are a lot of different types of Exposure Therapy; EMDR for example, is one type. Trauma Diaries are another type. Just being on this website is a third. In vivo, aka in real life, is the one I started with & the one I gel with hands down the most.

Some reading for you

Ptsd therapies

Prolonged exposure therapy for ptsd

Dead Link Removed

How to use triggers as a means to recovery?

Reading Forum Increases Symptoms!

Thank you for the research info, I will dive in...I had an appointment today, and told her the exposure she wanted me to do was a no go, way too aggressive, but some of it was not fun but tolerable to some extent but still did not like it. I told her we need to slow it down, I just learned I am suffering from PTSD two weeks ago and all those years I was thinking that is just what people do, I had no clue, and I thought I was just growing into the grumpy old man, I get it now, (somewhat) and she is wanting to throw me into the lions den just after being bitten...PTSD came up in the session and she said,"I am not going to diagnose you with PTSD, but rather treat it". I did not quite understand that statement and she saw me trying to understand and said,"why do you want a PTSD diagnosis?", and I had no answer but was thinking, "what? if I am not diagnosed with it then why are you treating me for it". Why is she not wanting to diagnose me with something she says I have? This threw me for a loop...Would I not need a diagnosis in case I get disenchanted with her and seek another Psychologist, and to seek other treatment outside the VA? Wouldn't I need that if I wanted to get vocational rehab? I am confused, and new to all this...I thank all who has given me info, you are in my debt, God bless