New Member Intro

[Simon]

Hi to all of you reading this out there, this is my intro to what is a truly special site. My name is Simon and I live in the West of England in the UK.

I have helped a number of people over the past few years with a variety of problems including PTSD. I currently run a voluntary group for Phobia and OCD sufferers and live in a region with a history of supplying the military services. I meet serving or ex personnel and their families all the time and can see the wave of ex combat PTSD cases ready to drown all available services coming very soon.

I joined this site though because I very recently almost 'lost my religion' which is to help those suffering mental health problems as best I can, after a major employment knock back. This means I have to do a different kind of day job to pay my bills when I should be doing what I do best which is working with people that can benefit from the training I've had in cognitive and other therapies over the years. I got very depressed and have tried hard to focus on 'other' types of work but the truth is I keep getting drawn back to what I really care about. Tonight I googled PTSD support for the zillionth time and found this site.

Reading through some of the threads I've found a truly amazing community of people. What an incredible bunch you all are. Incredibly brave, compassionate, supportive. Whether you are giving helpful advice to others or are showing that really special bravery by writing something about yourself here in the first place. You should feel proud of yourself - because despite what you may have experienced and be experiencing right now, you are in a safe place here with people who care.

So I feel a little ashamed about being ready to 'jack it all in' as we say over here just because I'm unable to be a full time therapist right now.

If anyone, anywhere, wants to know about things like EMDR, CBT, NLP based therapies, drop me a line and I'll help as best I can. If I can add anything useful in support or advice to anyone's threads I will, if you're happy for me to do so.

Probably said too much but hey, there you go. I get the feeling there's a lot of love on this site so wherever you are, whatever has happened and whatever you are feeling right now, remember the people here care.

And whatever doesn't break you makes you stronger.

God Bless All

X

:hello:

 

[anthony]

Hey Simon, welcome to the forum. Always good to have another mental health professional upon here.

 

[amethist]

Hi Simon

Welcome to the forum.

You are right about this forum being supportive. There are many members on here who have found this site after finding no where else for the help, advice and support they so desperately need.

As there are a shortage of therapist in the UK, you surprise me when you say you are not working as one at the moment. You mentioned a major employment set back, is this because of NHS cut backs, or is there another reason for this, just curious as I am a carer and live in the north east of the UK.

Some of the sayings are sometimes a bit crap really, as some of the members feel broken by all this ptsd crap and it really does not very often make them stronger.

Have read of the " What never to say to a ptsd sufferer" in the PTSD chat area and you will see what I mean

Whatever your reasons good luck and take care.

Amethist

 

[helena]

Hi Simon,

I am from the UK too and one of the biggest problems is finding NHS therapists who specialise in combat ptsd (my partner is a sufferer)

Really would appreciate any help and advice you can offer

Helena

 

[suzie q]

Welcome Simon to the forum. I'm so happy that you are willing to continue your helpfulness by reaching out here.

Sorry to hear about your job situation. I haven't been employed in over a year since the USA crunch. No one will hire doing anything right now because of our economy and their fears. I just hang on and know that eventually I will be where I'm supposed to be. I'm not a defeatist, I choose to use my talents in the job field where I can and help others that may need a helping hand. That seems to be the only way I can keep from totally freaking out and isolating completely.

I was completely broken when I lost my job. For the first time in a long time I was doing something I loved and felt I was good at doing. I finally realized that I would always have that passion and knowledge. Maybe I was needed somewhere else. That is something I have recently learned and hope that I will continue the same thought process in the future. I'm not always good at that kind of thing.

What I like about being involved in the forum is that I get great suggestions and experience from a wide variety of cultures. I've been diagnosed with PTSD but have never had any therapy concerning this disease. Had alot of therapy with cognitive, but not much else. Never heard of EMDR until I started here. Do you have any experience? I'm in Chattanooga Tennessee, USA and can't find someone with that expertise. Any suggestions?

I hope this format gives you the peace of mind you need and that you continue to share your experience, strength and hope!

 

[Simon]

Thanks for saying hello Amethist

Cheers to all checking in and saying hi. Happy to help and talk to anyone who gets in touch.

Just wanted to reply to those of you that have put in a comment and if I should respond individually I apologise because I'm just getting used to things here.

Amethist - first of all hello. We do have a shortage of therapists in the UK but the government are trying to do something by introducing IAPT - Improved Access to Psychological Therapies - which is a service being rolled out across primary care trusts in England. Not sure about the rest of the UK at the moment. This service is using existing psychology professionals as well as training others that may not have a clinical degree but display sufficient capability and life experience to provide a good service. The treatment is CBT based and goes with things like behavioural activation and cognitive re-structuring at the lower level. It's very patient centred too which is good as it encourages empowerment and responsibility in those who may feel 'powerless' to do anything about their condition. As for me and my position, I don't have a clinical degree and began my training in behaviours as a commercial coach years ago in things like NLP (before people like Mckenna got involved) and hypnosis prior to training in other cognitive interventions and EMDR. Problem is I can work privately but not for the NHS as a registered psychotherapist as i don't have that degree, despite a long track record of helping people with a variety of issues over the years. When IAPT came along I thought it was my chance to get on board with the NHS at last. However, despite getting to the last few people out of 250 applicants, I failed at the final interview because they said I was overqualified for the trainee post but underqualified for the higher level clinical positions??!! That's why I felt like stopping altogether. Essentially, if I'd been fresh faced and straight out of university with a degree I'd be snapped up but rather than have my experience welcomed it was thrown back a me. Hope that answers your question. Still unsure about the road to take but I still do the voluntary thing for an excellent mental health charity. As to 'sayings' I apologise if I offended you or anyone else. It wasn't meant that way. I genuinely believe those things and as someone I worked with once said to me, even broken things can be mended. They're not the same as they were before but they can still end up working pretty darn well despite everything. Glad you replied.

 

[Simon]

Hi to Helena

Hello Helena, very nice to hear from you.

So sorry to hear you're experiencing problems in this area with your partner. I think that even though we're just starting to get to grips with PTSD in relation to combat stress in relation to those primary sufferers, knowing how to support and help those closest to them is another matter entirely! I have spoken to so many people in your position and it seems that the best form of comfort and support seems to come from within that community ie those going through the same things themselves. Thing is, we all have friends and colleagues that are NOT in that community and haven't experienced life in the services or with someone that has or is in service. So we need a solution otherwise we'll all end up in seperate communities and that won't be a great place to be for anyone.

What I can tell you is that when I was researching IAPT - see my reply to Amethist - it was apparent that the service aims to address different groups, these are roughly, people 50+, children, 18-50s and ex service/serving military personnel, plus i think front line services such as emergency services and so on. The main areas they look to address are Anxiety and Depression in what they call Low Intensity Services. PTSD is covered at the higher end of the spectrum in waht is called High Intensity therapy which includes things like EMDR. People can be referred up to these services after being referred for presenting Anxiety/Depression etc.

You can get a referral to see an IAPT therapist through the NHS if it is currently available where you live. Let me know the area and I can find out for you. There is, as usual, a waiting list but for example, if EMDR was available, the therapist delivering that should have experience of working with combat personnel.

Would be happy to discuss more on this Helena if it helps you. Let me know. I don't know the protocol here - I'm happy to help who I can within my spectrum of knowledge and experience but if you feel the need I'm happy for you to send me a private email. Up to you. Let me know. Best wishes and good luck.

 

[Simon]

Hello Suzie Q!

Lovely to hear from someone for the US of A. Only other Suzie Q I know of is Suzie Quatro who was a big hit over here in the 70's with her glam rock band!! She was from Texas tho...

See my other posts re the job thing. You'll probably get my drift when you read those but it's just great to be on here really and if anyhing I know, have done, or can reference is any help to anyone then I'm happy.

I do know a good deal on EMDR, I am a practitioner here, amongst other things but a word of caution. EMDR is recognised as a genuine clinical intervention by mental health services and in the 25 years or so that's it's been about, there are many good reasons to suggest giving it a try. It can be more flexible as treatement and can deliver results quickly in sessions that are content free (in other words, whatever you are re-experiencing is just with you, it is the clinical process that needs to be followed that counts). There are questions about whether people are 'cured' or whether the effects of the trauma are simply lessened or indeed that the person is de-sensitised to the point where the 'stuff' no longer upsets or disturbs them and so are able to function and lead a more fulfilling life. For most people I know, that's a good place to be compared to what they had before. Whether we call that a 'cure' I really don't know. So for me, I think EMDR is a powerful 'option' if appropriate but is really just another (albeit very good in my opinion) tool that can help people recover. It is not a panaseer though. Not a cover all.

There may be an international list of practitioners I can lay me hands on as I am a member of EMDRA of GB and Ireland. Happy to have a look if you wish. Can also reference you to some books stateside too. Francine Shapiro PHD kicked this treatment off and it found great success initially with Vietnam vets before going broader to where we are today.

Cheers for now from olde England...

 

[clare]

Hey Simon,

Thanks for joining! Could you give us a quick list of what you consider to be the best/most interesting literature on PTSD? I'm looking for more recent publications, tech. or non., particularly as it may relate to: misdiagnosing in pediatrics, PTSD on the developing brain-children under 12 y/o, and possible relationship between panic attacks and PNES seizures. Anything at all would be appreciated!

clare

 

[SupportinVA]

Simon thank you for joining the forum and for all of your knowledge. My girlfriend was diagnosed with PTSD recently during a hospitalization. She has been through a lot that no person on earth should have to endure. My uncle who is a military doctor recommended EMDR therapy, but as he is a family doctor and not a mental health clinician didn't know many of the specifics. In your experience should this treatment be done soon after diagnosis, or does it vary by person? I want her to have the best care possible, and unfortunatly her family is OK with the "status quo" care. No one has mentioned CBT or EMDR to her or her family and I'm not sure if it's because she's not ready for it or if they just suck as clinicians. Any information would be helpful.

 

[Simon]

For Support in VA

Hi there and very sorry to hear about your girlfriends troubles. On the positive side, she is lucky to have a decent person like yourself looking out for her. Where family are concerned it might not be that they are just prepared to go through the normal medical route or non route. Sometimes I think even a loving family just get to a point where they don't know what to do for the best, or a maybe just unaware of what can be done.

Anyhow, as far as CBT or EMDR are concerned, there are definite benefits in looking into this for her. It really depends on level and type(s) of trauma. If she has had these issues inside for a while and it sounds like possibly she has, it may take some unravelling and that will need doing professionally. A question I'd ask would be have the things she's been through affected her quality of life or will they affect future outcomes? I don't know where you hail from so if not in the UK I suppose you're looking at a private pathway from a therapeutic perspective. If she has been diagnosed, how has she received/responded to that news? At the end of the day PTSD is simply a term to describe a condition or set of conditions. Was this a surprise to her? She may have known that she had stuff going on causing adverse affect in her life and it's now had a label hung on that. For some people that's a relief, for others it's a shock and possible tauma in itself. So, whether she is ready for treatment depends on her attitude to that news. The type of treatment will also depend on level of trauma - is it single or multiple and so on. What I would say though is there is definitely treatment and people available to deliver it that can help. One thing to talk through though is that treatment will bring all this stuff to the surface, and this can be very challenging and painful for the person. It will also put pressure on your relationship so you'll need to be prepared for that. I hope this helps. Without any more info I can't say too much more but can tell you more about the types of CBT out there - although I'm sure there's loads of info on this site - and how EMDR works too if you wish. Good luck and God bless.

 

[Clydiechick]

Hi Simon

Welcome. Look forward to hearing from you. We welcome your support.

Clydie