In honor of Mr Plesman's departure.
(would have posted sooner, but have been was trying to remain neutral - can't remain neutral anymore, it just bugs me too much)
It is fashionable to believe that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is triggered by a traumatic event and has a created a "psychological" cascade of irrational fears long after the effluxion of time from the original trauma.
I didn’t realise that PTSD and trauma were 'fashionable' – if so I would have traded my handbag in for a new one!
Many studies have been published about the success and/or failure of psychotherapeutic approach in PTSD cases, and some authors have even concluded that PTSD may be incurable, especially the chronic type of PTSD.
Which studies and in relation to what aspects of PTSD cases? Where is the scientifically proven evidence? His own ideas have not discussed any statistical correlations to prove his little theory. He only cites himself and directs people to his own postings by using key words that he has attached to his own work...
Many of these techniques are merely "management techniques" (like breathing exercises), that temporarily mask symptoms, but do not "cure" the problem and need to be repeated as is the case with with drug therapy.
These ‘techniques’ help me to manage my life and condition better – an absolute blessing since I first became unwell. These techniques such as CBT, EMDR etc have been scientifically proven to assist in reducing symptoms of PTSD. Hence why the EXPERTS use them. A diet cannot cure a mental illness! PTSD has no cure! And, Mr Plesman is suggesting that his diet can cure, the incurable....
Thus, it is argued, the reason why PTSD patients do not benefit immediately from these kinds of psychotherapy is explained by the imagined complexity of the mind and not because therapists are ignoring the underlying biochemical abnormality that is really responsible for most mood disorders, including PTSD.
Psychotherapy is not ignoring the biochemical cause and effects – it is treating it. Yet in his postings, he seems to really hate anything that has scientific evidence and that counter proves his little theory through such evidence. He seems to hate everything, medication, therapy, medical advice – all of which has scientific evidence and with reasonable practical evidence to support its treatment.
“I am an alternative to the commercial aspects of the mental health industry, depending on the monopolistic sale of drugs and useless lengthy talk therapy”.
[DLMURL]https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/jurriaan-plesman.21017/#post-283440[/DLMURL]
No diet can be an ‘alternative’ to medical treatment. His own ideas are clearly based on ‘political views’ not on scientific evidence. Is he trying to create his own ‘monopoly’ by expressing only his own views ‘as you see fit’ without consideration of the alternatives? The term ‘Monopoly’ comes from the greek word meaning ‘alone or single’. It is used to refer to a specific person or company that is the sole supplier of a commodity – his commodity is ‘nutrition’ and he seems to be, pushing his own 'single minded idea'. And, through linking (his carefully chosen suggestions for key search words) to his own work, he seems to see himself as a ‘sole supplier’. Interesting, to say the least.....
Mr Plesman also sometimes (in this forum and in his little novel) refers to PTSD as a mood disorder, sometimes as an anxiety disorder. Maybe he has not familiarised himself with the classifications of such illnesses.
There is an important practically self-evident principle in Psychonutritional Therapy that says:
THAT IF A MOOD DISORDER IS CAUSED BY AN UNDERLYING BIOCHEMICAL DISORDER, NO AMOUNT OF TALK THERAPY IS GOING HELP THAT PERSON, UNLESS THAT BIOLOGICAL DISORDER HAS BEEN TREATED FIRST.
Definition of ‘self evident’ is when someone says something is known to be true (through its meaning) WITHOUT PROOF. Based on my earlier comments I also question whether his understanding the 'meaning' of mental illness in general, let alone PTSD.
This is because it has been found that most people with mood disorders - including PTSD - have been found to be positive to a test for hypoglycemia as distinct from diabetes type II.
Again, he says ‘most people’. That would assume that there is significant sample sizes (sizes of magnitude) to prove such a theory, yet again, he does not quote any scientific evidence in his little novel or in his internet postings.
Again, referring to PTSD as a mood disorder – check the classifications please.
Even more concerning, his comment suggests that diabetics are tested positive for hypoglycaemia, he refers in his postings that hypoglycaemia is the ‘cause’ of mood disorders, he also claims that ‘hypoglycaemia diets’ can treat anger and can affect the biochemical changes in the brain, implying a cure - I can extrapolate too!
Ergo, by HIS own theory, he is suggesting that anyone with diabetes has a mood disorder, anyone who gets angry has diabetes, and any chemical change in the brain is because you are diabetic. Hypoglycaemia may relate to type 1 and 2 diabetes, but his extrapolations from this theory are illogical, and NOT ‘self evident’ - Again, I can extrapolate too!
But let us concentrate on hypoglycemia and its connection to PTSD, because this is the main subject of this thread.
Well, at this point, I kept reading to see what he had to say about PTSD - specifically its connection to hypoglycemia.... didn't happen, probably because there is none.
Because mainstream medicine does nor recognize the existence of hypoglycemia, most conventional doctors do not know how to test for hypoglycemia as distinct from diabetes. This is one reason why we are now experiencing an epidemic of diabetes, as hypoglycemia is in fact the forerunner of diabetes.
Researchers and medical professionals HAVE looked at hypoglycaemia in diabetes – hypoglycaemias existence has been recognised and academically discussed in terms of diabetes (in terms of both cause and effect). Again, he does not cite academic work and/or statistical evidence of symptomatic hypoglycaemia episodes in mental illnesses, such as PTSD. He should do some research (a term he is clearly unfamiliar with) before making such statements.
Thus PTSD is simply a sign of hypoglycemia. This explains why some people experience PTSD and others do not among similar circumstance.
This conclusion cannot be drawn at all. PTSD is simply a sign of trauma! There is no reasonable evidence of his theory – either ‘self evident’ or scientifically proven. His conclusions are inaccurate, unsupported, and a 'bloody big leap' to say the least!!
Going back to the important principle of psychonutritional therapy mentioned above, the metabolic disorder needs to be treated BEFORE any psychosocial consideration. To ignore the biological aspect is turning PTSD into a "treatment resistant disease".
Thus the first step in treatment is the adoption of the hypoglycemic diet, supplemented with vitamins an minerals, and adjusted to the individual needs of the person.
The first step in the treatment of any mental illness is to speak to an expert – YOU ARE NOT AN EXPERT. He is NOT an expert in psychology (he has an undergraduate degree) he is NOT an expert in nutrition (he doesn't have a degree in this field, just a diploma). I suggest he stop ‘pretending’ to have anything other than ‘an interest’ in psychology and nutrition.
The term, Psychosocial refers to development within and interactions with a social environment. There is reasonable scientific and ‘self evident’ proof to believe that psychosocial factors are the cause of PTSD. If this was not the case, then by his own assumption, anyone with diabetes should also be mentally ill because of hypoglycaemia. I think the various experts and foundations dealing with mental illnesses and diabetes would be outraged by his flimsy conclusions and what he implies with his own comments within this forum.
Lastly,
I can’t quote Mr Plesman directly as the thread has been closed, but will copy and paste: from his introduction thread: [DLMURL]https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/jurriaan-plesman.21017/#post-283440[/DLMURL]
“This might not fit well with people who believe with a religious fervour, that "it is all in the mind".
Mr Plesman might like to think about whether he is the one with ‘religious fervour’?? And whether his ‘assumptions’ are all in his mind?
Mr Plesman posted in a forum about managing anger and therapy, and suggested that his hypoglycaemic diet can ‘cure’ anger.
Uncontrollable and unexplainable emotions are more often due to underlying biochemical imbalances that are responsible for most mood disorders including PTSD. These need to be addressed before attempting to talk yourself out of it by lengthy and ineffective talk therapy sessions. Logical argument won't help. Search the web site for.... "
Then this response to a very reasonable request from moderators about ceasing his self promotion...
“I do not want to waste my time in this forum” ......among the general tone of his posting.
[DLMURL]https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/jurriaan-plesman.21017/#post-283440[/DLMURL]
I don’t think that Mr Plesmans’ diet has helped him with his own angry outbursts – so how can anyone take him seriously on this matter? or does it not ‘cure’ tantrums either?
I am absolutely appalled by the way he has treated individuals in this forum, and continuously self promoted. He seems to wish to defy everyone and everything, and has not considered the consequences and potential harm he may cause in doing so.
I personally hope he did not spout his 'cure' to those parolees under his rehabilitation (including convicted criminals with mental illnesses, and those with violent assault and sexual assault convictions) as their 'cure' either!!!!
