Reprogramming Vs Deprogramming

[Jacquie]

I have done so much research on the physiological as well as psychological aspects of this thing. And I have come to the conclusion that PTSD is not PTSD. There are different, not degrees, but actual injuries, and they affect different parts of the brain which bring on different reactions and symptoms.

A bit like a sprained ankle is not the same as a dislocated ankle is not the same as a broken ankle which is not the same as a complex fracture which is not the same as a complex fracture with multiple other foot bones either broken, dislocated or dislodged.

There is chemistry (usually they try to balance that out with drugs)

There are different organs and systems involved (different reactions and symptoms)

There is in some cases physical damage to the brain itself.

There are cases where more than one part of the brain has been damaged.

Then there are the emotions to deal with which both affect the brain and are affected BY the brain!

What a can of worms. And there does not seem to be a one size fits all.

So much of what I have read, been told, or listened to is based on 'undoing the damage'. But how do you UNDO a busted ankle?

Lets look at this. If you bust your ankle (simple or complex) and leave it be, the body will heal it alright, but it will heal in such a way that you will feel pain the rest of your life because it is now not the same shape as it was.

How do we approach a broken bone or several broken bones? We gently (or not so gently) push it back to the shape it has to be in order to work right with the rest of us. And THEN we let the body heal it.....in the right place.

An injury (be it ankle or brain) is something not working as it should work, and therefore creating pain, discomfort, making other things difficult, placing stress on other parts of the body because its not working right.

Ever heard the term 'unbalanced'? Nasty connotations right? Forget the connotations for a moment, those judgements, and look at the word.

If something is unbalanced it falls over right? Often breaking as it falls or even shattering.

Balance is not just chemical balance. Is not just physical balance. Is not just emotional balance. Because if even one of those is out of place and the wrong shape, it will push the rest out too (just like a broken ankle that was never set). It CANNOT do what the rest of the body needs it to do.

Have a look at this. http://www.emotionaltuning.com

It makes more sense to me that most other things I have read or researched.

Its not the ANSWER (the quick fix) but its getting the whole of us into the right place where the body and mind can THEN begin to work out the answers. When its once more working how its supposed to work.

 

[Jacquie]

The balance.

 

[NutritionNerd]

I see things a little differently possibly because of my background in Computer Science and Systems Analysis.

I see PTSD as a systematic disorder that affects multiple body systems. Chemicals are part of that system just like genes and electrical impulses are. Our body systems are designed to reset themselves to equilibrium when something occurs which sends them out of equilibrium. I see PTSD as a failure of that restoration of equilibrium possibly due to system redesign. Our bodies were designed to adapt themselves to environments and PTSD may be an adaption gone wrong or merely unsuitable to our current life conditions. If you were truly living in a physically dangerous environment Hypervigilance might feel like a good thing.

I think PTSD might well be something that helped us survive over the long haul - think of the adaptive value of many of the symptoms - the ability to act with no emotion for example. In some ways it is as if we lose the ability to discriminate between major and minor stresses in our responses. We've lost the volume control.

Looks like the website has some of the same mechanisms as EMDR involved in it's treatments. Those things can be surprisingly helpful. I had trouble with EMDR because I was emotionally uninvolved with the stories I was relating while treatment was taking place.

 

[James B.]

and PTSD may be an adaption gone wrong or merely unsuitable to our current life conditions.

PTSD is system failure - system overload.

 

[NutritionNerd]

I have read a lot of scientific articles about stress and the HPA and PTSD. There can be changes caused in the brain by too much of certain chemicals in certain places and there can be changes up or downregulation in various receptors types and sites. All of these things can semi-permanently change our brains. Unless we find ways to undo the genetic changes we may be stuck with a different model brain for life.

We can consciously bring about changes in our brain using techniques such as meditation, CBT, EMDR, medication etc. I think of that as the real reprogramming. Hopefully we learn to do things differently so as to not bring on these kind of adaptive modifications in the future.

 

[Jacquie]

This is possibly the best analogy I have read.

Imagine driving your car for 5 hours through the desert at 115 mph in the 115° F heat. The last time you changed the oil was in 1999 and you are running the air conditioner full blast. The engine is already hot and then you start up the foot of a steep mountain. The engine is over revved, it locks in gear and you can no longer downshift. Even though you are climbing into cooler temperatures, the long trip of repeated exposure to intense conditions has caused the engine to seize. Until you pull over, let the engine cool down completely and give it some basic maintenance, your car will never run properly. Each time you try to push it a little further, you “trigger” the engine. In response, the car shakes, trembles, whines and sweats from exertion. The only way to get your car back is to let it rest and recuperate for hours on end. Meanwhile, traffic keeps moving, life passes by and you are left stranded on the side of the road. You are 100% aware of what happened and even why, but you are powerless without time and the right tools to get your car back on the road. It’s impossible to get anywhere or get anything done. You must stay on the side of the road and wait it out. Every time you try to convince the car to “get over it” and push it onto the road, the problem gets worse until going another foot with the engine running finally causes the car to collapse in the middle of the road. All that’s left is to tow it to the nearest scrap heap.

Just like that car, people with PTSD are over revved and overheated. The slightest trigger, even if it wasn’t the original cause of the problem, starts them trembling, shaking and sweating from the exertion of trying to control PTS chemicals. The flow of catecholamines is overwhelming, taking control of the body’s response. The constant flow wears down the body and causes it to break down. Post traumtic stress is just as viscious and unforgiving as cancer. While there is not a tumor to point at, just imagine the adrenal glands sitting on top of your kidneys. Shake a finger at them any time you are frustrated with the symptoms of PTSD. If you need proof it exists, just pay attention to the hair loss, weight fluctuations, skin changes and other physical signs. While post traumatic stress syndrome may be triggered by events that create an "emotional" response, those emotions are dictated by the chemicals in our bodies. Willpower alone will not shut them down. The brain has to be retrained and new pathways have to be created for healing to be permanent.

 

[Jacquie]

@James. Yes I started making computer analogies too. The first thing I recognised was that my mind had 1Mb of RAM and the swap file was screwed. The hard drive seemed to be in working order but without being able to retain more than one thing at a time (RAM) the bus system was backed up and all that stuff on the hard drive was basically useless until I got the RAM increased (cognitive exercises)

Once I could 'see' what was going on, it helped enormously.

I'm still finding out what I can and cant do.....by seeing what screws up. My mind still thinks what used to be..is. But it isnt. So as I come across screw ups, first I am puzzled, then if I try again a few times and it still doesnt work, then I start to focus in on whats happening. I have a starting point then to work from.