Severe PTSD has returned after PE

[MamaHopeful]

I have been trying so many different therapists and really having a hard time finding the right one.

Some say all of the evidence-based modes of treatment are garbage and to ONLY do yoga and mindfulness... some say ONLY exposure.

Anyhow, I thought I found someone who was really really great and then she pushed me to do exposures to my trauma and since then I can barely function my anxiety and panic attacks and insomnia are through the roof. There was never any skills given on how to handle this, other than to just accept the symptoms and know they can't hurt me.

I told her that other therapists I had worked with said that there is such a thing as re-traumatizing, but she said that's not true. She said I am only thinking that's true because I'm wanting to avoid my trauma completely.

I don't understand the balance between avoidance and exposure. And I don't know what the f*ck to do when I am in such a terrified PTSD state all over again.

I AM SO AFRAID.

Michelle

 

[EveHarrington]

I’m so sorry you had such a bad therapist.

Retraumatization is very much a thing. It’s happened to me before at the hands of a bad therapist who didn’t understand ptsd.

It’s not unusual to experience symptom spikes when processing, however it’s VERY important to have a strong set of coping skills first.

Learning coping skills and stabilizing can take years before you’re deemed ready for processing.

Do you have another therapist now?

Are you able to keep yourself safe?

Do you know any grounding skills, coping skills that help calm you down?

:hug:

In my way of thinking, right now it’s ok to avoid as you need to build up your skill set. The right skills will then help you not avoid (as much).

Once you’ve moved through processing, you’ll avoid a lot less.

Avoidance is an issue with ptsd, but unless you’re avoiding everything to the point of low functioning, I think it’s ok to put the avoidance issue on the back burner for now.

 

[Cypress]

I’m sorry this therapist re- traumatized you with exposure. This happened to me too. I’m not sure why this type of treatment was ever thought to be effective.

As Eve says, starting with coping skills and then moving to processing is the way to go now, it’s much gentler and supportive.

Yoga and mindfulness can help you stay grounded for sure. I’ve done yoga and meditation for years and it definitely helps but I didn’t start to get better for real until I started processing the trauma.

Focus on taking good care of your body right now. You deserve to feel better. I hope you find a new therapist who knows how to treat trauma.

 

[Justmehere]

There was never any skills given on how to handle this, other than to just accept the symptoms and know they can't hurt me.

Have you done any work with any therapists on skills to manage symptoms between sessions?

If not, and this therapist is unwilling, I’d suggest finding someone who can do that work before continuing to come undone.

 

[Harmonics]

I have been trying so many different therapists and really having a hard time finding the right one.

Some say all of the evidence-based modes of treatment are garbage and to ONLY do yoga and mindfulness... some say ONLY exposure.

Anyhow, I thought I found someone who was really really great and then she pushed me to do exposures to my trauma and since then I can barely function my anxiety and panic attacks and insomnia are through the roof. There was never any skills given on how to handle this, other than to just accept the symptoms and know they can't hurt me.

I told her that other therapists I had worked with said that there is such a thing as re-traumatizing, but she said that's not true. She said I am only thinking that's true because I'm wanting to avoid my trauma completely.

I don't understand the balance between avoidance and exposure. And I don't know what the f*ck to do when I am in such a terrified PTSD state all over again.

I AM SO AFRAID.

Michelle

First, retraumatization is real.
Second, a good therapist works on coping skills before addressing the trauma.

I hope you are able to find a good therapist, because it sounds like this one is doing more harm.