Too Soon To Process Trauma? (re: It's Not Time)

[Symphony]

I would ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you stable? Nope
• Are you safe (is your living situation free from abuse, do you have food, electricity, etc.)? Never guaranteed
  
• Can you self-regulate? Haha, what? No.
  
• Have you developed distress tolerance skills? Yes.
  
• Are you using maladaptive coping mechanisms (drinking, cutting, eating disordered behavior) to cope? Indeed.
• Do you have positive resources to rely upon (friends, exercise, yoga, church, art, etc.)? Inconsistent.
• Do you have an experienced trauma therapist to work with? Have you developed a positive working relationship with this person? Possibly and no- first appointment is coming up.

 

[LLMertens]

For the original poster - I am working with an experienced and Very careful therapist who got her training at the trauma unit at Sheppard Pratt. She makes heavy use of DBT principles. It was a harrowing road finding her, and she took time ensuring I felt safe and could use coping skills before she ever suggested we start the deep work. Most insurance companies allow you to "shop around". Ask pointed questions about the therapists experience working with trauma. For example you can ask if they know EMDR and exposure therapy practices. Ask them how they determine when and what the best approach is. If they can't give you a firm answer, move on early before you get attached.

 

[Symphony]

I don't think I'm capable of getting attached. We just dissociate those kinds of feelings into an irrelevant box now.

 

[katz]

One of the other things that you might talk with your new T about is a signal or motion that you can make that will make them understand to slow down or pause for a moment. This will give you a moment to gather your thoughts before you move on. It will also help the T to understand what makes you the most nervous. I had a simple hand signal that all my high school friends knew. Mine had to be a hand signal since I was not able to speak when "it" (the memory feelings) started happening. Knowing that I could make them understand when I needed to stop, gave me a sense of control that was there if I needed it.

 

[Freedomfighter]

I've let this old saying lead my recovery and while I've been frustrated at the speed, following th...

Inpatient? Never, not what I have learned in the recent days and weeks. I have had the opportunity to see how some patients are treated when others get to tell them what to do. I have also learned now that there are many predators in that field, and they are unlike any of the predators one will meet in the general society. In those circles the predators are deadly as I can attest due to an attempted attack from one of the mental health care officials in that field.
I delved a little deeper and researched a little bit what goes on in many of those institutions. For me, I think I would rather purchase a piece of rope before I would go into a place like that.

 

[Symphony]

Inpatient? Never, not what I have learned in the recent days and weeks. I have had the opportuni...

I have been in one of the worst of the worst institutions where I had to sleep with a makeshift weapon to protect myself. I have been in an institution that denied me basic medical care. I have also been in a reasonably good one.

I know when I need inpatient and believe how desperate I am to believe inpatient is safer for me than I am for myself right now. I am being HIGHLY selective from now on as to where I go, with word of mouth recommendations from former patients.

If you have not personally experienced predatory issues while inpatient, please do not fear monger by spreading information like that. You may be the difference between someone reaching out for lifesaving help or reaching out for a rope.