Trauma Therapy Or Therapy Trauma?

[Rissy215]

I've been in therapy for a while and after the first few weeks of trepidation have felt good about finally addressing my PTSD even though my symptoms have been worse since I started processing past traumas. I recently saw a new psychiatrist for an evaluation for biofeedback to help deal with my anxiety and chronic pain in particular and he said a few things that really bothered me. The first was that I was "too educated to have PTSD or depression because if I really had them I wouldn't have made it through grad school." I made it through school because I buried myself in it AND worked full-time to block out my past and try to move on. It slowly ate at me until a couple years ago when I pretty much stopped functioning as a normal person. I lost my job, my income, my independence, and my health. I put most of my things in storage and moved into a shoebox with one of my friends and I took on therapy and dealing with my PTSD as a full-time job at the suggestion and encouragement of my doctors.

The second thing he said that I've spent a lot of time thinking about since was that trauma therapy was a form of trauma itself and I shouldn't be digging things up. My first reaction was that he's crazy but he IS a [very seasoned] psychologist so maybe he knows what he's talking about. But then I wonder if that's part of me trying to find an excuse to stop digging things up in therapy. Therapy certainly hasn't made me feel much better yet so maybe he has a point? Even though it's the hard thing to do I still feel like therapy is the right answer though. My brain's so twisted around this anyone else have thoughts on whether therapy can actually be traumatic itself and do more harm than good? Maybe this is true in some cases and not others? I'm sure it's probably true based on therapist though too.

 

[franciemarnie]

That doctor makes me mad. Just because a person has gone to school a certain length of time and memorized a lot and passed a lot of tests on his reading and labs doesn't necessarily mean they always know what they are talking about. Certain things they might be right on, other details - not so much. The remark that you couldn't have PTSD because of what you accomplished is so ridiculous, my figurative jaw dropped. I too would have been upset. You want to think these people are experts. That was a literally ignorant remark he made.

On the other issue, I personally do find talking about nitty gritty trauma details retraumatizing and I don't do it. I am in Somatic Therapy now and we do not discuss it and it is the best thing I've ever done.

Have you read The Body Remembers? By Babette Rothschild . That might be a good book to read as to approaches to therapy that do not retraumatize.

I'm sorry that shrink said the other thing to you.

 

[katiekat]

I just found out I have ptsd from childhood trauma (sibling abuse) which I never even considered to be trauma because it was minimalized by my parents and society. Then in therapy, before I was diagnosed, I dissociated when My T was talking about how my feelings of helplessness related to events in my childhood. It was totally terrifying and I have had serious anxiety before my therapy sessions since it happened. My T told me he didn't want to "break" me and offered to refer me to someone who does EMDR. I don't want to do that yet. But I do see how therapy might cause it's own kind of trauma. But for me, I am going to continue because I want to get to the bottom of what it was that made me dissociate that day.

 

[stuff]

Too educated to have PTSD sounds like BS to me. I was an award winning composer and excelled at times in academics; it didn't mean I wasn't severely traumatized. The only thing that has kept me functional in life is my ability to avoid my history by learning new things.

 

[WillyKat]

Your new psychiatrist is an idiot. Go elsewhere. The first psychiatrist I saw was also worthless an idiot. Having an MD is no guarantee of intelligence.

I was raped at age 5, repressed the memory for 15 years, waited another 5 or so to seek therapy. I have PTSD and I made it through grad school.

Regarding therapy as being a trauma itself: well, it sure is hard, it's disturbing, it may even be hellish. But it is also working through your real trauma in a safe environment, which by definition is not traumatic.

Besides, a good psychiatrist or any other professional would not question the work of another. Just seems wrong.

I'd find a new psychiatrist.

 

[Abstract]

trauma therapy was a form of trauma itself and I shouldn't be digging things up

My take on it is that trauma therapy can be traumatising in certain situations. Where our coping skills are overwhelmed whilst processing it or where we are not safe enough whilst doing so. But the above statement just sounds horribly off to me!

The solution is NOT to just not go there. Is that what he is suggesting? Is he someone who specialises in trauma? Not trauma along with 30 other things - specialises in trauma.

As for the over educated comment ... :sour:

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Yes, I understand. I was once told that I didn't deserve help because I look too good. *rolls eyes* And I'm NO "looker" by any stretch of the imagination! It was because I presented myself well in public, dressed well, did my hair and makeup. Gee, I should have invited them over to my house for those times when I wasn't functioning and hadn't showered in almost a week. (Sad but true ).

There's a difference between digging and processing. Digging is bad, processing is good. I believe processing is necessary to heal.

I think it's time for a new therapist.

 

[walledgarden]

The first question you must as is: Am I still bothered by those traumatic memories? If not, its best to stop these treatments.

The goal of therapies related to traumatic memories is that you no long felt upset even when talking about it or when being recalled unintentionally.

 

[Abstract]

THE

Hi! :)You might not realise but capitol letters are seen as shouting and can feel threatening to others. If you can edit that might be better.

 

[macca]

I agree with everyone else here - what that psychiatrist said was rubbish. I have PTSD and I went through postgrad with great results. Like others, it was a way to bury stuff with busyness, perfect excuse to ignore things I didn't want to address. Plus, nobody is exempt from the possibility of developing PTSD - it's a neurobiological mechanism as I understand it, geared to help us survive. And yes, therapy is hard, sometimes really hard, but has this guy even looked at the strong scientific basis for therapy for PTSD? Some of the professionals have a god-complex I think. If it feels right to you, and the science says it works, then go with your gut!

 

[Hashi]

My first reaction was that he's crazy but he IS a [very seasoned] psychologist so maybe he knows what he's talking about.

I don't know about seasoned. His brain sounds pickled to me.

As others have said, the first part about being too educated is just ignorant nonsense.

The second part about whether therapy can be traumatic in itself - I think it can be but it doesn't have to be. It needs to be done right so that it won't be. I suspect your psychiatrist doesn't know how to do it right. I dread to think what this person has put people through.

You need to do the type of therapy that's right for you, at a pace that's right for you, with an individual therapist who's right for you, and with an emphasis on staying grounded and safe. Therapy will still be very difficult, but it shouldn't be traumatising in itself. Like franciemarnie, somatic therapy has been essential for me, in my case that has been alongside good psychotherapy.

Unfortunately, being a psychiatrist isn't a guarantee that someone is talking in an informed way or is competent to help you. I would stay well away and find someone better.

 

[DharmaGirl]

I was told that I I didn't have PTSD because I was a nurse. "Just shake it off". Hmm.