What's Up With My Shrink Continually Suggesting That I Not Reference My Ptsd?

[Seasounds]

My shrink in big on VanDerKolk's work, so am I. But the part where my shrink and I part ways is that he suggests to not tie triggers to my PTSD; instead tie it to the circumstances (e.g. A bad teacher who triggers memories of being suffocated-part of my abuse/dare I say PTSD.

I think my experienced shrink is niave; to avoid naming the deepest layer or my condition (dare I say PTSD), including the trigger the present circumstances awakes-to the point of having nightmares, is encouraging a level of disassociation, which, quite frankly, I tried decades ago, when I thought being in denial, and not talking about things, would decrease my aggravations. As you would imagine, my condition worsened; severe insomnia for years until I let all of the steam out in therapy.

It is understandable to know, that I have a spiritual identity, that is not bound by PTSD. And I certainly understand creating new healthy experiences that naturally do not trigger the abuse. But the "let the past be the past", what kind of nonsense is that? Cut off your brain?

We can associate to the present via what we draw from the past; memory (however you define it) is a bridge of sorts. We take that information and then adapt ourselves to the new circumstances, becoming "present."

What is your opinion?

 

[anthony]

he suggests to not tie triggers to my PTSD; instead tie it to the circumstances

What your shrink says is accurate and true. PTSD does not trigger you, it is trauma that triggers. The definition of a trigger is that something related to your trauma activates the trigger via one of your senses.

Read: https://www.myptsd.com/threads/stressor-vs-trigger-what-is-a-trigger.9903/

Trigger is an event, it is not the before, it is not the after.

 

[Deleted member 34328]

While I agree with @anthony in that a trigger is anything or anyone that throws you back into the trauma (flashback), it's not the trigger that causes trauma, rather trauma causes triggers...

I do think though that your T should be able to call things what they are. Fixating on a label doesn't help anyone, but there is no point in denying the condition. Therapy treats all the junk that comes with the territory. Yes, learning to replace the immediate thoughts that the trigger brings up with the present tense reality is very important. What you can't do is just let the past be the past. Validate your feelings. Not pretend they aren't there. If your T can't help you with that, then maybe it would be more helpful to find a new one.

 

[joeylittle]

It sounds to me like your therapist is emphasizing that you stay in your present (current) timeline, and develop the ability to manage triggers/stressors in the here and now.

This doesn't replace or preclude trauma processing, in my opinion - but it's a really solid skill to be able to separate the present from the past. I might guess that your therapist also emphasizes looking at these triggering events using who, what, where, when - but omitting 'why'...because the why of it will open up a different rabbit hole and can often be a distraction from managing your triggered response just as it is, in the moment.

My therapist and I relate to things somewhat similarly - that as long as I'm not having major intrusive thoughts or a flashback, it's a good strategy to just deal with the thing that set me off. It keeps me present and I recover more quickly.

Ultimately, though, you can and should talk this out with him more, until you understand. And don't be afraid to ask questions or disagree. If you are on the same page in the majority of other ways, then it's definitely worth sorting this out with him.