I'm a trauma therapist. I explain theories of trauma to clients every week. This explanation is so concise and clear, I'm adding to my mode of explanation. Thank you!
This talk is a good, simple explanation of PTSD. People understand cancer - your body is at war. They know it will take time, treatment, and energy for your body to fight the disease. They understand if you’re not able to function at 100%. People understand injury. If you lose a limb, it will take hours of physical therapy, hard work, and major adjustments in your life to deal with the physical trauma. People understand why you’re changed. Most people do not understand that mental and emotional trauma can be just as debilitating. If your mind doesn’t work, you can’t function. With PTSD, your mind is at war with itself. Anything that has a connection to the trauma is a trigger that can put you back in that traumatic experience. Places, sounds, smells, people, dreams, even thoughts can all be triggers - emotional land mines everywhere. Hit a trigger, and you relive the trauma mentally and emotionally. You want to avoid those land mines, right? You avoid people b/c they may make a comment that’s a trigger. You avoid sleep b/c you have nightmares. You may avoid silence because when it’s quiet, you think, and your mind is full of triggers. You’re constantly anxious. Emotionally, you’re all over the place from numb, to angry, to sobbing in a corner. You can’t concentrate enough to accomplish anything. All of this makes it extremely difficult to function in the world. PTSD is not something you can just get over. With physical illness or injury no one expects you to just “will” the cancer away or for your arm to magically grow back. Like cancer, it requires treatment and time to recover. Like a traumatic injury, PTSD requires therapy and hard work to adjust to the trauma. Thanks for helping people understand.
Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder for over 30 years I educate myself different avenues such as therapy and reading and meetings. In the previous comments about your feelings that you're feeling anxious all the time or you can feel numb and stuff, I've never felt numb. it's like I could feel everyone's emotion around me and therefore I have no choice it's enough to suffer with a night terrors. in the memories waking you up and this has been going on since the age before I was even in kindergarten.I would like to go shopping at midnight just avoid the stimulation of others stress or screaming child. I wish I could feel numb to all that stress from others. Just to know what peace feels like
39 years. My whole life, if you can even call it that. I am endlessly grateful to the people I’ve never even met that have saved my life by making this information available. It was impossible before I knew what it was or that people have been able to treat it. I couldn’t even identify that the abuse, neglect, homelessness, parental void, and every other struggle that made my childhood was “trauma”. I truly believed it was just life, and people had it worse. That I was a horrible person because I wasn’t just getting over it. People told me I was a survivor, a fighter so it’d be fine. I should just get over it. I never wanted to be a fighter. I am so sick of fighting, especially myself. I’m going to live one day thanks to complete strangers 💚
with you all the way. being alone is part of the fix, but in reality we are not alone. there are thousands like us. but we have to accept ourselves as good, as mis-understood individuals.
@@pearljamin so glad! I literally just discovered that I've been suffering with CPTSD for 20 years. I was married to a sociopath. Have you found much healing?
To every person dealing with PTSD, I cannot recommend enough reading the amazing book " The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma" by Bessel van der Kolk M.D. It has helped me so much
PTSD is not just in the forces, believe me I know first hand, my trauma like many others in the comments, stems from childhood, were my innocence was ripped away, I take it one day at a time. For people trying to help there family member or friends with PTSD, the best thing you can do is *just be there* for them, let them talk to you, Its like the old saying "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink.
My whole life from infancy to now has been controlled by PTSD. I was only a few days old when my mother started to pinch, probe and whatever she could think would hurt me in some way. And she was good at it. Not knowing any better, I transferred that unloving relationship to anyone who was capable of hurting me...which was almost everyone in my environment from very little to my now 81 yrs. But, let me tell you that I have found a way to love myself which is not an easy task........I developed multiplicity. I began to find other parts of myself who developed in spite of everything, an awesome ability to love me and lots of me!!
i am so sorry. An abusive mother is one of the most horrible things that can happen to a person. i am so glad you were able to figure out how to love who you are and be kind to yourself!!
I am so proud you lived your life to the absolute best despite your horrible horrible experiences and im so sorry you went through that. I'm 31 with PTSD and I just cannot see myself surviving much longer.
The 1st 7 minutes was one of the BEST explanations of PTSD I've ever heard! Very understandable and relatable. The "going to the store to buy milk" routine was a perfect example of how a normal routine can be changed to something perplexing or traumatic, making things more difficult to process and sort away. Thank you sir
I feel heard and validated. Thank you for this video. I have come a long way since my traumatic relationship about 6 years ago with a much older, vain and vile man, and my mother figure who kept emotionally abusing throughout childhood. I m in a much better place. Thank you ❤️
I have also heard this be described as a nervous system disorder where your constantly in a fight or flight situation and you have to recall yourself back to where you can relax because you can’t relax and still be in a state of hyper awareness. So retraining your system to relax over time helps get rid of it. Such as meditation and yoga etc etc
I'm so sorry there are do many of us dealing with PTSD or CPTSD. Meditation is about the best method I've discovered to stay in the NOW, instead of obsessing over bad memories. Alan Watts has a video on meditation and so does Eckhart Tolle. It's Important to meditate each day. There is no need to meditate hours/day - start with 5 minutes and build up to 20 minutes. You will notice, in time, that your mind and emotions get quieter. Please try it. Life is a struggle and I've found consistent meditation to be most useful.
I've been trying this on and off now for a few years yet I can't seem to create a habit of doing it. I've felt very alone in this struggle, but after reading your comment I feel like trying again and being consistent with it. I very often experience improvement in the periods I do mangage to meditate daily, but often my stress and triggers are so overwhelming I always give up after a few days. Anyways, I'm just gonna try again and your comment here has helped me find motivation for that so. Thanks in advance.
Trauma can consist of several layers of defense that need to be peeled off like an onion. A faster and more efficient way is to start by sitting safely and closing your eyes. Think about the trauma, where it feels in the body, the body is in flight fighting or playing dead where emotions are disconnected. What feeling does it evoke in you, fear, anger or emptiness? Search for who you were before by looking for the good in you, safe, happy and alive. The subconscious can then be helped by the conscious thought of who we really are and release the alarm button that has been pressed and where the amygdala lacks time perception until we have solved the problem / shock
I'm in my 60's and have seen several therapists who told me i couldn't have PTSD because i've never been through enough trauma, i've not been thru war, or never been shot. Seriously, where are these "therapists" getting their training?? The most disturbing comment from these medical professionals was, "Get over it". Suicide promotion.
I am a Correctional Officer in Melbourne and I went through PTSD, my claim was accepted by the insurance company after an investigation that lasted 28 days, received professional help that it was just a joke, I then took massive action and I started to research on my own, I dug deep into the human brain how it's been programmed, I started to understand why we think what we think and how to manage those thoughts and stress and take advantage on them. That happened early 2020 before COVID, and today, August 2020, after just a few months not even half year, i am having the time of live, I have allowed myself to learn from that experience with PTSD and also, I have started to help other brothers in blue who are struggling with the same nightmare as I was. I have become a coach out of my work hours, to Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel because when I was dwelling on that dark place I couldn't find exactly what I needed so I became my counselor, my therapist my coach and I met other coaches around the world, sharing my story, being vulnerable and trying to break the culture of silence that exits among Law Enforcement Officers. My first step to get out of that situation was changing the way I was communicating to myself , understanding that we don't own what we think, we don't own what we feel, we are not feelings, emotions or thoughts, they come and go, we are above and beyond any emotions, feelings or thoughts. We tend to get attached to labels such as depression, stress, anxiety, etc those labels disempower people and is very easy to fall into those traps and make them mean everything, but that's the way we've been programmed to live in, I am seeing it every day with the Officers I am currently helping. We might be different in many aspects of life but at core.... We all the same, we all have the same basic needs, we all want to be good enough so we can be loved. I trust this little story of my life can inspire you or at least can make you see that we can overcome everything in life, sometimes we need someone to guide us, someone who's been there before. Regards Bruce Sanchez
As someone with childhood PTSD this helped me understand a bit more about it. I've been dealing with it for 5 years now from physical abuse, and ive often been told to stop exaggerating, to just forget about everything that happened to me. I wish more people thought like this person, life would be a bit better. (I'm still a kid, and no one really listens to what Im going through, they act like everything I went through was a lie. I've never been able to find actual good advice to live through it all.)
Most of this is spot on for me except... you don’t ‘actively’ push the event away... and the memories are not ‘easily accessible’. Not even close. Your body does it all subconsciously when it represses traumatic events.
I don't usually open up about my PTSD which developed years after my deployment to Iraq. However, I felt like this was a place where whatever I write is anonymous enough that it wouldn't matter. Every week I am on the phone with the VA crisis line which has turned into the only thing that actually calms my thoughts down. I feel this overwhelming sense of causing harm to those around me and myself. The crisis line mellows me down enough to get threw another week. I don't step outside of my house in fear of sniper attacks.. I don't drive the speed limit to avoid being a target of attacks or possible IED's. I always take different routes and I am constantly sweating bullets when I am outside my home. I have surrounded myself in the woods with camera systems everywhere. The worst part of it for me is having a daughter who want to spend time with her dad but, when she's here I shut down as a person. Then when she leaves I punish myself for not being better and doing better. I don't open up about it in real life, because I feel targeted and exposed. All of my appointments have been telehealth since 2016. For most people the pandemic altered the way they lived and for me its been business as usual. I've been waterboarded and tied up and beaten. I have been run over by a car and shot at. I have been actively searching for ways to cope or get better but, I haven't found anything that works or that I can do without panic button always being pushed internally. I'm not sure why I'm writing this. I guess its because this video is from 2015 and no one will see it or care.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. You have been going through such a difficult time and your pain is tremendous . I’m here for you, if you ever want to chat about anything! You need text HOME to 741741 if you ever feel out of control with no one and nothing to turn to. Or call 800-273-8255.
I’m sorry. I understand as I have PTSD for 10 years from an abusive relationship. If anything has helped diminish the ptsd for long periods of time, please let me know. I pray for our peace.
As A 18-year-old girl who has PTSD I realized that a lot of people fail to realize that PTSD isn’t just from terrifying events it’s more than that. a lot of people who have PTSD went through childhood traumas and I have been going through it since day 1. My family was very toxic negative neglectful and pressuring and even had child predators and rapists that weren’t reported. But for years I kept my mouth shut, kept my distance and my family didn’t quite understand why I felt and acted the way that I did. I couldn’t really even explain it, but I knew that there was something wrong when my legal guardian would kick me out of the house and tell me to get myself together. Every time I tried I didn’t understand what I was doing wrong to help the situation and why I wasn’t getting better it wasn’t till a years later that I was diagnosed with PTSD and depression. My family understands a little bit now but they still haven’t tried helping my situation because I don’t think they know how.
Thank you for the hope and the positivity that came with your talk. I have been battling this for probably 40 years and I just was diagnosed correctly and will start treatment soon. I have been on benzos for nine years and it's a bandage and I am still bleeding. I know now that the bandage can cup off and I can heal. Thank you!
Also acupuncture with an excellent practitioner has really helped me with mood regulations and keeping my bipolar a$* in line... chakra balancing super important in my opinion! 💜
Thank you for this vulgarization to people about PTSD. It's amazing how this video will be a reference for me to send it to loved ones so they understand a little more my reality. Things do get better even when we don't recognize it.
I tried EMDR earlier this year it changed my life. I recommend it to anyone. I did mine online, effectively you can choose a therapist from anywhere in the world which is great.
I am diagnosed with C-PTSD. This culminated from childhood neglect/abandonment, along with military combat and deciding to be a police officer and paramedic after my service overseas. It’s been a long long road to recovery, but thank God I have made it through the storm.
Thank you. I broke my arm in gymnastics a year ago. It was a bad break. Both bones completely snaped. I want to get back to gymnastics but i have panic attacks when i do anything related to it. Thank you! You helped me a lot
Thanks for the inspirational video, when searching for answers, when music doesn't work the loop, it, understanding and clarity goes a long way with this condition.
Great analogy, if someone doesnt have the same file folders how can you talk and release it without feeling misunderstood? This is the best explanation of PTSD I've heard yet. Its spot on
Thank you so much for your talk. I was demolished by my psychologist and Psychoanalyst. Her association and corporation whitewashed her completely. Leaving me totally devastated without raising a finger to help me. Shame on her and her organisations that protected her (and thrir reputation) along with her capitalists lawyers that defended her at the detriment of the truth and justice.
Exposure therapy was a horrible experience for me. I did not get better the more I sat with the memory, I got more and more crazy. I totally lost my marbles and thought my husband was my abuser. I’m glad this works for some, but this was very dangerous for me. I did it for about 3 months before having a psychological break. I am now working with an EMDR therapist.
I had this experience too when I a Freudian based talking therapy. Had a complete breakdown and think it retramautised me. People don't realise that just having a breakdown is traumatising on top of the events that you are already trying to deal with.
I would agree. I can’t imagine how much more horrible I’d feel if I started focusing on the traumatic memories. I think it’s good in theory, but not practical. I wonder how many people who’ve had exposure therapy ended up committing suicide because it brought up a host of horrible memories that with PTSD cause nightmares, sleeplessness, agitation, depression and all kinds of things.
Other treatment options for PTSD include EMDR, EFT Tapping, using MDMA in a theraputic setting, and the newest one is to block memory reconsolidation by first activating the fear memory and then taking propranolol right after.
Mental shocks can be felt early in life. Even in infancy. The damage is traumatic & can cause life long stress. Here’s a poem with an implied cure. Poem's title is “The New One’s Center Had Moved.” The new one’s center had moved. The infant’s place of anchor had gone. Neither the boy nor young man knew. Their lives were marked as well. All lost to empty time of living, Where wisdom & books have no meaning. They each looked to the man to be. “Grow up,” The man yelled. “Look out for yourself.” They all wanted a way back, Back to the place of beginning. They asked a fix from him. “Between the rising & setting sun,” He exclaimed, “Go to the beginning there. Breath out the flames which burn your heart. There your body & voice of being can be found. A life of quiet, joy & peace.” Hurry - The old man is coming!
I recently managed to nearly extinguish my severe ptsd. At one stage I was thinking about everything that happened to me every second of every day. It got so bad that I would maybe sleep 3 or 4 hours per day. It was horrible, and recently I managed to overcome my fears, and I would like to share this with anyone else that might see this. I know ptsd is not gonna just go away, but I found a way to bury it in my subconsciousness. All I did was I consistently told myself whenever I felt my nerves kicking in, (Most people are good people, most people are good people, most people are good people, most people are good people, most people are good people), and I would repeat this over and over and over again until I believed it. And it's true, most people are good people, but always remain vigilant and it's good to always have a plan of action no matter where you are or what time it is. And it helps to take protective measures to protect yourself and the ones you love. Working alarm systems, good armed response, finding ways to barricade your house and once again, being vigilant. But to ease ptsd, just remember, most people are good people. Thank you.
I got diagnosed with PTSD yesterday and I know I have a journey ahead of me. I am having a hard time finding ways to heal from it and get on the road to recovery.
The majority of people who speak about PTSD professionally have no personal experience of PTSD itself outside their relationship with the people they treat within their profession. Every time I try and seek peace through one of these videos I feel frustrated, misunderstood and patronised, though I realise this is no fault of the speaker - they have never had to endure this pain, confusion, paranoia and the stress it puts on their relationships with the people around them. I feel as though I should write about PTSD first hand so that sufferers alike can communicate with those from their own pain-felt community
I plan to start writing about my experience. It will be a fiction but based on a true story. The PTSD will be real, but the people and business involved will be changed so I don't get sued
Whoever who is facing ptsd including me you tell to yourself yes you can get rid from your thoughts you can change your thought process promise to yourself you take yourself out from this thought process yes I am changing my thought process from now I will never think unnecessary things just enjoying the current moment from now
I got diagnosed last year and have been doing exposure therapy for a few months now. It's been rough but also problematic. When I'm under a lot off stress, I emotionally shut down. Like a switch. Then I can speak freely as if the event was nothing. Which kind of beats the purpose! Would be nice to hear about your experiences in this treatment 😊
I always thought dealing with post-traumatic stress the best way of dealing with it was head-on without medication after a while you become numb to that experience that caused it and it no longer bothers you. I see it as a form of insensitivity training similar to tolerance training for allergies example tolerance training for penicillin for people who are allergic to it
I have it too, what’s worse is when a broken situation is viewed differently by people and they tell you to “just get over it” well it’s not that easy for people like you and me with it.
We got this brother💪 It takes time but working hard every day toward unraveling the confusion and then working toward creating a better you. A better you as far as what you believe, not what others want us to be.
I have ptsd it's never ending the NHS in the uk doesn't offer much only councilling.....but exposing one self to horrid memories of the past creates fear so I believe training the brain to see the memory as just an image and defusing it so it has no power over you will be my victory
Yes exposure therapy works for (not all) people with PTSD, just be carefull not to use it at the begining of the relationship (patient/therapist), and also to ask if the patient is ok with it, to make sure it's not going too fast and too hard, and to find coping skills with the patient before begining exposure therapy
I have ptsd surrounding my experiences in nursing school. My family life on top of school just completely diminished and destroyed my psyche. I'm ready to go back and I will confront all my feelings regarding nursing school I will go and not look back.
Whenever I read or study PTSD, I remember one of my uncles named Justin. He is an Army veteran that was deployed to Iraq in 2007, and Afghanistan in 2008, along with Thailand in 2004 to help provide humanitarian aid. He's never talked about the things he's seen or experienced. He is also a severe alcoholic. He would drink until he passes out. He's only 35, and he's suffering every day.
@@airbornemason688 I should mention he was deployed to Afghanistan again in the fall of 2010 and got back from that deployment in the summer of 2011. He’s told me about some of his experiences, which I guess is good. So far he hasn’t touched any alcohol in at least 8 months
@@joeswansonthesimphunter2612 I'm very happy to hear that he's off alcohol. He still needs support. If he's struggling like I am and it sounds like he is. Support from fellow veterans, friends and family can literally save his life. My heart goes out to him, you, and your family.
I have had PTSD for close to 50 years. What may“work” for some, doesn’t “work” for all. Frankly, I’m sick of revisiting the trauma over and over and over again not only by my own brain, but by flakes who sat in a college classroom and have no clue what a horrific experience is, or taking chemicals to alter my brain. I’m skeptical of this plan. These charts may show a diminished sense of trauma on brain waves because the patient is likely to gain a sense of safety or comfort in the setting when reliving the trauma there (while their brain waves are being scanned). It doesn’t mean it completely stops when you hear a car backfire, or see a man running with a child in his arms, or any other sensory reaction. It only shows a reduced sense of stress inside the clinical office. Also, those with PTSD know we personally revisit the trauma for long periods of time, on our own, enough. That’s really the problem, revisiting it too much for too long. Here’s what I do know. It’s okay to isolate and take refuge in places of solace and peace that we each can find. It’s okay to feel pain and fear. It’s okay to have bad memories. It’s not okay to hurt others in the process. And if we take our experiences and use it to help others with the same conditions, or early in their battle with PTSD, or for prevention, we turn our status from victimhood to empowerment. Life can be good with it. But it’s always still there, just transformed.
Ironic. Mutaliated myself in a accident in Charleston where I was in school. The PTSD is getting to me several months later, so I came searching for answers; and found this video for helping the ptsd that very place gave me
The problem with trauma is that your subconscious buries it beneath conscious thought. Most of the time we're not even aware what the trauma is, despite its hidden presence ruining your life.
I had my PTSD from losing both of my parents and ever since I lost all of my will to live. The only reason why I still live right now is because of my brother. I don’t want him to repeat the pain once again. What can I do now? My life is miserable but I can’t die.
I'm sorry to hear about your loss. I hope you have lots of social support because you deserve it. And if you don't, please find it. You still have a life you can live and it can still be good and filled with things you love, including your bro.
I have PTSD and I want to let more people know that I have it (than just saying it behind a computer screen) to raise awareness and for them to possibly understand why in certain situations I may seem very awkward (because of my brain freezing up/fight-or-flight response), but I don't want to deal with the judgement or have people dismiss it because I'm not a soldier and haven't seen combat. I used to dismiss the possibility completely for years that it was PTSD I had because I really only associated it with being in the military and deployment.
Hmmmm. I notice this with my friend and I thought he had Aspergers. His brain freezes up, and I definitely see flight or fight on his face. Interesting
Ptsd as term shoulder be left to veterans and to people who spent several days as hostages. Assuming you have just panic assosiated with being wrongly judged is pretty mild or unrelated to actual trauma related behaviour. Try relaxing and judging others by cover that is infront you. Dont overstate your readiness to be nice guy, be selfless and caring or just stay alone forever. Taking and posting selfies every single day, several times a day even can make you relax to idea of being judged because of who you are not or used to be in a past.
I’m suffering so bad. I wish Canada had assistance for mental health. I spent everything I had 3800.00. I made it to the second phase of healing before I ran out of money. All my symptoms are back. I just want to feel better.
For 2 years suffering sadly it took an year for doctor to diagnose it..this condition is soo terrible everyday feels like being in the same timewhere i suffered …and it never ends
To be honest I don't describe my stress as PTSD every one handles situations differently realizing what makes your stress level get triggered will help solve the issue it might be your surrounding or people in your life who tend to make you unstable I learn to ignore unwanted attention and block negativity take life as a learning process not dwelling on others mistakes or yourselves misfortunes and find relief in common sense
I have it do you stress only. I lived on constant stressful environment for 3 years which ended of having paranoia and siucide attempts. I still have some memories in my brain that when I thought about I slap my face badly. Recently could not focus on my work and taking many pills to sleep
No, that's not where true strength lies upon. It may seem like an illusion that you perceive that you are strong because you overcame a mental situation by pushing back your memories. But in reality all you really did was postpone the inevitable, you will eventually have to face with your internal struggles and bring them out. A person gathers their strength by having to overcome the obstacles that lie in front of them and that's what makes a person become stronger. We don't see a people naturally getting stronger by avoiding a difficult task. It's when we put in the hard work and effort in our life to change for the better is when we can finally go on with our lives.
How can I help a teenage girl who suffers PTSD. It consumed last 6 years of her life, No therapist could help because slight reminder of the past brings her to tears and screams and scratching all her face (as she thinks her beauty was to blame). she gained 60 lbs and now when she is forgetting, she is okay, but a slight reminder brings her to another episode of melt down. What should I do? how can I help her?
No, pushing those memories back means that you tell yourself, "I can't deal with this and I don't know how to cope." When you suppress those memories, you prevent yourself from consciously remembering/integrating the trauma, and prevent yourself from understanding how the trauma affects your mood, decisions, thoughts, and beliefs. Avoidance is a natural response but ultimately it's harmful.
+TheSkinnyFairy: Super late, but one thing that might help is for the therapist to purposely hold off on talking about the traumatic experience/related triggers for now, and instead focus on healthier ways that she can calm herself down or seek support. If she faces a trigger without knowing or feeling able to rely on healthier ways to cope, then she's going to cry, scream, and scratch her face because she doesn't know how to deal with the pain. Only when she feels safe and secure in her ability to calm herself down can she begin processing the trauma.
As someone with clinical ptsd, and literally got physically mad and confrontational and I wanted to fight you and tell you how wrong you are because you triggered me. But I have nothing to say but thank you.
I don't have PTSD but for months I've been having constant flashbacks from horror/psychological thriller movies I have watched and I don't know why. I had never had problems with such films before and now I'm absolutely terrified when those flashbacks kick in. Sometimes it's the scenes themselves, sometimes I associate them with things in real life and it gets worse. And it's not like the things most people experience after watching a horror movie, because they are usually paranoid for 2-3 days after the film and then it's all gone. In my case the scenes never leave my mind, I just try to suppress them by doing some kind of an activity. I've been trying to tell myself that those are just movies, that they are not my reality, but it doesn't seem to help much. The worst part is that those flashbacks prevent me from living my daily life in a good way. Sometimes all I can do is lay in my bed and do nothing. I'm still at school, but I'm so worried about my future. I don't want to live like that for the rest of my life.
i feel this. i experienced this as well a couple of months ago, and while i know the direct cause of what making them so traumatizing, it was incredibly difficult to get through. hope ur doing better :)
@@Val-zz8cw I could say there have been some improvements, but I'm still having problems... What helped you get through yours, if you're comfortable with sharing?
@@magdalenakrasteva6182 ofc! First, I went to a lot of therapy and talking about it and sharing exactly what I was thinking and what it was making me feel with another person helped me compartmentalize what was going on. If you’re not able to or not comfortable with therapy, I also found that writing about it in a journal or notes app helped get some of the thoughts out of my brain and into another place. It’s obviously very difficult, but being able to separate myself from the thoughts and rationalize them was very helpful for me. Also just recognizing and noticing what’s triggering for you and if you feel strong enough you can try and sort it out. Lastly probably the thing I really leaned into, and helped the most was distractions (and an important note about this is to acknowledge that DISTRACTIONS ARE OK. It’s not ignoring your feelings or being disingenuous to yourself I promise). For me I took up reading happy, cheerful books that didn’t contain anything potentially triggering, watching childrens movies or tv shows, listening to happy music loudly, exercising and going on walks. its important to remember that thoughts are just thoughts they absolutely cannot hurt you in any way, and also that it’s ok to be scared or uncomfortable. It’s just one phase of your life and you can get through it. Anyways long explanation I hope some of this helps! Oh and also it can be weird especially if you were able to comfortably watch those things in the past, but it’s completely fine that you can’t anymore. because at this point in time your body and your mind is telling you “no, not right now” and that’s ok.
Try reading textures of movie scenes. Instead of car watch if there are any bumper stickers. Instead of being afraid find something funny. Be different, not original.
My file folder, unnamed but includes the traumatic events that have me PTSD, sort of float around. The files that belong to my PTSD float around my mind all day, that's why they are so easily recalled. A lot of confusion comes with my own PTSD, when a feeling occurs but there is no memory attached. So it's a guessing game, you dont know why or how. And it's the same in reverse. I will know the memory, but dont have an appropriate reaction to it. How do I react? I usually end up with just an uncomfortable feeling, an unsettling feeling in my stomach. It's such a complex disorder, I wish I could understand it myself but everyday I am still left with the question why?
This is exactly how I thought to explain it to the person I love we are taking a break for now because she's in a bad state But she sounds like she'll go back to therapy hope hope it works
What if you DO "sit" in your traumatic memory vs push it away/suppress/avoid? I've never ever avoided my feelings. I get angry that I was never allowed to feel what I felt.
Same here..I am angry I am not allowed to feel what I felt either. I think this treatment in the TED is just desensitization. It's also a catch all. This method cures ALL kinds of traumas, the whole shebang. I'd have given anything to have been able to process the traumas by sitting in a room and talking out the traumas with the counselor, psychologist, other. The NEVER let me talk through the entire event...they lean forward and say, "There, there." I hate them all and I won't go back.
Same! I don’t push it away either, I get mad.. I almost feel like when I’m feeling those memories come back I’m helping to fix my original trauma so I end up staying in that mindset forever
Sending my love to anyone who experiences PTSD and those that experience some of the symptoms. 💚
Thank u
Thank you very much 🥰
@@nicolejohnson5863 -whee are from
@@shahidhussain7683 -how do we speak
@@shahidhussain7683-yes
I'm a trauma therapist. I explain theories of trauma to clients every week. This explanation is so concise and clear, I'm adding to my mode of explanation. Thank you!
This talk is a good, simple explanation of PTSD. People understand cancer - your body is at war. They know it will take time, treatment, and energy for your body to fight the disease. They understand if you’re not able to function at 100%. People understand injury. If you lose a limb, it will take hours of physical therapy, hard work, and major adjustments in your life to deal with the physical trauma. People understand why you’re changed. Most people do not understand that mental and emotional trauma can be just as debilitating. If your mind doesn’t work, you can’t function.
With PTSD, your mind is at war with itself. Anything that has a connection to the trauma is a trigger that can put you back in that traumatic experience. Places, sounds, smells, people, dreams, even thoughts can all be triggers - emotional land mines everywhere. Hit a trigger, and you relive the trauma mentally and emotionally. You want to avoid those land mines, right? You avoid people b/c they may make a comment that’s a trigger. You avoid sleep b/c you have nightmares. You may avoid silence because when it’s quiet, you think, and your mind is full of triggers. You’re constantly anxious. Emotionally, you’re all over the place from numb, to angry, to sobbing in a corner. You can’t concentrate enough to accomplish anything. All of this makes it extremely difficult to function in the world.
PTSD is not something you can just get over. With physical illness or injury no one expects you to just “will” the cancer away or for your arm to magically grow back. Like cancer, it requires treatment and time to recover. Like a traumatic injury, PTSD requires therapy and hard work to adjust to the trauma. Thanks for helping people understand.
a lot of these symptoms fade over the years. To be honest
You really know your stuff. Cause that's pretty much everything I'm dealing with
Crohn’s disease since 10 you know it’s actually stress related
what all you said its like you know me, what can i do to get rid of those ?
Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder for over 30 years I educate myself different avenues such as therapy and reading and meetings. In the previous comments about your feelings that you're feeling anxious all the time or you can feel numb and stuff, I've never felt numb. it's like I could feel everyone's emotion around me and therefore I have no choice it's enough to suffer with a night terrors. in the memories waking you up and this has been going on since the age before I was even in kindergarten.I would like to go shopping at midnight just avoid the stimulation of others stress or screaming child. I wish I could feel numb to all that stress from others. Just to know what peace feels like
39 years. My whole life, if you can even call it that. I am endlessly grateful to the people I’ve never even met that have saved my life by making this information available. It was impossible before I knew what it was or that people have been able to treat it. I couldn’t even identify that the abuse, neglect, homelessness, parental void, and every other struggle that made my childhood was “trauma”. I truly believed it was just life, and people had it worse. That I was a horrible person because I wasn’t just getting over it. People told me I was a survivor, a fighter so it’d be fine. I should just get over it. I never wanted to be a fighter. I am so sick of fighting, especially myself. I’m going to live one day thanks to complete strangers 💚
so true counts for me too
with you all the way. being alone is part of the fix, but in reality we are not alone. there are thousands like us. but we have to accept ourselves as good, as mis-understood individuals.
Have you looked into complex PTSD?
@@Mya_9393 sure have. Everything started making sense after I learned about cptsd
@@pearljamin so glad! I literally just discovered that I've been suffering with CPTSD for 20 years. I was married to a sociopath. Have you found much healing?
I've never even grasped the concept that PTSD may not be a permanent disorder for me... until just now. Thank you, Dr. Turek.
To every person dealing with PTSD, I cannot recommend enough reading the amazing book " The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma" by Bessel van der Kolk M.D. It has helped me so much
Jon YBoy thanks. I’ll look it up
hI, PLEASE WHERE CAN I FIND THIS BOOK
@@odofinfunmilayo8098 bro I am with u I also have this problem just be patient
Was this book really helpful in treating your disorder?
you are a hero sir
PTSD is not just in the forces, believe me I know first hand, my trauma like many others in the comments, stems from childhood, were my innocence was ripped away, I take it one day at a time. For people trying to help there family member or friends with PTSD, the best thing you can do is *just be there* for them, let them talk to you, Its like the old saying "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink.
My whole life from infancy to now has been controlled by PTSD. I was only a few days old when my mother started to pinch, probe and whatever she could think would hurt me in some way. And she was good at it. Not knowing any better, I transferred that unloving relationship to anyone who was capable of hurting me...which was almost everyone in my environment from very little to my now 81 yrs. But, let me tell you that I have found a way to love myself which is not an easy task........I developed multiplicity. I began to find other parts of myself who developed in spite of everything, an awesome ability to love me and lots of me!!
Ann Drake Gosh, that is so sad, but you gave me hope. Thank you for sharing.
i am so sorry.
An abusive mother is one of the most horrible things that can happen to a person.
i am so glad you were able to figure out how to love who you are and be kind to yourself!!
That is not easy to do after years of abuse. You did a lot of hard work. Congratulations on that for sure.
thats terrible, same here, being 52 now and still at war.
I am so proud you lived your life to the absolute best despite your horrible horrible experiences and im so sorry you went through that. I'm 31 with PTSD and I just cannot see myself surviving much longer.
The 1st 7 minutes was one of the BEST explanations of PTSD I've ever heard! Very understandable and relatable. The "going to the store to buy milk" routine was a perfect example of how a normal routine can be changed to something perplexing or traumatic, making things more difficult to process and sort away. Thank you sir
I feel heard and validated. Thank you for this video. I have come a long way since my traumatic relationship about 6 years ago with a much older, vain and vile man, and my mother figure who kept emotionally abusing throughout childhood. I m in a much better place. Thank you ❤️
I have also heard this be described as a nervous system disorder where your constantly in a fight or flight situation and you have to recall yourself back to where you can relax because you can’t relax and still be in a state of hyper awareness. So retraining your system to relax over time helps get rid of it. Such as meditation and yoga etc etc
I'm so sorry there are do many of us dealing with PTSD or CPTSD. Meditation is about the best method I've discovered to stay in the NOW, instead of obsessing over bad memories. Alan Watts has a video on meditation and so does Eckhart Tolle. It's
Important to meditate each day. There is no need to meditate hours/day -
start with 5 minutes and build up to 20 minutes. You will notice, in time, that your mind and emotions get quieter.
Please try it. Life is a
struggle and I've found consistent meditation to be most useful.
thank you for saying this cool beans very true.
Thank you 🙏🏾🙏🏾 I am going to try doing it more often
I've been trying this on and off now for a few years yet I can't seem to create a habit of doing it. I've felt very alone in this struggle, but after reading your comment I feel like trying again and being consistent with it. I very often experience improvement in the periods I do mangage to meditate daily, but often my stress and triggers are so overwhelming I always give up after a few days. Anyways, I'm just gonna try again and your comment here has helped me find motivation for that so. Thanks in advance.
Trauma can consist of several layers of defense that need to be peeled off like an onion. A faster and more efficient way is to start by sitting safely and closing your eyes. Think about the trauma, where it feels in the body, the body is in flight fighting or playing dead where emotions are disconnected. What feeling does it evoke in you, fear, anger or emptiness? Search for who you were before by looking for the good in you, safe, happy and alive. The subconscious can then be helped by the conscious thought of who we really are and release the alarm button that has been pressed and where the amygdala lacks time perception until we have solved the problem / shock
Tell us more
I'm in my 60's and have seen several therapists who told me i couldn't have PTSD because i've never been through enough trauma, i've not been thru war, or never been shot. Seriously, where are these "therapists" getting their training?? The most disturbing comment from these medical professionals was, "Get over it". Suicide promotion.
I am a Correctional Officer in Melbourne and I went through PTSD, my claim was accepted by the insurance company after an investigation that lasted 28 days, received professional help that it was just a joke, I then took massive action and I started to research on my own, I dug deep into the human brain how it's been programmed, I started to understand why we think what we think and how to manage those thoughts and stress and take advantage on them.
That happened early 2020 before COVID, and today, August 2020, after just a few months not even half year, i am having the time of live, I have allowed myself to learn from that experience with PTSD and also, I have started to help other brothers in blue who are struggling with the same nightmare as I was.
I have become a coach out of my work hours, to Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel because when I was dwelling on that dark place I couldn't find exactly what I needed so I became my counselor, my therapist my coach and I met other coaches around the world, sharing my story, being vulnerable and trying to break the culture of silence that exits among Law Enforcement Officers.
My first step to get out of that situation was changing the way I was communicating to myself , understanding that we don't own what we think, we don't own what we feel, we are not feelings, emotions or thoughts, they come and go, we are above and beyond any emotions, feelings or thoughts. We tend to get attached to labels such as depression, stress, anxiety, etc those labels disempower people and is very easy to fall into those traps and make them mean everything, but that's the way we've been programmed to live in, I am seeing it every day with the Officers I am currently helping. We might be different in many aspects of life but at core.... We all the same, we all have the same basic needs, we all want to be good enough so we can be loved.
I trust this little story of my life can inspire you or at least can make you see that we can overcome everything in life, sometimes we need someone to guide us, someone who's been there before.
Regards
Bruce Sanchez
This is incredible! Thank you Bruce for sharing this
thanks for sharing, that hit a spot. so powerful. so much respect.
As someone with childhood PTSD this helped me understand a bit more about it. I've been dealing with it for 5 years now from physical abuse, and ive often been told to stop exaggerating, to just forget about everything that happened to me. I wish more people thought like this person, life would be a bit better. (I'm still a kid, and no one really listens to what Im going through, they act like everything I went through was a lie. I've never been able to find actual good advice to live through it all.)
Most of this is spot on for me except... you don’t ‘actively’ push the event away... and the memories are not ‘easily accessible’. Not even close. Your body does it all subconsciously when it represses traumatic events.
I don't usually open up about my PTSD which developed years after my deployment to Iraq. However, I felt like this was a place where whatever I write is anonymous enough that it wouldn't matter. Every week I am on the phone with the VA crisis line which has turned into the only thing that actually calms my thoughts down. I feel this overwhelming sense of causing harm to those around me and myself. The crisis line mellows me down enough to get threw another week. I don't step outside of my house in fear of sniper attacks.. I don't drive the speed limit to avoid being a target of attacks or possible IED's. I always take different routes and I am constantly sweating bullets when I am outside my home. I have surrounded myself in the woods with camera systems everywhere. The worst part of it for me is having a daughter who want to spend time with her dad but, when she's here I shut down as a person. Then when she leaves I punish myself for not being better and doing better. I don't open up about it in real life, because I feel targeted and exposed. All of my appointments have been telehealth since 2016. For most people the pandemic altered the way they lived and for me its been business as usual. I've been waterboarded and tied up and beaten. I have been run over by a car and shot at. I have been actively searching for ways to cope or get better but, I haven't found anything that works or that I can do without panic button always being pushed internally. I'm not sure why I'm writing this. I guess its because this video is from 2015 and no one will see it or care.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. You have been going through such a difficult time and your pain is tremendous . I’m here for you, if you ever want to chat about anything! You need text HOME to 741741 if you ever feel out of control with no one and nothing to turn to. Or call 800-273-8255.
I really hope you are doing better and I'm so sorry for all this. You didn't deserve it. Hope you are healing and taking care of yourself ❤
I care. 💜
I really hope you are doing better. Thankyou for sharing your experience so vulnerably.
I’m sorry. I understand as I have PTSD for 10 years from an abusive relationship. If anything has helped diminish the ptsd for long periods of time, please let me know. I pray for our peace.
As A 18-year-old girl who has PTSD I realized that a lot of people fail to realize that PTSD isn’t just from terrifying events it’s more than that. a lot of people who have PTSD went through childhood traumas and I have been going through it since day 1. My family was very toxic negative neglectful and pressuring and even had child predators and rapists that weren’t reported. But for years I kept my mouth shut, kept my distance and my family didn’t quite understand why I felt and acted the way that I did. I couldn’t really even explain it, but I knew that there was something wrong when my legal guardian would kick me out of the house and tell me to get myself together. Every time I tried I didn’t understand what I was doing wrong to help the situation and why I wasn’t getting better it wasn’t till a years later that I was diagnosed with PTSD and depression. My family understands a little bit now but they still haven’t tried helping my situation because I don’t think they know how.
How did you get over it? what helped you? i am suffering with the same problems .
Thank you for the hope and the positivity that came with your talk. I have been battling this for probably 40 years and I just was diagnosed correctly and will start treatment soon. I have been on benzos for nine years and it's a bandage and I am still bleeding. I know now that the bandage can cup off and I can heal. Thank you!
Acupuncture and float therapy help expel the trauma of the memory from the mind, body, and emotions. Highly recommended for PTSD.
Thank you so much for the recommendations... I am not familiar with float therapy. Please do tell more.
🙏🏽❤️😍💚🐾
Also acupuncture with an excellent practitioner has really helped me with mood regulations and keeping my bipolar a$* in line... chakra balancing super important in my opinion! 💜
My husband has been trying to get me to do this. Still not ready. He even said he'd pay for it...
Thanks for the suggestion! Definitely give it a try
Been a counselor for 7 years, this is the first time I am hearing of this approach! Wonderful, hopeful video, thank you!
If you have PTSD and struggle to be happy find an EMDR therapist, it worked wonders for me and many other people
yes, im on the waiting list for emdr, and i do it on myself, it works really well
Thank you for this vulgarization to people about PTSD. It's amazing how this video will be a reference for me to send it to loved ones so they understand a little more my reality. Things do get better even when we don't recognize it.
Ptsd is caused by a lot of pain
I got goosebumps listening to this. You said it so perfectly.
I tried EMDR earlier this year it changed my life. I recommend it to anyone. I did mine online, effectively you can choose a therapist from anywhere in the world which is great.
I am diagnosed with C-PTSD. This culminated from childhood neglect/abandonment, along with military combat and deciding to be a police officer and paramedic after my service overseas. It’s been a long long road to recovery, but thank God I have made it through the storm.
This talk explains PTSD in an easy and simple way.
Thank you. I broke my arm in gymnastics a year ago. It was a bad break. Both bones completely snaped. I want to get back to gymnastics but i have panic attacks when i do anything related to it. Thank you! You helped me a lot
Thanks for the inspirational video, when searching for answers, when music doesn't work the loop, it, understanding and clarity goes a long way with this condition.
Very well and aptly formulated! Thank you for sharing.
Great analogy, if someone doesnt have the same file folders how can you talk and release it without feeling misunderstood? This is the best explanation of PTSD I've heard yet. Its spot on
Thank you so much for your talk. I was demolished by my psychologist and Psychoanalyst. Her association and corporation whitewashed her completely. Leaving me totally devastated without raising a finger to help me. Shame on her and her organisations that protected her (and thrir reputation) along with her capitalists lawyers that defended her at the detriment of the truth and justice.
Thank you for your time with this subject. I have been needing to hear this for too long.
Exposure therapy was a horrible experience for me. I did not get better the more I sat with the memory, I got more and more crazy. I totally lost my marbles and thought my husband was my abuser. I’m glad this works for some, but this was very dangerous for me. I did it for about 3 months before having a psychological break. I am now working with an EMDR therapist.
So sorry to hear that... How are you doing now?
I had this experience too when I a Freudian based talking therapy. Had a complete breakdown and think it retramautised me. People don't realise that just having a breakdown is traumatising on top of the events that you are already trying to deal with.
I would agree. I can’t imagine how much more horrible I’d feel if I started focusing on the traumatic memories. I think it’s good in theory, but not practical. I wonder how many people who’ve had exposure therapy ended up committing suicide because it brought up a host of horrible memories that with PTSD cause nightmares, sleeplessness, agitation, depression and all kinds of things.
It sounds horrific
Other treatment options for PTSD include EMDR, EFT Tapping, using MDMA in a theraputic setting, and the newest one is to block memory reconsolidation by first activating the fear memory and then taking propranolol right after.
Also Somatic Experiencing is amazing, very gentle yet powerfully healing.
Brigham Yen EMDR was a setback for me. I should have been warned.
@@ehn6784 - What happened? What was the problem with EMDR for you? How is it harmful?
Brigham Yen How extremely interesting.......thank you.
I P Thank you for the information.
PTSD sufferers need comprehension, and, sometimes only that.
It's enlighting to know that it actually wakes you up x
Mental shocks can be felt early in life. Even in infancy. The damage is traumatic & can cause life long stress. Here’s a poem with an implied cure. Poem's title is “The New One’s Center Had Moved.”
The new one’s center had moved.
The infant’s place of anchor had gone.
Neither the boy nor young man knew.
Their lives were marked as well.
All lost to empty time of living,
Where wisdom & books have no meaning.
They each looked to the man to be.
“Grow up,” The man yelled. “Look out for yourself.”
They all wanted a way back,
Back to the place of beginning.
They asked a fix from him.
“Between the rising & setting sun,”
He exclaimed, “Go to the beginning there.
Breath out the flames which burn your heart.
There your body & voice of being can be found.
A life of quiet, joy & peace.”
Hurry -
The old man is coming!
right off the bat this described it so well.
I downloaded a PTSD app today after listening to this; it helped.
I recently managed to nearly extinguish my severe ptsd. At one stage I was thinking about everything that happened to me every second of every day. It got so bad that I would maybe sleep 3 or 4 hours per day. It was horrible, and recently I managed to overcome my fears, and I would like to share this with anyone else that might see this. I know ptsd is not gonna just go away, but I found a way to bury it in my subconsciousness. All I did was I consistently told myself whenever I felt my
nerves kicking in, (Most people are good people, most people are good people, most people are good people, most people are good people, most people are good people), and I would repeat this over and over and over again until I believed it. And it's true, most people are good people, but always remain vigilant and it's good to always have a plan of action no matter where you are or what time it is. And it helps to take protective measures to protect yourself and the ones you love. Working alarm systems, good armed response, finding ways to barricade your house and once again, being vigilant. But to ease ptsd, just remember, most people are good people. Thank you.
I suffered same issues but I linked up smooth_shrooms22 on IG and he totally has cure to ptsd I’m free and happy now
A great talk for further understanding of PTSD.
I got diagnosed with PTSD yesterday and I know I have a journey ahead of me. I am having a hard time finding ways to heal from it and get on the road to recovery.
There's no need to suffer try Somatic Experiencing
Outstanding. Such a clear explanation, covers cause, treatment, etc.
⚠️ Warning !!! Some of these comments are triggers⚠️ Just watch the video
The majority of people who speak about PTSD professionally have no personal experience of PTSD itself outside their relationship with the people they treat within their profession. Every time I try and seek peace through one of these videos I feel frustrated, misunderstood and patronised, though I realise this is no fault of the speaker - they have never had to endure this pain, confusion, paranoia and the stress it puts on their relationships with the people around them. I feel as though I should write about PTSD first hand so that sufferers alike can communicate with those from their own pain-felt community
Also I do agree that you should write about it first hand. I think the more of us that are willing and able the better it is for the whole community ✨
I plan to start writing about my experience. It will be a fiction but based on a true story. The PTSD will be real, but the people and business involved will be changed so I don't get sued
His voice is currently making my tension headache disappear
Amazing talk…first time I’ve actually understood about symptoms of PTSD 👍🏼
I am less afraid of my life being threatened and more afraid staying alive just to suffer more.
Whoever who is facing ptsd including me you tell to yourself yes you can get rid from your thoughts you can change your thought process promise to yourself you take yourself out from this thought process yes I am changing my thought process from now I will never think unnecessary things just enjoying the current moment from now
I got diagnosed last year and have been doing exposure therapy for a few months now. It's been rough but also problematic. When I'm under a lot off stress, I emotionally shut down. Like a switch. Then I can speak freely as if the event was nothing. Which kind of beats the purpose!
Would be nice to hear about your experiences in this treatment 😊
Same. I get you.
I always thought dealing with post-traumatic stress the best way of dealing with it was head-on without medication after a while you become numb to that experience that caused it and it no longer bothers you.
I see it as a form of insensitivity training similar to tolerance training for allergies example tolerance training for penicillin for people who are allergic to it
PTSD…is so hard to overcome…. The past traumatic events still linger in my head as a choas. I will just have to keep talking about them.
I have it too, what’s worse is when a broken situation is viewed differently by people and they tell you to “just get over it” well it’s not that easy for people like you and me with it.
We got this brother💪 It takes time but working hard every day toward unraveling the confusion and then working toward creating a better you. A better you as far as what you believe, not what others want us to be.
I suffer with (C)PTSD & even now living in 2016 people don't understand it...
Eeew. I have it too. Nice to know I'm not the only one who's life fucking sucks ass. Congrats.
Dunning Kruger did i say my life sucked...and why are you congratulating me? and why are you saying Eeew for?
booboobrinn
It's called sarcasm. It's called having a sense of humor. Apparently you are too dumb to socialize.
how is this even funny?
Mark
The two of you combined IQ = 12
Hilarious your reading comprehension is that of a nat.
What a great Ted Talk. Great information, great presentation, very useful and interesting.
I have ptsd it's never ending the NHS in the uk doesn't offer much only councilling.....but exposing one self to horrid memories of the past creates fear so I believe training the brain to see the memory as just an image and defusing it so it has no power over you will be my victory
I get pissed of when people cough. It’s my trigger
Yes exposure therapy works for (not all) people with PTSD, just be carefull not to use it at the begining of the relationship (patient/therapist), and also to ask if the patient is ok with it, to make sure it's not going too fast and too hard, and to find coping skills with the patient before begining exposure therapy
I have ptsd surrounding my experiences in nursing school. My family life on top of school just completely diminished and destroyed my psyche. I'm ready to go back and I will confront all my feelings regarding nursing school I will go and not look back.
Whenever I read or study PTSD, I remember one of my uncles named Justin. He is an Army veteran that was deployed to Iraq in 2007, and Afghanistan in 2008, along with Thailand in 2004 to help provide humanitarian aid. He's never talked about the things he's seen or experienced. He is also a severe alcoholic. He would drink until he passes out. He's only 35, and he's suffering every day.
😥
He needs your support. I was in Afghanistan in 2007-2008
@@airbornemason688 I should mention he was deployed to Afghanistan again in the fall of 2010 and got back from that deployment in the summer of 2011. He’s told me about some of his experiences, which I guess is good. So far he hasn’t touched any alcohol in at least 8 months
@@joeswansonthesimphunter2612 I'm very happy to hear that he's off alcohol. He still needs support. If he's struggling like I am and it sounds like he is. Support from fellow veterans, friends and family can literally save his life. My heart goes out to him, you, and your family.
I have had PTSD for close to 50 years. What may“work” for some, doesn’t “work” for all. Frankly, I’m sick of revisiting the trauma over and over and over again not only by my own brain, but by flakes who sat in a college classroom and have no clue what a horrific experience is, or taking chemicals to alter my brain. I’m skeptical of this plan. These charts may show a diminished sense of trauma on brain waves because the patient is likely to gain a sense of safety or comfort in the setting when reliving the trauma there (while their brain waves are being scanned). It doesn’t mean it completely stops when you hear a car backfire, or see a man running with a child in his arms, or any other sensory reaction. It only shows a reduced sense of stress inside the clinical office. Also, those with PTSD know we personally revisit the trauma for long periods of time, on our own, enough. That’s really the problem, revisiting it too much for too long.
Here’s what I do know. It’s okay to isolate and take refuge in places of solace and peace that we each can find. It’s okay to feel pain and fear. It’s okay to have bad memories. It’s not okay to hurt others in the process. And if we take our experiences and use it to help others with the same conditions, or early in their battle with PTSD, or for prevention, we turn our status from victimhood to empowerment. Life can be good with it. But it’s always still there, just transformed.
Thank you. Thank you so much for posting this.
Ironic. Mutaliated myself in a accident in Charleston where I was in school. The PTSD is getting to me several months later, so I came searching for answers; and found this video for helping the ptsd that very place gave me
Thank you for sharing. Really helpful!
Going to get some help now because yes I'm very tired of it. You make me think it can happen. Maybe there is hope
The chaos is here! Im 67, crippled. Va is garnishing my social security
needing this right now :/ currently 19 and I’ve been diagnosed with ptsd since 16 and it’s just been such a struggle to live it feels like even
You've nailed it Peter!
Thank you very much , this video helped me a lot.
Thank you. I have CPTSD and I intend to pursue this method.
And how has it been working out for you Fenyw Barcud?
thank you for this man!
Bravo!!! Watching this now in 2021
Excellent presentation on PTSD and use of "Exposure Therapy" by Dr. Peter Tuerk, South Carolina Psychologist.
The problem with trauma is that your subconscious buries it beneath conscious thought. Most of the time we're not even aware what the trauma is, despite its hidden presence ruining your life.
I had my PTSD from losing both of my parents and ever since I lost all of my will to live. The only reason why I still live right now is because of my brother. I don’t want him to repeat the pain once again. What can I do now? My life is miserable but I can’t die.
I'm sorry to hear about your loss. I hope you have lots of social support because you deserve it. And if you don't, please find it. You still have a life you can live and it can still be good and filled with things you love, including your bro.
I have PTSD and I want to let more people know that I have it (than just saying it behind a computer screen) to raise awareness and for them to possibly understand why in certain situations I may seem very awkward (because of my brain freezing up/fight-or-flight response), but I don't want to deal with the judgement or have people dismiss it because I'm not a soldier and haven't seen combat. I used to dismiss the possibility completely for years that it was PTSD I had because I really only associated it with being in the military and deployment.
Hmmmm. I notice this with my friend and I thought he had Aspergers. His brain freezes up, and I definitely see flight or fight on his face. Interesting
Ptsd as term shoulder be left to veterans and to people who spent several days as hostages. Assuming you have just panic assosiated with being wrongly judged is pretty mild or unrelated to actual trauma related behaviour. Try relaxing and judging others by cover that is infront you. Dont overstate your readiness to be nice guy, be selfless and caring or just stay alone forever. Taking and posting selfies every single day, several times a day even can make you relax to idea of being judged because of who you are not or used to be in a past.
I’m suffering so bad. I wish Canada had assistance for mental health. I spent everything I had 3800.00. I made it to the second phase of healing before I ran out of money. All my symptoms are back. I just want to feel better.
I am so sorry to hear that... Are you better now?
The true cure is fun and loving your family and live life to the fullest
great video. I remember you and I have a lot to talk to you about. I'm extremely aware of my problem.
For 2 years suffering sadly it took an year for doctor to diagnose it..this condition is soo terrible everyday feels like being in the same timewhere i suffered …and it never ends
To be honest I don't describe my stress as PTSD every one handles situations differently realizing what makes your stress level get triggered will help solve the issue it might be your surrounding or people in your life who tend to make you unstable I learn to ignore unwanted attention and block negativity take life as a learning process not dwelling on others mistakes or yourselves misfortunes and find relief in common sense
Very well presented. Thank you!
Prolonged exposure therapy did not work out for me. It was the most painful experience ever, and has serious consequences days after the session.
When I took the propranolol treatment it was still in it's experimental phase, it helped me get off psych meds and actually function
Hi! What is the treatment that helped you please, can you elaborate? Thanks
Propanolol is quite helpful indeed.
I want to know more suffering severely with ptsd, I wish this was true, it's so hard to get through it every day 😢
For those of you that have PTSD (like me) PLEASE keep Aspirin on you, Baby Aspirin or not, your Heart ❤️ health is VERY important.
PE is a great tool!!
I have it do you stress only. I lived on constant stressful environment for 3 years which ended of having paranoia and siucide attempts. I still have some memories in my brain that when I thought about I slap my face badly. Recently could not focus on my work and taking many pills to sleep
"Avoidance is preventing the natural recovery"
Doesn't pushing back the memories give you strength to go on with your life?
No, that's not where true strength lies upon. It may seem like an illusion that you perceive that you are strong because you overcame a mental situation by pushing back your memories. But in reality all you really did was postpone the inevitable, you will eventually have to face with your internal struggles and bring them out. A person gathers their strength by having to overcome the obstacles that lie in front of them and that's what makes a person become stronger. We don't see a people naturally getting stronger by avoiding a difficult task. It's when we put in the hard work and effort in our life to change for the better is when we can finally go on with our lives.
How can I help a teenage girl who suffers PTSD. It consumed last 6 years of her life, No therapist could help because slight reminder of the past brings her to tears and screams and scratching all her face (as she thinks her beauty was to blame). she gained 60 lbs and now when she is forgetting, she is okay, but a slight reminder brings her to another episode of melt down. What should I do? how can I help her?
No, pushing those memories back means that you tell yourself, "I can't deal with this and I don't know how to cope." When you suppress those memories, you prevent yourself from consciously remembering/integrating the trauma, and prevent yourself from understanding how the trauma affects your mood, decisions, thoughts, and beliefs. Avoidance is a natural response but ultimately it's harmful.
+TheSkinnyFairy: Super late, but one thing that might help is for the therapist to purposely hold off on talking about the traumatic experience/related triggers for now, and instead focus on healthier ways that she can calm herself down or seek support. If she faces a trigger without knowing or feeling able to rely on healthier ways to cope, then she's going to cry, scream, and scratch her face because she doesn't know how to deal with the pain. Only when she feels safe and secure in her ability to calm herself down can she begin processing the trauma.
As someone with clinical ptsd, and literally got physically mad and confrontational and I wanted to fight you and tell you how wrong you are because you triggered me. But I have nothing to say but thank you.
I don't have PTSD but for months I've been having constant flashbacks from horror/psychological thriller movies I have watched and I don't know why. I had never had problems with such films before and now I'm absolutely terrified when those flashbacks kick in. Sometimes it's the scenes themselves, sometimes I associate them with things in real life and it gets worse. And it's not like the things most people experience after watching a horror movie, because they are usually paranoid for 2-3 days after the film and then it's all gone. In my case the scenes never leave my mind, I just try to suppress them by doing some kind of an activity. I've been trying to tell myself that those are just movies, that they are not my reality, but it doesn't seem to help much. The worst part is that those flashbacks prevent me from living my daily life in a good way. Sometimes all I can do is lay in my bed and do nothing. I'm still at school, but I'm so worried about my future. I don't want to live like that for the rest of my life.
i feel this. i experienced this as well a couple of months ago, and while i know the direct cause of what making them so traumatizing, it was incredibly difficult to get through. hope ur doing better :)
@@Val-zz8cw I could say there have been some improvements, but I'm still having problems... What helped you get through yours, if you're comfortable with sharing?
@@magdalenakrasteva6182 ofc! First, I went to a lot of therapy and talking about it and sharing exactly what I was thinking and what it was making me feel with another person helped me compartmentalize what was going on. If you’re not able to or not comfortable with therapy, I also found that writing about it in a journal or notes app helped get some of the thoughts out of my brain and into another place. It’s obviously very difficult, but being able to separate myself from the thoughts and rationalize them was very helpful for me. Also just recognizing and noticing what’s triggering for you and if you feel strong enough you can try and sort it out. Lastly probably the thing I really leaned into, and helped the most was distractions (and an important note about this is to acknowledge that DISTRACTIONS ARE OK. It’s not ignoring your feelings or being disingenuous to yourself I promise). For me I took up reading happy, cheerful books that didn’t contain anything potentially triggering, watching childrens movies or tv shows, listening to happy music loudly, exercising and going on walks. its important to remember that thoughts are just thoughts they absolutely cannot hurt you in any way, and also that it’s ok to be scared or uncomfortable. It’s just one phase of your life and you can get through it.
Anyways long explanation I hope some of this helps!
Oh and also it can be weird especially if you were able to comfortably watch those things in the past, but it’s completely fine that you can’t anymore. because at this point in time your body and your mind is telling you “no, not right now” and that’s ok.
@@Val-zz8cw Okay, thank you so much for the long explanation and your time! ❤
Try reading textures of movie scenes. Instead of car watch if there are any bumper stickers. Instead of being afraid find something funny. Be different, not original.
It is spevific comprising reeperiencing symptoms arousal and avoidance. Reexpereincing in the form of vivid and intrusive memories and nightmares.
My file folder, unnamed but includes the traumatic events that have me PTSD, sort of float around. The files that belong to my PTSD float around my mind all day, that's why they are so easily recalled. A lot of confusion comes with my own PTSD, when a feeling occurs but there is no memory attached. So it's a guessing game, you dont know why or how. And it's the same in reverse. I will know the memory, but dont have an appropriate reaction to it. How do I react? I usually end up with just an uncomfortable feeling, an unsettling feeling in my stomach. It's such a complex disorder, I wish I could understand it myself but everyday I am still left with the question why?
check Charles Hunt
You are not alone...
I am here with you
Thank you! 🙏
This is exactly how I thought to explain it to the person I love we are taking a break for now because she's in a bad state But she sounds like she'll go back to therapy hope hope it works
I'm going through the prolonged exposure treatment... Not fun, not fun at all.
Try neurofeedback and EMDR. My sister helped run a study on prolonged exposure for vets and she said it does NOT work at all
I'm afraid of that also..
I am also
is it helping? I'm trying out EMDR...
Me too. I’m at the end too. It took me three years of processing. It took 7 years to get diagnosed and start the recovery process. Nightmare.
What if you DO "sit" in your traumatic memory vs push it away/suppress/avoid? I've never ever avoided my feelings. I get angry that I was never allowed to feel what I felt.
Plz help me
@@kamalvashisth1686 Praying for you Buddy. Hang in there.
Same here..I am angry I am not allowed to feel what I felt either. I think this treatment in the TED is just desensitization. It's also a catch all. This method cures ALL kinds of traumas, the whole shebang. I'd have given anything to have been able to process the traumas by sitting in a room and talking out the traumas with the counselor, psychologist, other. The NEVER let me talk through the entire event...they lean forward and say, "There, there." I hate them all and I won't go back.
Same! I don’t push it away either, I get mad.. I almost feel like when I’m feeling those memories come back I’m helping to fix my original trauma so I end up staying in that mindset forever