Trauma – PTSD

Question:

Dear Anne, Thanks for the blue skies and pure air. I need it in this overcast rain. I just wanted to ask you what EMDR is? Songbird — For info about this service, see http://anon.twwells.com/help/ or e-mail:

Response:

Hello, I send you all the beauty of clear skies on the prairie…and very clean air due to the strong winds.  It feels so invigorating to breathe in such pure air on days like today… Perhaps some of you can relate to what I am going through: Yesterday morning I asked my new therapist about the references she made a few months ago (when we first) met to my dissociative disorder.  I told her that I was telling her things I had told no one else and that I was nervous about making sure that everything would be OK.  I also told her that I felt that the "others" who were with me in the room almost 30 years ago when I experienced my main trauma were extraordinarily strong and gifted in guiding me through a horrific time.  It’s curious to me that the voices all reponded together in a gentle, sweet, almost shy manner when I prayed to know who had actually been there with me so many years ago. My therapist wants to do more EMDR work on the actual events of my major trauma…I’m not sure if I’m ready for this. My husband’s field is criminal law (he’s a law professor).  When I asked him if he was familiar with DID, he said that, yes, he was.  I am afraid to introduce him to this new development in my healing process…the process of learning more about and meeting those personages, personalities, "others" who dwell with me… He is aware that my nightmares are more intense now (I often try to spare him the pain I go through by "sleeping" part of the night elsewhere in my house with the lights on and a radio or TV on also).  Last night he witnessed my terrors throughout the night and felt so helpless…  I do experience more nights with intense and frightening dreams than peace… I guess I’m sharing these beginning efforts to learn more with those of you who have traveled this path before me… I am making an effort to stay focused in my work as a distraction and find that those days when I am working long hours are a blessing… Anyone out there have positive experiences with EMDR? Wishing you all peace, Anne

Response:

Hello Sondbird, As I write these words, I wish to send you a peaceful sunset from the prairie lands.  I am happy that the clear blue sky and clean air were helpful earlier…   The sunset tonight was so peaceful… The bright orange lasted for only about 5 minutes, the rest of the colors were pink, lavender, and soft yellow.  Again, the air was pure.   EMDR is part of what is helping me with treatment for PTSD.  My therapist, a PTSD specialist, has been trained in this particular therapy.  Often rapid, pulsing light is used.  In my case, sound is used with guided reflection to deal with trauma or other events.  My therapist holds my hand while she asks me to "look" at certain events.  I guess that you could call this a fairly new form of therapy, although it’s been around for a few years.  I wish that I could send you the pages my therapist gave me to explain what to expect.  Instead, I’ve sent you some explanations I found on the internet.  I really do not know how helpful this will be in the long run for my PTSD or what the effects are for DID. Take care, Songbird. Peace and smiles from Anne http://www.ncptsd.org/facts/treatment/fs_treatment.html http://www.emdr.com/apa.htm http://www.mentalhealthchannel.net/ptsd/treatment.shtml http://www.aetna.com/cpb/data/CPBA0583.html

Response:

not sure, off the top of my head, what EMDR is.  My best guess, since i’m feeling whimsical, would be to say "Electro Magnetic Dream Reduction", but… regarding nightmares:  i find that if my daily processing of issues, feelings, etc., fails to keep up with what i’m experiencing (for wahtever reason), i have nightmares.  when i’m able to process stuff while awake (and this wasn’t possible for a long long time), i don’t have the problems with nightmares like i do if i’m deliberately blocking something for some reason. i guess i’m just trying to say that as you work on this more, the nightmares should (hopefully) diminish.  YMMV. jt

Hello, I send you all the beauty of clear skies on the

prairie…and very clean air due to the strong winds.  It feels so invigorating to

breathe in such pure air on days like today… Perhaps some of you can relate to what I am going through: Yesterday morning I asked my new therapist about the

references she made a few months ago (when we first) met to my dissociative

disorder.  I told her that I was telling her things I had told no one else and that I was nervous about making sure that everything would be OK.  I also told her

that I felt that the "others" who were with me in the room almost 30 years ago

when I experienced my main trauma were extraordinarily strong and gifted in

guiding me through a horrific time.  It’s curious to me that the voices all

reponded together in a gentle, sweet, almost shy manner when I prayed to know who had actually been there with me so many years ago. My therapist wants to do more EMDR work on the actual events of my major trauma…I’m not sure if I’m ready for this. My husband’s field is criminal law (he’s a law professor). When I asked him if he was familiar with DID, he said that, yes, he was.  I am afraid to introduce him to this new development in my healing process…the process of learning more about and meeting those personages, personalities,

"others" who dwell with me… He is aware that my nightmares are more intense now (I

often try to spare him the pain I go through by "sleeping" part of the night

elsewhere in my house with the lights on and a radio or TV on also).  Last night he witnessed my terrors throughout the night and felt so helpless…  I do experience more nights with intense and frightening dreams than peace… I guess I’m sharing these beginning efforts to learn more

with those of you who have traveled this path before me… I am making an effort to stay focused in my work as a

distraction and find that – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – those days when I am working long hours are a blessing… Anyone out there have positive experiences with EMDR? Wishing you all peace, Anne

Response:

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