Question:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Charis2000 wrote: > Hello, > I am urgently looking for help regarding a close friend who has recently begun > experiencing severe symptoms of PTSD — vivid flashbacks, nightmares, > disassociative states; she had been repeatedly assaulted sexually as a child by > a family member, and again as an adult by strangers. Because of other > complicated circumstances in her life, she may be unable to take control of the > situation at this time and follow a usual course of treatment, involving a > therapist and/or medication. I’d like to know if there are any suitable phone > numbers or online counselors/resources she can contact for now, to at least > give her a start with getting a handle on this. > Thank you very much for your time and your help. > P.S. Also, does anyone remember a piece on 20/20 2-3 years back about a very > unusual therapy for people with PTSD — and flashbacks, especially? It involved > a prccedure a psychiatrist developed, with a certain sort of hand motion which > the eyes follow and somehow tricks the mind into negating the effects of the > flashbacks. If anyone remembers anything, or knows anything else, about this, > I’d appreciate any information about it.
Hello, It’s good of you to be concerned about your friend. Maybe a push from you, a concerned fried, will help your friend to seek help. But it’s really up to her to get the help. She has to want it, and be ready for it. I don’t know where you live, but there is probably a help line in your area for her to call. Recovery from these traumatic events is a long, slow, and painful process. In your P.S., I think you are referring to EMDR. Here’s a link to search results on EMDR: http://infoseek.go.com/Titles?qt=emdr&col=WW&sv=IS&lk=noframes&svx=ho… Just click on that link (that is if AOL was kind enough to process a hyper link) Pick one of the pages and start reading. Hope this helps Best wishes -G. — Peace is the answer… …wanna’ fight about it? -You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive. -If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is me>>>> alangreg…@att.net
Response:
Hi, I believe the therapeutic technique you saw on 20-20 might have been EMDR, or "eye movement desensitization and reprocessing". What your friend is going through right now requires immediate counseling intervention. It is imperative. As her friend, you need to help her to find a way to get it. I know that in Missouri, there is a local organization called MOCSA (Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault) that offers free counseling for survivors and family members, as well as support groups. Check with local mental health centers and hospitals for other such organizations. I speak with conviction because I had my first flashback last year, 13 years after my ‘traumatic event’. I went into a deep depression and I felt like ‘it’ had just happened. I needed the emotional support of my friends and family to know that it wasn’t my fault after all those years, but I also needed a therapist who understood the grieving process of PTSD, and who could guide me through all of the emotions so that I could heal and go forward. I was very fragile. It shattered my entire world, as well as my trust in others. Barbara
Response:
The help you need will probably be found here. http://mindit.netmind.com/go/1/21525535/7032098 On 26 Apr 1999 15:10:11 GMT, charis2…@aol.comxm0 (Charis2000) wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hello, >I am urgently looking for help regarding a close friend who has recently begun >experiencing severe symptoms of PTSD — vivid flashbacks, nightmares, >disassociative states; she had been repeatedly assaulted sexually as a child by >a family member, and again as an adult by strangers. Because of other >complicated circumstances in her life, she may be unable to take control of the >situation at this time and follow a usual course of treatment, involving a >therapist and/or medication. I’d like to know if there are any suitable phone >numbers or online counselors/resources she can contact for now, to at least >give her a start with getting a handle on this. >Thank you very much for your time and your help. >P.S. Also, does anyone remember a piece on 20/20 2-3 years back about a very >unusual therapy for people with PTSD — and flashbacks, especially? It involved >a prccedure a psychiatrist developed, with a certain sort of hand motion which >the eyes follow and somehow tricks the mind into negating the effects of the >flashbacks. If anyone remembers anything, or knows anything else, about this, >I’d appreciate any information about it.
Response:
hi, I am also a lady who was diagnosed with ptsd 8 monthes ago. Like your friend, I was raped by friends, and strangers and as a young child I was sexually abused by g-father. I sought out alcohol and drugs for 20+years and am now in recovery and clean for 3 years. My therapist has me working through a book and answering questions. Going back and feeling feelings I did not feel at young age. I just would like someone to talk with while going through some of the insanity. I also just seen what you were asking about with the eyes–its on another website.
Response:
Hello, I am urgently looking for help regarding a close friend who has recently begun experiencing severe symptoms of PTSD — vivid flashbacks, nightmares, disassociative states; she had been repeatedly assaulted sexually as a child by a family member, and again as an adult by strangers. Because of other complicated circumstances in her life, she may be unable to take control of the situation at this time and follow a usual course of treatment, involving a therapist and/or medication. I’d like to know if there are any suitable phone numbers or online counselors/resources she can contact for now, to at least give her a start with getting a handle on this. Thank you very much for your time and your help. P.S. Also, does anyone remember a piece on 20/20 2-3 years back about a very unusual therapy for people with PTSD — and flashbacks, especially? It involved a prccedure a psychiatrist developed, with a certain sort of hand motion which the eyes follow and somehow tricks the mind into negating the effects of the flashbacks. If anyone remembers anything, or knows anything else, about this, I’d appreciate any information about it.
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