Trauma – PTSD

Question:

I still don’t want to accept it.  Help.   Even though my current diagnosis (PTSD) is by far the most fitting and logical diagnosis, I can’t help but be somewhat bitter about previous treatment at the hands of ignorant, and abusive health care workers.  While most have been a great help, one in particular has left me with a deep mistrust of those that claim they are experts in their field.  I was thrown out on the street from an addictions treatment centre, (Still clean) because I refused to submit to forced physical contact with other clients.  I thought I had a right to say no, but apparentley my civil rights end at the door of any mental health facility, because let’s face it, most people including mental health workers still view the patients as less than human or worthy of respect.  I wish I lived in the states, because then I could sue the Doctor and Hospital, so others would not have to go through what I did.  But unfortunately I don’t and the system here protects Doctors and Hospital with the full support of the state.  Only the rich have recourse.  Besides who is going to take me seriusly?  So there is the problem.  I have a therapist who specializes in PTSD, who is trying to help and convince me that it is OK to have this disorder, but I have ten years of treatments all centered around the symptoms not the cause.  I had always eagerly followed treatment, under the belief that they knew what they were doing, only to find out the level of ignorance, and arrogance of a mental health system that does not believe in PTSD.  So here I am filing for a disability pension which I have great difficulty accepting, because I just want to be normal and have a job, But in order to get a pension I have to "prove"  my disability.  A disability  most folks don’t believe in.  Including Doctors here (Canada).  I try to return to work only to become so stressed,  I have to quit.  I feel trapped, with no future.  My understanding of PTSD has grown immensly, but no matter how much I understand and accept my limitations,  only a very select few people I know appreciate it.  The rest from Doctors to family, can’t understand why I don’t just get over it and be who I was.  I can’t seem to make them understand "who I was" is gone forever.  Thanks for letting me vent.   I’m reading "I can’t get over" and it has been a great help.  But like the book says it might get worse before it gets better.  I can live with that so long as there is a "better" somewhere down the line.

Response:

Hi opeongo! > I still don’t want to accept it.  Help.

Sometimes it is important for me to stop thinking and just feel the feelings. If the feelings are true and I am talking to my body, then I know that my mind is still struggling … and I have to give my mind some time to wrap itself around a new reality. YMMV Smile and there will be somethihg to smile about! Nancy

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Hi Opeongo, Thank you for writing. It’s good that you finally have a therapist who understands PTSD. The quote you shared from the book "I Can’t Get Over It" about the fact that it might get a lot worse before it gets better is one that has helped me a lot over the years since I was finally correctly diagnosed. Nancy makes a good point.  Sometimes it is enough to just feel things. Getting my thinking and my mind to wrap itself around new ideas has always taken a while…It seems that whatever mechanism inside used to help me process new concepts and ideas malfunctioned and stopped working a long time ago.  If I just get quiet enough inside so the racing slows down, things get clearer. And yes, I have actually seen and experienced some of the "better". It is definitely worth it! Nice hearing from you, Opeongo!  Glad you’re here. Take care, Anne on the prairie

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -jmullin…@rogers.com (opeongo) wrote: >I still don’t want to accept it.  Help.   Even though my current >diagnosis (PTSD) is by far the most fitting and logical diagnosis, I >can’t help but be somewhat bitter about previous treatment at the >hands of ignorant, and abusive health care workers.  While most have >been a great help, one in particular has left me with a deep mistrust >of those that claim they are experts in their field.  I was thrown out >on the street from an addictions treatment centre, (Still clean) >because I refused to submit to forced physical contact with other >clients.  I thought I had a right to say no, but apparentley my civil >rights end at the door of any mental health facility, because let’s >face it, most people including mental health workers still view the >patients as less than human or worthy of respect.  I wish I lived in >the states, because then I could sue the Doctor and Hospital, so >others would not have to go through what I did.  But unfortunately I >don’t and the system here protects Doctors and Hospital with the full >support of the state.  Only the rich have recourse.  Besides who is >going to take me seriusly?  So there is the problem.  I have a >therapist who specializes in PTSD, who is trying to help and convince >me that it is OK to have this disorder, but I have ten years of >treatments all centered around the symptoms not the cause.  I had >always eagerly followed treatment, under the belief that they knew >what they were doing, only to find out the level of ignorance, and >arrogance of a mental health system that does not believe in PTSD.  So >here I am filing for a disability pension which I have great >difficulty accepting, because I just want to be normal and have a job, >But in order to get a pension I have to "prove"  my disability.  A >disability  most folks don’t believe in.  Including Doctors here >(Canada).  I try to return to work only to become so stressed,  I have >to quit.  I feel trapped, with no future.  My understanding of PTSD >has grown immensly, but no matter how much I understand and accept my >limitations,  only a very select few people I know appreciate it.  The >rest from Doctors to family, can’t understand why I don’t just get >over it and be who I was.  I can’t seem to make them understand "who I >was" is gone forever.  Thanks for letting me vent.   I’m reading "I >can’t get over" and it has been a great help.  But like the book says >it might get worse before it gets better.  I can live with that so >long as there is a "better" somewhere down the line.

If you have a doctor that believes you have PTSD, Canada Pension Plan is very acception of PTSD. They’ll readily accept his diagnosis. I’ve been receiveing from them for four years and the surprising thing is that they paid me even while I was still receiving pay from the army. As long as I wasn’t physically working, I received the disability. In four years, they haven’t said boo to me because my doctor made it clear to them on the application that I was not capable of working again. (Whether I will again – I don’t know – but there’s no pressure). CPP is a good organization. They want you to get back to work to the point that they’ll continue the payments for three months after you start work and if you stop working for the same disability, they’ll fasttrack your application. Your initial application can also be retro-active to the date you stopped working up to twelve months. I imagine they also have retraining programs. If your initial application is denied (like mine was) then appeal – almost 80% of all applications are denied as a weeding process – problem is they tend to weed out those who don’t have the energy to fill in a second application. (Although, the doc that filled in the questionaire the second time was more specific on the extent of the disability than the first and more specific on the fact that I wasn’t able to work again – if he had filled it out the first time, my guess is that it would have been accepted). And the book is right. Perhaps you should lend it to some people you know and let them read it. Education is the key. (There are more books listed in the FAQ, including one for family and friends) chech View the AST-PTSD FAQ @ http://www.astpfaq.bravepages.com/index.html —————————POST VIA——————————– news://nntp.xusenet.com                      http://www.xusenet.com         ===================================================================

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Question:

Could somebody please explain to me what this really means? I have a vague idea, but not certain. Also, it would help me a lot if you could share your personal experience with CBT. Whether it works or not, how it really works if it does, etc. E-mail me privately if the story is too personal to tell here.. Thank you very much in advance. Health and prosperity to all, Cytherea

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Should know more about this – I’ve done a lot of counselling courses, but they’ve all been more person-centred than CBT. Just done a search on Dogpile on"Cognitive Behavioral Rog

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: Could somebody please explain to me what this really means? I have a : vague idea, but not certain. Also, it would help me a lot if you could : share your personal experience with CBT. Whether it works or not, how it : really works if it does, etc. : E-mail me privately if the story is too personal to tell here.. : Thank you very much in advance. In CBT, the "cognitive" part has to do with thinking habits. Like, does thinking about all the horrible things that "might happen" discourage you from doing things. Cognitive therapy attempts to change your thinking habits to be more positive so that you wont accidently encourage anxiety. The "behavioral" part has to do with conditioned responses. Like, if you’ve had anxiety attacks in grocery stores a lot, you eventually feel "trained" to fear grocery stores (a process called negative conditioning). Behavioral therapy attempts to "un-train" such fears with positive experiences (positive conditioning); like, say, gradually re-exposing yourself to grocery stores in small steps. CBT can be very effective for people with certain kinds of cases. Namely, CBT often works well when a person’s anxiety is mostly psychological. However, CBT may not work very well (and may even be detrimental) when a person’s anxiety is mostly biological (as in hormonal problems causing spontaneous attacks). Biological anxiety typically needs to be treated with medication. Once the biological anxiety is under control, then CBT may help to overcome residual psychological anxiety. It should also be noted that CBT is not always necessary for recovery. People who suffer biological anxiety do not always develop negative thinking habits nor conditioned avoidance; especially if the biological condition is treated promptly. Also, in *rare* cases, forms of psychological anxiety *might* have a more psychoanalytic character, which CBT does not address.                                         Best Wishes,                                         Arthur

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: : Should know more about this – I’ve done a lot of counselling courses, : but they’ve all been more person-centred than CBT. Just done a search on : Dogpile on"Cognitive Behavioral : : Except for the horrid background music. I TOTALLY agree! (grin) I checked out the site today (during my search engine duties) and found the music a real turn off. (barf-o-rama) I wasn’t entirely happy with the site content either, but added it to my database anyway; in the spirit of unbiased diversity.                                         Best Wishes,                                         Arthur http://anxiety-panic.com 190 URLs and growing…

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I plead ignorance: my speakers weren’t turned on.See what you mean though. Rog Plaintive note to spellchecker: I am NOT a rogue

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – However, CBT may not work very well (and may even be detrimental) when a person’s anxiety is mostly biological (as in hormonal problems causing spontaneous attacks). Biological anxiety typically needs to be treated with medication. Once the biological anxiety is under control, then CBT may help to overcome residual psychological anxiety. It should also be noted that CBT is not always necessary for recovery. People who suffer biological anxiety do not always develop negative thinking habits nor conditioned avoidance; especially if the biological condition is treated promptly. Also, in *rare* cases, forms of psychological anxiety *might* have a more psychoanalytic character, which CBT does not address.                                         Best Wishes,                                         Arthur

I hit the jack pot on this one.  I suffered PTSD for over 25 years. And I had to treat myself in both areas – the mind and the body.  What a learning/self discovery journey it was. I studied mind/body medicine, holistic healing and nutrition to take matters into my own hands after years of ineffective treatment and incorrect diagnosis. I’m well now, but still proper daily self care is the top priority.  Plus the monthly hormone and brain chemistry changing is an important time for prevention.  I guess with such a hard history such as PTSD for my mind and body, I just have to live with this high maintenance for the rest of my life.  I learned to take nothing for granted. But, whew, it can get a little tiring at times. I feel very much like those cancer suvivors. If I failed to take proper care of mysef everyday, the bad feelings can return. Rose

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Except for the horrid background music. I wonder what drug the designer was on. (heh) — — Jim

Maybe a designer drug?  <g  Maybe I should be glad I don’t have sound after all…. Best Wishes — Blue

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Should know more about this – I’ve done a lot of counselling courses, but they’ve all been more person-centred than CBT. Just done a search on Dogpile on"Cognitive Behavioral

Except for the horrid background music. I wonder what drug the designer was on. (heh) — — Jim

Response:

I think we should make a distinction between CBT and psychoanalysis. While I agree with Gary Cooper that psychoanalytic therapy (ie the "get in touch with your feelings" kind) is relatively useless if not often more harmful in the case of GAD or PD, the goal of CBT is entirely different. The goal of CBT is to teach you new behavioral tools, not to find out how you felt about your mom <grin. There is a very definitive difference in those two styles, and also a very strong distinction between which is more successful in this area. In my case, my panic disorder had created all kinds of secondary conditions (agoraphobia, OCD, just to name a couple) and these were dramatically improved by CBT. Just wanted to inject that (no pun intended!).

I very much agree with you, Dori – and almost always recommend that people consider CBT. Statistically speaking, the greatest chance of recovery seems to come from a mixture of both CBT and medications, but there’s room for considerable variation within those figures and either alone might do the job for the individual. I also, FWIW, agree with you about the tremendous difference between the essentially practical, goal-orientated approach of CBT and the introspective, almost contemplative, nature of ‘traditional’ psychotherapy. Apart from rare cases, I find it hard to see how ‘psychotherapy’ can have much to offer the average sufferer of GAD or PD, though YMMV applies, of course — Gary Cooper

Response:

I think we should make a distinction between CBT and psychoanalysis. While I agree with Gary Cooper that psychoanalytic therapy (ie the "get in touch with your feelings" kind) is relatively useless if not often more harmful in the case of GAD or PD, the goal of CBT is entirely different. The goal of CBT is to teach you new behavioral tools, not to find out how you felt about your mom <grin. There is a very definitive difference in those two styles, and also a very strong distinction between which is more successful in this area. In my case, my panic disorder had created all kinds of secondary conditions (agoraphobia, OCD, just to name a couple) and these were dramatically improved by CBT. Just wanted to inject that (no pun intended!). Dori — http://www.cybercomm.net/~dori

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Any good luck with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Social Anxiety? Info will be highly appreciated. — Created using Ximian Evolution running on a Linux 9 plataform. **Penguin’s rules**

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Any good luck with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Social Anxiety? Info will be highly appreciated.

IMO it’s *the* treatment of choice. Philip

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Question:

"KJ" <KJK…@nowhere.com> wrote in message

news:rQOKa.1867$p8.81217@newsfeeds.bigpond.com… > Hi everyone, > I am surrendering….i give up trying to fight this PTSD demon. Whats hard > is though that I have a lot of pride   and I don’t ask for help.  I think I > am going togo and see my doc and  finally admit that I need to get on some > kind of meds.

Admiting that you need help is not surrendering, not at all!  You are distressed about taking medication yet are willing to see it as an option. That’s a lot more brave than some so-called tough people I know. I actually felt like a failure when I asked for medication.  I did not tell many people about taking meds.  Now I see it as being the most effective tool I had to help reach some level of normalcy. I am taking Celexa, it seems to be popular now.  Sure there were some side effects, I decided they were easier to deal with than PTSD.  Once my doctor found the right dose I began to feel different, like I could use my own coping skills to manage the reduced sensitivity to my environment.  The side effects are very minor now. Some people have more difficulty finding the right meds, maybe my case is special.  Anyway, I hope that heartens you a bit in your decision. snaffleken

Response:

Hi Kim, Welcome!   Sorry about your recent circumstances.  They sure are familiar to me even though the causes are different.  Sorry you seem to fit right in here.  But, welcome, anyway! It’s really good that you are open to whatever it takes and that you have a doctor you can comfortably work with. You asked what we do in the way of meds.  I can only speak for myself here. I was diagnosed with ptsd in 1989 at a hospital by a team of doctors who were familiar with the disorder. My treatment has involved a combination of things, including meds.  I’m not sure that I can even remember all the different combos that were tried on me til the right combination clicked.  What I discovered was that what worked for two years would suddenly not work and I’d have to patiently (and sometimes not so patiently – hehehe) try other groups of meds, and the cycle would repeat itself. I learned to be vigilant about taking the pills. I’m still dealing with this as I oten forget if I took them and I have to look at the calendar and count all the pills to see if I have taken what I’m supposed to or not.  I do a lot better when I take my meds when I’m supposed to take them!  Seems so obvious, but sometimes it takes tremendous effort to stay on top of this. My thinking now is that it’s really helpful to work closely with both a doc who can monitor the meds and talk therapy with a good therapist who understands ptsd. It goes without saying that other things help too — nutrition, exercise, 12 step programs if needed, and for me –learning my limits and when to say no. I’m right now reconsidering a job in October where I would be under a lot more stress and it might make me sick.  I can do most of my work these days teaching part time and doing commissions for people where I never have to actually meet them, but performing in public for 1,200 people may not be a wise choice for me now.  I never feel guilty if I place my recovery first.  I’ve learned not to freak out if I turn something down.  I’ve learned to listen carefully to that inner voice and take how I feel very seriously. The specific meds I’m on now are helping me but I’m due to get evaluated again in a month and I’ll find out more then. I’m on the highest dose of Lexapro and a high dosage of Welbutrin. There’s lots of literature out there that might be helpful to you, too, and to others who care about you.  I especially like Aphrodite Matsakis’ book, "I Can’t Get Over It" Well, good luck with your appointment with the doctor. Remember, you’re not alone, Kim. Take care, Anne on the prarie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi everyone, >I am surrendering….i give up trying to fight this PTSD demon. Whats hard >is though that I have a lot of pride   and I don’t ask for help.  I think I >am going togo and see my doc and  finally admit that I need to get on some >kind of meds. >My next assignment at school is to stand up and give a seminar for 20 >minutes to a class of about 27. I can’t do it. Even now just thinking about >it my heart is racing…..thoughts are running wild again. And it isn’t for >another month.  I havent been to class in a week  and my sons are noticing >that im trembling a lot more than i usually am. Its just over 12 months >since I was diagniosed with major PTSD following a fatal car crash but >suddenly I feel like im back where I was then…not coping. >What meds are there out there that work in killing the anxiety and >depression?  What are you guys on and what should I avoid? >Im worried about side effects but they can’t be as bad as living like this >every day. >Thank you in advance, >Kim.

Response:

Hi everyone, I am surrendering….i give up trying to fight this PTSD demon. Whats hard is though that I have a lot of pride   and I don’t ask for help.  I think I am going togo and see my doc and  finally admit that I need to get on some kind of meds. My next assignment at school is to stand up and give a seminar for 20 minutes to a class of about 27. I can’t do it. Even now just thinking about it my heart is racing…..thoughts are running wild again. And it isn’t for another month.  I havent been to class in a week  and my sons are noticing that im trembling a lot more than i usually am. Its just over 12 months since I was diagniosed with major PTSD following a fatal car crash but suddenly I feel like im back where I was then…not coping. What meds are there out there that work in killing the anxiety and depression?  What are you guys on and what should I avoid? Im worried about side effects but they can’t be as bad as living like this every day. Thank you in advance, Kim.

Response:

Question:

Hi group, thank you very much, Anne, for your reply. I thought this might be a nice starting point for a more general discussion, so I opened a new thread for my reply (hope that’s okay with you). > As someone who truly loves the cinema, I often classify my more bizzare life experiences by film directors.  An example is that I often feel that I am living in a Fellini movie.  When I say, for instance, that I have had a "Fellini day" I can often just laugh and move on more easily to the next event, task, or "right action".  

I agree. Your description reminds me and it also introduces another aspect: ‘Living in a movie’. In situations where I am under extreme emotional stress I feel the same way. However, it is not a loss of reality and I think it’s very difficult to describe…for example, if there is a really thrilling movie it’s quite normal that the audience also experiences some of the emotions the actors show: fear, tenseness, sadness and so forth. But as a spectator you have these emotions in a more muted way and furthermore you have always the option of disengaging your emotions and watching the movie in an analytical way. And that is what I sometimes do if my emotions get too strong. For instance if I am in a quarrel and my opponent becomes very abusive and triggers me in an extreme way, I can still stay calm, argue in a well-considered way and find a good solution to the problem. I simply mute or disengage my intense feelings to fight back or flee from the situation and become analytical. Like a switch to ’survival mode’. But hours after the quarrel is over or during the night I start to reengage my sense of emotions and it hits me like a hammer. Not the quarrel itself of course, but the abusive situations within it…memories of my past… There may have also been another rather unimportant trigger during the day like a certain smell. If I can identify the link between the present smell and some smells that are stored in my memory, I start to analyze the situation, if I then find that I am in no danger, everything is okay, even in the night. If I don’t find the link I start to get stressed and feeling awkward. Later on I realize me being in ’stress mode’ and I automatically switch to ’survival mode’ where I shut down my emotions (or mute them). Then I can go on, laugh, and handle other tasks around me more easily. However, the missing link between the present smell and the memorized one will haunt me hours later or during the night in the form of flashbacks or intrusive memories.  > My EMDR experiences have been very helpful.  EMDR is an exhausting but  > effective process, IMHO. I am still doubtful whether for my case EMDR is the right way to go. It seems to me that EMDR is some sort of emotional flooding. Like watching a really terrible horror movie over and over again until you get used to it and are not scared of its contents anymore. I think EMDR works especially well if you have a single traumatic event or only a few ones in your history. For a person having PTSD after a car accident with none or few former traumatic events I would certainly recommend it as the method of first choice. Considering my case I would have to watch lots of movies from my past and still there would be some triggers left over that I didn’t think of during EMDR and that have therefore not been eliminated. Some time ago someone posted a remark that his or her own EMDR treatments have significantly improved since the therapist allowed some time before and after the EMDR treatment to put the memories into a context of the persons own history. If I could create my own therapy that would be my way to go: A  psychoanalysis mostly in its usual traditional way of a ‘talking-therapy’ but with a therapist that could help me over the stone steps of some very horrible memories by using EMDR methods. Unfortunately every psychotherapy has its own traditional school and it seems a lot easier to create a new school than to renew or improve an old one. It’s always the patient who suffers from that traditional narrow-mindedness. Anyone feeling the same way? Other opinions? nv

Response:

Hi nv, The movie stuff (observing one’s life instead of really living it is how it manefests itself in my case) is also part of my DID.  The DID saved my life years ago and continues to present itself when things get a bit "too much". Dissociative experiences can be alternately amusing and frightening these days.  My therapist helps me to recognize them. Your mentioning EMDR included references to my earlier letters about how my therapist does the EMDR.  I am grateful that she chooses to only charge me the regular rate while scheduling an additional half hour to talk before and after the EMDR work.  Out of four visits, I may only be up to doing the EMDR two of those times.   My traumas being processed now include the specific events of being almost murdered and sexually tortured thirty years ago along with earlier abuse history. EMDR helped me to deal with the guilt I’ve experienced over my son’s and my father’s experiences with 9/11 (they both still live in NYC).   Take care, nv. Anne on the prairie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Some time ago someone posted a remark that his or her own EMDR treatments >have significantly improved since the therapist allowed some time before >and after the EMDR treatment to put the memories into a context of the >persons own history. If I could create my own therapy that would be my way >to go: A  psychoanalysis mostly in its usual traditional way of a >’talking-therapy’ but with a therapist that could help me over the stone >steps of some very horrible memories by using EMDR methods. Unfortunately >every psychotherapy has its own traditional school and it seems a lot >easier to create a new school than to renew or improve an old one. It’s >always the patient who suffers from that traditional narrow-mindedness. >Anyone feeling the same way? Other opinions? >nv

Response:

sorry to but in but what is EMDR??? "noctuvigila" <noctuvig…@arcor.de> wrote in message

news:3EABDFAB.40809@arcor.de… > Hi group, > thank you very much, Anne, for your reply. I thought this might be a nice > starting point for a more general discussion, so I opened a new thread for > my reply (hope that’s okay with you). > > As someone who truly loves the cinema, I often classify my more bizzare

life experiences by film directors.  An example is that I often feel that I am living in a Fellini movie.  When I say, for instance, that I have had a "Fellini day" I can often just laugh and move on more easily to the next event, task, or "right action". – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I agree. Your description reminds me and it also introduces another > aspect: ‘Living in a movie’. In situations where I am under extreme > emotional stress I feel the same way. However, it is not a loss of reality > and I think it’s very difficult to describe…for example, if there is a > really thrilling movie it’s quite normal that the audience also experiences > some of the emotions the actors show: fear, tenseness, sadness and so > forth. But as a spectator you have these emotions in a more muted way and > furthermore you have always the option of disengaging your emotions and > watching the movie in an analytical way. > And that is what I sometimes do if my emotions get too strong. For instance > if I am in a quarrel and my opponent becomes very abusive and triggers me > in an extreme way, I can still stay calm, argue in a well-considered way > and find a good solution to the problem. I simply mute or disengage my > intense feelings to fight back or flee from the situation and become > analytical. Like a switch to ’survival mode’. But hours after the quarrel > is over or during the night I start to reengage my sense of emotions and it > hits me like a hammer. Not the quarrel itself of course, but the abusive > situations within it…memories of my past… > There may have also been another rather unimportant trigger during the day > like a certain smell. If I can identify the link between the present smell > and some smells that are stored in my memory, I start to analyze the > situation, if I then find that I am in no danger, everything is okay, even > in the night. > If I don’t find the link I start to get stressed and feeling awkward. Later > on I realize me being in ’stress mode’ and I automatically switch to > ’survival mode’ where I shut down my emotions (or mute them). Then I can go > on, laugh, and handle other tasks around me more easily. However, the > missing link between the present smell and the memorized one will haunt me > hours later or during the night in the form of flashbacks or intrusive > memories. >  > My EMDR experiences have been very helpful.  EMDR is an exhausting but >  > effective process, IMHO. > I am still doubtful whether for my case EMDR is the right way to go. It > seems to me that EMDR is some sort of emotional flooding. Like watching a > really terrible horror movie over and over again until you get used to it > and are not scared of its contents anymore. I think EMDR works especially > well if you have a single traumatic event or only a few ones in your > history. For a person having PTSD after a car accident with none or few > former traumatic events I would certainly recommend it as the method of > first choice. Considering my case I would have to watch lots of movies from > my past and still there would be some triggers left over that I didn’t > think of during EMDR and that have therefore not been eliminated. > Some time ago someone posted a remark that his or her own EMDR treatments > have significantly improved since the therapist allowed some time before > and after the EMDR treatment to put the memories into a context of the > persons own history. If I could create my own therapy that would be my way > to go: A  psychoanalysis mostly in its usual traditional way of a > ‘talking-therapy’ but with a therapist that could help me over the stone > steps of some very horrible memories by using EMDR methods. Unfortunately > every psychotherapy has its own traditional school and it seems a lot > easier to create a new school than to renew or improve an old one. It’s > always the patient who suffers from that traditional narrow-mindedness. > Anyone feeling the same way? Other opinions? > nv

Response:

Hi Anne, thanks a lot for your reply! I found it very helpful, especially the DID/EMDR part. Maybe, I learned this movie stuff during childhood. Sometimes it feels strange if I see that other people are not able to do that movie stuff and get involved too emotionally in simple things. On the other hand people keep telling me I should show more emotions. It’s weird, I would say that I am indeed a very sensible person, but somehow I have learned to build a brickwall around myself, checking for every emotion that goes out and eliminating most of them. > My traumas being processed now include the specific events of being almost > murdered and sexually tortured thirty years ago along with earlier abuse > history. EMDR helped me to deal with the guilt I’ve experienced over my son’s > and my father’s experiences with 9/11 (they both still live in NYC).  

You must have had a very rough history. I am truely sorry for you and I can empathy with some of what you must be feeling. And this 9/11 stuff, I don’t know what to say, these crashes were a cowardice, terroristic act of murdering thousands of innocent people. I will never understand it. nv

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Question:

test

Response:

Whoa! Greetings Sir. Hope things are OK -G. Bill Trucks wrote: > test

– -Twinkies!

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>test

Yee Haa….he’s back!!  HI Bill!!! Love, Busty!

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Patricia There’s always hope and a counsellor is a great way to start. The sooner you deal with it, the sooner you can get on with your life and the less severe the symptoms will be in the long term. Those websites have alot of great information and education is one of your best weapons. There may not be a cure but there is coping and you can have a perfectly normal life with that.  I’m not there yet myself, but there are others here who are further along. If you have any questions or want to know how others deal with certain symptoms….just ask.  You’re sure to get a wealth of information and inspiration. . LA – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"Patricia" <toti…@yahoo.com> wrote: >Thanks for the information. >I figured I should clarify what I wrote. I read it and couldn’t believe >I wrote that. I’m usually much more coherent. I started seeing a >counselor for depression and on our second session Wednesday she said I have >PTSD. I’m >sort of casting about for information, looking to talk to people for some >reassurance that there is effective treatment, that there’s hope of feeling >better. >Patricia

Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

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I would like to get some more information about PTSD and its treatment. What is most effective for curing it? Patricia

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Patricia, There’s no real miracle cure for PTSD but, like being in remission with cancer, you can lead a normal life. The most effective treatments right now are therapy and medications. It’s not always easy to find a good therapist – so don’t settle for the first or second one if they are not helping you. There are some good links if you want to learn more: http://www.trauma-pages.com/index.phtml http://www.ptsd.com/ http://www.mentalhealth.com/ Hope this helps. Let us know. . "Patricia" <toti…@yahoo.com> wrote: >I would like to get some more information about PTSD and its treatment. What >is most effective for curing it? >Patricia

Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

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Thanks for the information. I figured I should clarify what I wrote. I read it and couldn’t believe I wrote that. I’m usually much more coherent. I started seeing a counselor for depression and on our second session Wednesday she said I have PTSD. I’m sort of casting about for information, looking to talk to people for some reassurance that there is effective treatment, that there’s hope of feeling better. Patricia

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just testing

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did I pass ? tee hee!

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Hi Tiny! Wonderful to see your name. Hope you’re doing OK. Hugs, Anne

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"Anneks89" <annek…@aol.com> wrote in message

news:20030321092956.19009.00000082@mb-fb.aol.com… > Hi Tiny! > Wonderful to see your name. > Hope you’re doing OK. > Hugs, > Anne

Hi Anne, I’m having major computer problems, couldn’t even get this group since christmas time I think, can’t remember when it stopped.  Still having problems…………computer and otherwise td

Response:

Hey Tiny! I missed ya too!  Good to see yer puter’s workin’ again! Z55 tiny dancer <tinydancer…@nospamhotmail.com> wrote in message

news:_Yufa.10222$eM1.1370372@twister.southeast.rr.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> "Anneks89" <annek…@aol.com> wrote in message > news:20030321092956.19009.00000082@mb-fb.aol.com… > > Hi Tiny! > > Wonderful to see your name. > > Hope you’re doing OK. > > Hugs, > > Anne > Hi Anne, > I’m having major computer problems, couldn’t even get this group since > christmas time I think, can’t remember when it stopped.  Still having > problems…………computer and otherwise > td

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"Z55" <Zzon…@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:AVwfa.523$JX2.55929@typhoon.sonic.net… > Hey Tiny! > I missed ya too!  Good to see yer puter’s workin’ again! > Z55

Hi Z, I missed you too………I’m hoping I’m up and working once again……… td – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> tiny dancer <tinydancer…@nospamhotmail.com> wrote in message > news:_Yufa.10222$eM1.1370372@twister.southeast.rr.com… > > "Anneks89" <annek…@aol.com> wrote in message > > news:20030321092956.19009.00000082@mb-fb.aol.com… > > > Hi Tiny! > > > Wonderful to see your name. > > > Hope you’re doing OK. > > > Hugs, > > > Anne > > Hi Anne, > > I’m having major computer problems, couldn’t even get this group since > > christmas time I think, can’t remember when it stopped.  Still having > > problems…………computer and otherwise > > td

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"Peter Lucas" <skys…@gil.com.au> wrote in message

news:Xns935DCD032EA37skyscumearthlingnet@127.0.0.1… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> "tinydancer" <tinydan…@hotmail.com> wrote in > news:gYrma.34899$q2.1357@fe08.atl2.webusenet.com: > > "Peter Lucas" <skys…@gil.com.au> wrote in message > > news:Xns935D92D5D9C4Askyscumearthlingnet@127.0.0.1… > >> "tinydancer" <tinydan…@hotmail.com> wrote in > >> news:%3pma.20140$Co6.11169@fe10.atl2.webusenet.com: > >> > Hopefully I am up and running again, sorry to hear about your mate > >> > though……… > >> No worries TD, thanks. Wish I’d heard about this group sooner, I would > > have > >> got him into it. > >> Oh well…… I’m here > > And welcome to you, hopefully I too will be here if this new ISP doesn’t > > treat me like the last one did.  I read your post to hannah too, and can > > relate to that part about ‘at least he’s at peace now and not in pain > > anymore’.  I hesitate to say that to anyone though, because one never > > knows ‘how’ it will be taken. > I didn’t care I was giving his eulogy. His family gave a 2min rundown of > his life and then I got into it. > About 30mins later, I thought I’d better cut it short

Oh sorry, I didn’t mean it that way, I meant with people I don’t know I hesitate because I’ve learned not everyone shares my views.  I’m so glad you were able to ‘remember’ the good times, the fun times, and remind everyone else there of them too.  I’d think that’s how most of us would like to be remembered. > I was very stern with my ‘warning’ that they *do not* think badly of Rosco > because he chose the time and place of his ‘departure. Told them that I fully > supported and respected his decision…… which would not detract from the > fact that I would miss him every day of my life. Told them that anyone who > had bad thoughts on his departure didn’t really know him and the pain he was > going through both physically and mentally.

That is so right, it bothers me when people seem to think ‘choosing’ ones own destination has anything to do with getting back at or getting even with anyone else.  Times I’ve ‘been there’ it’s never had anything to do with anything except stopping the pain, for me emotional not physical, but I can certainly understand either or both.  There’s never been an attitude of ‘I’ll show them"……it’s always been "I need to find some peace"……….."I need for the pain to stop"………. > But…… at the end of it his whole family (and extended family) came up and > either hugged me or shook my hand. Didn’t have to buy a red wine all

night!! So happy you were able to give them all that part of him to hang on to and remember, you sound like a very good man, Peter. > But that’s me in a nutshell, I say what I mean and I mean what I say. I may > be a bit blunt at times, so I’ll apologize in advance (for any future posts) > that may upset anyone.

Noted!   I tend to say things that way myself………. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >I think many of us look at it that way, I > > know I do myself.  It’s hard for those left behind, missing him, but he > > is at peace and nothing can ever hurt him again, a thoughtful and wise > > way to look at it Peter. > I’ve attached a poem I read out at the very end of my eulogy. If you read > into it, you see we don’t really "miss" them, because they are always in the > things that remind us of them. Guys will often shout the name of a recently > departed mate/friend/partner as they climb out the door, something like > "C’mon Rosco, lets make this a bloody good one and have some fun!!!" > >It sounds like you have quite the send off for > > his ashes too.  I wish you sunshine and good weather for the occasion. > Here’s hoping the weather plays it’s part But either way, we’ll find a > bit of clean sky and do it……… it’s ‘Fall’ here, so it’s not too bad.

Ah yes, I’ve forgotten the season difference, thanks for reminding me. > It’s a good visual for the non-jumping family members as well. They can stay > on the ground, watch us until we get down to a good height to release the > ashes and then watch them, and us, till we all land. I put talcum powder, > flower petals and alfoil confetti in with the ashes…….. makes for a > better ‘visual’ from the ground, especially if the sun is shining

Ah, then he will glitter and sparkle as he did in life I’m sure.  :-) I haven’t been able to get your poem yet though, maybe the new settings on my machine kept it from coming through.  I’ll have to see if I can figure it out because I’d love to read it.  Take care Peter and tell Rosco ‘best wishes from tiny dancer’…….. td – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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"Anneks89" <annek…@aol.com> wrote in message

news:20030414094101.08922.00000635@mb-fw.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi Tiny, > It’s good to see your name, too.  Hope things are going well for you, td. > Catching you up: > This was a tough winter for a lot of people I know…probably my worst winter > yet in many ways and in other ways quite revealing because of the hard work in > therapy.  Still going cautiously with the EMDR and adjusting to a new med mix. > I like Lexapro (20mgs per day does a lot on this med).  The psychiatrist wants > to add one of two possible other drugs to the mix.  One of the drugs is another > new one.  Not sure of the name.  One of the good things about Lexapro is the > fact that my hair has not fallen out. ( I’ve always had to deal with that side > effect with all my other meds, so this has been a welcome surprise). > I’m beginning to accept that I need to take better care of myself and that I’m > not as tough as I thought I was.  One of the things I hope to incorporate into > my weekly schedule soon is more AlAnon meetings once my rehearsal schedule > slows down for the summer.  Letting go of the need to control everything around > me is still part of what I need to learn in this life.  So much to learn! > The nightmares come and go, sometimes with frightening intensity.  The > hypervigilance became a big problem with the beginning of the war and I found > that by not watching the news life was a bit more manageable.  Feeling nauteous > for days on end from anxiety still happens at times. > Still working on physical strength, endurance and flexibility.  I find that > helps.  Also, getting out in nature more — you know, digging in the dirt and > planting things.  One of my kids who still lives in NYC has symptoms of PTSD > (post 9/11 stuff) and is taking meds.  (I wish that he didn’t have to go > through what he goes through…) > Otherwise life is pretty much the same, Tiny. > I’ve missed your Friday Karioke contributions and all your other posts. Glad > you’re back. > How have you been?  (Besides your computer adventures, I mean.  : )  ) > Take care, td. > Anne on the prairie

Hi Anne, It sounds like you’ve had a rough winter, perhaps it will help to hear I’ve been there and it does get better, the nightmares and all I mean.  I could’ve written your post a couple years ago.  I still get them occasionally, but not nearly as often as before.  They seem to come in streaks.  So sorry to hear about your son.  I can’t imagine how anyone can live with the constant worry.  Like you, I’ve tried to not ‘watch the war’ ………..hardly ever tune in to the news channels.  I watch a lot of Discovery channel, HGTV ……..anything that doesn’t include the constant ‘war’.  I was very panicky in the beginning, but I found not watching it and being constantly reminded helped so much. Spring has sprung here, the days are sunny and warm and the nights mild, windows are left open.  I actually went away on a trip for the weekend with one of my daughters and it was lovely.  She took me along with her and some friends of hers on a ‘mystery weekend’.  It’s sort of like a huge live game of clue with actors and actresses acting out a murder mystery.  We had a great time and it was so nice to spend the whole weekend with my daughter once again.  Her baby is due next month and I’m to be in the delivery room with my son in law.  I’ve already told him I have dibs on the corner spot behind her shoulder.  ;)    He can take the position at the ‘other end’. <g>   It’s a boy by the way, I’ve seen ‘him’ when I went along for an ultrasound she had.  So right now I’m in the ‘waiting for a phone call’ mode. Hang in there Anne, it does get better, I promise. td – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >Hi ya Anne on the prairie! > >So good to see familiar names once again.  I couldn’t get in here for the > >longest time.  Hope you are doing okay? > >best, > >td

Response:

"Anneks89" <annek…@aol.com> wrote in message

news:20030414010456.01526.00000726@mb-fa.aol.com… > Welcome, Peter! > Sorry to hear about your mate.  This can be a very supportive and informative > ng.  Glad you’re here. > Take care, > Anne on the prairie

Hi ya Anne on the prairie! So good to see familiar names once again.  I couldn’t get in here for the longest time.  Hope you are doing okay? best, td

Response:

Hi Tiny, It’s good to see your name, too.  Hope things are going well for you, td. Catching you up: This was a tough winter for a lot of people I know…probably my worst winter yet in many ways and in other ways quite revealing because of the hard work in therapy.  Still going cautiously with the EMDR and adjusting to a new med mix. I like Lexapro (20mgs per day does a lot on this med).  The psychiatrist wants to add one of two possible other drugs to the mix.  One of the drugs is another new one.  Not sure of the name.  One of the good things about Lexapro is the fact that my hair has not fallen out. ( I’ve always had to deal with that side effect with all my other meds, so this has been a welcome surprise). I’m beginning to accept that I need to take better care of myself and that I’m not as tough as I thought I was.  One of the things I hope to incorporate into my weekly schedule soon is more AlAnon meetings once my rehearsal schedule slows down for the summer.  Letting go of the need to control everything around me is still part of what I need to learn in this life.  So much to learn! The nightmares come and go, sometimes with frightening intensity.  The hypervigilance became a big problem with the beginning of the war and I found that by not watching the news life was a bit more manageable.  Feeling nauteous for days on end from anxiety still happens at times. Still working on physical strength, endurance and flexibility.  I find that helps.  Also, getting out in nature more — you know, digging in the dirt and planting things.  One of my kids who still lives in NYC has symptoms of PTSD (post 9/11 stuff) and is taking meds.  (I wish that he didn’t have to go through what he goes through…) Otherwise life is pretty much the same, Tiny.   I’ve missed your Friday Karioke contributions and all your other posts.  Glad you’re back. How have you been?  (Besides your computer adventures, I mean.  : )  ) Take care, td. Anne on the prairie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi ya Anne on the prairie! >So good to see familiar names once again.  I couldn’t get in here for the >longest time.  Hope you are doing okay? >best, >td

Response:

"Peter Lucas" <skys…@gil.com.au> wrote in message

news:Xns9359DE037D544skyscumearthlingnet@127.0.0.1… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> "tiny dancer" <tinydancer…@nospamhotmail.com> wrote in > news:oEqka.418$s25.178760@twister.southeast.rr.com: > > "Peter Lucas" <skys…@gil.com.au> wrote in message > > news:Xns9357777962030skyscumearthlingnet@127.0.0.1… > >> "tiny dancer" <tinydancer…@nospamhotmail.com> wrote in > >> news:MNhka.7$s25.11177@twister.southeast.rr.com: > >> > "tiny dancer" <tinydancer…@nospamhotmail.com> wrote in message > >> > news:P%dka.36361$PM3.1834566@twister.southeast.rr.com… > >> >> test message > >> > Sorry for all the ‘tests’ my server has been out since last wednesday > > night > >> > and the only way I have to tell if it’s fixed is by posting test > > messages > >> > occasionally………I’ve been going nuts here. > >> It could be said that you’re in the right place to do that > > Oh I definitely am in the right place……   I just haven’t posted > > lately, but I’m sure those here who know me will verify ‘I’m in the right > > place’……  <g>   My ISP has sucked since December, I couldn’t even get > > this ng for a long, long time…….and I’d been posting here for a couple > > years prior. > >I’ve got DSL on order, so soon I should be back to normal > > hopefully. > I had a taste of DSL a couple of weeks ago on a trip down to Tasmania. It is > something I will *definitely* be getting > > Hello Peter, nice to meet you, > Thank you…. nice to meet you too. > >always great to have people with a sense of > > humor, helps so much when battling the demons, ‘eh? > Sure does. Some people only told me that the day before yesterday. I had a > captive audience of about 60 people and had them rolling in stitches after > about 10mins. Then a couple of minutes later, half of them were crying, and > then I made them laugh again. They all went away happy > I was delivering a 20min eulogy at my best mates funeral

Hopefully I am up and running again, sorry to hear about your mate though……… take care, td

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In article <%3pma.20140$Co6.11…@fe10.atl2.webusenet.com>, "tinydancer" <tinydan…@hotmail.com> wrote: > Hopefully I am up and running again, sorry to hear about your mate > though……… > take care, > td

Hey, td, I see you’re here for good now. And Peter, I’m sorry, too, about your mate. Best to you both. Hannah

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blha…@nospamhotmail.com (Hannah) wrote in news:blhage8- ya02408000R1304032337450…@news.supernews.com: > In article <%3pma.20140$Co6.11…@fe10.atl2.webusenet.com>, "tinydancer" > <tinydan…@hotmail.com> wrote: >> Hopefully I am up and running again, sorry to hear about your mate >> though……… >> take care, >> td > Hey, td, I see you’re here for good now. > And Peter, I’m sorry, too, about your mate.

Thanks for that Hannah. I’ve been waiting for it for quite a few years now. So I was expecting it, but not expecting it at the same time. I thought he had weathered the worst and would be hanging in there for a bit, but he decided it was his time. But…… when all is said and done, I’m glad he’s finally at peace and in no more pain. We gave him a beaut send off too I’m just waiting for a portion of his ashes to be brought down by his family. Then I’m taking my mate on one last skydive together and releasing his ashes in freefall. That should be a *huge* day too

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"tinydancer" <tinydan…@hotmail.com> wrote in news:%3pma.20140$Co6.11169@fe10.atl2.webusenet.com: > Hopefully I am up and running again, sorry to hear about your mate > though………

No worries TD, thanks. Wish I’d heard about this group sooner, I would have got him into it. Oh well…… I’m here

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Welcome, Peter! Sorry to hear about your mate.  This can be a very supportive and informative ng.  Glad you’re here. Take care, Anne on the prairie

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"Peter Lucas" <skys…@gil.com.au> wrote in message

news:Xns935D92D5D9C4Askyscumearthlingnet@127.0.0.1… > "tinydancer" <tinydan…@hotmail.com> wrote in > news:%3pma.20140$Co6.11169@fe10.atl2.webusenet.com: > > Hopefully I am up and running again, sorry to hear about your mate > > though……… > No worries TD, thanks. Wish I’d heard about this group sooner, I would have > got him into it. > Oh well…… I’m here

And welcome to you, hopefully I too will be here if this new ISP doesn’t treat me like the last one did.  I read your post to hannah too, and can relate to that part about ‘at least he’s at peace now and not in pain anymore’.  I hesitate to say that to anyone though, because one never knows ‘how’ it will be taken.  I think many of us look at it that way, I know I do myself.  It’s hard for those left behind, missing him, but he is at peace and nothing can ever hurt him again, a thoughtful and wise way to look at it Peter.  It sounds like you have quite the send off for his ashes too.  I wish you sunshine and good weather for the occasion. take care, td

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answer from rc

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test answer

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still answering

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test response

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"RisaCaitlin" <risacait…@aol.comment> wrote in message

news:20030409201614.28644.00000757@mb-cg.aol.com… > test answer

Man Risa, it’s been really shitty goin here……..I feel isolated without the ability to communicate.  Dh is checking out the DSL stuff that arrived today, man I hope he doesn’t screw this all up on me.  If I can ever get online again I’ll let you know…….. td

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reply

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"tiny dancer" <tinydancer…@nospamhotmail.com> wrote in news:oEqka.418$s25.178760@twister.southeast.rr.com: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> "Peter Lucas" <skys…@gil.com.au> wrote in message > news:Xns9357777962030skyscumearthlingnet@127.0.0.1… >> "tiny dancer" <tinydancer…@nospamhotmail.com> wrote in >> news:MNhka.7$s25.11177@twister.southeast.rr.com: >> > "tiny dancer" <tinydancer…@nospamhotmail.com> wrote in message >> > news:P%dka.36361$PM3.1834566@twister.southeast.rr.com… >> >> test message >> > Sorry for all the ‘tests’ my server has been out since last wednesday > night >> > and the only way I have to tell if it’s fixed is by posting test > messages >> > occasionally………I’ve been going nuts here. >> It could be said that you’re in the right place to do that > Oh I definitely am in the right place……   I just haven’t posted > lately, but I’m sure those here who know me will verify ‘I’m in the right > place’……  <g>   My ISP has sucked since December, I couldn’t even get > this ng for a long, long time…….and I’d been posting here for a couple > years prior.   >I’ve got DSL on order, so soon I should be back to normal > hopefully.

I had a taste of DSL a couple of weeks ago on a trip down to Tasmania. It is something I will *definitely* be getting > Hello Peter, nice to meet you,

Thank you…. nice to meet you too. >always great to have people with a sense of > humor, helps so much when battling the demons, ‘eh?

Sure does. Some people only told me that the day before yesterday. I had a captive audience of about 60 people and had them rolling in stitches after about 10mins. Then a couple of minutes later, half of them were crying, and then I made them laugh again. They all went away happy I was delivering a 20min eulogy at my best mates funeral

Response:

"Peter Lucas" <skys…@gil.com.au> wrote in message

news:Xns9357777962030skyscumearthlingnet@127.0.0.1… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> "tiny dancer" <tinydancer…@nospamhotmail.com> wrote in > news:MNhka.7$s25.11177@twister.southeast.rr.com: > > "tiny dancer" <tinydancer…@nospamhotmail.com> wrote in message > > news:P%dka.36361$PM3.1834566@twister.southeast.rr.com… > >> test message > > Sorry for all the ‘tests’ my server has been out since last wednesday night > > and the only way I have to tell if it’s fixed is by posting test messages > > occasionally………I’ve been going nuts here. > It could be said that you’re in the right place to do that

Oh I definitely am in the right place……   I just haven’t posted lately, but I’m sure those here who know me will verify ‘I’m in the right place’……  <g>   My ISP has sucked since December, I couldn’t even get this ng for a long, long time…….and I’d been posting here for a couple years prior.  I’ve got DSL on order, so soon I should be back to normal hopefully. Hello Peter, nice to meet you, always great to have people with a sense of humor, helps so much when battling the demons, ‘eh? td

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test message

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still testing

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test from td

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message

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"tiny dancer" <tinydancer…@nospamhotmail.com> wrote in message

news:P%dka.36361$PM3.1834566@twister.southeast.rr.com… > test message

Sorry for all the ‘tests’ my server has been out since last wednesday night and the only way I have to tell if it’s fixed is by posting test messages occasionally………I’ve been going nuts here.

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"tiny dancer" <tinydancer…@nospamhotmail.com> wrote in news:MNhka.7$s25.11177@twister.southeast.rr.com: > "tiny dancer" <tinydancer…@nospamhotmail.com> wrote in message > news:P%dka.36361$PM3.1834566@twister.southeast.rr.com… >> test message > Sorry for all the ‘tests’ my server has been out since last wednesday night > and the only way I have to tell if it’s fixed is by posting test messages > occasionally………I’ve been going nuts here.

It could be said that you’re in the right place to do that

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Question:

I have written a 70 page paper on dx’ing, treatment and postvention follow up on the disorder known as PTSD.  What do you want to know?????

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – An interesting question: in the entire Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, how often is Kundalini mentioned? yes, I dont recall the term per se, but if Patanjali doesnt refer to it explicitly in some way or other, I would be truly surprised (e.g. ‘prana yama’? or, cf ‘vital force’ in iii.40 below)) In the Theravada scriptures there is the term ‘piercing winds’ In the Jewish scriptures there is the term ‘ruach’ In the Christian scriptures there is the term ‘pneuma’ In sanskrit, that would likely be prana or perhaps samadhi, depending. EVERY language that I have investigated has some term for soul or spirituality with a root related to the word for "breath" or "wind." Personally, I think its related to the fact that the part of the brain that involved in breathing also is involved in inducing states of consciousness. In physiological research on samadhi, the most striking correlate is a period of breath suspension that can last as long as 72 seconds during meditation. It seems every mystical tradition has a term for it, even shamanism. It is interesting that shamanism at times induces it via violence and physical abuse/torture, evoking a kind of PTSD along with kundalini. Patanjali: "III. 32.         By the practice of the threefold discipline on the light that appears in the crown of the head during meditation, one has the vision of sages who have attained         perfection. III. 40.         When the vital force which maintains equilibrium and which fills the entire body with light, life and power, is directly perceived and understood, there is effulgence         and radiance of one’s personality ." ‘vital force’ – aka kundalini? Possibly. However, Chapter 3’s verses all seem to involve "samayama," aka "the threefold discipline," and samyama in various contexts is said to different results, as enumerated by the various verses. Not sure that ANY of these results should be associated with "kundalini," but then again, the meaning of words in sanskrit changes drastically from one era to the next (sanskrit has been used over a period of several thousand years by many different spiritual traditions, afterall), so we can’t really be sure. —             sci.psychology.research is a moderated newsgroup. Before submitting an article, please read the guidelines which are posted here bimonthly or the charter on the web at http://www.grohol.com/spr/                Submissions are acknowledged automatically.

–             sci.psychology.research is a moderated newsgroup.   Before submitting an article, please read the guidelines which are posted here bimonthly or the charter on the web at http://www.grohol.com/spr/                Submissions are acknowledged automatically.

Response:

An interesting question: in the entire Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, how often is Kundalini mentioned? yes, I dont recall the term per se, but if Patanjali doesnt refer to it explicitly in some way or other, I would be truly surprised (e.g. ‘prana yama’? or, cf ‘vital force’ in iii.40 below)) In the Theravada scriptures there is the term ‘piercing winds’ In the Jewish scriptures there is the term ‘ruach’ In the Christian scriptures there is the term ‘pneuma’

In sanskrit, that would likely be prana or perhaps samadhi, depending. EVERY language that I have investigated has some term for soul or spirituality with a root related to the word for "breath" or "wind." Personally, I think its related to the fact that the part of the brain that involved in breathing also is involved in inducing states of consciousness. In physiological research on samadhi, the most striking correlate is a period of breath suspension that can last as long as 72 seconds during meditation. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It seems every mystical tradition has a term for it, even shamanism. It is interesting that shamanism at times induces it via violence and physical abuse/torture, evoking a kind of PTSD along with kundalini. Patanjali: "III. 32.         By the practice of the threefold discipline on the light that appears in the crown of the head during meditation, one has the vision of sages who have attained         perfection. III. 40.         When the vital force which maintains equilibrium and which fills the entire body with light, life and power, is directly perceived and understood, there is effulgence         and radiance of one’s personality ." ‘vital force’ – aka kundalini?

Possibly. However, Chapter 3’s verses all seem to involve "samayama," aka "the threefold discipline," and samyama in various contexts is said to different results, as enumerated by the various verses. Not sure that ANY of these results should be associated with "kundalini," but then again, the meaning of words in sanskrit changes drastically from one era to the next (sanskrit has been used over a period of several thousand years by many different spiritual traditions, afterall), so we can’t really be sure. —             sci.psychology.research is a moderated newsgroup.   Before submitting an article, please read the guidelines which are posted here bimonthly or the charter on the web at http://www.grohol.com/spr/                Submissions are acknowledged automatically.

Response:

An interesting question: in the entire Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, how often is Kundalini mentioned?

yes, I dont recall the term per se, but if Patanjali doesnt refer to it explicitly in some way or other, I would be truly surprised (e.g. ‘prana yama’? or, cf ‘vital force’ in iii.40 below)) In the Theravada scriptures there is the term ‘piercing winds’ In the Jewish scriptures there is the term ‘ruach’ In the Christian scriptures there is the term ‘pneuma’ It seems every mystical tradition has a term for it, even shamanism. It is interesting that shamanism at times induces it via violence and physical abuse/torture, evoking a kind of PTSD along with kundalini. Patanjali: "III. 32.         By the practice of the threefold discipline on the light that appears in the crown of the head during meditation, one has the vision of sages who have attained         perfection. III. 40.         When the vital force which maintains equilibrium and which fills the entire body with light, life and power, is directly perceived and understood, there is effulgence         and radiance of one’s personality ." ‘vital force’ – aka kundalini? —             sci.psychology.research is a moderated newsgroup.   Before submitting an article, please read the guidelines which are posted here bimonthly or the charter on the web at http://www.grohol.com/spr/                Submissions are acknowledged automatically.

Response:

Hola!!             Yep. There are some interesting places at internet. You can try Shared Transformation that has a series of letter writed by ElCollie tha are very interesting. At the Gateway to Kundalini there are archives with information from seven years of kundalini mailing list.             One aspect of kundalini is spontaneous yoga. Through the search in Google with "spontaneous kriyas" you

Question:

I think Medicinal Marijuana is what is being referred to.  It doesn’t work for all but for some with bipolar problems, it does wonders.  I do believe this writer posted their email address to write to her privately for questions.   – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I gotta tell ya, for the past two months, I have been feeling pretty good. >Many of you who know me, know that I tend to "go off" from time to time.  That >has not happened now in two months.  No, I am not drinking again either!!  I >know that Tiny and Kat probably know what I am doing, as I think they do the >same thing once in awhile, and Kris knows because I told her, but I don’t want >to say it here.  Wondering if there is a code word for it??? >Contact me at:  Luan…@aol.com

Response:

Hi All; I gotta tell ya, for the past two months, I have been feeling pretty good. Many of you who know me, know that I tend to "go off" from time to time.  That has not happened now in two months.  No, I am not drinking again either!!  I know that Tiny and Kat probably know what I am doing, as I think they do the same thing once in awhile, and Kris knows because I told her, but I don’t want to say it here.  Wondering if there is a code word for it??? Contact me at:  Luan…@aol.com http://members.aol.com/luannep/adoption.htm

Response:

Luanne, You have me intrigued. Must be doing something right to be feeling good past few months. Please share. take care Cheers Barb "LuanneP" <luan…@aol.comment> wrote in message

news:20030326122211.15788.00000673@mb-ch.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi All; > I gotta tell ya, for the past two months, I have been feeling pretty good. > Many of you who know me, know that I tend to "go off" from time to time. That > has not happened now in two months.  No, I am not drinking again either!! I > know that Tiny and Kat probably know what I am doing, as I think they do the > same thing once in awhile, and Kris knows because I told her, but I don’t want > to say it here.  Wondering if there is a code word for it??? > Contact me at:  Luan…@aol.com > http://members.aol.com/luannep/adoption.htm

Response:

>Luanne, >You have me intrigued. Must be doing something right to be feeling good past >few months. >Please share. >take care

Don’t wanna say here.  Too controversial and I’ll get ripped to shreads…as I said, Kris knows and I know that Tiny and Kat found this helpful too.   It’s changed my life, knock on wood. Best, Luanne http://members.aol.com/luannep/adoption.htm

Response:

Why come here and sprout about your miracle cure if you don’t feel confident enough in it to share it? Dangling carrots like that in front of hungry rabbits IS dangerous…..and so very cruel. "LuanneP" <luan…@aol.comment> wrote in message

news:20030327001034.00676.00000804@mb-ch.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >Luanne, > >You have me intrigued. Must be doing something right to be feeling good past > >few months. > >Please share. > >take care > Don’t wanna say here.  Too controversial and I’ll get ripped to shreads…as I > said, Kris knows and I know that Tiny and Kat found this helpful too. > It’s changed my life, knock on wood. > Best, > Luanne > http://members.aol.com/luannep/adoption.htm

Response:

>Why come here and sprout about your miracle cure if you don’t feel confident >enough in it to share it? >Dangling carrots like that in front of hungry rabbits IS dangerous…..and >so very cruel.

I posted my email address to write to me privately.  Is this a problem for you?  Please let me know.  Here it is again: Luan…@aol.com http://members.aol.com/luannep/adoption.htm

Response:

Question:

I hear voices sometimes as well….I also see things that are not there too….just be careful. "hugh" <h.masseng…@attbi.com> wrote in message

news:57183600.0303311710.5d0b8fca@posting.google.com… > "Suzanne" <suziedavidgra…@earthlink.net> wrote in message

<news:Haaga.20041$jA2.1753494@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net>… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > Hello, I’m new here. My fiance has been diagnosed with PTSD stemming from a > > traumatic experience he encountered(obviously.) He takes Zyprexa.  He says > > though, that he used to hear voices talking to him, and lately, he thinks > > that he blurts out inappropriate and disgusting things out of nowhere in the > > middle of conversation. (He doesn’t.) I’m just wondering, is this normal for > > victims of PTSD? Is there anything I can do to help him? > Suzanne, I know someone who was diagnosed with ptsd who also heard > voices. I don’t know if it is normal, I kind of doubt it, but I do > suspect it is normal for those with multiple trauma, some stemming > from early childhood abuse, neglect.  I would suggest that the two of > you investigate a therapist who specializes in dissociation and ptsd. > I would also strongly advise going to a therapist outside the VA > system if he is a veteran. Hearing voices can lead to a diagnosis of > schizophrenia rather than ptsd. I wonder if the voices seem inside his > head, rather than outside directing him? Sometimes current trauma > "wakes up" old buried stuff.  Are the voices present just on > awakening, or through the day? The person I knew heard the voices > mostly early in the morning, or when really stressed. Your fiance is > lucky to have you for support. One person who cares can make all the > difference in the world to a person struggling with ptsd. I am no > professional, so it would really pay to ask your questions of a > professional who specializes in dissociation. Doubt you will find a > psychiatrist who does. Hugh

Response:

yeah true there….one of my syptoms is dpression….but the main catorgy that my counclor put me in is PTSD… cause of all of the stress cause from my past and the things that i am/was seeing and hearing "Rose Marie Holt" <rmho…@mindspring.com> wrote in message news:rmholt1-F0D0B6.20000531032003@news.mindspring.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> X-No-Archive:yes > In article <57183600.0303311710.5d0b8…@posting.google.com>, >  h.masseng…@attbi.com (hugh) wrote: > > "Suzanne" <suziedavidgra…@earthlink.net> wrote in message > > <news:Haaga.20041$jA2.1753494@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net>… > > > Hello, I’m new here. My fiance has been diagnosed with PTSD stemming from a > > > traumatic experience he encountered(obviously.) He takes Zyprexa.  He says > > > though, that he used to hear voices talking to him, and lately, he thinks > > > that he blurts out inappropriate and disgusting things out of nowhere in > > > the > > > middle of conversation. (He doesn’t.) I’m just wondering, is this normal > > > for > > > victims of PTSD? Is there anything I can do to help him? > In my limited knowledge, a psychotic symptom (like hearing voices) does > not count as a primary psychosis (like schizophrenia) if it is part of a > larger diagnosis.  For instance, people who have delusions or > hallucinations as part of depression do not get a new diagnosis of a > psychosis and the main goal is to treat the depression.  I bet ptsd is > another of those examples – dissociation is another kind of psychotic > reaction, but may be secondary to ptsd, not the primary problem. > Someone with a serious mental illness can have secondary psychotic > symptoms.  A good psychiatrist can sort it all out. > Best wishes, Marie

Response:

Hi Hugh! > Suzanne, I know someone who was diagnosed with ptsd who also heard > voices. I don’t know if it is normal, I kind of doubt it, but I do > suspect it is normal for those with multiple trauma, some stemming > from early childhood abuse, neglect.  I would suggest that the two of > you investigate a therapist who specializes in dissociation and ptsd. > I would also strongly advise going to a therapist outside the VA > system if he is a veteran. Hearing voices can lead to a diagnosis of > schizophrenia rather than ptsd.

I had a VA diagnostician explain that if the voices do not come from a specific, inanimate object and are not telling me what to do, then it is not schizophrenia. My VA pdoc attributed my hearing voices to an inreased stress level, and increased one medication.  The voices went away!  This happened twice in the last 5 years.  I now know that this is one of my symptoms of overwhelming stress, so I can get a chance to take care of myself better. > I wonder if the voices seem inside his > head, rather than outside directing him? Sometimes current trauma > "wakes up" old buried stuff.  Are the voices present just on > awakening, or through the day? The person I knew heard the voices > mostly early in the morning, or when really stressed. Your fiance is > lucky to have you for support. One person who cares can make all the > difference in the world to a person struggling with ptsd. I am no > professional, so it would really pay to ask your questions of a > professional who specializes in dissociation. Doubt you will find a > psychiatrist who does. Hugh

FWIW, my VA therapist referred the voices from nowhere to my pdoc, immediately. An impending marriage is one of the most stressful events of one’s lifetime.  Remember, those of us with PTSD have trouble with ‘good stress’ as well as ‘bad’ stress. YMMV Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy

Response:

Hi Marge! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>I had a VA diagnostician explain that if the voices do not come from a >>specific, inanimate object and are not telling me what to do, then it >>is not schizophrenia. >>My VA pdoc attributed my hearing voices to an inreased stress level, >>and increased one medication.  The voices went away!  This happened >>twice in the last 5 years.  I now know that this is one of my symptoms >>of overwhelming stress, so I can get a chance to take care of myself >>better. > Would seeing things that are not there fall into this category?  Just > after the re-traumatization a few months ago I started seeing the > person who traumatized me in my one room cottage.  I had to turn away > and look multiple times until she was not there anymore.  I also see > shadows of things in the room but I’m alone.  Can all of this be > attributed to stress? I don’t see my therapist till next week but > feedback from peers would be helpful.

In my case, I kept hearing the landscapers talking, and they had not been in my back yard for several months.  Every time I looked behind me to make certain that I was alone, they stopped talking; as soon as I turned back to my task, the talking started again.  I went inside the house and read a book! :/ I cannot report what the trigger was as I mostly try to keep track of my symptoms and report them to the pdoc so she can evaluate them.  Trying to find less than obvious triggers is not my job; controlling my reactions as much as possible and dealing with my symptoms in a positive way is my only job IMO. This was the first time I heard voices, and it stuck in my mind.  I cannot remember where or what happened the second time.  I do know that I then knew it was another of my symptoms and so reported it the next visit to the pdoc. YMMV Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy

Response:

Hi Marge, >Would seeing things that are not there fall into this category?  Just after >the re-traumatization a few months ago I started seeing the person who >traumatized me in my one room cottage.  I had to turn away and look >multiple times until she was not there anymore.  I also see shadows of >things in the room but I’m alone.  Can all of this be attributed to stress?

I can empathize with what you are experiencing but do not know if a particular stress or trigger causes it.   In my case, I have heard voices a few times since the time of the major trauma 30 years ago and have seen someone who was "not there" at least three times that I can remember.   The voices have not bothered me.  According to my therapist, they are part of my DID.  I do not find them to be disturbing. The appearance of someone who seems very real at the time has been extremely disturbing.   All three times I heard these individuals as well as saw them. They were very real to me at the time.   Unlike the voices, they were menacing. >I don’t see my therapist till next week but feedback from peers would be >helpful.

Don’t know what I can offer, Marge, except to say that you are not alone.  I always let the shrinks know right away.  My meds were changed which helped and I learned new breathing techniques which also helped.   The appearance of persons who are not there has not happened in a while, but I remember the terror I felt as if it were yesterday. Hang in there, Marge.  Fortunately you have an appointment with your therapist next week. Until then, you can always check in here at the ng.  You are not alone. Take care, Anne

Response:

Hi, I’m coming out of lurkdom for a moment to say that I was diagnosed with PTSD about 10 years ago.  At that time I was given meds by my pdoc, and while taking the meds I occasionally experienced both auditory and visual hallucinations. When I stopped the meds, the hallucinations also stopped, and I have not had them since. Those of you who have this symptom would certainly want to talk to your pdocs about this; it may be a drug side effect. HTH "Jenny" <amop…@paulbunyan.net> wrote in message

news:376ia.109$Sg7.7427@news7.onvoy.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I hear voices sometimes as well….I also see things that are not there > too….just be careful. > "hugh" <h.masseng…@attbi.com> wrote in message > news:57183600.0303311710.5d0b8fca@posting.google.com… > > "Suzanne" <suziedavidgra…@earthlink.net> wrote in message > <news:Haaga.20041$jA2.1753494@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net>… > > > Hello, I’m new here. My fiance has been diagnosed with PTSD stemming > from a > > > traumatic experience he encountered(obviously.) He takes Zyprexa.  He > says > > > though, that he used to hear voices talking to him, and lately, he > thinks > > > that he blurts out inappropriate and disgusting things out of nowhere in > the > > > middle of conversation. (He doesn’t.) I’m just wondering, is this normal > for > > > victims of PTSD? Is there anything I can do to help him? > > Suzanne, I know someone who was diagnosed with ptsd who also heard > > voices. I don’t know if it is normal, I kind of doubt it, but I do > > suspect it is normal for those with multiple trauma, some stemming > > from early childhood abuse, neglect.  I would suggest that the two of > > you investigate a therapist who specializes in dissociation and ptsd. > > I would also strongly advise going to a therapist outside the VA > > system if he is a veteran. Hearing voices can lead to a diagnosis of > > schizophrenia rather than ptsd. I wonder if the voices seem inside his > > head, rather than outside directing him? Sometimes current trauma > > "wakes up" old buried stuff.  Are the voices present just on > > awakening, or through the day? The person I knew heard the voices > > mostly early in the morning, or when really stressed. Your fiance is > > lucky to have you for support. One person who cares can make all the > > difference in the world to a person struggling with ptsd. I am no > > professional, so it would really pay to ask your questions of a > > professional who specializes in dissociation. Doubt you will find a > > psychiatrist who does. Hugh

Response:

It’s my experience that hearing voices is hallucinatory and not a PTSD symptom. There may be something else going on here, in addition to PTSD. PTSD can set off any other psychological problems.  My husband suffers from severe PTSD but never has a doctor mentioned hearing voices as a symptom. There are many resources on the web that list the symptoms.  Here is one of them: http://www.apa.org/practice/ptsd.html Your fianc

Question:

Hi Garry, Thanks a lot for the reply.  I think I’ll go in like I usually am, clean but not fancy.  I’m not good at all about telling even a little white lie, and with the stress I’m under lately I think that it’ll show on it’s own.  I just got the book from the library, "I Can’t Get Over It", just started reading it and hope that it will help. I am seriously worried about the cost of all this though.  I don’t want to get strapped with huge bills from the VA.  It’s my choice if I continue to see them or not right?  I can’t work right now though so I’m trying to get help from wherever I can…….  maybe I should have my partner drop me from that medical coverage until I see what the VA’s gonna do. Z55 Skytrooper <gbruc…@attbi.com> wrote in message

news:h29fa.207770$sf5.120658@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ve heard that some people told the VA examiner at their C&P meeting that > they sometimes heard voices. If you are there for a PTSD claim, saying that > you hear voices will most likely ruin chances of being diagnosed by that > doctor as having PTSD. He will more than likely say you are Schizophrenic or > have dementia or something similar. > It is a good idea to know the symptoms of PTSD. That will help you to better > describe your symptoms and to concentrate on symptoms related to PTSD. You > can read about symptoms of PTSD at this website: > http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000901/1046ph.html > You may feel very nervous and uptight the day of your C&P meeting which may > also work in your favor. Just remember this is your time to let this doctor > know you have days that you don’t feel well at all. The day of your C&P > meeting should be one of those days so he sees you at your worst. It is a > one time shot to get a good disability rating from your first C&P meeting. > If not, you can and should appeal their decision. Often on the next C&P you > will get a higher rating. > Garry > "Roger Berg" <fii…@comcast.net> wrote in message > news:es4fa.180972$L1.28798@sccrnsc02… > > Don’t shower or shave between now and your c&p. Try to make your outside > > look like the inside of your mind. The shrinks can’t see in there, they > can > > only see the outside. In my case, after 30+ years of keeping up a "front", > I > > cleaned up, fired myself up and went in. The shrink wrote "neatly dressed, > > alert, etc., etc., etc. I couldn’t believe he couldn’t surmise what was > > going on inside my head, so, take the barriers down and lay it one them, > no > > need to exaggerate anything, the truth is more than enough. Let go of the > > "I’m doing fine" routine and let it all hang out! > > Good luck, > > Roger > > "Skytrooper" <gbruc…@attbi.com> wrote in message > > news:l72fa.201666$S_4.112569@rwcrnsc53… > > > Hi Z55, > > > From my experience when I went through the same thing, if your income is > > > over a certain level, they will bill your insurance company. I think it > > can > > > also depend on if you have a disability rating from the VA and the > > > percentage of your rating. > > > I remember I was being treated at the VA Outpatient clinic and my claim > > was > > > still in processing. The VA sent medical co-pay bills to me. My vet rep > > said > > > I could pay them if I wanted to, but he thought I should just wait until > > > after my C&P meeting. If they gave me a high enough award of disability > > the > > > medical co-pays would be paid in full by the VA. I think you have to be > > > awarded 100% disability or in some combination that becomes 100% > > disability > > > before you will not have to pay a co-pay for VA medical treatment. I’m > > > saying all this from memory, and mine isn’t the best anymore, so I would > > > recommend checking with others who may know for sure. > > > I know a vet who owes the VA around $8,000 for several inpatient > treatment > > > programs. He said he is allowed to pay the minimum payment, which he > said > > > was $50 a month. He had a difficult time with his claim because he > didn’t > > > have proof of being in combat but had just recently found men who had > > served > > > with him. Now he is confident that he will be awarded 100% disability > and > > > everything will be paid in full by the VA. > > > Disability ratings from the VA can be a bit confusing. I was awarded > 100% > > > disability due to severe PTSD and it is considered permanent and total. > > That > > > means the VA should never send me for a review of my claim. If you are > not > > > rated permanent and total, the VA will review your claim after a certain > > > amount of time. It will be like another C&P meeting. Some vets are rated > > at > > > 70% disabililty for PTSD and 30% unemployable which gives them 100% > > > disability. I’m not an expert and don’t know everything about how the VA > > > awards disability. > > > They use the terms service connected and non-service connected which can > > > also make a difference in if the VA pays everything in full or if you > get > > a > > > co-pay. > > > As far as how you dress and look for your C&P meeting, I have heard all > > > kinds of advice from one extreme to the next. I think the doctor doing > the > > > exam can make a difference based on how good he is or his opinions about > > > vets and disabilities. Some seem to be more supportive than others. > > > I went to my C&P meeting clean with nice clothes and looking like I > could > > > take care of myself. I was having enough problems with the PTSD at that > > time > > > that it was obvious to any doctor that I was not faking it. > > > I was extremely nervous because at that time I just wanted to be left > > alone > > > and now I had to answer questions from some stranger who I felt was not > > > looking after my best interest. I was visibly shaking, and on the edge > of > > > running out of the room. Reading his report later, he stated that I > talked > > > in a low quiet voice and had trouble expressing myself. When he asked me > > > what happened in Vietnam, I started to have a panic attack and wasn’t > even > > > able to answer his question. He said to relax and not worry about it and > > > started to write some notes which gave me some time to recover. > > > Anyway, I’m sure some will tell you to look your worst and dress in old > > > clothes. I did the opposite. I think in most cases it would be best to > go > > in > > > looking like you can take care of yourself, dress nice but don’t overdo > > it. > > > Some advice I was given which I think is important is to remember you > are > > > there to show them you are not feeling well. Even if it is a good day > for > > > you, act like you do on your worst days. After all, they only see you > this > > > one time to make a decision on your claim. If you are smiling and joking > > or > > > laugh or smile if the doctor tries to make you laugh, you are going to > > look > > > to him like you are fine. I’m not saying to fake your condition, but you > > > know yourself and how bad you feel at times better than anyone else. You > > > should make certain this doctor understands completely how you feel when > > you > > > are having your worst times with the PTSD or whatever it is. > > > Good luck and take care, > > > Garry > > > — > > > —————————————————— > > > Skytroopers Vietnam Tour Of Duty > > > http://www.skytroopers.org

Response:

I’ve heard that some people told the VA examiner at their C&P meeting that they sometimes heard voices. If you are there for a PTSD claim, saying that you hear voices will most likely ruin chances of being diagnosed by that doctor as having PTSD. He will more than likely say you are Schizophrenic or have dementia or something similar. It is a good idea to know the symptoms of PTSD. That will help you to better describe your symptoms and to concentrate on symptoms related to PTSD. You can read about symptoms of PTSD at this website: http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000901/1046ph.html You may feel very nervous and uptight the day of your C&P meeting which may also work in your favor. Just remember this is your time to let this doctor know you have days that you don’t feel well at all. The day of your C&P meeting should be one of those days so he sees you at your worst. It is a one time shot to get a good disability rating from your first C&P meeting. If not, you can and should appeal their decision. Often on the next C&P you will get a higher rating. Garry "Roger Berg" <fii…@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:es4fa.180972$L1.28798@sccrnsc02… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Don’t shower or shave between now and your c&p. Try to make your outside > look like the inside of your mind. The shrinks can’t see in there, they can > only see the outside. In my case, after 30+ years of keeping up a "front", I > cleaned up, fired myself up and went in. The shrink wrote "neatly dressed, > alert, etc., etc., etc. I couldn’t believe he couldn’t surmise what was > going on inside my head, so, take the barriers down and lay it one them, no > need to exaggerate anything, the truth is more than enough. Let go of the > "I’m doing fine" routine and let it all hang out! > Good luck, > Roger > "Skytrooper" <gbruc…@attbi.com> wrote in message > news:l72fa.201666$S_4.112569@rwcrnsc53… > > Hi Z55, > > From my experience when I went through the same thing, if your income is > > over a certain level, they will bill your insurance company. I think it > can > > also depend on if you have a disability rating from the VA and the > > percentage of your rating. > > I remember I was being treated at the VA Outpatient clinic and my claim > was > > still in processing. The VA sent medical co-pay bills to me. My vet rep > said > > I could pay them if I wanted to, but he thought I should just wait until > > after my C&P meeting. If they gave me a high enough award of disability > the > > medical co-pays would be paid in full by the VA. I think you have to be > > awarded 100% disability or in some combination that becomes 100% > disability > > before you will not have to pay a co-pay for VA medical treatment. I’m > > saying all this from memory, and mine isn’t the best anymore, so I would > > recommend checking with others who may know for sure. > > I know a vet who owes the VA around $8,000 for several inpatient treatment > > programs. He said he is allowed to pay the minimum payment, which he said > > was $50 a month. He had a difficult time with his claim because he didn’t > > have proof of being in combat but had just recently found men who had > served > > with him. Now he is confident that he will be awarded 100% disability and > > everything will be paid in full by the VA. > > Disability ratings from the VA can be a bit confusing. I was awarded 100% > > disability due to severe PTSD and it is considered permanent and total. > That > > means the VA should never send me for a review of my claim. If you are not > > rated permanent and total, the VA will review your claim after a certain > > amount of time. It will be like another C&P meeting. Some vets are rated > at > > 70% disabililty for PTSD and 30% unemployable which gives them 100% > > disability. I’m not an expert and don’t know everything about how the VA > > awards disability. > > They use the terms service connected and non-service connected which can > > also make a difference in if the VA pays everything in full or if you get > a > > co-pay. > > As far as how you dress and look for your C&P meeting, I have heard all > > kinds of advice from one extreme to the next. I think the doctor doing the > > exam can make a difference based on how good he is or his opinions about > > vets and disabilities. Some seem to be more supportive than others. > > I went to my C&P meeting clean with nice clothes and looking like I could > > take care of myself. I was having enough problems with the PTSD at that > time > > that it was obvious to any doctor that I was not faking it. > > I was extremely nervous because at that time I just wanted to be left > alone > > and now I had to answer questions from some stranger who I felt was not > > looking after my best interest. I was visibly shaking, and on the edge of > > running out of the room. Reading his report later, he stated that I talked > > in a low quiet voice and had trouble expressing myself. When he asked me > > what happened in Vietnam, I started to have a panic attack and wasn’t even > > able to answer his question. He said to relax and not worry about it and > > started to write some notes which gave me some time to recover. > > Anyway, I’m sure some will tell you to look your worst and dress in old > > clothes. I did the opposite. I think in most cases it would be best to go > in > > looking like you can take care of yourself, dress nice but don’t overdo > it. > > Some advice I was given which I think is important is to remember you are > > there to show them you are not feeling well. Even if it is a good day for > > you, act like you do on your worst days. After all, they only see you this > > one time to make a decision on your claim. If you are smiling and joking > or > > laugh or smile if the doctor tries to make you laugh, you are going to > look > > to him like you are fine. I’m not saying to fake your condition, but you > > know yourself and how bad you feel at times better than anyone else. You > > should make certain this doctor understands completely how you feel when > you > > are having your worst times with the PTSD or whatever it is. > > Good luck and take care, > > Garry > > — > > —————————————————— > > Skytroopers Vietnam Tour Of Duty > > http://www.skytroopers.org

Response:

Don’t shower or shave between now and your c&p. Try to make your outside look like the inside of your mind. The shrinks can’t see in there, they can only see the outside. In my case, after 30+ years of keeping up a "front", I cleaned up, fired myself up and went in. The shrink wrote "neatly dressed, alert, etc., etc., etc. I couldn’t believe he couldn’t surmise what was going on inside my head, so, take the barriers down and lay it one them, no need to exaggerate anything, the truth is more than enough. Let go of the "I’m doing fine" routine and let it all hang out! Good luck, Roger "Skytrooper" <gbruc…@attbi.com> wrote in message

news:l72fa.201666$S_4.112569@rwcrnsc53… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi Z55, > From my experience when I went through the same thing, if your income is > over a certain level, they will bill your insurance company. I think it can > also depend on if you have a disability rating from the VA and the > percentage of your rating. > I remember I was being treated at the VA Outpatient clinic and my claim was > still in processing. The VA sent medical co-pay bills to me. My vet rep said > I could pay them if I wanted to, but he thought I should just wait until > after my C&P meeting. If they gave me a high enough award of disability the > medical co-pays would be paid in full by the VA. I think you have to be > awarded 100% disability or in some combination that becomes 100% disability > before you will not have to pay a co-pay for VA medical treatment. I’m > saying all this from memory, and mine isn’t the best anymore, so I would > recommend checking with others who may know for sure. > I know a vet who owes the VA around $8,000 for several inpatient treatment > programs. He said he is allowed to pay the minimum payment, which he said > was $50 a month. He had a difficult time with his claim because he didn’t > have proof of being in combat but had just recently found men who had served > with him. Now he is confident that he will be awarded 100% disability and > everything will be paid in full by the VA. > Disability ratings from the VA can be a bit confusing. I was awarded 100% > disability due to severe PTSD and it is considered permanent and total. That > means the VA should never send me for a review of my claim. If you are not > rated permanent and total, the VA will review your claim after a certain > amount of time. It will be like another C&P meeting. Some vets are rated at > 70% disabililty for PTSD and 30% unemployable which gives them 100% > disability. I’m not an expert and don’t know everything about how the VA > awards disability. > They use the terms service connected and non-service connected which can > also make a difference in if the VA pays everything in full or if you get a > co-pay. > As far as how you dress and look for your C&P meeting, I have heard all > kinds of advice from one extreme to the next. I think the doctor doing the > exam can make a difference based on how good he is or his opinions about > vets and disabilities. Some seem to be more supportive than others. > I went to my C&P meeting clean with nice clothes and looking like I could > take care of myself. I was having enough problems with the PTSD at that time > that it was obvious to any doctor that I was not faking it. > I was extremely nervous because at that time I just wanted to be left alone > and now I had to answer questions from some stranger who I felt was not > looking after my best interest. I was visibly shaking, and on the edge of > running out of the room. Reading his report later, he stated that I talked > in a low quiet voice and had trouble expressing myself. When he asked me > what happened in Vietnam, I started to have a panic attack and wasn’t even > able to answer his question. He said to relax and not worry about it and > started to write some notes which gave me some time to recover. > Anyway, I’m sure some will tell you to look your worst and dress in old > clothes. I did the opposite. I think in most cases it would be best to go in > looking like you can take care of yourself, dress nice but don’t overdo it. > Some advice I was given which I think is important is to remember you are > there to show them you are not feeling well. Even if it is a good day for > you, act like you do on your worst days. After all, they only see you this > one time to make a decision on your claim. If you are smiling and joking or > laugh or smile if the doctor tries to make you laugh, you are going to look > to him like you are fine. I’m not saying to fake your condition, but you > know yourself and how bad you feel at times better than anyone else. You > should make certain this doctor understands completely how you feel when you > are having your worst times with the PTSD or whatever it is. > Good luck and take care, > Garry > — > —————————————————— > Skytroopers Vietnam Tour Of Duty > http://www.skytroopers.org

Response:

Hi Z55, From my experience when I went through the same thing, if your income is over a certain level, they will bill your insurance company. I think it can also depend on if you have a disability rating from the VA and the percentage of your rating. I remember I was being treated at the VA Outpatient clinic and my claim was still in processing. The VA sent medical co-pay bills to me. My vet rep said I could pay them if I wanted to, but he thought I should just wait until after my C&P meeting. If they gave me a high enough award of disability the medical co-pays would be paid in full by the VA. I think you have to be awarded 100% disability or in some combination that becomes 100% disability before you will not have to pay a co-pay for VA medical treatment. I’m saying all this from memory, and mine isn’t the best anymore, so I would recommend checking with others who may know for sure. I know a vet who owes the VA around $8,000 for several inpatient treatment programs. He said he is allowed to pay the minimum payment, which he said was $50 a month. He had a difficult time with his claim because he didn’t have proof of being in combat but had just recently found men who had served with him. Now he is confident that he will be awarded 100% disability and everything will be paid in full by the VA. Disability ratings from the VA can be a bit confusing. I was awarded 100% disability due to severe PTSD and it is considered permanent and total. That means the VA should never send me for a review of my claim. If you are not rated permanent and total, the VA will review your claim after a certain amount of time. It will be like another C&P meeting. Some vets are rated at 70% disabililty for PTSD and 30% unemployable which gives them 100% disability. I’m not an expert and don’t know everything about how the VA awards disability. They use the terms service connected and non-service connected which can also make a difference in if the VA pays everything in full or if you get a co-pay. As far as how you dress and look for your C&P meeting, I have heard all kinds of advice from one extreme to the next. I think the doctor doing the exam can make a difference based on how good he is or his opinions about vets and disabilities. Some seem to be more supportive than others. I went to my C&P meeting clean with nice clothes and looking like I could take care of myself. I was having enough problems with the PTSD at that time that it was obvious to any doctor that I was not faking it. I was extremely nervous because at that time I just wanted to be left alone and now I had to answer questions from some stranger who I felt was not looking after my best interest. I was visibly shaking, and on the edge of running out of the room. Reading his report later, he stated that I talked in a low quiet voice and had trouble expressing myself. When he asked me what happened in Vietnam, I started to have a panic attack and wasn’t even able to answer his question. He said to relax and not worry about it and started to write some notes which gave me some time to recover. Anyway, I’m sure some will tell you to look your worst and dress in old clothes. I did the opposite. I think in most cases it would be best to go in looking like you can take care of yourself, dress nice but don’t overdo it. Some advice I was given which I think is important is to remember you are there to show them you are not feeling well. Even if it is a good day for you, act like you do on your worst days. After all, they only see you this one time to make a decision on your claim. If you are smiling and joking or laugh or smile if the doctor tries to make you laugh, you are going to look to him like you are fine. I’m not saying to fake your condition, but you know yourself and how bad you feel at times better than anyone else. You should make certain this doctor understands completely how you feel when you are having your worst times with the PTSD or whatever it is. Good luck and take care, Garry — —————————————————— Skytroopers Vietnam Tour Of Duty http://www.skytroopers.org

Response:

Question:

I have a problem. In October of 2001, I made a suicide attempt. I landed myself in the emergency room where I was an inpatient for 2 days, kept for Aspirin detox. Upon entering the hospital and throughout my stay, I lied and said it was an accident that I had ingested somewhere near 30 Aspirin in a timespan of about ten hours. I didn’t let anyone know it was an attempt on my life. They told me I was "lucky," because they didn’t expect me to live. They said if I had waited any longer to get to the hospital, I most likely would have died. Those were the scariest days of my life, and the worst part… I was only 13 years old. Since my stay in the hospital, I have endured 3 months of therapy for depression and have found ways to deal with it on my own(no meds). It’s no longer a predominant problem for me. However, because I lied about my attempt, I never recieved any therapy for it. A year and a half later, I still lose myself in the memories of those couple days. Many times a week, I find myself in a glazed over state, remembering, and then suddenly crying over it. It comes up constantly in my life, and I can’t even hear the words "hospital" or "aspirin" or anything in relation to suicide without more flashbacks, or giving in to an involuntary shudder. A friend of mine told me to look up PTSD on the web…and the symptoms sound frighteningly familiar. Please, I’m only 15, and these memories are truly inhibiting much of my life. I need some help. Is there anyone out there who can give me some guidance, or let me know what might be going on? Is this PTSD that I’m experiencing? Someone please respond–I would really appreciate some feedback. Thanks. ~Kristie

Response:

Kristie: I am certainly no expert, in the middle of my own personal hell, but have you talked with your therapist about this (forgive me if I misunderstood you) You really need professional help dealing with the flashbacks/bad associations. I consider you lucky to be alive. Hope this helps, please post again. mike Kristie –plz help <kristie_…@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:f1f3634a.0302181637.409d197@posting.google.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have a problem. In October of 2001, I made a suicide attempt. I > landed myself in the emergency room where I was an inpatient for 2 > days, kept for Aspirin detox. Upon entering the hospital and > throughout my stay, I lied and said it was an accident that I had > ingested somewhere near 30 Aspirin in a timespan of about ten hours. I > didn’t let anyone know it was an attempt on my life. They told me I > was "lucky," because they didn’t expect me to live. They said if I had > waited any longer to get to the hospital, I most likely would have > died. Those were the scariest days of my life, and the worst part… I > was only 13 years old. > Since my stay in the hospital, I have endured 3 months of therapy for > depression and have found ways to deal with it on my own(no meds). > It’s no longer a predominant problem for me. However, because I lied > about my attempt, I never recieved any therapy for it. A year and a > half later, I still lose myself in the memories of those couple days. > Many times a week, I find myself in a glazed over state, remembering, > and then suddenly crying over it. It comes up constantly in my life, > and I can’t even hear the words "hospital" or "aspirin" or anything in > relation to suicide without more flashbacks, or giving in to an > involuntary shudder. A friend of mine told me to look up PTSD on the > web…and the symptoms sound frighteningly familiar. > Please, I’m only 15, and these memories are truly inhibiting much of > my life. I need some help. Is there anyone out there who can give me > some guidance, or let me know what might be going on? Is this PTSD > that I’m experiencing? Someone please respond–I would really > appreciate some feedback. Thanks. > ~Kristie

Response:

hi, Kristie. Have you tried help at your local school or community? There is help out that and it has to be kept confidential! Have you dealt with the original problem of why you took all those pills in the first place?  maybe that’s what’s really bothering you but the only one who knows the answers is you. there is help out there and I truly hope you find it.  You are so young and have much to look forward to with the right help. Donna : I have a problem. In October of 2001, I made a suicide attempt. I : landed myself in the emergency room where I was an inpatient for 2 : days, kept for Aspirin detox. Upon entering the hospital and : throughout my stay, I lied and said it was an accident that I had : ingested somewhere near 30 Aspirin in a timespan of about ten hours. I : didn’t let anyone know it was an attempt on my life. They told me I : was "lucky," because they didn’t expect me to live. They said if I had : waited any longer to get to the hospital, I most likely would have : died. Those were the scariest days of my life, and the worst part… I : was only 13 years old. : : Since my stay in the hospital, I have endured 3 months of therapy for : depression and have found ways to deal with it on my own(no meds). : It’s no longer a predominant problem for me. However, because I lied : about my attempt, I never recieved any therapy for it. A year and a : half later, I still lose myself in the memories of those couple days. : Many times a week, I find myself in a glazed over state, remembering, : and then suddenly crying over it. It comes up constantly in my life, : and I can’t even hear the words "hospital" or "aspirin" or anything in : relation to suicide without more flashbacks, or giving in to an : involuntary shudder. A friend of mine told me to look up PTSD on the : web…and the symptoms sound frighteningly familiar. : : Please, I’m only 15, and these memories are truly inhibiting much of : my life. I need some help. Is there anyone out there who can give me : some guidance, or let me know what might be going on? Is this PTSD : that I’m experiencing? Someone please respond–I would really : appreciate some feedback. Thanks. : : ~Kristie

Response:

Hi Kristie! > I have a problem.

                —————snipped for brevity—————- > Please, I’m only 15, and these memories are truly inhibiting much of > my life. I need some help. Is there anyone out there who can give me > some guidance, or let me know what might be going on? Is this PTSD > that I’m experiencing? Someone please respond–I would really > appreciate some feedback. Thanks.

Only a psychiatrist or therapist can begin to start the diagnosis of PTSD. And, if you cannot trust the psychiatrist or therapist enough to be open and honest with the person, then you cannot be diagnosed … at least to your knowledge. Find a professional with whom you can have a slightly trusting relationship, and try to tell them the truth about your attempted suicide.  There is no shame in attempting suicide; it is just an outward cry for help.  IMO the shame would have been if you had actually committed suicide, trying to punish those around you who had hurt you so badly.  The ‘bad’ people do not get punished by us; it is not our job. Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy

Response:

Hi Kristie, Welcome. I am sorry about what you’ve been through and hope that you will find a good therapist or counselor at school with whom you can start to do some work to help you deal with all the stresses you are experiencing now. It took a few tries before I got a correct diagnosis of PTSD.  I found a good therapist and a good psychiatrist at a hospital, both of whom had done a lot of work with Vietnam Vets.  Once I got a correct diagnosis I started to get the help I needed.  It has taken me a lot of years of work but I do know that it is possible to function in this troubled world and to move forward with help. Good luck, Kristie.  You are in my thoughts and prayers. Take care, Anne on the prairie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Please, I’m only 15, and these memories are truly inhibiting much of >my life. I need some help. Is there anyone out there who can give me >some guidance, or let me know what might be going on? Is this PTSD >that I’m experiencing? Someone please respond–I would really >appreciate some feedback. Thanks. >~Kristie

Response:

"Kristie –plz help" <kristie_…@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:f1f3634a.0302181637.409d197@posting.google.com… > I have a problem. In October of 2001, I made a suicide attempt. [snip] > and the worst part… I was only 13 years old. > [snip] > Please, I’m only 15, and these memories are truly inhibiting much of > my life. I need some help. Is there anyone out there who can give me > some guidance, or let me know what might be going on? Is this PTSD > that I’m experiencing? Someone please respond–I would really > appreciate some feedback. Thanks. > ~Kristie

    There’s no way for us to know, Kristie, without a medical professional’s help in diagnosing your symptoms. On the surface, yes, in my non-professional opinion, I think it is possible you suffer from PTSD or a closely related disorder. But I am NOT A DOCTOR! I do understand about you lying about the truth of your suicide attempt, but that lie has helped keep you from getting the treatment you may really need to help yourself. You don’t mention this, but if you attend church fairly regularly you may find that talking to your pastor/priest about this, in private, may help give you some insight into what to do next. Confession truly is a tonic for the soul because it releases us from the burden of having to keep that lie a secret from everyone when we know what we did in the first place. Keeping a lie secret is truly a difficult thing for anyone to do forever.     Do you have a best friend at school? Or a neighbor you can trust? Or a relative? In my opinion, until you relate the truth of 2 years ago to someone, you won’t be able to help yourself deal with the flashbacks and pain. They’ll just get worse, dear. Yes, it may mean that the truth will get known by everyone you know, but it will also help you begin getting the treatment you need to combat this thing. For it IS a ‘war’, young lady, you battling yourself deep inside! Gather all the support and help you can get to help you win your battles every day, even if it means owning up to having lied 2 years ago. And keep us posted on your progress, if you would, or just me privately if you don’t feel that comfortable on the NG yet. I do care. My best to you. Wes…

Response: