How does trauma affect the brain?
Well, one way we can look at that is to look at how trauma affects telomeres, which are protective caps on the ends of chromosomes that keep them from deteriorating.
As we age, telomeres naturally get shorter and eventually, die. So they make a great marker of cell aging and thus of overall health.
It’s no secret that I love learning about telomeres.
I’ve reported in the past that exercise can help protect telomeres, while stress and depression can increase the rate of telomere shortening.
Aoife O’Donovan, PhD and her colleagues from the San Francisco VA Medical Center published a study in Biological Psychiatry, showing that adults with PTSD had significantly shorter telomeres than those without a history of PTSD.
But for the first time, researchers from Duke University and Kings College London have found that the same can be seen in children who have been exposed to trauma.
Led by Idan Shalev, PhD, researchers looked at 236 members of the Environmental-Risk Study (a longitudinal study that examined genetic and environmental factors of children born in Wales and England in 1994-1995).
They took DNA samples from the children at age 5, and then again at age 10. They also interviewed their mothers when the children were 5, 7, and 10 in order to compile a report of the children’s exposure to violence.
Violence was considered in three forms: exposure to domestic violence between the mother and her partner, frequent subjection to bullying, and physical maltreatment by an adult.
Of the 236 children who took part in the study, 42% of them had been exposed to violence by this criteria.
Researchers found that for children, cumulative exposure to violence resulted in the shortening of telomeres.
In all cases, visible aging of telomeres was found and in fact, the level of telomere deterioration increased
if the child was exposed to multiple forms of violence.
As you know, I’m always cautious of studies that don’t use a randomized controlled design, but in this case, you couldn’t and wouldn’t want to randomly assign certain children to be bullied or exposed to other forms of violence.
But, the study is longitudinal, which means researchers looked at results over a period of time. This type of study does hold its own scientific merit, and is a good alternative in a situation like this one.
You can read the entire study in Molecular Psychiatry.
This research is one more piece of evidence revealing how trauma is experienced not only in the body, but also in the brain.
But, if I’ve learned anything from mind-body medicine, and the more recent discoveries in working with neuroplasticity, it’s that it’s never too late to heal.
What interventions have you used to treat young patients? Please leave a comment below.
I am Ayurveda Wellness Consultant and TM meditation teacher. There is a research that shows that meditation can increase telomeres and Ayurveda helps with lifestyle, supplements and food choices for that too. Some doctors recommend new telomeres supplements that can dramatically reduce age and others may work more slowly but less expensive.
We have group of veterans who were tough TM and they have good results with PTSD.
I personally believe I had it from childhood as I had some symptoms those time. They increased dramatically after exposure to mercury amalgams. Only after removal and 3 years of gentle chelation home with tiny doses of detox I was able to stop feeling anxiety.
As for chronic fatigue I had – cortisol support with supplements that increase it helped very much too.
I had low cortisol according my saliva test. Serotonin support for depression with supplements like 5 – HTP is good for cortisol too. My brain for went away, I have a lot of energy and can work as normal person.
I have article about low cortisol connected to genocide. I didn`t experience genocide but predisposition can be inherited and my parents and grandparents had it. I also had stress from my parent’s relationship and divorce and I may have low adrenal function from birth. Without cortisol life can be short as without telomeres. I had to figure out the way to increase cortisol myself because even integrative physician was not able to help. I learned how to deal with stress and balance whole physiology to be stable and energetic. And I want to help other people who suffer from stress related problems.
over the years i worked with babies and children and found that, given the opportunity, a safe environment, compassion and empathy, babies instinctively are ready and willing to feel their feelings and heal. i have found in young children that guided play where they have all the factors above and adults who assist them in the witness process also heal. i studied long ago with dr. william emerson and began to use story and play even with the youngest ones, and this allowed them to express emotion around their traumatic experiences, coupled with empathy, came resolution.
This is a curious study. Many of the adult clients with PTSD, that I have treated have parents who would deny any type of trauma that their child has experienced.
I love the new information from the studies regarding neuroplasticity. I have not read much about the telomeres. Any current information/readings are welcomed!
Nice article. Agree with it based on harsh personal experience.
But one major issue though – be gender neutral about family violence (“Violence was considered in three forms: exposure to domestic violence between the mother and her partner”).
That is a very serious shortcoming of discriminating against half the victims, boys and girls of male victims of family violence.
#elephantintheroom #16days on FB
your NICAMB series is extremely up to date and helpful.
I suppressed everything until I had a stroke at 39, which I survived. During the recovery (I couldn’t talk properly) I learnt to put sentences together by writing (very slowly at first)… to begin to express the trauma and grief. I started the process of coming to terms using PKP Kinesiology (with fellow practitioners) and later, when it came to the core issues… a friend (poet Nick LeForce) encouraged me through poetry. So, for the core issue… poetry… has become “the best way” I can fully and succinctly express myself to resolve such intense emotions… and purge my self of the pain of the most excruciating of all of my memories and feelings about events, situations and ramifications. This was my personal choice to take this route for my healing. And it has worked brilliantly for me. My trauma = my path to wholeness. I am now 51 and feel pretty darned good.
My doctors in 1983 used what they called medical hypnosis to work on me for two hours. They said they did some things to help me out given what they’d uncovered about what a research facility had done with me at a very early age and continued doing for many years afterward. I was told that I had a very bad case of PTSD that was on the scale of the worst of the vets that came out of Vietnam. None of them were functioning and were in VA hospital psyche wards. They talked to a brother sister, mom and dad to find out how we all came out of that home alive given what happened there was life threatening every day we lived there. They said most of the PTSD was from the experimentation and programming done to me. I almost choked and still almost do when I consider what we were all exposed to while growing up. I remember things now, maybe not all of them but they come back while I’m sleeping. They re-surface. I was taught deep muscle tightening and loosening to get rid of stress and Assertiveness Discipline Training which have both helped me all my life. They gave me a tape player with a relaxation tape in it that helped a tremendous amount. The best thing they ever taught me was to remember that they found nothing of mental illness wrong with me. They said I’d think I was when I would recall some of the experiences I’d had during my younger years. But, they said they were of the belief that those things actually happened to me and I tend to agree with them at this point having resurfaced memories coming back since before I was 50 yrs. old. I supposed that having grown up with brothers did a lot to steady my fears and of course I did witness things that happened that could only be called miracles. For whatever reason these things happened, they saved my life and that of my family members. When we found something that worked we used it. I tended to have much more success with prayer than anyone else in the family though. I had hoped to find someone willing to help me with the effects of PTSD at this time. I have a dog that’s great for this type of thing. He alerts to my moods and actually comforts me. My last dog alerted to these things as well. We had hoped that this dog would learn from the first one before she passed and it appears that he did. When I get overloaded I sit in a dark room with nothing but the fans on. The cool air from them seems to help me calm down quite a bit. I’ve used self hypnosis cds to help me get a better fix on the workings of resurfaced memories and that has helped greatly. When you’ve only got pieces of a large picture it’s hard to understand what’s going on. Once I do it’s like, Oh! Well I wish I’d have known that earlier it would’ve saved me a lot of grief, time and trouble. I have my go to music cds that take me out of the dark places and into better moods. I get a lot of exercise and am spending more and more time outside to soak up the sun. For some reason I stumbled upon UV from the sun or a full spectrum lightbulb with the same, that helped my moods quite a lot. I have seasonal depression because I’m a native American indian by blood. My people migrated with the seasons from what doctors have told me. So, when there’s less sun I take more depression meds and when there’s more I take less of it. It’s a month by month adjustment I’ve been trained to do and have kept up for years. I have that, the anxiety disorder, the PTSD, and it’s all like a cocktail for disaster at times. My siblings loved me and showed that towards me. The oldest ones were the ones that took care of us for the most part. We did all the house work and most of the work outside too. So, we knew how to run a household quite early. The more skills you can have the better equipped you’ll be in the duration. I learned how to work on cars from my brothers. I learned carpentry skills, sheet metal working skills, welding, plumbing, electrical, etc. So, the things I learned early on have stuck with me my entire life. They allow me to feel capable and that makes a great deal of difference in my quality of life. It’s just that when I have been shocked, stressed greatly, or been fatigued suddenly I lose not just momentum but also energy that just suddenly drains away. I know I’ve encountered triggers lately that have really tested my mettle and then some. Experience in living through the things I have, that I know about, have made all the difference in my life. I compare the lives of counterparts and they are not fairing so well in life. For the most part people don’t see me melt down but it’s something I’m not proud of so I stay away from people for the most part. It alleviates a great deal of stress because I become over sensitized in my hearing when I have these episodes. My hearing has been tested repeatedly to be like that of a dog, higher and lower than the normal human hearing spectrum. I know how dogs feel when they’re around a lot of noise. Maybe my experiences at finding what has helped me will help others too.
The RIM (Regenerating Images in Memory) Method works effectively to neutralize the effects of trauma. This work is so important.
I have found the Trauma Rewind technique (Human Givens UK) to be hugely beneficial working with teenagers who’ve been witnesses or victims of violence & sexual abuse. It seems to unhook the emotion
from the incident really quickly & without re-traumatising. I also use Lifespan Integration Therapy for older clients….again relatively quick resolution of trauma & early attachment issues compared with talking therapy.
if effect from trauma at behavior subjek, we treat the subjek with the behavioral therapy. despitefully require to cooperate craftily brain, and other alternative therapy which can support.
I have used Heartmath techniques and technology, amazing stuff, and a form of mindfullness.
I use neurofeedback, heart rate variability and other forms of biofeedback in my practice, to address trauma in adults and children. If psychotherapy is indicated once the individual is functioning better, then we move on with that. This study makes so much sense and only further elucidates the effects of trauma on on the brain/body.
Yes, Dr. B, I think this study has merit. If one were to try TRE for instance, or anlother healing modality, wouldn’t it be helpful to have the telomeres evaluated before and then after the treatment period?
Taking a scientific approach in this way, makes sense. So much of what we experience in this area, is a subjective assessment. Patients can and often fool themselves and their therapists. Sometimes from a deep desire to get well, feel better and improve their mood.
Hyperbaric oxygen chamber therapy could be useful too. There are successful outcomes for positive brain changes noted by MRIs before and after for autism. Why not for PTSD?
Nutrition and neurological interventions, such as the Logan Technique and T.B.M. Acupuncture?
Question: How are the telomeres quality tested? How expensive is this test? From what body regions are the samples taken? and Does that make a difference?
Thanks H. Hancock, M.Ed
TRE (Tension & Trauma Release Exercise) is an innovative series of exercises that assist the body in releasing deep muscular patterns of stress, tension and trauma. Created by Dr. David Berceli, PhD, TRE safely activates a natural reflex mechanism of shaking or vibrating that releases muscular tension, calming down the nervous system. When this muscular shaking/vibrating mechanism is activated in a safe and controlled environment, the body is encouraged to return back to a state of balance.
I spent many years reversing the damage to myself from an abusive upbringing by using holistic modalities to heal, but it was so worth it. At 47 I’m much better than I ever was in life!
I am almost 45 years-old and was told only last September, after many years of psychiatric “services,” that I have had PTSD since the age of two… Thank you.
Hey Lucinda, I am just passing this along in case you are interested in checking them out. Dr. Caroline Leaf has great information on healing of PTSD and Annie Hopper has the Dynmaic Neural Retraining System as well that deals with that. They both deal with using the brain’s neuroplasticity. I’m actually utilizing both methods and I am healing (not of PTSD but something else that is very serious). I switched up Dr. Leaf’s to fit my needs a little better for my current situation and honestly God has showed me exactly what I needed to do. I’m very thankful for that. Hope this helps. Ashley 🙂
I am extremely disappointed to note that despite numerous extremely good qualitative research studies, the attitude prevails that randomised controlled studies are some how considered a superior methodology.
Is there any possibility that the evidenced shortened telomere is a consequence of the HPA’s affect on ANS and Immune system for the temporary adaptive benefit of individual ? Can telomere regenerate , can they be renewed in some sense when chronic stress ceases ?
Nelson I just want to say, I did it, but with alternative therapies. It took many years – about 3-5 – but my brain is stronger than ever, and I suffered severe trauma as a kid on a repeat basis. I rebuilt my brain through holistic supplements, herbs and energy work, and I truly healed that way.
Angela,
I just saw your comment this 8/12/2021and would like to know more details of the rebuilding: specific supplements and amounts, herbs, and the energy work. Also, did you recognize gradual growth/improvement or signs of such additive development over time; how or what evidence ? My direct contact is : nelsonkieff@yahoo.com; 703 426 8799: any explanation is appreciated.
what Shalev study do you refer to? — if it refers to the 2014 paper — note this quote “Analyses showed that the persistence of internalizing disorders across repeated assessments from ages 11 to 38 years predicted shorter LTL at age 38 years in a dose–response manner, specifically in men (β=−0.137, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.232, −0.042, P=0.005). This association was NOT accounted for by alternative explanatory factors, including CHILDHOOD MALTREATMENT, tobacco smoking, substance dependence, psychiatric medication use, poor physical health or low socioeconomic status. ” Certainly, earlier studies by the same author attributed shortening of telomere length to “childhood trauma” but …
pardon the extra post — it seems the research quoted by you was quote old — note this study dating from 2012 or earlier
Hi Russel, the study that we discuss above measured telomere lengths at age 5 and 10 from a group of children where 42% had reported at least one violent exposure. The study that you’re referring to measured telomere length at ages 26 and 38 from a group where 35% reported exposure to childhood maltreatment.
While Dr. Shalev was involved in both studies, I don’t think the results of one study necessarily negate the results of the other. As I say frequently on this blog and is true with many findings, more research is needed.
Could this be part of the reason women with PTS and complex trauma sometimes have early menopause or why some children, adopted from orphanages have early menstrual cycles?
Speaking for myself only, I find it difficult to envision any real deep healing from a life that began with a head injury in the birth canal, that continued for decades from there on with varied violence, trauma, molestation, bullying and threats, with no real love discernible by me from any adults.The distrust runs so deeply that I don’t think I would recognize love even if it was happening from someone else in my direction.I don’t know if unconditional love is rare, common or not – so it would be ideal to have had it so that I could recognize it again.I have been struggling many decades to find how to love myself, since that’s tmobilehe only way, I think, that I could recognize love in some other form. Very early I loved animals because they have that in them and they don’t lie. While I have learned to play the social game amenities, I know they are not the real me and I don’t believe this will ever change, which is why I live alone, or, rather, I live with myself – and my animal friend.I do believe that people can change certain things or certain conditions or aspects of personhood and change the quality of their lives to some extent
Interesting article. Do the three kinds of violence include psychological violence? I guess that comes under bullying?
I FOUND YOUR POST VERY INTERESTING FOR A CHANGE. HOW DO YOU HEAL AFTER BEING RAPED AND ATTACKED, 2 YEARS LATER BY YOUNG MEN WITH GUNS COMING INTO YOUR HOME?
THING IS, MY HUSBAND A “MOOD-DISORDER” PATIENT, DIED ABOUT 7 YEARS BEFORE THAT HAPPENED. MY BROTHER HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS SCHIZOPHRENIC FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS.
I UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF EXERCISE AND DIET. HAVING BEEN VERY ACTIVE AND INTERESTED IN NUTRITION AND EXERCISE IN ORDER TO STAY SANE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH A BRILLIANT CHARISMATIC BI-POLAR MAN FOR 23 YEARS I WONDER HOW THE BEST WAY OF HEALING MIGHT BE MANIFESTED IN YOUR OPINION. REALLY A BIT BORED WITH MOST OF THE STUFF THAT I GET ON-LINE AND YOUR RESEARCH SEEMS QUITE INTERESTING. TELOMERES ARE ONLY ONE PART OF THIS THING.
HAVING BEEN EXPOSED TO RATHER PERSONAL INVASIONS OF SPACE AS A VERY YOUNG WOMAN AND EXPOSURE TO GREATNESS AND HORROR, WITH SOMEONE WHO WAS SUPPOSEDLY “CRAZY” IT’S VERY DIFFICULT TO
Hi Marian, and very sorry for your troubles. Trauma Releasing Exercises – TRE is without a doubt the best thing in the world today, for resolving/dissolving PTSD. You will find plenty of info on the net, videos and testimonies. I advise you to seek the help of a practitioner – you wouldn’t jump without your parachute right? David Berceli actually featured here in one of Ruth’s Trauma webinar. You will find a practitioner on the main website traumaprevention dot com. We can also work by skype if location is a problem. Best of luck Marian: TRE *is* real help. Cheap n cheerful, and Nature’s way ! Raymond / Ireland
What is TRE?
Thank you for your post Raymond.. Many years ago I had one session of craniosacral therapy. I found it to be very powerful in that the release of tension experienced was extraordinary. I did not have the opportunity for further sessions as the therapist was moving to another country at the time. I would be very interested in trying this method again but have not been successful in finding a therapist who is qualified in this technique. . Marina
Sharing from the heart. PTSD has been a living hell for me. I have spent 38 years living reactions to it, trying to piece my own personal story together and wanting to create peace and self love. I grew up in a home with violence, abuses and trauma. I was also sexually abused by a first cousin for years. I have no clue how old I was when it started and ended, a neighbour of mine before I was 7. I also KNOW it started in my home at an earlier age. I am guessing 3 years old and one of them was my father (I think there were 3 person(s) actually) based on my cellular memories and nightmares of it. The long list of childhood symptoms include bed wetting, nightmares, insomnia, nail biting, migraines, projectile vomiting, black outs, urinary tract infections, candida, anxiety, very early childhood development, masturbation, acting out sexual actions, huge amount of anger, poor concentration, over eating, fear of dr’s, dentists and anyone in authority. I functioned through it all. Spent over half of my life in therapy once I realized at about 13 years old that it wasn’t normal or supposed to happen to you and trying to get away from the family relationships that were present and/or helped create it. My list of adult symptoms is too long and too complex to share.
Along the way I became spiritual and worked on healing myself through Reiki, NLP, meditation, self love practices and following my intuition. I haven’t been diagnosed with anything specific but it is clear PTSD has been with me my whole life as long as I can recall. I know there are brain issues with wires being crossed that move beyond triggers and reactions. I have had things heal on their own and learned a lot about the natural healing processes along the way. I have relived many of the physical and emotional responses while having spiritual evolution to coincide with the amount self love, surrender and acceptance I can allow myself. Fear has played a major role being trapped in the emotional walls of traumas, my age and cognitive development at the time of traumas and integration with those childhood parts of myself. A landslide of guilt, shame and an overpowering sense of unworthiness and being unlovable also.
Personally finding trauma support has been very difficult. I chose not to take any drugs in my healing journey. Having someone listen through years of therapy was highly supportive in my world where there was/is a lot of denial and projection pointed at me the victim, …. or now as I say ‘survivor’. Lack of support from people around me, combined with the inability to hold close or trustworthy relationships causes a lot of suffering. People in my inner circle have no clue what PTSD is, they lack an ability to want to learn or have some understanding or empathy. It is easier for them to say ‘get over it’ or ‘let’s talk about something else’. I have lost many friendships over issues related to this… and I have run from many also. I have had many failed sexual/dating relationships over not being able to be intimate with those that wanted that from me, from me wanting excessive attention over love, for wanting a type of sense of security that will never be there, for me wanting someone to love me enough to save me and for me wanting the fantasy of someone to accept me as I am now completely/unconditionally like from a loving parent, instead of building a long trusting relationship over time. I jumped in with two feet every time… not knowing healthy boundaries and thinking sex meant connection as that is what I had learned or came to believe.
Also overcoming PTSD and finding myself and my truths has become the only sense of indentity I have for myself besides being spiritual. I didn’t start off with a healthy sense of my body, of caring for myself or my well being… all of those beautiful gifts were taken from me with my innocence. My sense of wonder, my ability to feel comforted… all gone. So putting the puzzle together has been the only sense of self integrity and strength that I have. Where did I come from and why am I the way I am. Not being normal, feeling formal, reacting normal… has been HUGE in my self loathing and demise as well as driving force to better myself. Although if you look up PTSD I am perfectly normal or even perhaps above normal for what is possible after having lived such traumas. I could have become an addict or an abuser… the tendencies where there. I have to watch foods, alcohol and wanting to take an easy road over a more worthy one.
All of this to say. I don’t have all the answers. PTSD is very complex at best. Each journey is one of personal experiences, awarenesses and healings and will vary greatly as will any and all healing or healing modalities. Shifts take place through divine timing based on spaces that become created and on ones natural ability to move through them. You can’t force the doors open but having safety/healthy strategies and a safe place to share is vital. Teaching self love is key… self care, self acceptance, and not feeling alone have helped me personally. I bless the mother above who is acting as a loving advocate, nurturer and active participant in her daughters journey… may all of our hearts heal along the way. Blessings to all who have had trauma, pain suffering and any of the aforementioned and may we walk together. I have also learned the amount of courage it takes to speak our truths, to create change and to become intimate with ourselves and others. These are triumphs.
Brenda, I felt compelled, on this Sunday morning, to respond…I’m guessing you might return to see if there was a response to your question about can you be cured?…you are not broken and you do not require fixing and it was not your fault….and most especially, it is never too late in life. you are of course, already one with all that is good in this universe…you are not apart from the good, you are a part of the good and it is already of you..
…energy guided resources such as vibrational resonance and tapping techniques many report they find of amazing compliment in dissipating density and basically stickiness of lower resonances that hold an ongoing ‘story’ alive in such pain. (I do not mean story as in something made up that did not previously occur). Rather story that its residue continues as a present chapter of life limiting pain.
You may enjoy a treasure hunt to find the work of Panache Desai and explore Jo Dunning’s website. Among others-these two very gifted energy beings are frequent on line speakers and as they speak literally seem to reach listener/participants with energy itself far beyond the actual words…nothing that can be measured to be described in a clinical trial-rather touching people around the globe and creating shifts and life changes. It sounded from your comment that you may be open for something different so…
Also, don’t know if you are familiar with Donna Eden’s Energy Medicine-that book and her latest Energy Medicine for Women hold fascinating info and specific activities and practices to do to help change basic electrical energy systems of our beings.
Yoga and Martial arts are also experienced by a lot of folks as core in reconnecting to mastery and taking back, with awareness thru every cell of the whole being , all the power and greatness that is already yours and just waiting to be able to show again.
hope something here serves as you go forward in your great adventure…
Jody: What a beautiful, loving, and so extremely helpful response you gave to Brenda. I am extremely curious about your training and where you are practicing. My email address is barbarahunt@earthlink.net if you would care to respond.
Dear Dr. Ruth,
I am chronologically 79-years old, and have had my shortened telomeres made longer, and thus reduced my biological age by 20-percent (Spectracell Labs telomere test). The most effective means is through culturing one’s own stem cells that circulate in our blood stream. A simple venous blood draw will provide some circulating stem cells (bone marrow hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells) that can be cultured to grow lots of them (without differentiating into progenitor cells). These are then harvested and injected back into the body to fill your depleted “warehouse” of replacement cells with fresh new cells. We have stem cells throughout our body, and this normal adult-stem-cell repair mechanism begins to fail as we age, not because of shortened telomeres in our stem cells (because they lengthen there telomeres and thus are essentially immortal) rather there is a breakdown in the cellular signaling pathway (Notch Delta) that activates mitosis in the germ-line stem cells; the delta receptors become less responsive. Thus, enhancing receptor sensitivity is a major key to reversing aging.
Gerald Vind
ghvind@yahoo.com
This is the first time I’m hearing about PSTD. I have spent a fortune and still unable to function in society. Still so very limited in my ability to grow, to achieve, believe in my self. I’ve done so much to get well and nothing has any great effect. I’m 65 years old, and still fell frozen in my childhood. I grow up without mother and father. My mother died when I was 18 months old amd father abandoned me when I was 6. The lady’s house he dropped me off at was abusive from the moment I came to the time I left at 17. I have no lasting relationships at all. Life is still like living with her fighting with people most of the time. there has been no love in my life. I have not been able to love myself, and have confidence in me. Unable to make progress in my life. I watch people around me grow and make progress and I stay at stand still so depressing. Ive always struggled with learning, focus, and concentration problems all my life. Is there a cure for me at this late stage of my life.
Keep on writing and chniggug away!
Your article is a masterpiece.Here is my comment on my adult treatment,much of my PTSD arises from childhood abuse in a phobic inducing high control religious cult.
PTSD treatment for Veterans found ineffective.
Eli Lilly made $65 billion on the Zyprexa franchise.Lilly was fined $1.4 billion for Zyprexa fraud!
The atypical antipsychotics (Zyprexa,Risperdal,Seroquel) are like a ‘synthetic’ Thorazine,only they cost ten times more than the old fashioned typical antipsychotics.
These newer generation drugs still pack their list of side effects like diabetes for the user.All these drugs work as so called ‘major tranquilizers’.This can be a contradiction with PTSD suffers as we are hyper vigilant and feel uncomfortable with a drug that puts you to sleep and makes you sluggish.
That’s why drugs like Zyprexa don’t work for PTSD survivors like myself.
-Daniel Haszard
I think unresolved trauma comes up in later life for some adults. I’d like to know whether successfully treating trauma at that time would actually restore the telomeres (and those lost years)? Seems to me, hypothetically, it would lengthen life but I don’t know whether it is possible to repair telomeres?? I’d love to know. Thanks!
These scientific studies validate what is already so obviously true for me, that is trauma affects all levels of being, emotional, spiritual and physical.
The scale of Post traumatic stress is sooo large, and deep, I am passionate about learning and working with effective channels of healing.
Also, more recently, I have certified as Trauma-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapist and used this approach with 3 children thus far. Works best with intelligent, verbally proficient children, but can be adapted for others. More cognitive than experiential so not appropriate for all children.
I have used Sand Tray and other relatively nondirect interventions with traumatized young children. Enjoyed the article. Thanks.
Thank you for offering the intro and broadcasts! Ruth, so you know of any studies reporting the efficacy of experiential land-based therapies for children, adolescents or adults with PTSD?
Colleagues at the 200-acre retreat center where I work are interested in proposing a practical, therapeutic program including active participation in the permaculture garden and stewardship of the land. All comments/suggestions welcome.
Have you considered the native knowledge of the land and using some of the elders, or uncles and aunts initiation process’s, that are suitable of course:)
First, thank you for all your work and your invitation to hear experts from all over using all kinds of methods dealing with trauma. My daughter has severe PSTD first from her birth due to almost dying of heart failure after three weeks in the NICU (heart defect was not the problem ~ the stress/trauma of intervention). Since that time period, those that could not understand her PSTD has caused more and more trauma to layer on top of the original trauma beyond any lineage DNA trauma she has also inherited. Her systems were still progressing years ago due to additional toxicities from vaccines, oral surgery for three stainless steel crowns (later found out high amount of nickel) and then minor heart surgery to seal two small holes one of which was with a titanium coil (later found out 57% nickel). All heavy metals off the chart resulting in seizures of abnormal behavior/neurological/physical symptoms (24 hr monitoring was 59 seizures and I think it was 481 electrical spikes to the brain). I testified at FDA’s open hearing on non-disclosure of medical devices. We have used a variety of energy modalities to clear many layers of her dysfunction and disconnects. We were able to alleviate the seizures down to almost only new trauma relating back to the many layers of old trauma. Her seizures have reduced to panic attacks – if aggravated can go into a full blown seizure. Now my husband still cannot ‘deal’ with her dysfunction (in therapy for that) and is still seen as a threat. Thus key ingredient is stopping, healing and transforming home situation (at this point heal or divorce). Since the current threat is still present her fear has her confined into safe places. Since the PTS is current, she has now developed agoraphobia. She individually has navigated so much and is so much better, but until the final family situation is resolved, the trauma is current. Husband has stopped his behavior but the relationship is shadowed by all the past trauma and Husband is not capable without help to move beyond current situation, nor is the eleven year old child. I can definitely attest to the stress trauma physically affecting this child. I am currently training under Forensic Healing (have studied psych k, EFT and have all Feinstein’s training videos) as a system that allows for the process of going through the layers methodically revealing each pathway and releasing/rewiring the energy. My plan is to fully navigate this with my child and write a book regarding the process and discovery. Thank you.
Love expands, fear contracts – even on a DNA level! Fascinating and confirming.
I was circumcised at age 7 and now I work to save children from this unnecessary trauma.
Once I realized what had happened to me as a child (when I was in my 52nd year) – I cleared a lot of the old PTSD, but fear was re-triggered by 2.5 years of exposure to drug-manufacturing neighbors. Am working now to release all that.
I personally believe that life is relentless – it continues to reminder when we still need to clear out ancient fear – and yet kind, because we are here to do that healing and we want to finish our work before we leave.
Breathe in…. breathe out…
I am a 80 year old survivor of intergenerational PTSD. I am a Native American and registered member of a tribe in Wisconsin. I have grappled with my symptoms since I was three years old – symptoms including painful “orders” to kill myself. I only completely recovered about three years ago when I was given “orders” to write a book about my experiences in self help.
The point being – my “telomeres” seem to be OK – I am physically very healthy and happily looking forward to writing and speaking.
Ruth I appreciate so much your bringing new methods to therapists – I wish when I was trying so hard to find help when I was young that I could have found someone who had this kind of understanding…instead I was forced upon my own methods…but my “methods” worked for me.
Ronnie, I’m so sorry you went through that, but I’m so glad you will be writing about it. It will be very cathartic for you, and of course you will help so many people who have also gone through similar things. But most importantly, perhaps, is that therapists can hear from you about your experiences which will enable them to understand it on a personal level vs. theoretically only.
Informative piece. Thank you for sharing.