The treatment of trauma can be some of the most complex work practitioners face.
And for years, this challenge was complicated by not having a clear picture of the impact that trauma has on the brain.
But scientific advances within just the past few years have opened the eyes of practitioners to what actually happens in the brain of someone who has experienced trauma.
And according to Bessel van der Kolk, MD, there are three major ways that the brain changes in response to trauma.
To find out what they are (and their impact on the body), take a look at the video below – it’s just 3 minutes.
Bessel is one of the world’s leading experts in trauma and PTSD. Because of his research, we have a deeper understanding of how trauma impacts both body and brain.
And this is crucial – it can help us target our interventions more effectively.
So now, we’d like to hear from you . . .
When it comes to the treatment of trauma, what do you want to know most? Please leave your comment below.
Why are PCPs and even many mental health providers so uninformed about trauma and PTSD? I presented with PTSD symptoms in 1991. I was not diagnosed with PTSD until 2013. Since then I have encountered so many barriers in the mental health world to get the care I needed. I wasn’t referred to a trauma institute until 2019. I believe that the only reason that I was able to break through these barriers is because I am an educated health care professional. And even then it took 2 decades of actively trying to pursue help before I got the care that I needed. I also believe that there are so many people with PTSD that have not been diagnosed, and thus not receiving treatment. Many of these people struggle with addiction and other social barriers to care.
I worked for 35 years as a paramedic. Included in all the symptoms he described is an sometimes instant anger response to a situation. It has only been recently recognized as a work injury for us and thankfully I have been able to access treatment as a presumptive workplace injury. I have been retired since 2012 and it was my wife who insisted I get some help. Still have my moments and I do realize this is going to be a struggle for the rest of my life but recognizing the symptoms has been very helpful. It is good that the old suck it up buttercup philosophy no longer applies. To late for some of us.
How to deal with the fatigue of trauma?
This one is a difficult one I think. Any thoughts on this?
Thank you.
I teach yoga and often clients who have been emotionally wounded come to my class. I have introduced some elements of ethnic dance in the standing pose, Tadasana, that have been very effective in releasing trauma in the hips and producing feelings of happiness. However, I am particularly concerned about offering a sense of safety at the close of class. I can see the effects of trauma, particularly in svasana, when clients are literally terrified to lie in this posture. The upper body is tense, they cannot close their eyes and the breath is tense. It helps if I stand, guarding the door, or invite clients to find a seated posture. However, some clients really have difficulty relaxing and the final pose is meant to be restorative not terror producing. Some have even let me know that they are having issues with dissociation. Any suggestions for postures at the end of a yoga class that offer a sense of security and safety or even empowerment?
Having C-PTSD, when in this final resting pose I find listening 2 my teachers calm, soothing, slow and deliberate voice helps very much, whether they r taking me through a breathing count, a visual journey or reading a short excerpt from a book – a passage especially chosen for this time, read twice through.
Thank you for your suggestions. Really beautiful and specific.
This is being voice type so please forgive what words may show up! I understand the type of a post-traumatic stress disorder from having grown up in the family and the youngest and I was a subject of some very typical I guess uncomfortable situations with an older brother. that would be sexual abuse and psychological abuse and the ineffectiveness of having parents that could not deal with this situation because of unexamined life and general fatigue of survival , consequently because of body shame, i went to school and I was afraid of everybody I was afraid to be naked in a locker room for sexual shame that I had, I was victimized by other people and was the classics sissy kid. As a result of this I never was able really to form any kind of relationships or go to school extending the education and I was a very anti-authoritarian in it and still am today as a result of my anger and my internalized psychological conditions. It took a major horrible situation which exemplified much of the sources of direct PTSD to awaken me out of the state that I was in well I went through a whole other ptsd State compounded. And what that was was I was in a relationship with another person who also had been in an abusive home life where their sexuality was questioned and they were criticized by a hostile father, we’re both guys, and what happened was, he possibly Under the Influence or of a bad situation where he was drugged in a stranger’s home, was sent to the hospital in a coma he had first technically had a stroke and the paramedics brought him back twice when he flatlined.
He was in a coma and I found him after searching one day at the hospital in the coma, and the doctors at the hospital already had a decision to remove his life supports after a week, with the family’s approval of course, they would take his respiration intubation off, in their words, and then his lungs would fill with fluids, and they would give him a morphine drip and then he would expire. Well I was allowed to be with him for several hours before they were going to make the decision about taking his life by removing his intubation and Etc. Well I knew that he was still in there in the coma I had spent a whole week with him, holding his hands and praying into his life and occasionally his eyes would open sometimes. I knew he was there okay. Well, when he was to have the decision developed by his family about his life being terminated oh, and I was no longer allowed to be there. And would not be able to be with him when he was going to expire from his morphine drip. When they were making the decisions around his body and discussing this in the same room with him, he came out of his coma and set up and looked at his family who had just decided or trying to decide whether to have him cremated or to have him sent back 2 his former broken home in a coffin. This I learned the next morning when I had received a call regarding the fact that he woke up from his coma. This is a long story but I’ll try to make it brief oh, because we didn’t have any domestic partnership agreement, or power of attorney, or any recognition, after one week another week of working with the therapist whom commented on how wonderful he looked when I came in to see him and be with him which was almost all of the time. The main doctor took some kind of offense and it was because I called out a drug reaction that my guy was having, and it was because they were giving him a drug called Haldol and it was interfering with his recovery and anaesthesia he was just under. oh, and the doctor didn’t like that me pointing that out. The divorced mother of my partner pointed out that to the doctor to take him off of the haldol. This created all sorts of repercussions which amplified all sorts of more problems in the already dysfunctional family of his family of origin, which was in play in this Hospital the animosity between his mother and his father and their new significant others observing this. Well, I was excluded entirely and threatened blasphemes by the father whom the friends of my partner said probably abuse their son when he was a kid, definitely verbal abuse, and possibly more. As something of a summary here, I got to know a lot about PTSD, and some people that have authored books and studied on it. People that work with Doctors Without Borders in Africa. And my conclusion is is that we live in an entirely traumatize culture. In more ways than we can possibly imagine. This event that happened to me was 13 years ago but for about eight years it was just as fresh as yesterday. My friend is still alive I do not know where Somewhere in Arizona, the father has complete control over him oh, and has voiced threats to me and others in the past. My life is totally informed by this experience as an artist and in these themes I work. I hope that my story here may be of some help to others, and if there are any suggestions likewise or anything to share with me I would really appreciate it. Our culture is very wounded people are wounded the perpetuation of cultural norms wounds people and hurts people. In the name of religion and their names of corporations in the names of capitalism. I appreciate all of your efforts in helping others and if there’s any way that I could help you please contact. My love and strength to those suffering and thank you for your help
While the video was brief it offered a very concise summary of important elements in understanding the impact of trauma. One question would be about possible concrete strategies to help people take the daily baby steps to overcome the after -effects of trauma.
Can someone accept they need help when they believe and project their feelings and issues onto someone else who is showing them compassion and asking how they may help. i.e.; You are the one with a problem?
I suffered some extreme
Emotional losses over a 4 year span ending in 2010. My father died alone in his bed of heart attack and was found days later, My husband was diagnosed with bi polar, refused meds and while away in a manic state he was brutally murdered, my mom then was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and suffered for 4 months with it. Then my grandmother passed and somewhere in the middle of all this two loved and older pet cats lives ended as if this wasn’t all enough at the end I was a passenger in a car accident, I lost my job of 8 years and than my newish boyfriend decided my life was too much and left me but not before draining my of my savings. I managed to find a CBT therapist in my area and did 12 sessions which helped immensely… my life changed for the better. I re married to a gem of a man, we have a beautiful healthy three year old son and have moved to be closer to my husbands parents. But ptsd has snuck back on me due to the stage 4 ovarian diagnosis of my mother in law. I feel my mind has no more room for loss. And I’ve started on a low dose of lexapro . I would do anything for more therapy but now with a child and single income the cost is not feasible. What can I do?
I am a therapist at a community health clinic, where sessions are 30 minutes long and sometimes they don’t meet criteria for county based program. They have Medi-cal(CA)/Medicaid insurance so they don’t often have access to long term and/or specialized programs. What is the most effective area to concentrate on trauma work, after safety is assessed and client is stable. Psycho-education? grounding excercises? somatic work? When time is short. Number of sessions are not quite as limited?
Thank you! I am in year 3 of Acute PTSD, attempting to live with the aftermath of all 5 types of domestic abuse. Physical assault at the hands of my spouse prompted my departure from my home and a 7 year marriage. I am a NMT and have long been interested in anatomy & physiology; however, these recent experiences prompted my study of the brain. Bessel’s book in hand (The Body Keeps The Score), I understand the why and how. Now, how do move from the problem to the solution? Do you know of any noteworthy Trauma practitioners in the Atlanta area? May I come to CT for an extended stay and treatment with you? I am desperate and am quickly losing my interest in life. Depression, yes. And it is much deeper, as you know. I have been through extensive CBT, DBT, am one who meditates and prays countless times each day. Sober for 20 years, I am clearly disciplined and willing. I am simply stuck. What to do? Can you assist in any way?
Many thanks and blessings all around,
Josie
delrayjosie@aol.com
I’ve , who am a nurse ,was in a car accident 12/22 /19 2 days pre holidays when someone was speeding and lost control of her vehicle and came into my lane ,hit my car,all airbags deployed and went ER via ambulance. Finally Got out of car screaming with shock,pain due to injury and in disbelief. Totaled my car. Other person seemed ok. Thank God we both survived ! Now suffering all effects of trauma. Thankyou DR for video. It’s different on other side as an RN. Looking forward to more info! Thankyou
Hi.
My mother passed away from a stroke. It did not happen instantly. I am going over and over the details of the way it happened, why, what transpired when her brain was destroyed, and I instructed the nurses to remove the tube, and my decisions that I made to help her but ultimately worked against her. Allowing the EMS to bring her to the wrong hospital, then my wanting her transferred to a better hospital in nyc, but when I thought she would be transferred the usual way with her going there, yhe hospital sent their ambulance yo pick her up (1.5 hrs away) and they would have to drive back. I am guessing the original hospital did not want to give her their ambulance. We could have transferred her closer but that hospital did not give her sufficient care in the past because she was older to some degree. I should have intervened with the transfer center and told them we would come to them but i was afraid to rock the boat and we would grt stuck in the system waiting for treatment.
I took care of her and I always had to intervene with the hospital or drs to endure her treatment and safety and then getting her to good doctors when she got sick. I feel responsible for her death and repeat this scenario over and over day and night as if I would have the chance to do it better and get her the surgery she needed sooner. She was my mother, child, pal, best friend, side kick. She took care of me for my entire life before i took over to care for her.
I felt like her life was just getting started though she was in her 80s but she was very you g spirited. We had financial struggles for years and hurricane damage to our home which she never got to see fixed. I was about to help her get teeth. Most of hers broken snd were pulled.
There were so many unfulfilled things not even dreams. It was too soon.
I have tremendous guilt and cry alot even scream to vent when nobody is home. My dad 90 had been away at rehab.
Is this ptsd? I don’t feel that i have depression. I am just so sad and hating myself for the decisions i made. And mom asserted herself which usually she doesn’t that she did not want yo go to that hospital, it has a bad reputation and based upon experiences. And she asked for cake and milk in the am when we were there and i told her she should have breakfast first.
I thought it was weird to ask for that in the am but I regret so much not having gotten her that to make her happy. I did not get her breakfast yet. The stroke expanded while she waited for the pick up. My world and daily decisions revolved around making her happy or healthy, fighting her ailments.
Is this trauma? Ptsd?
Not sure if complicated grief. I am able to function and do productive things otherwise.
In fact I am making a charity to raise money for mobile stroke units.
It is about seven months.
How does chronic grief change the brain? What am I trying/needing to fix? The guilt? The obsessing?
Help.
This does sound like complicated grief, that did have aspects of trauma for you. Complicated means that there are other emotions than grief swirling around inside you, blocking you from experiencing and releasing the grief. It doesn’t sound from what you said as if it was a definite thing that if you had made other decisions your mom would have been ok. If you had made other decisions, things could have fallen apart for a different reason. You could have some unrealistic guilt. You were dealing with a medically fragile person and complicated systems, things were happening very quickly, and you did your best to make things work within this very difficult situation.
Things to try:
1) honor the memory of your beloved mom in some way. A picture album, written stories about her, an object that you make, a garden etc. I know you are doing the fundraiser in her memory, and that is wonderful, but I am thinking about something personal. There is a saying that the pain of grief is unexpressed love, and you had so much love for your mom.
2) Write your mom a letter with anything that you would like to have said to her. You can then burn it, or tear it up and throw it into water or the wind.
3) Consider grief counseling so you can talk about and work through your thoughts and feelings about the very difficult circumstances you were experiencing around that painful time.
I wish you healing. It can take a year or more to let go of a traumatic loss, so be kind and patient with yourself.
How long to heal or recover? Understanding each experience is individual and each one responds in their own way.
I’d lied to know how acting and theatre can help those who suffer from PTSD, and trauma.
Excellent piece of information there.. thank you.
As a therapist I would like to know how, firstly I can help a person ease their traumatic pain, and secondly.. do you think that explaining trauma and affects to the brain is helpful for me as the therapist and also the person I am trying to help?
Carol
I am 62, (girl) who remembers the day my life ended when my brother sneaked out of the house and was run over. I was 21months old and he was almost 3. I suffered migrains and also threw up a lot. I broke out in hives within 3hours of his death. As a adult I have suffered so much chronic pain. I always felt like my dna changed as a child when he died. I jump at every sound. After he died I slept all the time, so my mom always thought I was overtired. It seemed like no one could help me. I did find some help thru herbs and vitamins with my research. I loved my brother, I always think of him as my blonde haired boy, and were is he? When I was seven I found out who my blonde haired boy was and why I could never find him. We both died that day
Children and youth typically portrayed as being resilient and bouncing back so much more easily from trauma. In teaching I know this is not always the case. Discomfort tolerance assumed to be necessary for reflection, growth and or coping varies within children. When someone blocks sensitivity to avoid experiencing and reliving trauma, learning is impacted. Perhaps this is one reason my classes integrating art and literacy approaches that are non threatening, structured, and allow students to relax and express themselves, seem to affect growth in other areas. Just as the Christmas season triggers deep depression for so many adults, it is tragic to see how many 12 – 15 yr olds show obvious signs of trauma as explained so clearly by van der Kolk, particularly in this season.
Traumas, whether from ACE’s’ or later in life, seem to heighten the sensitivities of the limbic system resulting in preconscious overreaction to external events and stimuli, often resulting in chronic states of physical tension and anxiety. This is so pervasive over a wide spectrum from ACE victims to ware veterans. Seems like we’re just beginning to learn how to ameliorate these conditions efficiently and effectively and permanently. Lately I’ve been reviewing material on Coherence Therapy and the work that Annie Hopper is doing with MCS and other sensitivities. There is a growing realization in the fields of brain science, psychology and spirituality that everything is connected and this is leading to more holistic approaches that are less pathologizing and more honoring of the whole being.
Would EMDR help with my trauma? I’ve experienced many different traumas since childhood and is now affecting my health both physically and mentally.
So curious about the rouge Eric factors—if parents and on back have trauma systems running, does that shape the CNS of the next generation literally? It must.
I want to know why it’s so hard to find a real therapist who can help me with my trauma. In Southwest Michigan it has been a very real struggle finding a therapist who uses a science based approach to help trauma patients without incorporating God and religion into the treatment. It’s very stressful. I am looking at driving over an hour and a half one way to find one. It’s just not doable. I know I need help with treating my trauma and this lack of a good treatment options is debilitating in and if itself.
That was supposed to say epigenetic! Spell checker didn’t like that!
Mary Have you checked the websites for sensorimotor psychotherapy Institute? How about the EMDR websites for referrals to therapist? These issues take intensive years of training on top of University studies and they’re very expensive. Perhaps that’s why you’re having trouble. But those two websites should help you locate therapist to have this level of training that you need. Or you can contact me back, Cynthia 734-662-6300 extension 81
I would like to know the specific methods to reduce these impacts, how to intervene early and any recommendations for reducing brain inflammation and the continued damage that can occur long after traumatic experiences take place. If asked by payers of healthcare “what should we train and pay for for children and adults with symptoms of trauma” what would you recommend. We are in a fortunate place where the question is being asked and we do not have specific enough answers!
I am a male, 77 years of age and was involved in a car accident late at night recently, the like of which I have never experienced in all the years I have been driving since I was 17. My recollection is that I was forced off a motorway slip road as I was leaving the motorway and ended up on what I took to be a grassed area. In fact, it turned out to be a dump for quarry waste and covered if a thin topping of turfs. Whilst I was in no way injured physically the shock of the experience didn’t reach me for about a week. My car was “written off” due to the extent of the damage. I had to buy another car as I am dependant on a car for my work and hobbies. Although I forced myself to travel the same route several weeks after the accident I found it very stressful and now dislike night time driving, especially on motorways. I am aware this is not uncommon when one gets older but having driven all my adult life on a more or less daily basis all over the UK and on the Continent, in all sorts of weather conditions, I believe the incident I described above has affected my brain or mind and has caused a deep-seated trauma that I seem unable to rid myself of. I would be grateful for any advice that could be given to me to rid myself of the trauma. With kind regards. Mike
Hi Mike, for this kind of trauma (and other types) Somatic Experiencing is very effective. There are many SEPs in the UK (somatic experiencing practitioners) and you can look them up online. I hope this helps.
Thanks for your advice Ottavia. I have located a SEP’s practitioner in my home town and although I consider her expensive I will probably book an appointment. Thank you again.
Mike
EMDR is very helpful in cases like yours.
How is trauma related to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, personality disorders etc.
Thank you so much for sharing this video. It is very interesting and helpful for anyone who is (or has been) a victim of a traumatic experience. It helps understand what occurs afterward, as a normal reaction of our body and mind to traumatic experiences. It helps understand the “extra defensive” mechanisms that our mind raise afterward as a result of a trauma, especially in the high sensitivity that the mind develops towards future potential dangerous (or difficult) events. Can you please post another video on how to deal with post-traumatic experiences, in such a way to minimize the physical effects and the post-traumatic fear and complications that unfortunately may occur afterward? It may be helpful for anyone who is dealing with these types of experiences.
Deeply thanks.
With kindest regards,
Simo
Thank you so much for sharing this video. It is very interesting and helpful for anyone who is (or has been) a victim of a traumatic experience. It helps understand what occurs afterward, as a normal reaction of our body and mind to traumatic experiences. It helps understand the “extra defensive” mechanisms that our mind raise afterward as a result of a trauma, especially in the high sensitivity that the mind develops towards future potential dangerous (or difficult) events.
Can you please post another video on how to deal with post-traumatic experiences, in such a way to minimize the physical effects and the post-traumatic fear and complications that unfortunately may occur afterward? It may be helpful for anyone who is dealing with these types of experiences.
Deeply thanks.
With kindest regards,
Simo
How do we overcome PTSD successfully?
Hi again, thank you for asking for comments! I love NICABM!! I would also love to learn more about how meditation, mindfulness, and compassion-based approaches to therapy can help to rewire the brain after trauma, especially deeply rooted patterns from many small traumatic experiences. Thank you!
I want more stories or concrete examples of how our knowledge of how trauma affects the brain and body have been applied and worked! Also, I’m very interested hearing about a range of examples of trauma, not just extreme examples (e.g. from war or physical abuse). We need to learn more about trauma from less extreme circumstances like going through chemotherapy, having a mastectomy, giving birth, getting fired, bullying, etc.
If PTSD is ‘passed’ onto you when you are still in your Mother’s womb how is this dealt with?
I would like some thoughts on how to help ptsd clients start to feel even the slightest pleasure in life. Thank you
I suffered a serious injury in a traumatic manner, in a familiar doctor’s office for a routine treatment. This was another trauma in a series of traumas. I have complex PTSD due to childhood trauma and domestic violence. It has been very challenging to recover from my injury. I am about to have surgery and am wondering what treatment options could possibly assist me to heal and regain my functioning? I have done a lot of EMDR treatment with a trauma specialist to address all of the traumas I’ve experienced. I do not want the trauma aspects of the injury or my brain to prevent me from healing as fully as possible.
Any suggestions for me?
I’d love to know who can treat trauma in the body in my area
Bill
My adopted daughter experienced trauma early in life before we got her at 2 1/2 years. She now has stressed induced seizures because of the stress to her brain. She has done neurofeedback and EMDR in the past. She is still experiencing flashbacks thinking it is in real time. She has called 911 on different occasions saying that she was raped at school, raped at home, raped at church, etc. because she thinks it really happened. Thankfully all places had video footage disputing the accusations and cases were dismissed, but all of this has been so incredibly time consuming and exhausting for our family. I could go on about many other situations with her. We have spent so much time and money helping her. She has been in behavioral health facilities many times. So, my questions is where do we go from here helping her function in the world? Do we start back with EMDR??? She turned 18, is so sweet and capable in so many areas of life. She just finished homeschooling (because of 10-12 seizures a day, she had to be moved to homeschool her Jr year in high school). How do we help her? It seems like it’s just a spinning cycle and nothing is helping. The police have told us Th at once she turns 18, she can be arrested for these false accusations, which doesn’t seem right because of her traumatic pre adoption life…
My heart goes out to you.Adoption is a trauma in itself
She needs time to grow up with your support.Ignore issue that she could be arrested.you have enough proof that she has an illness.have you tried psychiatrist.may need medication.treat histrionic personality issues. Have you tried yoga meditation.may help her with body fears and reduce symptoms.Try different ,not same. Good luck
Can hiperbaric treatment help with trauma?
Hi, my name is Leigh Huxley.
Im not a professional but do watch your video presentations.
I have a soon to be 21 year old son who experienced his 2nd psychotic episode at the end of November. The 1st one was end of August 2015. Hes back on olanzepine & sirtraline & has stabilised medically.
Is psychosis regarded a trauma to the brain?
How can I best support him from a psychological standpoint?
Many thanks.
How to deal with early imprints like total denial of right of existence and being told at 4 years of age you are born for disfortune and noone would ever be able to love you.
I am fascinated by this, as an interest is brainwashing, for example in the manufactured hysteria around supposedly imminent climate catastrophe, and how this traumatizes people, and then (my main concern) how this trauma-induced brain change can be addressed and reversed. (I have loads of info on the induced hysteria, but this isn’t the place to give it.)
Thank you for this. I would like to know how to begin to work through these 3 changes in the brain. How can I turn the threat system off, how can I relate to myself and feel safe again in my body. Thank you.
Yes! Me too. I’m with Dawn. And I’d love to learn from concrete examples of how to do this, e.g., while at work, in the cafeteria, on break – when faced with triggers.
First recognize your triggered
Alftrr a while talk to yourself that it’s a trigger,not happening now you are safe,after a while develop a plan for something you l do to move past the trigger. Do it. Then practice practice practice.
Good luck
Could you talk about Brainspotting for trauma resolution
I am fascinated with Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk. His combined studies of
science of mind and body is a new and very enlighten aspect of therapy.
Thank you, Ruth, for your information. I look forward to more information concerning Trauma and Healing.
When will it ever completely stop or an I suppose to try medically to regulate this?
Why do extremely traumatic events continue to happen to me
I am a therapist, and I have also been a client, as I have struggled with PTSD, anxiety and even depression from childhood trauma. Older clients have asked me if it is ever “too late” to recover from trauma, and I have wondered this as well. Can the brain be too “hard-wired”
from many decades of trauma to recover? I have just started using IFS, and that does seem to help, especially with older clients. Any comments or ideas? Your talents are a tremendous gift to the community of providers and clients. Thank you for your amazing work! Susan Kogon
I am not a practitioner, but I am someone who has experienced trauma. After decades of unsuccessful therapy with multiple practitioners, I’ve had to become my own trauma detective out of frustration with my slow progress of healing. I suppose I would like to know how trauma plays out in our mental, constantly-reactive, states. Also, how has the brain been affected… and how can the brain be healed? How does trauma express itself in illness within our bodies? What patterns are trauma therapists recognizing in trauma patients? Lastly, what are the best ways to bring a sense of safety into the lives of trauma patients so that we can begin to “stand down” mentally, physically and spiritually? Thank you so much for the work you are sharing in your programs. It’s been a huge help in my detective work!!
I am extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Either way keep up the excellent quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice blog like this one today..
Great video I would like to know if the areas in the Brain effected by trauma as explained..actually show up on a Brain scan …ie , atrophy , temporal areas ect.
Me too
Mindfulness, Meditation, Medication, CBT, all have been tried extensively but I am still in “fight or flight” nearly 20 years later. How do I break the cycle of Trigger-React-Treat-Repeat? So tired!
Hi Ed, Have you tried any deep pressure sensory therapies? The Therapressure brushing protocol also known as The Wilbarger Protocol -has helped a lot of my clients with sensory defensiveness and anxiety. Cortisol measures have shown a shift in brain chemistry with the treatment.
How to promote more understanding & empathy from family & friends of people with PTSD. It think it’s possibly as difficult as treating the patient because a lack of understanding & empathy from significant people in the patients life invaidates & cause more barn.
100% nailed it! Biggest problem with trauma is the belief that you should just suck it up and do what you need to do to get back up and fix things. Then the judgements that come when you don’t. Even if you are able to get understanding and empathy through discussion (endless!) it will not be long before a judgement will be made again as though there had never been a breakthrough in understanding. This goes in circles with everyone around you… With the exception of those who have experience with trauma in some way or extremely aware people.
I believe you to be correct that it is even more damaging than the trauma effects. It is like being paralyzed and in a wheelchair but the wheelchair is invisible and people keeping telling you to get up off your lazy ass and walk. They don’t or won’t believe you require any assistance and find many things nearly impossible to do. This is PTSD and CPTSD for those who don’t have knowledgeable people around them or acceptably defined reasons for trauma such as a life threatening event.
I want to know how to help someone having a flashback when they call me at the suicide hotline, thx!