mujicapst tks, acceptance and peace comes in short waves, given the mind gives me a rest. A particularily tiring day or aggitation makes it harder to focus on positive and non PTSD times. I am looking forward to a different therapist that will give a view I havent looked at yet. Though all as you mentioned treatments can seem to run together like is there not something out there besides for instance like my last therapist suggested visioning a kite flying at a peaceful place.

letitbe,

I have never agreed with the notion that intelligence is a single measure, either/or proposition. We all have our Idiot Factor, no matter what our IQ is.

Further, every dream has its I.F. The first step toward making a dream come true is to get the I.F. out of it.

Today I am dreaming of being able to calm an adrenaline surge before it complicates into my PTSD web.

Sis2cat
My guys compromised with me and are growing the habit of letting me know when they get home. We, too, are too quiet for the natural rumble alerts. Especially since I started losing my hearing.

I am most often to exit a pre ptsd episode at greater lengths now than I used to, but that comes after learning through the years techniques to help me notice a potential moment headed my way. But that doesn't happen as often as I would like.

I asked for comprimise from H to at least open or shut a door louder because I too have more difficulty hearing. That worked for a week or so. I slept in different rooms because of back and health issues. Ever wake up and have someone standing a few feet away just lookin at you without a sound in the middle of the night? Can be frightening!!

Arfie,

Gosh with writing it's hard for me to always say clearly what I mean. Didn't mean how intelligent you/I/anyone is, just that different parts of our brains may not be in sync.

Maybe we are talking about the same thing, what you call I. F. might be what I refer to as midbrain primitive response. I basically view PTSD as a midbrain disorder, as opposed to a whole mind disorder.

I think that is why we can discuss this stuff objectively- the rational part of the brain analyzing the irrational part. If we had whole-brain disorder then we couldn't gain insight would just be totally submerged all the time.

Don't know If I needed to clarify or if this does... maybe I am just more uneasy calling any part of me I. F. ( though it's a humorous take on things) cause I think this is coming from a part of the brain separate that can't be assessed in terms of intellectual prowess.

Things that trigger me are hearing someone being angry, I really want to run away. When I wake at 2 am, I'm usually terrified and often have flashbacks. If I hear a noise I don't recognize at night I get terrified. The angry response I know exactly what triggers it. It's from the emotional abuse my father did to me. The 2 am terror, I know it involves my father, but I don't know what the incident was.

Sis, you wrote
" mujicapst tks, acceptance and peace comes in short waves"

That it does, yes it does...

I am honored to be in the presence of greatness in this group. SERIOUSLY.

Rosie

So Rosie can find this

Thank you, letitbe3! I reread through the whole thread and now have a better idea what you are referring to with midbrain and forebrain!

And... you must have read my mind, too! Because I was just thinking again what a pleasure it is to be in conversation with some of the same folks who were sharing here. I hope you all will read what I wrote at 8:53pm on 7/23/12... in case you missed it the first time!

Rosie... honored to be here

HI Rosie,

I just posted this reply regarding triggers and the hormone rush that ensues, and one suggestion from one of my advisors, who is more of a spiritual counselor, not a psychotherapist, but I am finding this to be a technique that seems to help my body more quickly neutralize this rush of adrenaline drug /cortisol hanging around in my body more quickly, so I just copied and pasted my reply below from another post for you to consider.

Reply #16 - 08/05/12 7:44pm
Have any of you heard of or tried out the Coherent Breathing Technique from Heart Math? One of my counselor/advisors shared this with me, and sometimes it really helps me IF I can remember to turn to using it before I get too far into the fight or flight with adrenaline and cortisol rushing through me.

I was told that when we feel a trigger that starts a flashback or any negative emotion, this might help. We ask ourselves, what is the immediate problem or memory, and identify a feeling that is undesired. Then, one purposely tries to think about the most loving, positive happy experiences they have ever had will doing several rounds of 4 part breathing, inhale, hold, exhale, hold. When an improvement in calmness is felt, we can then ask ourselves, what is a better way for me to deal with this feeling or situation.

It was explained to me that the breathing and thinking of loving, happy thoughts is the most effective way to "mop up" and dissolve the cortisol/adrenaline excess in the bloodstream and the body tissues. The heart can do this for us much more quickly when we get into a positive heart space of purposely recalling and trying to recreate a positive emotion. If left to itself, the body takes up to 24 hours to "mop up and reabsorb and dissolve the fight or flight chemicals , and there is a good chance that we have cumulative effects of excess adrenaline and cortisol that are always lurking. But supposedly, this Heart Coherance Technique can use the power of our heart to neutralize the hormones of unwanted emotions more easily.

This is really new to me, so sorry if I don't have all the details down pat, but I must admit, I have been trying to practice this IF I can remember to do so as soon as possible after being triggered by something, and it does seem to be helpful in not exacerbating my symptoms as much and in bringing me to a calmer state where I can reason and use my brain again in conjunction with my heart to think a little more clearly about "what is a better way for me to deal with this?" than for the PSTD to just "deal with me."

I would be interested if any of you have been suggested this method to try, I think Heart Math has a website, if anyone is interested.

wow - thank you!

Gosh you guys. Great info here!

Some days I feel like such a baby when I allow a trigger to overtake me. I get angry at myself. You all help me feel much better and not so alone.

I hate anything "sudden" or "surprising", doesnt matter if its a good or bad situation, it will trigger me. So I often find myself hypervigilant always looking around and ahead to try and see "what might happen", so I can deal with it. It's miserable.

Your postings help so much!

Yes the neuroendocrine system is very much invloved with triggers...