Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group
Find support with others who have gone through a traumatic experience. Whether you have chronic or acute PTSD, we are here for you.
Hey everybody,
I've considered looking for a new therapist (to "re up" my grounding skills and pick up new techniques). In the past I have used CBT with great success; I would prefer to treat the illness (through therapy) than the symptoms (with medicine). Unfortunately I have also run through the gambit of CBT; the last three CBT therapists I have had have set me "back into the cosmos." The most recent told me that I had already learned all the skills I needed, and I knew when to apply them therefore there was nothing left she could "teach me" and I needed to just understand that sometimes - for people with PTSD - "this is as good as it gets."
I refuse to accept that. I'm a big believer that * I * can ALWAYS be a better version of myself and shooting for anything less would render my life pointless. I can always be a better mother, better wife, better daughter, better student... you name it.
I have a friend who has bipolar disorder and recently started seeing a DBT specialist, and has made a lot of improvement. I know it can be used to treat other types of mental health concerns and was just wondering if any of you have tried it? For those of you who have, did it work for you?
I identify with Hinduism and Buddhism and so mindfulness has been in my arsenal for over a decade now and I have been using distress tolerance techniques for a few years (I picked it up when I was 22 at the hands of a CBT specialist).
I could probably use help with emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. I am bad at saying no, and I haven't fully managed "switching" or "changing" the bad vibes once a flashback hits and the moment has stopped. I think navigating these two techniques and learning how to apply them to what I already do may prove to be invaluable, and was just wondering how many of you had tried it? What did you think, and did it help you with your PTSD?
I've considered looking for a new therapist (to "re up" my grounding skills and pick up new techniques). In the past I have used CBT with great success; I would prefer to treat the illness (through therapy) than the symptoms (with medicine). Unfortunately I have also run through the gambit of CBT; the last three CBT therapists I have had have set me "back into the cosmos." The most recent told me that I had already learned all the skills I needed, and I knew when to apply them therefore there was nothing left she could "teach me" and I needed to just understand that sometimes - for people with PTSD - "this is as good as it gets."
I refuse to accept that. I'm a big believer that * I * can ALWAYS be a better version of myself and shooting for anything less would render my life pointless. I can always be a better mother, better wife, better daughter, better student... you name it.
I have a friend who has bipolar disorder and recently started seeing a DBT specialist, and has made a lot of improvement. I know it can be used to treat other types of mental health concerns and was just wondering if any of you have tried it? For those of you who have, did it work for you?
I identify with Hinduism and Buddhism and so mindfulness has been in my arsenal for over a decade now and I have been using distress tolerance techniques for a few years (I picked it up when I was 22 at the hands of a CBT specialist).
I could probably use help with emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. I am bad at saying no, and I haven't fully managed "switching" or "changing" the bad vibes once a flashback hits and the moment has stopped. I think navigating these two techniques and learning how to apply them to what I already do may prove to be invaluable, and was just wondering how many of you had tried it? What did you think, and did it help you with your PTSD?
drangonflylady
I ha e done DBT and it has really helped me. I love radical acceptance now because you can suffer over things you can't change or you can accept them. It doesn't mean you have to agree. There are many good concepts in there like do one thing at a time and be present. That took me a long time to master but now when I'm doing dishes I'm just doing dishes.
bluedragon41
DBT incorporates CBT but gives you a much larger toolbox.
LuckyEmpath
I used CBT to help me heal my PTSD. I also had to remember the trauma and process all the feelings from it in order to heal my PTSD. One was not going to work without the other to heal me. CBT worked for me when I was trying to reverse all the lies. The lies the abuser told me and the lies my family used when 'raising' me. But to fully heal from the trauma of sexual abuse I had to remember it and then allow myself to feel everything from it. Essentially you re-live the trauma in order to heal it. Its a hard and messy process but for me using only CBT would have never healed my PTSD from the abuse. I needed both.
cheesecake88
Alice, you got me at emotiional regulation...interpersonnal effectiveness, and being able to say "No".....that has been my hardest journey recently, and I swear God, the universe has put people directly in my path to force me to face it....I don't have a therapist at this moment...I have a psychiatrist I can talk to, bounce things off of, but I have found the day to day, of allowing myself to take care of "Me"...of not listening to my shame/blame of my own inside voices and those people/neighbors who seem to take gossip to another level...well it has come to "radical acceptance" for some things..and that has helped me face Me....and saying "No"....a biggie not only to say, but to live with the triggers it brings up in me, I'm fiercely independant, yet I have neglected my own needs in the past, so when I finally say No to someone, it's the battle within me that is the hardest, even when a nosey neighbor gives me snark....so I am in the crosshairs of radical acceptance...a work in progress! Support to you!
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