Callout for Information Please

[ABC01]

Dear All,

I have been diagnosed with PTSD since May this year.

I have hardly had any treatment for it and would like to ask people who have:

What treatments are available in Australia for PTSD?

and

Who provides them to you?

I have a psychologist and treating psychiatrist. We tend to address anxiety and depression first in our sessions.

Much appreciated for any answers.

ABC01

[Eagle Ray]

Dear ABC01,

Two of the main therapies most often used for PTSD are trauma-focussed cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR). Another one of the most common is exposure therapy. Have you spoken with your psychologist or psychiatrist about doing a specific therapy for PTSD? My guess is they will probably mention one or more of those three options.

I have Complex PTSD which is a bit different. Not everyone responds well to the standard therapies and I'm certainly someone who has needed a different approach. The most beneficial for me has been Somatic Experiencing. It doesn't have as strong an evidence base as the above mentioned therapies, not because it is less effective but because it is more intuitive and organic and less formulaic, thus doesn't fit standardised evidence-based measurement protocols. But it has led to real change in my body and given me tools to work with my own physiology responses with a high level of awareness. I found a good psychologist who practises this method eventually (from a list of practitioners of the method) but I had to try several other practitioners of it first who were not nearly as good at doing it.

Another thing I tried after a traumatic incident was Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE). This is an entirely physiological modality. The person I worked with was excellent and it literally cleared the trauma - but it did return in terms of the physiological symptoms. I think this was because of underlying complex trauma interfering with a single incident trauma. But when I went to my current psychologist we did a Somatic Experiencing session in just the second session with her that finally fully cleared that trauma. So for me there is something about the SE approach that is transformative. But this is personal to me so it's very much a case of finding what resonates for you.

There are numerous other modalities now. I have found working with Polyvagal Theory very helpful and there are more and more trauma-informed psychologists working with this now. To get an idea of this I can recommend the YouTube video: "Stephen Porges - Polyvagal Theory: how your body makes the decision". It's an interview with the founder of Polyvagal theory explaining it. Psychedelic-assisted therapies is a growing field in relation to PTSD but very expensive. I have done things like sound healing which work in a similar way with altered consciousness states that have been beneficial. But in this field you have to tread with a degree of caution as all sorts of people are setting themselves up to treat trauma now who may not be well qualified/educated in relation to things like PTSD.

The most important thing of all really is finding the right therapist for you, even more than the modality, because a therapist who is really attuned with you will provide the greatest benefit. A good trauma-informed therapist will know how to co-regulate with you - be present with you in a way that is attuned at a nervous system level which is itself a core part of the healing. If you would really like to more directly address the PTSD issues, are you able to bring this up with your current psychologist and psychiatrist? Perhaps see if they can begin working with you on these issues? I have found doing my own research has been invaluable and this has led me to connect with certain approaches that have fitted well for me.

Take care,

Eagle Ray

[ABC01]

Thank you Eagle Ray,

There was alot of things that did go straight over my head,but nothing that can’t be researched when I have a clearer mind. Actual names are so helpful.

I do believe that I will address my health professionals to see if we can/or they do have the specific training in this area. And if we can start. Otherwise I will have to search outside of them.

 I am happy to hear that you have found success in some of these therapies. I feel a little desperate at the moment. Wanting direction. But I know everything takes time and effort and the right person to connect with.

So I truly appreciate your reply and that sharing this was personal.

ABC01

[Eagle Ray]

Hello ABC01,

Hopefully you may be able to do some work in this area with your current health professionals. But if it is not their area of expertise, doing some searches online for trauma-informed therapists may be helpful.

EMDR is one of the standard therapies that my psychologist did suggest for me at one point though I haven't done it. But it is basically about integrating the troubling memory in a way that it no longer acts autonomously but integrates in the normal way that other memories do. I think it might work best for single-incident PTSD but has to be adapted somewhat for C-PTSD. So if you are dealing with singe-incident PTSD it may be more straight forward.

I can't make any recommendations as such as these things are so personal with regard to what works for one person or another. I think doing as much of your own research as you can helps. Also, whatever you do try, I think it's important to listen in to your body and sense whether both the therapist you are working with and the modality feel like they're a good fit.

Take good care of yourself and sending you support,

ER

[ABC01]

Thank you Eagle Ray,

EMDR sounds good. I have single-incident PTSD. I remember it the first thing when I wake up and think about it whilst I wait to go to sleep in the dark. That allows alot of self blame and hate to be current in my daily life. And I don’t believe I truly deserve that. Even if I sometimes listen to the nasty voice telling me I do.

So thank you for your responses and information. I have to take control. Information is empowering. I have been so worried that this may just be my legacy in life. So thank you again.

ABC01