Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Support Group

I hadn't heard of it until you mentioned it. I completely understand the not feeling well mentally and physically, however!

I can totally relate, I had the way all these meds they throw at me make me feel. I haven't tried EMDR so no help there. But I just wanted to say I understand about the meds. I don't take much now, almost preferring the back pain to the out of control confusion in my head if I take all the stuff they give me. Hugs and my thoughts are with you.

No head meds here ... although I've been considering.

I've been doing EMDR. It works. BUT... it also churns up lots of other stuff that's burried. So, be prepared for side affects. I'll spare you my list because I think it's, most likely, a pretty individual thing.

What EMDR has successfully helped me overcome are several of the major flashbacks that I used to have. Now I can actually think about those events without being triggered. The memories are still revolting but they don't launch into full blown, "feeling" flashbacks anymore.

I did 6 months of traditional "talk" therapy, before starting EMDR. It didn't work because I couldn't talk about what happened to me. After starting EMDR I feel like my healing has finally begun.

My only recommendation is that you find someone trained in trauma and certified in EMDR. I found my **awesome** counselor on the following website: www.emdrtherapistnetwork.com

Good luck.

I'm planning on doing EMDR. Also check out the website EMDR.com" title="http://www.EMDR.com" target="_blank"> www.EMDR.com
or EMDR.com if that previous link comes up scrambled.

You can search for a therapist there too!

I am on meds, and they have helped my symptoms. But, you really have to find the right ones to be on. PTSD is treated by your symptoms you are having, not simply with anti-depressants. Mood Stabilizers, Major Tranquilizers, Anxiety Meds, etc.

www.sidran.org is a useful site too...you can request trauma therapist referrals there too!

Forgive me for being redundant. I gave part of the answer to this question in another post. I was treated by EMDR by Dr Silvia who was the preeminant doctor on the subject at Wake Forest / Baptist hospital in 1997. They have since asked to use my case study. The episode was that I was tied to a radiator and beaten half to death. In fact, my mother screamed repeatedly that she wanted me to be dead. I almost was. She damaged my hip and shattered my leg. The temporary paralysis and the blood loss to my hands (from the rope) manifested itself in the treatments. The doctors were amazed that there was such a strong physical manifistation. EMDR brought me through that trauma. I no longer have the terror nightmares about that event.I no longer fantasize about killing her. I am now able to wear jewerly without feeling terror. I can hold hands and wrestle with my children - all of which were virtual impossibilities until emdr.

Yeah, antidepressants make PTSD worse. Look into the PTSD cocktail instead.

EMDR can be rough without the proper meds. I had a friend on here who' s doctors refused to give her medicine and then she started EMDR and disintegrated. She reached out because her therapist went on vacation after stirring everything up. She had no meds, no nothing to deal with the symptoms. Eventually she just fell apart and I have no idea what happened to her. It's so frustrating that doctors misdiagnose and provide the wrong medications all the time. {sigh}

Yeah, antidepressants make PTSD worse. Look into the PTSD cocktail instead.

EMDR can be rough without the proper meds. I had a friend on here who' s doctors refused to give her medicine and then she started EMDR and disintegrated. She reached out because her therapist went on vacation after stirring everything up. She had no meds, no nothing to deal with the symptoms. Eventually she just fell apart and I have no idea what happened to her. It's so frustrating that doctors misdiagnose and provide the wrong medications all the time. {sigh}

I cannot believe that Dr. started EMDR went of vacation and left no meds....I'll be interviewing my new Dr. first visit!

Hi
I've been doing EMDR with my therapist without any meds, at least weekly for 4 months. One thing I would suggest is that you establish a very secure relationship with your therapist before you dive into it. You have to feel really safe and secure with the doctor, the place and the space where you do your therapy. Aside from that advice, I'd say everything else is individual.

I've heard of people doing EMDR differently than what we did. We started out by finding a safe place, in my mind, where I could go at the end of each session. This was very important for me, and was surprisingly hard to find. I had never realized how much anxiety I had before starting this. In fact, I never knew anything horrible had happened to me in my past...always suspected but never knew.

What comes up from EMDR may not happen there in the office session. It may be when you are home days later and it may come as a foggy memory that you feel like you always knew but never thought through, or it may come as a horrifying debilitating flashback. I had both of these experiences...and then some.

The best thing about EMDR is that it has helped me find the root causes of bad feelings I would have occasionally, but could never understand. I don't have to be afraid of those feelings anymore because I know where they came from. I had good reason for them then, but I don't need them now. I can let them go.

I could go on and on...good luck...I hope knowing that it is helping me will help you have confidence that you can do it. just keep your faith and your support system close and you will feel better soon.

I experienced a traumatic event years ago that plaqued me for 2o years. I wast not given the diagnose of PTSD at that time but I did undergo EMDR therapy along with talk therapy. It helped me immensley and I was able to put it in the past much moreso. I was comfortable with the reframing and could forget about it. Then 5 years ago it was triggered again and I suffered for a while. It didnt set me back to where I was and I have moved on again. For me the EMDR therapy was a godsend. I hope it works for those on here who try it. I send you hugs and hope you all get past your PTSD symtoms soon with a good counsellor who knows how to treat this properly. Take care. Kate