Fear of Memory

Do you agree with this? Do you think all of your PTSD symptoms stem from a "fear of memory"?

An expert says that PTSD is a Fear of Memory ...
"Post-traumatic stress disorder is a fear of a memory," McGrath said. "We want people to realize their fears can't hurt them."
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=268997

They advocate "reliving" the experience "to help veterans dealing with PTSD re-create stressful experiences in a safe and controlled environment."

By gradually exposing them to the sensations that trigger their anxiety, the simulator helps them get used to loud noises and stressful situations and learn to handle them without anger, violence or panic, McGrath says. That, in turn, should help reduce symptoms like insomnia and flashbacks.

I'll tell ya what I think in another post

not sure I agree with that one. I do however agree that bringing up the memories slowly and dealing with them could help. there use to be a dr at the VA in alabama that did something called "flooding" that was really traumatic but I think it helped some of the guys. flooding was alot of combat movies and stuff at one time. to me I think that would not be good but slowly let them out to deal with.

i agree with bebop.
i was never in the military, etc. but observed my son,3 x iraq, with combat ptsd and my brother, a nam vet. both had to work thru the rage first, then they slowly reached out. in my brother's case it took about 30 years but today he is better. my son was able to talk about what he endured much quicker and thus he improved much quicker but we never pushed him. he needed to do it in his on time.
as you know from my previous posts to you, what worked for my loved ones was our being there to listen when they were ready to "vomit' up all the pain, trauma, etc. so it was a gradual thing for them.
i'm not sure if bombarding a person with combat ptsd would help. why? i think it would put a person's mind on over-drive, IMHO. why do that when safer, kinder means can be used?
this is just my opinion on the question. i'm sure there will be others who may feel differently.

Like the article said.......X-BOX RULES............and full spectrum warrior......platoon/squad in terrorist territory......man, that game is bad to the boneses joneses.....except I got stuck on the third level and could not get past that level for a month....so I went back to my other game, which was shattered union..........armoured recon or cav, which auctually fell in to my last mos,19d(not documented), calvary scout, 2nd acr..........that worked too.........for about a year.........to calm down and let STUFF surface........my concern is......... ANYBODY GOT A FREE X-BOX(Doc John, feel like doing some research?) It works, It really does(X-BOX), but not as fast as the government wants it to and not without intense outpatient/inpatient psychodynamic psychotherapy administered by expert in traumatic stress....E.T.S.... I stil see a B.C.E.T.S. twice a week and one group. Ohh, and by the way, the x-box/play station thing was NOT EVER suggested.....that there was a GOD thing............

please refer to Troys first post for the article..........

B.C.E.T.S.
board certified expert in traumatic stress

It is not a "fear of memory" per se, but a lack of integration and processing in the brain. So the memories are like freefloaters and are triggered by specific things and that is where you get the "flashback" and personally I would be afraid of reliving the memory. It is like living in 2 places at the same time and it can be terrifying. What you are talking about is exposure therapy and it is done in small increments as the veteran can tolerate it. It is said to help reintegrate the memories so that the brain can process and integrate it as part of recovery.

i also agree with bebop i suffer from ptsd, not from military but from another traumatic time in my life and reliving it is the hardest thing you can do and to do it all at once im afraid would kill you. its hard to get over something so stressful as watching someone die..ect. i think that slowly though you can face oyur fears and that is something i am trying to do right now myself.

cleanhippie09

******POSSABLE TRIGGER WARNING IN THIS POST******





This is MY fear of memory.........

Not KNOWING that I have a fear of memory. If I knew I had a fear of memory, then I would have CERTAINLY addressed this issue. Supressed memories of this nature lived in my UNCONCIOUS because of all traumas I experianced before, after and during my time in service.

The fear I have experianced is total consumation of my entire body, or RIGHT BACK IN THE DAY. That statement has driven me to the point were I am WILLING to do anything, within reason.

I have one mental illness that explains everything,inwhich I believe makes myself even more succeptable to this type of flashback. I have addressed this issue and WHILE addressing this issue these totally suppressed, unconcious memories started to surface while playing X-BOX. I just thank GOD for allowing me to be ready and PLUGGED-IN to seriously intense outpatient therapy, at this time.

Now, within the last one and a half years, I have not had a major flashback, because I want to LIVE and because of all these outlets that are here for me. PC being one, inwhich I was able to write the trauma out and get some positive feedback from fellow vets, inturn, I feel saved me from having to be consumed by a past event(military related). I only shut down for three days.

As for the solution(the gift of life), I cannot put my finger on one thing, except for that one folicle of hair filled with the will to live.....and to live with PEACE.

I now, as of this post, have aquired an X-BOX. I have the same games, but thier different. Since the surfacing of this(hopefully the last)unconcious trauma, I have been speaking about it in a controlled environment with experts in the field of trauma.

To stay on topic, there are many variables that need to taken into consideration here, and to many for one post. The overall outcome of MY OWN STUDY is, YES, to relinquish the fear of memory, X-BOX and PLAYSTATION helped as ONE part of the overall treatment.




........for John.............U.S.S. COLE.......Yemen..........2000.........12APR2002-----John stepped in front of a tractor trailer on the beltway while I celebrated four years at a 12 step fellowship