[Trace14]

I'm taking Zoloft and Wellbutrin for anxiety and depression. I've seen a counselor for about 3 years, right now sessions are 1-2 mos apart. But it doesn't seem to help with the slide show going on in my head of past traumas, night mares, fighting sleep, am I missing something? I'm taking the DBT training again, in the Mindfulness session, but it's very hard to get to a state where something else dominates my thoughts.

[Trace14]

Is there a time when you stop driving yourself crazy trying to find an answer or cure? Do people survive without getting relief?

Are you seeing a psychiatrist? There are medications which can help with PTSD nightmares. I'm sorry I don't know the names for them. If you're finding Mindfulness difficult, perhaps you can try distractions - I agree it's hard to be mindful when you're having such intrusive memories.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by QuietMind

Are you seeing a psychiatrist? There are medications which can help with PTSD nightmares. I'm sorry I don't know the names for them. If you're finding Mindfulness difficult, perhaps you can try distractions - I agree it's hard to be mindful when you're having such intrusive memories.

Yes, I have a psychiatrist. She gave me Trazadone to sleep but it only helps a little and the side effects are bad. I'm zoned out the next day. I wish there was some way they could connect with my head and see what I'm seeing so they can understand. My concern at this point is ..is there a cure or way to cope.... is this as good as it gets.

[leomama]

Originally Posted by Trace14

Is there a time when you stop driving yourself crazy trying to find an answer or cure? Do people survive without getting relief?

I've been living with this for a decade. I'm trying to get to a place where I accept this is the way it is and plan accordingly. I can't do what I used to do. Everything takes more time and that's ok.

[leomama]

Originally Posted by Trace14

I'm taking Zoloft and Wellbutrin for anxiety and depression. I've seen a counselor for about 3 years, right now sessions are 1-2 mos apart. But it doesn't seem to help with the slide show going on in my head of past traumas, night mares, fighting sleep, am I missing something? I'm taking the DBT training again, in the Mindfulness session, but it's very hard to get to a state where something else dominates my thoughts.

Do you have any spiritual or religious beliefs?

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by leomama

Do you have any spiritual or religious beliefs?

More on the lines of Native Americans, I do believe in God, but that's about it.

[ThisWayOut]

...
I'm told it does actually get better (and some of it has done so for me, but there's so much to tackle). Finding a therapist who can work with you more regularly might help, and maybe the availability of other treatment options (perhaps more intensive ones?)...
It took me a long time to find something that works for me, and it took a lot of fighting to convince the "powers that be" (insurance, mh professionals other than my therapist) that I needed other options... it sucks to have to fight for treatment options while you are exhausted from fighting your own head...

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by ThisWayOut

...
I'm told it does actually get better (and some of it has done so for me, but there's so much to tackle). Finding a therapist who can work with you more regularly might help, and maybe the availability of other treatment options (perhaps more intensive ones?)...
It took me a long time to find something that works for me, and it took a lot of fighting to convince the "powers that be" (insurance, mh professionals other than my therapist) that I needed other options... it sucks to have to fight for treatment options while you are exhausted from fighting your own head...

Exactly!!!!! Isn't that their job? So many times when I go see the T I am so wired that I say nothing, but there are things I need to discuss with her. She say's okay and sets up the next appointment. It's like she's relieved that I didn't talk. I can say we have only had one good talk session. There's just so much time between sessions that I forget what we talked about before and it's like meeting a new person. But this my only option right now.

[leomama]

Originally Posted by Trace14

More on the lines of Native Americans, I do believe in God, but that's about it.

I have a book on that written by an indigenous person, and I've read many more. The reason I ask is because your God can help you with that, as sometimes it is too much for the human mind to bear. In my religious tradition we are to cut off intrusive thoughts and not entertain them. It's a form of spiritual warfare. It's asceticism.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by leomama

I have a book on that written by an indigenous person, and I've read many more. The reason I ask is because your God can help you with that, as sometimes it is too much for the human mind to bear. In my religious tradition we are to cut off intrusive thoughts and not entertain them. It's a form of spiritual warfare. It's asceticism.

I've tried turning off the thoughts, just doesn't happen.

[leomama]

Originally Posted by Trace14

I've tried turning off the thoughts, just doesn't happen.

You can't turn them off. I suggested cutting them off, with God's help.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by QuietMind

Are you seeing a psychiatrist? There are medications which can help with PTSD nightmares. I'm sorry I don't know the names for them. If you're finding Mindfulness difficult, perhaps you can try distractions - I agree it's hard to be mindful when you're having such intrusive memories.

Like what kind of distractions? Do you mean distractions instead of mindfulness?

[Deejay14]

Med for pts nightmares is minipress. Worked wonders for me! Hope it helps you.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by Deejay14

Med for pts nightmares is minipress. Worked wonders for me! Hope it helps you.

Thanks for the info. I will check it out.

Originally Posted by Trace14

Like what kind of distractions? Do you mean distractions instead of mindfulness?

Hi, yes I mean distractions rather than mindfulness because when you're experiencing overwhelming intrusive thoughts etc, mindfulness can become extremely difficult.

In such a scenario, distractions focused on my surroundings (such as grounding exercises) work better for me. You can google grounding exercises for flashbacks.

One exercise which helps me if I'm feeling spacey is to push hard with my feet onto the ground, and/or stretch out my arms facing a wall and lean my weight against it.

Then you can also try to focus your attention on your surroundings...name what you see, hear, touch.

While doing so, I'll remind myself in a soothing mental voice that I'm safe now, no one is hurting me, these are images and emotions from the past. I'll talk gently to myself like comforting a scared child. If my mind is too overwhelmed, I'll chant the alphabet in my head or count numbers...visualising the letters or numbers.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by QuietMind

Hi, yes I mean distractions rather than mindfulness because when you're experiencing overwhelming intrusive thoughts etc, mindfulness can become extremely difficult.

In such a scenario, distractions focused on my surroundings (such as grounding exercises) work better for me. You can google grounding exercises for flashbacks.

One exercise which helps me if I'm feeling spacey is to push hard with my feet onto the ground, and/or stretch out my arms facing a wall and lean my weight against it.

Then you can also try to focus your attention on your surroundings...name what you see, hear, touch.

While doing so, I'll remind myself in a soothing mental voice that I'm safe now, no one is hurting me, these are images and emotions from the past. I'll talk gently to myself like comforting a scared child. If my mind is too overwhelmed, I'll chant the alphabet in my head or count numbers...visualising the letters or numbers.

That sounds helpful, not sure how the DBT instructor (my T) will feel about it though. It's worth a try, I'm running out of options.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by ThisWayOut

...
I'm told it does actually get better (and some of it has done so for me, but there's so much to tackle). Finding a therapist who can work with you more regularly might help, and maybe the availability of other treatment options (perhaps more intensive ones?)...
It took me a long time to find something that works for me, and it took a lot of fighting to convince the "powers that be" (insurance, mh professionals other than my therapist) that I needed other options... it sucks to have to fight for treatment options while you are exhausted from fighting your own head...

" maybe the availability of other treatment options (perhaps more intensive ones?)... " what are the more intensive treatment options?

[ThisWayOut]

Originally Posted by Trace14

" maybe the availability of other treatment options (perhaps more intensive ones?)... " what are the more intensive treatment options?

Emdr, prolonged exposure therapy (still under scrutiny), or even a php or iop for trauma?

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by ThisWayOut

Emdr, prolonged exposure therapy (still under scrutiny), or even a php or iop for trauma?

" php or iop for trauma? " What is this? Not sure the VA has EMDR or the exposure therapy.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by Trace14

" php or iop for trauma? " What is this? Not sure the VA has EMDR or the exposure therapy.

Never mind I found them iop-intensive outpatient program, php-partial hospitalization program

[ThisWayOut]

Originally Posted by Trace14

" php or iop for trauma? " What is this? Not sure the VA has EMDR or the exposure therapy.

Partial hospital program, or intensive outpatient. Php is generally about 6 hours a day of groups and therapy. Iop is 3-4 hours of the same. I think the VA offers at least iop level of treatment, though not sure if it's trauma-focused, or necessarily everywhere...

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by ThisWayOut

Partial hospital program, or intensive outpatient. Php is generally about 6 hours a day of groups and therapy. Iop is 3-4 hours of the same. I think the VA offers at least iop level of treatment, though not sure if it's trauma-focused, or necessarily everywhere...

OMG 6hrs. of groups and therapy? That sounds brutal. The iop....3-4 hrs. of groups and therapy. I have to be honest with you this sounds horrible. Did you do these programs?

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by Trace14

OMG 6hrs. of groups and therapy? That sounds brutal. The iop....3-4 hrs. of groups and therapy. I have to be honest with you this sounds horrible. Did you do these programs?

Originally Posted by ThisWayOut

Emdr, prolonged exposure therapy (still under scrutiny), or even a php or iop for trauma?

What's a good way to approach the T about other options, without sounding like an as_ hat? Like a know it all, bossy, demanding, unappreciative, without having to admit how bad I really feel? We really don't have that therapeutic relationship like I've read about, but still don't want to offend her. She's probably doing the best she can do while part time and due to staffing at the VA. Though staffing seems to be getting better.

[ThisWayOut]

Originally Posted by Trace14

What's a good way to approach the T about other options, without sounding like an as_ hat? Like a know it all, bossy, demanding, unappreciative, without having to admit how bad I really feel? We really don't have that therapeutic relationship like I've read about, but still don't want to offend her. She's probably doing the best she can do while part time and due to staffing at the VA. Though staffing seems to be getting better.

Hmm. Good question. Is there some reason you don't want to tell her how bad you are feeling? Without necessarily giving details, you could probably tell her that you feel you need other options because these don't seem to be getting you what you need.
I dunno. I'm not really good at confrontation, and this would feel like it, lol.