[Hopeful Camel]

I just moved over to this forum, from the bipolar forum. I have had both diagnoses - PTSD and bipolar. However, I am thinking that PTSD is more of what ails me than the possible bipolar.

I just finished reading the complex PTSD info and know that I need to get some help for all of the trauma that I experienced in my life, especially my childhood, but also as an adult.

I'm medicated out of my mind on anti-psychotics, etc., but am wondering if therapy wouldn't be more helpful to me.

Here is my question: I am new here. Do people think that therapy or meds have been more helpful in helping them with their PTSD? Or do you feel that both are necessary? I'm feeling lost. Thanks for listening.

[Open Eyes]

Well, I will give you my opinion, keep in mind I am not a professional though. I had been diagnosed Bipolar I and PTSD but it has been explained to me that I only have PTSD and why the Bipolar was confused.

At first I was put on Welbutrin, which is not recommended for PTSD, it was awful. The only thing I took for a while was the Klonopin because I could not sleep and was having too many night mares and night terrors. I never experienced a psychotic episode, but I have experienced some horrific PTSD debilitating cycles. The klonopin did help, but I really struggled badly for a while.

I found a therapist who was very knowledgeable about "trauma work" and that began to help me a lot. I had a lot of stressful things going on in my life at the same time, so it was hard to gain on the trauma work, but I began making progress "slowly". I began to slowly realize what the flashbacks meant and while some of them were horrible, I knew they would not last. I began to also realize that everything that came forward meant something and to be patient and try to see what it was. Oh, I had a lot of triggers, riddled with them really, never imagined I would ever experience that. I just kept working at it, it's been a few years and I am way better then I was, but not PTSD free.

It's hard because the brain is very distracted. Instead of the frontal executive part just checking here and there (the just that many want to do again), it is really searching through and distracted by the subconscious mind. I could not get "restorative" sleep for a long time because I needed more information so my brain could finally process all the hurts I did not realize were so unresolved.

I began to notice that what would first come forward in a major surprising way, after talking it through and putting it all together, the episodes were less and less powerful.
For the childhood issues, I asked questions in general, and my T was wonderful giving me a lot of general information and I honestly feel that is better because that's what children do, ask questions, often they really don't know how to feel. It's the adult mind that gets more upset and wonders "was I bad"?

I have learned a lot about myself, making peace with it all takes time, it's a lot of work and takes a few years depending on the individual.

I think it is important that a T not be pushy, but patient. It has helped me to work at it that way. I sure had a lot of anger stuffed that I had not realized.

Hope that helps

((Hugs))
OE

[Hopeful Camel]

Thank you! That was very helpful and sweet of you to write that all out. I'm feeling more and more strongly that the Bipolar diagnosis is wrong [I cycle through moods VERY fast and erratically], and that PTSD is more accurate, in light of my childhood trauma, and some very intense adult trauma that got me the PTSD diagnosis in the first place.

I'm worried that the treatment for the bipolar has made me worse, as it is mainly med focused. I am now wanting to focus more on therapy. I know I need to process what I have been through. Shake it off, as it were. And while I know it will take time, it seems that there is more hope in following this route.

Again, thank you for taking the time to write.

[Open Eyes]

Well, some people have both and I think that is why they try to treat the question of bipolar first.

Drugs don't "cure" PTSD, they do help to protect the brain. I found that when I had therapy it helped me a great deal. It sounds like your symptoms are from the PTSD, I was so up and down with it like you are discribing, and the ups were not manic, they were "flight" from triggers and stress.

I am sorry you are struggling so much right now ((Hopeful Camel)), I think a therapist specializing in trauma work can help (make sure the T is experienced though). You are always welcome to come to this forum and vent or ask questions for support anytime.

[GeminiNZ]

I don't have bipolar, but do have PTSD (complex trauma) and possibly a dissociative disorder.

My treatment consists of once-weekly therapy with a clinical psychologist, which is slowly becoming more trauma-focused (slowly because my triggers are numerous and i dissociate extensively at times), a once-weekly session with a community mental health care manager for support around 'now' stuff (sometimes that includes the fallout from therapy sessions), and monthly appointments with a psychiatrist.

I also take one psych med - Prazosin.

My nightmares and hypervigilance were becoming more overwhelming as therapy progressed, and my care manager had read about Prazosin being used for PTSD and felt it could be helpful. He referred me to a psychiatrist in his team and she agreed with his assessment and with my T's dx of PTSD. (Pdoc is also now assessing me for a separate DD.)

I started on a miniscule dose of Prazosin and was slowly titrated up. Been on 10mg/night for three months or so and it's working well in terms of reducing the nightmares and nighttime hyper-vigilance (and also somewhat with what my team refer to as day-nightmares). Still have times when badly triggered and the nights become terrifying again, but it tends to settle after a few days now, rather than dragging on for weeks.

Haven't been on any other psych meds so can't offer advice or opinion there. I just know that, for me, it's therapy + Prazosin that keeps me functioning (albeit in the loosest sense of the word at times).

[kala83]

I personally have rapid cylcle bipolar and PTSD i persued working on my trauma therapy while I was working and found that that was not a good idea. I could not balance out the two at all.

I am on meds but I am still in the long process of trying to figure out what meds work best for me and which do not.

being on meds helps but seeking out more help to go along with is always a good idea.

You might want to do some research about EMDR therapy and possibly Hypnotherapy i am looking into the idea of possibly doing both cause i have heard from several people they can be helpful for people suffering from severe ptsd such as you might be.

[Parley]

I think many people with complex ptsd have been diagnosed with a personality disorder. I'm not saying it's correct~ i'm just saying there is a difference between PTSD and Complex PTSD.

Complex PTSD - PTSD: National Center for PTSD

I think it's important to get the correct diagnosis because otherwise people with complex ptsd being treated as if they have ptsd will always have a lost feeling. PTSD does not address the issues that come from the severe psychological harm that is associated with complex ptsd.

I wish you luck!

[Disorder7]

I bounce around between three forums, this being one of them.

I've just been referred to a psychologist who specializes in PTSD trauma, and will continue to see my psychiatrist for bipolar and other issues.

I was told that I had to get my bipolar meds correct and my mind ready before trauma counseling could be effective.

I think it's possible you have a comorbid condition. But I've said it before and I'll say it again, I think you are over medicated. I would run like hell from any pdoc who tried to medicate me that heavily.
Take care.

[Hopeful Camel]

Originally Posted by Disorder7

But I've said it before and I'll say it again, I think you are over medicated. I would run like hell from any pdoc who tried to medicate me that heavily.
Take care.

I appreciate your concern. I hope you noticed that I am actually OFF of a number of the meds that I was on quite recently! I am being weaned off of the Saphris as we speak. That makes me very happy.
I'm completely off of the Tegretol, which had negative interactions with about everything else I was on.
Next up: off of the benzo! Hurray!

My doc and I sat down and worked out a written detox plan that takes me off of pointless meds, in a medically sane, one-at-a-time fashion.

I'm already feeling much better. I truly appreciate your support and feedback.