[Creative ToFu]

I found this interview with Bressel van der Kolk, one of the leading experts on how to work with abuse survivors to be very interesting about the different treatments for trauma. I have read many of his articles and studies, but this one is a good overall one for those not familiar with him that might lead some new information about trauma if they are interested. Bessel van der Kolk on Trauma Interview If you are sensitive and triggered by the names of some crimes, you might want to skip reading. There isn't deep details of the kinds of abuse, but some kinds are mentioned in general terms.

I find it amazing what they have done for treating trauma victims just over the last 10 years and feel very optimistic we are only in the beginning of understanding the trauma and how to help survivors thrive in spite of their pasts. It gives me hope for me and others.
No child should ever have to live through abuse, most perpetrators don't get caught and the effects last a long time. Even though there is more help for survivors, we need to do more to prevent the silent mostly ignored crimes from happening.

[CANDC]

Not sure I agree with what is said, but interesting.
excerpt of link above

Let me start with some basics: Could you say something about why talk therapy alone doesn’t work when treating trauma?
Bessel van der Kolk: From my vantage point as a researcher we know that the impact of trauma is upon the survival or animal part of the brain. That means that our automatic danger signals are disturbed, and we become hyper- or hypo-active: aroused or numbed out. We become like frightened animals. We cannot reason ourselves out of being frightened or upset.

Of course, talking can be very helpful in acknowledging the reality about what’s happened and how it’s affected you, but talking about it doesn’t put it behind you because it doesn’t go deep enough into the survival brain

[Creative ToFu]

Do you disagree with the article or just the excerpt part?

For me, and everyone is different of course, but talk therapy helped with some things but didn't help with the significant amygdala activation changes that happened within my brain after a current trauma incident triggered some suppressed past traumas/tortures.

When I did EMDR, ( along with talk therapy) it did change the functioning part of my brain and calmed it down so my brain could process the trauma fully. After targeting several of my traumas with EMDR, the triggers of those traumas calmed down significantly and disappeared since after many years of suffering, my brain finally processed and resolved them. There are brain scan studies showing this, but I would have search to find them, I lost my saved links recently. I have more work to do, there is a lot of gunk to clear out. lol But my cognitive brain functioning has improved greatly. I am starting to feel more like a thriver and not just a suffering survivor.

Editing to add this layman article about the Boston Bombing studies. http://www.futurity.org/brain-shows-...ombing-732602/

Originally Posted by CANDC

Not sure I agree with what is said, but interesting.
excerpt of link above

[finding_my_way]

talking alone has not helped me. i haven't had actual trauma therapy, but for around 17 or 18 years have had more check-ins and talked about everything and anything about symptoms i have had throughout my life, trauma/abuse, etc. even when i had things validated by therapists, family members, etc. and even though i have full memories of some things and thought at least then i could process some things then symptoms would just...disappear....(which doesn't work). the problem is there are things i do not have memories for or only partial ones for some things, so there will not really be an effective way for me to process those events and in turn my mind be able to resolve things, etc.

i do not know what it will take for me though. just talking has not been helpful for me, especially during times where i'm so distraught or dissociated or just in another high emotional or numbed state that i just have to go through it and have it lessen more than anything else.

it also might help though if there was more access where i live to safe places for trauma therapy, not just in a therapist office because for some people it can be more difficult to do that and not be in a safe place. i don't really have family members who can help me during a crisis and have no friends, and just going to an office once a week or every two weeks at times isn't enough...but there isn't really another option or place.

[Creative ToFu]

I have years of time that I don't remember as a child. But EMDR thearpy did tap into some of the feelings I had during this time. Some of the lost memories that were probably suppressed, did surface during EMDR, happy and unhappy ones. It also can tap into some implement memories that aren't really memories but body sensations felt in the womb and pre-verbal times in my life. Those are probably the hardest as I had a lot of bad stuff happen to me before I was 3. Sometimes EMDR isn't used with memories, but body sensations.
How do you write something as a trigger and have it covered up until somebody clicks on it? I see it being done but I can't figure how.

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by Creative ToFu

How do you write something as a trigger and have it covered up until somebody clicks on it? I see it being done but I can't figure how.

Just follow the same format you do to bold or url or quote something. If you reply to my reply, quoting it, you will see.

The format (but take out the spaces)

[ trigger ] triggering content [ / trigger ]

Possible trigger:

triggering content

[Creative ToFu]

Originally Posted by hankster

Just follow the same format you do to bold or url or quote something. If you reply to my reply, quoting it, you will see.

The format (but take out the spaces)

[ trigger ]Got It! How cool and helpful! [ / trigger ]

Possible trigger:

triggering content

Thanks hankster,
I am sure this skill will come in handy!

[Creative ToFu]

Originally Posted by hankster

Just follow the same format you do to bold or url or quote something. If you reply to my reply, quoting it, you will see.

The format (but take out the spaces)

[ trigger ] triggering content [ / trigger ]

Possible trigger:

trying to get this rightt

Not sure if this is working right