PTSD 4: New hopes for Sufferers
So to round out our series of articles on this disease (which has been a bit spread out sorry :/) we want to leave on a note of hope and capability — solutions are getting better and better all the time, and aren’t necessarily reliant on massive doses of Valium and antidepressants anymore. There are now a wide variety of options in treatment with more coming soon! Of course, we also need to make sure you have some awareness of what is currently available.
So without further ado:
The latest; and whats in the pipeline:
Neurofeedback therapies: In many ways, neurofeedback is still somewhat in its infancy; the clinical research into this has been hit and miss — however many of the self-reporting feedback systems performed by clients that have undertaken these procedures are beginning to show positive results. It is easiest to think of neurofeedback as a sort of guided meditation, with a series of sensors giving you feedback on what your brain is doing in real time. This can give you a real insight into moments where your brain is attempting to activate a panic state for no real reason and give you the opportunity to recognise whats happening before it takes hold. Over time this allows you the capacity to lessen symptoms with much less disruption or side-effects than traditional medications.
New pharmaceuticals: research continues into new medications that help to nourish and restore the brain, block the impacts of an overdose of corticoids and glucocorticoids and decrease sensitivity to anxiety chemistry. Many of these are still in testing phases and may not be available for a while. But these advancements are still cause for hope! Our capacity to treat trauma will only improve in years to come.
Research finding more and more effectiveness in basic techniques: We have been suggesting for some time now that light exercise, naps and rest periods and use of mindfulness have a positive correlation for trauma management and recovery. Even better, we now have some insight into how much regular exposure is required for effectiveness — about 40 hours. So, whilst you may not feel much of a difference in your symptoms for a while, we now have better reassurance as to what time window you may need allow: so — if you were to walk one hour for three days a week and practice mindfulness 2 hours per week you would certainly notice some new feelings in a month, and a notable difference in two months. And certainly more and more research recommends a multi-pronged attack against PTSD.
Generally — a better understanding: research in trauma, its impact on the brain and how the brain adapts to cope (or doesn’t as the case may be) is a major area of psychological and neurological research, and we are striving, more and more everyday to understand; and to assist and respond. More help — BETTER help is always coming. We ask that you never give up — because we aren’t.
What is currently available and how to get there:
Pharmaceuticals: So you’ve probably seen a lot of these on TV — Hollywood love to play up the massively drugged PTSD suffering Character (usually ex-military; usually male); but the reality is nowhere near as frightening. or dramatic. The standard medicine based treatment tends to involve a combination of Antidepressant medication and small (usually as-needed-only) doses of Benzodiazepines to minimise the overwhelming anxiety. but this is not universal, as some find the Anti-depressant medications sufficient to ease symptoms, and others find that even heavy doses are only somewhat effective. Care and supervision by a psychiatrist is essential and also extremely helpful.
Meditation and self soothing techniques: As mentioned above, this is area where lots of new research is happening and a lot of it is fascinating, but you need not wait for the latest to gain some benefit here. You don’t need to rush out and shave your head and apply to join a monastery either; several support groups, martial arts schools, and mindfulness therapy based counsellors can assist with this in great depth and support you in your development for self management. Clinical Hypnotherapists can also assist in triggering ‘induction’ in self-calming and soothing states. significant and impressive results have already been shown, and again, with coming research more will be seen. to get to grips with this, it can be worthwhile to search for a mindfulness therapist or clinical hypnotherapist who can help you get refine what you are looking for and what to expect.
Neural interventions: this remains an area of contention and research; bu some techniques are already quite available, and do have some interesting results. An example of this is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing), where — to massively oversimplify — actions of the body are used in a controlled way to disconnect the body’s instinct reaction to the brains trauma, and the actual traumatic thoughts themselves. this repeatedly interrupts the tendency for trauma to overwhelm until left in a state where acceptance can occur. it can certainly sound far-fetched until you look at some of the states. but research into the connections between the brain’s operating state and the body’s actions and responses may thrust more of these techniques into the limelight in the near future.
Specific / honed talking-therapies: certainly, counselling and psychotherapy remain the most accessible and commonly available interventions for all forms of mental illness including PTSD. as we better understand the illness in and of itself, even these therapies continue to refine and improve, and therapists undergo constant retraining to integrate the very latest perspectives. if you are seeking help, it be worth your while to search for therapists with experience in Trauma-Informed therapy, mindfulness interventions, trauma deescalation and EMDR, and similar. Never ever be afraid to ask for help — and to shop around.
Simple things to try:
Learn to judge your symptoms less: yes, breaking out in sweats can be embarrassing, not wanting to leave the house humiliating and not sleeping well is frustrating and exhausting; but remember, these things are happening for a reason — the reason is the physical, structural impact on your brain. Distressing yourself over these things won’t help — encourage yourself to be non-judgmental and non-hateful of yourself; embrace how hard your body is working to try to resolve this.
In as much as is possible — move. It does not have to be much, or far, just regular. Enjoy a walk somewhere away from noise and people. Take pride in standing in a kitchen preparing your own food. Sprint down the street and back then go back inside — it doesn’t have to be much for the benefits to build up; as long as it is semi constant.
Don’t underestimate meditation and art: don’t try to be Picasso or Rembrandt, just play with concepts and colours. Don’t try to become a Zen master, or a Tibetan Monk; but take time to focus on your breath, on the warmth of your clothes, on the way light looks coming through your window. Mindfulness meditation doesn’t require you to sit cross legged and say “om”; in fact it doesn’t necessarily need any one position at all. It just requires focus and 10 minutes of your time.
Never underestimate the power of a nap: we know sleep is crucial to brain recovery; we also know PTSD interrupts “normal sleep routines”. So if you are tired, and you feel like you could sleep a bit — do that (if its safe to do so). The brain doesn’t actually care excessively when it gets to regenerate, as long as it gets to regenerate (ultradian and circadian rhythms shift constantly throughout the day, not just at night)
Good things to communicate
Remember, no one really gets to see what goes on in your head: If I had a dollar for every time a sufferer told me they wished their families understood — only for the family to then tell me they wished they understood — I would own half of North Sydney. It may be frightening and uncomfortable to tell people the things that derail you, but at least 1 in 2 will be glad they know what is happening to you and why.
Keep your care team updated on any shifts in what you are experiencing — good and bad: there are lots of ways we can support you, and we shift those as things change. Don’t keep using care you don’t need anymore — let us know when things are better for you, or more complex.
Let people know when today is not a good day. Your boss, your partner, your closest friends, your treating professional.
Things to Remember
Your condition is very REAL — it is NEUROLOGICAL and it has an impact on a massive variety of systems. You are not weak or cowardly. Your body is hyper-vigilant in its coping. It is what it is, and it needs acceptance and kindness.
There are current treatments available, and help is possible — there is no cure for PTSD, but there are many ways to decrease its grip on your life and give you room to excel.
The therapeutic community has not, and never will, stopped looking for solutions to these issues — there is help and more help is coming, so don’t quit.
The things that impact on you, impact on those around you — even when it is tough, communicating is so important! We know how shut down you feel and that communication can feel like the hardest thing of all; so we appreciate your efforts, but for your sake and the sake of your family, get help in communication and do your best!
Thank you for bearing with me on this journey to get these articles out to you — this is such a critical disorder to understand and deal with in the 21st century, so we want to keep it, and the people who suffer it in the forefront of awareness.
If you feel like you may be a sufferer, or require support in anyway, please reach out to treating professionals and ask for testing and advice — never be afraid to take charge and find out. And if things are feeling critical, reach out immediately, through services like Lifeline, Black Dog, and us here at Reflex.
Until our paths cross again, be gentle with yourselves, and merciful to each other.
D
Reflex Social Services is an Australian nonprofit charity that delivers mental and social health services to people in need throughout Newcastle, the Central Coast and the Hunter Valley.
This publication, Flex-Ed, is a resource for the latest in mental and social health research and development.
You can find out more about us by visiting reflex.org.au, visiting us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
