Different therapy approaches for trauma

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@Bow wrote:

I have issues with sirens too @tyme but not to the extend of you. I have had them at my house many times and whenever I hear them I do panic. Ask myself what did I say/do? Have to remind myself that I’m ok.

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Yep @Bow , that's me.. I actually stop breathing for a few seconds until I snap out of it... actually, when I wrote that post, I was much harder than I thought it would be. Time for another dose of Paramedics!

@creative_writer , I wasn't just 'scared', I was petrified! I would run onto the road and freak out when I saw a dog...

Oh no @Flutterbug9 re the truck. And it's not like you can escape trucks unless you stay home all day.....

Yes, watching shows formed part of my exposure therapy and continues to be my maintenance therapy. For me, I had to link sirens to something 'good', so when I watched Paramedics, they had the sirens, but they would help people and it was a 'feel good' show... but I'm still not 100% there yet...

@creative_writer , I hope we haven't hi jacked your thread here... hope some of these posts are even a BIT helpful?

Thank you for sharing @creative_writer

I think a lot of people struggle with welfare checks. It's not easy at all. I hope it doesn't stop you from contacting them when you really need it.

So sorry to hear that you haven't been able to open up about it much @creative_writer

I have done rescripting @tyme @creative_writer. It was a really good experience. It was hard to relive the memory but the change at the end now means I can talk about it without triggering me. It took the sting out of it.

Hello @creative_writer , good to see you here and thank you for starting this thread.

I was recommended EMDR and began the foundational therapy early last year. My therapist has been waiting for the go-ahead from my psychiatrist to start the actual trauma processing. Since then I've changed psychiatrists and my new one says I'm not ready yet.

Even with just the foundational stuff of learning grounding techniques and a little bit of the eye movements, my therapist could observe me making some progress with it.

The good thing about EMDR, she explained, was that I don't have to narrate the actual trauma to her, unlike most other types of trauma therapy.

There are some things to bear in mind:

• Discuss with your psychiatrist whether you are ready to begin your chosen therapy at this point in time.
• Make sure your chosen therapist is qualified in the therapy you are asking them to administer.
• Make sure you have support from friends, family, confidantes, etc. outside of sessions as you may need to draw upon them, especially in the hours and days after a session. Of course we are here for you as well. Same goes with having a safe space to go to.

I was accessing EMDR through my Mental Health Treatment Plan last year, and then realised it was eating into my allowance of regular psychologist sessions. If you have private health insurance, I've also learnt that you can choose to have inpatient admissions to a hospital for EMDR instead.

Anyway, I hope this information helps. Whichever therapy you choose, I hope it helps you to make progress in your recovery!

@tyme

@creative_writer

Hello there,

I began therapy last year, and my psychologist recommended a combination of EMDR and Schema Therapy. I haven’t done many eye-movement sessions yet, I think only once or twice, and one of those experiences triggered a strong traumatic stress response during the session. I felt very overwhelmed, so we are taking things slowly. Although I still feel some fear about trying the eye movements again, but I’ve learned lots about my nervous system, how trauma works, muscle tension, and how to identify triggers in my body. That insight has been incredibly valuable.

Schema Therapy has been especially helpful. I’ve learned so much about myself that I had never really noticed before. It feels like I’m opening up a whole new world, which can be both enlightening and overwhelming. Before this, I had only done talk therapy. While that helped to some extent, working with a psychologist using Schema Therapy and some EMDR has truly changed my perspective.

I also believe that creative expression through art, music, or even gentle movement or dance (nothing too intense or professional) can be a powerful and valuable addition to therapy.
Hang in there, mate I hope you find something that works for you!

I'm finding it really interesting reading through the different options and experiences people have had. Thank you for starting this thread and all who have responded.

@Chasingsunsets just tagging in case this is of any interest to you also, as we have talked a bit about it also in passing.