Thank you for this. I have been trying to find an emdr therapist for seven years. I was greatly helped with emdr 20 years ago. Unfortunately where I am now the control freaks disrupt every attempt I make to get professional help.
Ugh, I'm sorry you're having trouble finding one! I'm not who the control freaks are in your life but I sure hope you can find a way around them. Have you tried searching https://www.emdr.com/SEARCH/index.php
Well explained Dr 👏! Really appreciate ya for taking your time to do a video on this. Sorry missed the live. Ya are right about the myth of " time heals". Will try to implement these strategies in my life. Thanks a lot for sharing 😊
Thank you, Dr. Vinall. I really appreciate how you break this down. I try to learn as much as I can about PTSD/Trauma; it helps me in my own journey, and this video was helpful. I had to medically retire as a police officer because of my PTSD. I received zero support from the department and have been foraging my way through. I do weekly EMDR sessions plus some meds. Progress is slow, but I think I'm getting somewhere.
Grateful it is helpful to you. Thank you for your service. My husband is a former LEO; I know how much the work can expose you to and how much the community pretends no one is affected.
I have a statement. I feel like we should differentiate veterans with PTSD by calling it CPTSD, which means Combat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. As a veteran, I get tired of wading through civilians conversations about trauma faced everywhere except the battlefield. To me, it kind of takes the gravitas of battle trauma down a level.
I'm in no way claiming that non-combatant civilians never experience traumatic events. I just feel like it make things easier as far as understanding goes to differentiate between the two categories of trauma. Just my opinion.
Hi! thanks for sharing your thoughts & experience!
We can't use CPTSD to mean combat as it already means Complex PTSD - referring generally to someone who has layers of trauma throughout life, starting with child abuse, such as years of molestation, moving into adult trauma such as domestic violence - an all-too-common pathway.
But I hear what you are saying about the uniqueness of combat trauma. There are unique aspects, and shared ones, as well. Originally PTSD only referred to veterans, before we discovered the same symptoms were happening in rape survivors.
Trauma is certainly having its moment in the limelight, and I think you are touching on something significant - while it is so important that it is becoming widely recognized and more understood, over-use of the term is watering down its significance. I think it is important that we remain specific in its application. Not every bad experience is traumatic!
You're 100% right about "not every bad experience is traumatic". The majority of people I was referring to are guilty of being too thin-skinned rather than being traumatized.
I wasn't aware of the complex label. Though, I definitely have it. I've been dealing with trauma since 11 years old. I have been sober for going on 6 years so I think I am managing it well. I didn't in the past for sure. I appreciate your comment and clarification. Have yourself a splendid day.
Is it a startle response when I always without exception jump out of my skin when someone approaches, and I jump out of my skin -- it just happens no control over it. They always say, "Oh, I'm sorry." But I know it happens to me all the time. Or is it just bad peripheral vision maybe? Or being hyper focused when I'm doing something which is typical.
Do you have problems with your nerves in general? I did directly after coming home from Afghanistan. Over time, I eventually started to have normal reactions to sudden sounds/unexpected events.
I have a benign tremor that is something I inherited from my mom whose handwriting was affected. I find my hands shake if I'm under pressure even at a key board, but if I extend out my arm, they don't shake so it is not Parkinson's. I can still walk across a large room carrying a cup overflowing with hot coffee and not spill anything, thank goodness and much older now than my mom was when her tremor started, who really could not write without great effort that she did apply and got by.
I do have a startle response that I did not have before the trauma. During the time I was subjected to trauma my siblings noticed I pulled away a bit when they went to hug me. I was not aware of any pulling away and thought I was giving a normal hug, but they noticed what was different in me long before I recognized what was happening and then once I became aware which took time, I acted to save myself.
I don't think the startle response will go away, and it is noticeable to others. I know it is not normal but accepted it; then I read being easily startled is a remnant of experiencing trauma. Thank you for serving in Afghanistan. I hope you are okay and all who served with you are okay, and I'm sorry you were left traumatized. Know you are loved, as my mom always said because it is absolutely true!
I appreciate your appreciation. I lost a battle buddy last September because of PTSD. He took his own life. I hope your path proves more primrose than not...in the future. We all have our battles.
Ananais... I'm so sorry for the loss of your comrade. 💔 That's heartbreaking.
I'm really worried about such stories increasing as VA supports decrease under this admin. You, all our veterans, are so important, and we owe you all our support.
Thank you, sincerely. I'm honestly just glad he's at peace finally. I envy the feeling sometimes. I love life and my daughter too much to entertain suicidal thoughts for long. I told everyone of my veteran buddies that this was coming when they voted for the fascist. I'm not a supporter of any political ideology anymore for real.
I was diagnosed with PTSD and have received counseling; what remains is I can be triggered of course, but there is more awareness on my part. What has happened though is when I perhaps with a very close friend or a counselor or a doctor am asked and tell one part of my story the entire epic comes tumbling out and I cannot stop talking -- I think this is a remnant and it interferes with what I want to bring to relationship as well as I get very upset in the retelling. Is that a remnant of PTSD? What is it?
Yeah, it sounds like it. The intense emotion that comes with it sounds like the recollecting is still a bit triggering, and feeling like you can't put the brakes on telling the story sounds a bit like you're caught up in the memory, as though reliving it, perhaps? Not to invalidate the work you've done, but often healing comes in stages and layers. Maybe there's more still available to you. 🩵
Hi, I'm well, thanks! I can't give advice or therapy via social media, but if you have general questions I might look at addressing them in a future long-form post. Be sure you're subscribed!
Thank you for this. I have been trying to find an emdr therapist for seven years. I was greatly helped with emdr 20 years ago. Unfortunately where I am now the control freaks disrupt every attempt I make to get professional help.
Ugh, I'm sorry you're having trouble finding one! I'm not who the control freaks are in your life but I sure hope you can find a way around them. Have you tried searching https://www.emdr.com/SEARCH/index.php
Thank you.
Well explained Dr 👏! Really appreciate ya for taking your time to do a video on this. Sorry missed the live. Ya are right about the myth of " time heals". Will try to implement these strategies in my life. Thanks a lot for sharing 😊
So glad you found it valuable!
Thank you, Dr. Vinall. I really appreciate how you break this down. I try to learn as much as I can about PTSD/Trauma; it helps me in my own journey, and this video was helpful. I had to medically retire as a police officer because of my PTSD. I received zero support from the department and have been foraging my way through. I do weekly EMDR sessions plus some meds. Progress is slow, but I think I'm getting somewhere.
Grateful it is helpful to you. Thank you for your service. My husband is a former LEO; I know how much the work can expose you to and how much the community pretends no one is affected.
Thank you so much for all that you share here.This is shared at a perfect time for me, and you gave me feeling more hopeful 😊🌟.
Oh, I'm so glad to hear that! 💛
I have a statement. I feel like we should differentiate veterans with PTSD by calling it CPTSD, which means Combat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. As a veteran, I get tired of wading through civilians conversations about trauma faced everywhere except the battlefield. To me, it kind of takes the gravitas of battle trauma down a level.
I'm in no way claiming that non-combatant civilians never experience traumatic events. I just feel like it make things easier as far as understanding goes to differentiate between the two categories of trauma. Just my opinion.
Hi! thanks for sharing your thoughts & experience!
We can't use CPTSD to mean combat as it already means Complex PTSD - referring generally to someone who has layers of trauma throughout life, starting with child abuse, such as years of molestation, moving into adult trauma such as domestic violence - an all-too-common pathway.
But I hear what you are saying about the uniqueness of combat trauma. There are unique aspects, and shared ones, as well. Originally PTSD only referred to veterans, before we discovered the same symptoms were happening in rape survivors.
Trauma is certainly having its moment in the limelight, and I think you are touching on something significant - while it is so important that it is becoming widely recognized and more understood, over-use of the term is watering down its significance. I think it is important that we remain specific in its application. Not every bad experience is traumatic!
You're 100% right about "not every bad experience is traumatic". The majority of people I was referring to are guilty of being too thin-skinned rather than being traumatized.
I wasn't aware of the complex label. Though, I definitely have it. I've been dealing with trauma since 11 years old. I have been sober for going on 6 years so I think I am managing it well. I didn't in the past for sure. I appreciate your comment and clarification. Have yourself a splendid day.
You too! And congrats on 6 years of sobriety - it shows just how strong you are and are becoming!
Danke.
Is it a startle response when I always without exception jump out of my skin when someone approaches, and I jump out of my skin -- it just happens no control over it. They always say, "Oh, I'm sorry." But I know it happens to me all the time. Or is it just bad peripheral vision maybe? Or being hyper focused when I'm doing something which is typical.
Without knowing your history, I would say it certainly sounds like a startle response.
Do you have problems with your nerves in general? I did directly after coming home from Afghanistan. Over time, I eventually started to have normal reactions to sudden sounds/unexpected events.
I have a benign tremor that is something I inherited from my mom whose handwriting was affected. I find my hands shake if I'm under pressure even at a key board, but if I extend out my arm, they don't shake so it is not Parkinson's. I can still walk across a large room carrying a cup overflowing with hot coffee and not spill anything, thank goodness and much older now than my mom was when her tremor started, who really could not write without great effort that she did apply and got by.
I do have a startle response that I did not have before the trauma. During the time I was subjected to trauma my siblings noticed I pulled away a bit when they went to hug me. I was not aware of any pulling away and thought I was giving a normal hug, but they noticed what was different in me long before I recognized what was happening and then once I became aware which took time, I acted to save myself.
I don't think the startle response will go away, and it is noticeable to others. I know it is not normal but accepted it; then I read being easily startled is a remnant of experiencing trauma. Thank you for serving in Afghanistan. I hope you are okay and all who served with you are okay, and I'm sorry you were left traumatized. Know you are loved, as my mom always said because it is absolutely true!
I appreciate your appreciation. I lost a battle buddy last September because of PTSD. He took his own life. I hope your path proves more primrose than not...in the future. We all have our battles.
Ananais... I'm so sorry for the loss of your comrade. 💔 That's heartbreaking.
I'm really worried about such stories increasing as VA supports decrease under this admin. You, all our veterans, are so important, and we owe you all our support.
Thank you, sincerely. I'm honestly just glad he's at peace finally. I envy the feeling sometimes. I love life and my daughter too much to entertain suicidal thoughts for long. I told everyone of my veteran buddies that this was coming when they voted for the fascist. I'm not a supporter of any political ideology anymore for real.
I was diagnosed with PTSD and have received counseling; what remains is I can be triggered of course, but there is more awareness on my part. What has happened though is when I perhaps with a very close friend or a counselor or a doctor am asked and tell one part of my story the entire epic comes tumbling out and I cannot stop talking -- I think this is a remnant and it interferes with what I want to bring to relationship as well as I get very upset in the retelling. Is that a remnant of PTSD? What is it?
Yeah, it sounds like it. The intense emotion that comes with it sounds like the recollecting is still a bit triggering, and feeling like you can't put the brakes on telling the story sounds a bit like you're caught up in the memory, as though reliving it, perhaps? Not to invalidate the work you've done, but often healing comes in stages and layers. Maybe there's more still available to you. 🩵
Hello!
Hi, I'm well, thanks! I can't give advice or therapy via social media, but if you have general questions I might look at addressing them in a future long-form post. Be sure you're subscribed!
Awesome! 😃