PTSD

I just posted another topic where I mentioned ptsd.

I really feel like this is becoming a problem for me. I have also read that having ptsd from lyme and ptsd from childhood trauma will keep me from getting well if I don't deal with it.

Has anyone used therapy to help cope with all of this. I am not one to have ever felt the need for therapy. Honestly, my husband has always been a huge support in my life for everything. Even this lyme stuff. Every minute of everyday he is there for me emotionally and physically. I am so grateful for that. But I feel like I just might be at this weird place that I can't cope anymore mentally. I'm not even sure he can help me to find some coping skills other than him being my listening board.

I saw an article written by a Dr Virginia Scherr. She is a psychiatrist about an hour from my home. She herself has had lyme. She treats patients with lyme. She seems compassionate and that she gets what lyme does to the brain.

Has anyone here seen her? Any thoughts or opinions on her therapy? I don't want meds, I just need coping skills.

I am not sure she is treating anymore, because I think she is at least 86 years old. But if anyone has heard good things or seen her, I will give the office a call.

The other thing is I am terrified of the flood gates that will open up by talking about all this. I am also very shy and introverted and don't really want to talk to anyone about all of this or my past childhood traumas, so it makes me nervous to sit across from someone and open up. Unless its my husband, I just don't do that comfortably.

Thanks guys!!!

Counting,

Thank you so much for your insight. May I ask what emdr is?

Thank you Girlie! I will look into the retrain the brain dvd.

Yes I am thinking that is what they do is prescribe drugs, but what I read from her she understands how lyme affects the brain because she lived it. I kind of got the impression that she helps with coping. I am sure she prescribes drugs for psychological things with lyme but that is not what I want. I don't do well with most drugs so I would never add any of those into my mix. but what do I really know. I can't trust myself with anything and how I interpret stuff. And I no longer allow myself to make big decisions anymore either. hahah

My hubby came home from work and of course I cried to him and he is just telling me this is an emotional herx. This is a minocycline week for me and I always herx emotionally from that drug...he reminded me yet again, and talked me off the ledge. He prepared me some burbur/pinella shots and has them all ready to space them out and take them throughout the evening. When I get like this, I just don't help myself. I can't remember to take those during the day, or to detox at all. I get catatonic almost when it comes to taking care of myself during times like this....esp during mino weeks. yuck. Its like I get blocked on how to help myself. Thank goodness he stepped in and knows just what to do to help me the best way he knows how. sigh

EMDR is a therapy technique used for processing traumas and is very useful for PTSD. I don't really know a lot about it, but I have watched some YouTube videos on it and am willing to try. Ive also heard good things about it from people who have tried.

This site explains it more:
http://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/

dacarte3 said...
What do you mean by lyme PTSD?

I've experienced emotion herxes where I felt like a pregnant woman all day and every little thing was making me tear up. I've had emotions hit hard for no reason at work and I had to go cry quietly in the bathroom.

I've also had anxiety not from lyme but from the scariness that is lyme and took a long time to get over. As disturbing as lyme is and what did/is doing to me, this time around I'm a bit mentally stronger, which isn't saying too much. I still get scared and very worried but not a terrified panic like the first time.

Are you asking what PTSD is? Post-traumatic stress disorder.

I feel like I have that. Thinking back to the worst days...I get quite emotional and wonder if I will ever be strong emotionally again.

Girlie said...
joee - Wouldn't a psychiatrist just be interested in prescribing drugs?


I did go to a Counsellor/therapist before I knew I had lyme. she wasn't lyme literate...but she did listen...and it was a safe place to verbalize how I was feeling at the time.

I've looked at this a few times:

/retrainingthebrain.com

In the privacy of your own home...may be something for you?

$250 for the DVD package.

I'm thinking about getting this.

Thanks Girlie!

Astro -
Did nothing but put you to sleep!!! That would certainly help me at times!

joee--

I think there are a LOT of things going on. First, your introverted personality type can make it difficult to process trauma, certainly childhood trauma that you might not have fully dealt with. So, I think it's pretty smart to delve into that at some point in your life - I think it would be quite helpful and you'll be able to manage other current-life issues better. I know some people function with a "leave it in the past" attitude but I don't think it's holistic or all that healthy.

However, the wrong kind of psychoanalysis can be problematic.

As can psychosomatic drugs!

AND... you're already overwhelmed w/ Lyme & Co and tx so now might not be the best time for any of that, anyway.

In fact, I agree w/ your husband that it sounds like you're herxing w/ neuro-psycho symptons that result from neurotransmitter imbalances. These imbalances can be produced by disruption in gut biome (pretty common w/ our tx since we're taking abx and antimicrobials, sometimes creating yeast/fungal overgrowth, sometimes impacting how our food gets broken down, etc.)

Also, some of these infections can create neurotoxins - these need to be eliminated from the body, which many of us don't do well in a healthy state and this gets worse when we're ill and treating so aggressively. This is a good reason to incorporate a very effective detox protocol AND incorporate a good gut binder.

I have made significant progress with my neuro-psych sx with binders and Nutramedix Pinella and burbur tinctures. I also made a lot of progress with yeast/fungal overgrowth, which was also causing these sx.

Hope this is helpful -

-p