THOUGHTS AND COMMENTARY
A Book Excerpt From
The Road to Neuroplasticity and Change to Heal Trauma, Improve Cognitive Capacity and Maximize Performance
I have been working on a book on neuroscience that is an easy way to understand the power of your brain, your mind and the thoughts that drive your creativity, insight and intelligence. The most powerful fact about the brain is the concept of neuroplasticity or the brain’s ability to change structurally to grow, evolve and increase it’s capabilities. We do this with cognitive training and surprisingly, mindfulness meditation. The brain can also heal from trauma as seen with the comparison of brain scans done on combat war veterans suffering from PTSD. Neuroscience is a remarkable wonder that we haven’t even truly begun to comprehend.
> READ MORE ABOUT NEUROPLASTICITY
> READ MORE ABOUT NEUROPLASTICITY
I have been working on a book on neuroscience that is an easy way to understand the power of your brain, your mind and the thoughts that drive your creativity, insight and intelligence. The most powerful fact about the brain is the concept of neuroplasticity or the brain’s ability to change structurally to grow, evolve and increase it’s capabilities. We do this with cognitive training and surprisingly, mindfulness meditation. The brain can also heal from trauma as seen with the comparison of brain scans done on combat war veterans suffering from PTSD. Neuroscience is a remarkable wonder that we haven’t even truly begun to comprehend.
> READ MORE ABOUT NEUROPLASTICITY
> READ MORE ABOUT NEUROPLASTICITY
AVAILABLE NOW!
A complete PDF guide to this section of my book is available for download now. If you are interested in reading it please email me to request a copy.
A complete PDF guide to this section of my book is available for download now. If you are interested in reading it please email me to request a copy.
HEALING THE PTSD MIND
HEALING THE PTSD MIND - HOME
The Neuroscience Behind Trauma & PTSD
Practicing Self Care
See Also:
Introduction to the Brain
Structure and Composition of the Brain
Glossary of Neuroscience
The Neuroscience Behind Trauma & PTSD
Practicing Self Care
- Debunking the Myths of PTSD
- Managing Intrusive Thoughts
- Dealing With Triggers
- Handling Flashbacks and Nightmares
- Coping With Suicidal Thoughts
See Also:
Introduction to the Brain
Structure and Composition of the Brain
Glossary of Neuroscience
STARLIGHT POETRY BY KAI
View Me on Twitter @kairosoflife
See Creativity Chaos - a Creativity Blog by Kai
About | Reprints & Copyrights | Home
© 2019-2020 Copyright Starlight Poetry
VIEW FULL SITE DIRECTORY
View Me on Twitter @kairosoflife
See Creativity Chaos - a Creativity Blog by Kai
About | Reprints & Copyrights | Home
© 2019-2020 Copyright Starlight Poetry
VIEW FULL SITE DIRECTORY
www.starlightpoetry.weebly.com
Like any issue that people don’t understand PTSD has its share of myths or misconceptions that are spread by ignorance, fear or bias. Here are some popular myths debunked .
MYTH: Only soldiers get PTSD
Most people think PTSD just affects soldiers returning from war. There has been a lot of media attention brought to veterans with PTSD but this disorder is not exclusive to the military. PTSD affects anyone who has been exposed to a traumatic event. Anyone can get PTSD. Eight million Americans cope with PTSD each year, many of whom have never served in the military. Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men. Women are more likely to develop PTSD due to sexual assault and child sexual abuse, whereas men are more likely to develop the disorder due to accidents, physical assault, natural disaster and combat.
MYTH: Experiencing trauma is enough to develop PTSD.
Traumatic experiences are unfortunately very common. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, roughly 60 percent of men and 50 percent of women experience at least one trauma over the course of their lives. Most people who experience trauma do not necessarily develop PTSD. They may experience signs of acute stress after the incident like insomnia, anxiety and depression, but with time and treatment they recover. Others, however, may go on to experience severe symptoms that last for several months or years and they receive a diagnosis of PTSD.
MYTH: People with PTSD are weak
PTSD, like any mental illness, is not a character flaw. It is an understandable human response to uncommon experiences. Some individuals who develop PTSD may do so because of a genetic predisposition to the disorder while others may develop PTSD because the trauma was horrific or lasted for a long time. Because PTSD is an biological illness with real neurological consequences, no one can get better by simply trying harder to be cured. Professional treatment is not an admission of defeat, but rather an essential step in treating a brain disease.
MYTH: People with PTSD are dangerous
Most people are familiar with the generalization of a soldier not recognizing that he’s no longer at war and violently lashes out at the people around him. In reality, however, neither psychosis nor aggression is a hallmark symptom of PTSD.
MYTH: You can get PTSD immediately after experiencing a trauma
Experiencing stress reactions following a traumatic event is to be expected. However, in order for these these reactions to receive a diagnosis of PTSD the symptoms must last at least a month. Within the first month, these stress reactions are considered “acute stress,” which is very similar to PTSD, but have a slightly greater emphasis on dissociative symptoms (e.g., altered sense of reality, inability to remember important aspects of the traumatic event). Acute stress can be diagnosed within the first month of the trauma. PTSD can be diagnosed months or years later and only if the symptoms last longer than a month.
MYTH: People with PTSD cannot function in military or work environments.
Military members with PTSD are often afraid to seek treatment for fear of involuntary discharge from the military, but people can have PTSD and still effectively do their job, even as a soldier. It is a manageable and treatable diagnosis, and being diagnosed with PTSD does not necessarily mean one’s career is over.
MYTH: After a while, people with PTSD should just be able to get over it.
PTSD symptoms do not just magically go away after a certain period of time has passed. While many people are able to find ways of coping on their own, many need a professional for guidance.
MYTH: Vets with PTSD are not “wounded.”
Veterans with PTSD are rarely granted the same attention as veterans with a physical injury. The fact is, these veterans went to war and made sacrifices for their country just the same as all war veterans. It may help reduce stigma to think of psychological injuries as collateral damage just like physical injuries.
MYTH: Nothing can be done for those with who have PTSD.
PTSD is very responsive to treatment. There are several different types of treatments, developed for different types of people, which have all been found to be effective. If you have PTSD and have undergone unsuccessful treatment there may be other options available. New interventions continue to be developed and talking with a professional is a good way to review many options with great results to choose from.
MYTH: The trauma was so long ago that it’s too late to do anything about it
It’s never too late to address your trauma. There are a lot of reasons that someone would wait to get treatment, but the decades separating them from their trauma are not an obstacle at all. In some ways it is easier treating people whose event was more than a year ago because much of their identity around the trauma has been settled.
MYTH: People should be able to handle it themselves
Often it takes more strength to get help than to struggle on alone. Men are especially reluctant to reach out for help because they have been conditioned by our culture to not express feelings or to be vulnerable. Some people have a difficult time finding someone who can relate to them, and others have been burned by clinicians in the past. Getting help does not mean that you’re crazy or that you’ll always need help or that you failed in coping alone.
MYTH: People just need to process this trauma and then they will be fine
By the time someone gets help they are incredibly anxious to purge the memory and be done with it. That is a crucial step but it is not the only step. Treatment protocol has three phases: safety and coping, review of trauma memories (the processing piece) and integration. Talk with your therapist about where you are in your treatment and what you can expect. It’s not always possible to give an exact timeline but your therapist can tell you how you’re doing and when you will know that you are ready to move on.
MYTH: If a person can’t remember the abuse, they won’t be able to process the trauma
There are actually several therapies that do not rely on a coherent memory to process the trauma. Researchers are recognizing that trauma may be stored in the body and that trauma can by processed by helping the survivor connect with what their body is feeling.
MYTH: Having PTSD means someone is going to go crazy
The symptoms of PTSD can be very disruptive. You may feel constantly on edge or as if danger is lurking around every corner. You may feel cut-off from people and your own feelings. You may have difficulties concentrating or find that you get angry at the drop of a hat. These are not signs of going crazy. They are simply your body's attempt to cope with an extremely stressful or traumatic occurrence. The body's main goal is to survive. When you experience a stressful event, your body responds by preparing to either "fight or flight." Normally your body is able to recover from this. However, after experiencing extreme and traumatic stress, your body may stay in this mode so you will always being prepared for action in case that danger happens again. You may also expect it will happen again. The world may no longer appear safe, and this is a very reasonable response. You are not going crazy. Your body is just trying to cope.
MYTH: I am never going to get over it
No treatment is ever going to make you forget what happened to you, and you will likely always have some memories and thoughts about your traumatic event. However, treatment can limit the extent with which this event and the symptoms connected to it interfere with your life. You do have the potential to "get over it" meaning you are able to lead a fulfilling life despite the experience of a traumatic event and PTSD.
MYTH: Only soldiers get PTSD
Most people think PTSD just affects soldiers returning from war. There has been a lot of media attention brought to veterans with PTSD but this disorder is not exclusive to the military. PTSD affects anyone who has been exposed to a traumatic event. Anyone can get PTSD. Eight million Americans cope with PTSD each year, many of whom have never served in the military. Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men. Women are more likely to develop PTSD due to sexual assault and child sexual abuse, whereas men are more likely to develop the disorder due to accidents, physical assault, natural disaster and combat.
MYTH: Experiencing trauma is enough to develop PTSD.
Traumatic experiences are unfortunately very common. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, roughly 60 percent of men and 50 percent of women experience at least one trauma over the course of their lives. Most people who experience trauma do not necessarily develop PTSD. They may experience signs of acute stress after the incident like insomnia, anxiety and depression, but with time and treatment they recover. Others, however, may go on to experience severe symptoms that last for several months or years and they receive a diagnosis of PTSD.
MYTH: People with PTSD are weak
PTSD, like any mental illness, is not a character flaw. It is an understandable human response to uncommon experiences. Some individuals who develop PTSD may do so because of a genetic predisposition to the disorder while others may develop PTSD because the trauma was horrific or lasted for a long time. Because PTSD is an biological illness with real neurological consequences, no one can get better by simply trying harder to be cured. Professional treatment is not an admission of defeat, but rather an essential step in treating a brain disease.
MYTH: People with PTSD are dangerous
Most people are familiar with the generalization of a soldier not recognizing that he’s no longer at war and violently lashes out at the people around him. In reality, however, neither psychosis nor aggression is a hallmark symptom of PTSD.
MYTH: You can get PTSD immediately after experiencing a trauma
Experiencing stress reactions following a traumatic event is to be expected. However, in order for these these reactions to receive a diagnosis of PTSD the symptoms must last at least a month. Within the first month, these stress reactions are considered “acute stress,” which is very similar to PTSD, but have a slightly greater emphasis on dissociative symptoms (e.g., altered sense of reality, inability to remember important aspects of the traumatic event). Acute stress can be diagnosed within the first month of the trauma. PTSD can be diagnosed months or years later and only if the symptoms last longer than a month.
MYTH: People with PTSD cannot function in military or work environments.
Military members with PTSD are often afraid to seek treatment for fear of involuntary discharge from the military, but people can have PTSD and still effectively do their job, even as a soldier. It is a manageable and treatable diagnosis, and being diagnosed with PTSD does not necessarily mean one’s career is over.
MYTH: After a while, people with PTSD should just be able to get over it.
PTSD symptoms do not just magically go away after a certain period of time has passed. While many people are able to find ways of coping on their own, many need a professional for guidance.
MYTH: Vets with PTSD are not “wounded.”
Veterans with PTSD are rarely granted the same attention as veterans with a physical injury. The fact is, these veterans went to war and made sacrifices for their country just the same as all war veterans. It may help reduce stigma to think of psychological injuries as collateral damage just like physical injuries.
MYTH: Nothing can be done for those with who have PTSD.
PTSD is very responsive to treatment. There are several different types of treatments, developed for different types of people, which have all been found to be effective. If you have PTSD and have undergone unsuccessful treatment there may be other options available. New interventions continue to be developed and talking with a professional is a good way to review many options with great results to choose from.
MYTH: The trauma was so long ago that it’s too late to do anything about it
It’s never too late to address your trauma. There are a lot of reasons that someone would wait to get treatment, but the decades separating them from their trauma are not an obstacle at all. In some ways it is easier treating people whose event was more than a year ago because much of their identity around the trauma has been settled.
MYTH: People should be able to handle it themselves
Often it takes more strength to get help than to struggle on alone. Men are especially reluctant to reach out for help because they have been conditioned by our culture to not express feelings or to be vulnerable. Some people have a difficult time finding someone who can relate to them, and others have been burned by clinicians in the past. Getting help does not mean that you’re crazy or that you’ll always need help or that you failed in coping alone.
MYTH: People just need to process this trauma and then they will be fine
By the time someone gets help they are incredibly anxious to purge the memory and be done with it. That is a crucial step but it is not the only step. Treatment protocol has three phases: safety and coping, review of trauma memories (the processing piece) and integration. Talk with your therapist about where you are in your treatment and what you can expect. It’s not always possible to give an exact timeline but your therapist can tell you how you’re doing and when you will know that you are ready to move on.
MYTH: If a person can’t remember the abuse, they won’t be able to process the trauma
There are actually several therapies that do not rely on a coherent memory to process the trauma. Researchers are recognizing that trauma may be stored in the body and that trauma can by processed by helping the survivor connect with what their body is feeling.
MYTH: Having PTSD means someone is going to go crazy
The symptoms of PTSD can be very disruptive. You may feel constantly on edge or as if danger is lurking around every corner. You may feel cut-off from people and your own feelings. You may have difficulties concentrating or find that you get angry at the drop of a hat. These are not signs of going crazy. They are simply your body's attempt to cope with an extremely stressful or traumatic occurrence. The body's main goal is to survive. When you experience a stressful event, your body responds by preparing to either "fight or flight." Normally your body is able to recover from this. However, after experiencing extreme and traumatic stress, your body may stay in this mode so you will always being prepared for action in case that danger happens again. You may also expect it will happen again. The world may no longer appear safe, and this is a very reasonable response. You are not going crazy. Your body is just trying to cope.
MYTH: I am never going to get over it
No treatment is ever going to make you forget what happened to you, and you will likely always have some memories and thoughts about your traumatic event. However, treatment can limit the extent with which this event and the symptoms connected to it interfere with your life. You do have the potential to "get over it" meaning you are able to lead a fulfilling life despite the experience of a traumatic event and PTSD.