tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11894840054636540402011-10-30T18:34:56.067-04:00A PTSD Recovery BlogMichele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.comBlogger2531100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-2766200610854512542009-06-20T13:29:00.008-04:002009-06-21T10:09:43.630-04:00

Hello, Blog Friends!PARASITES OF THE MIND no longer lives at this address. WE'VE MOVED!That's right, PARASITES OF THE MIND now has A NEW ADDRESS:blog.healmyptsd.comTo keep up with us on a daily basis, please update your bookmark.See you in the new hood!(Photo: peglatz)

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-47810939995709215982009-06-19T10:09:00.004-04:002009-06-19T10:28:03.583-04:00

For 8 years I was with a therapist I loved and adored and whom I thought hung the moon. Too bad he wasn't trauma trained. Yes, we made galaxies of progress, but by the end of 8 years that's all I could say. I'd made progress. I wasn't healed. I used to wail at him, "Henry, when will we ever be finished?" And Henry would sagely reply, "You'll know when you get there."Not good enough.We all know

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-37582067028184418722009-06-18T09:32:00.002-04:002009-06-18T09:37:34.441-04:00

From the day my trauma ended through all the 25 years I struggled with PTSD undiagnosed through the following years of my healing one thought was always bigger and more constant in my mind than any other. One thought followed me wherever I went, no matter whether I was having a good day or a bad, spiralling or healing -- it didn't make a difference. This one thought was there, more a part of me

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-68019067348105895322009-06-17T10:00:00.001-04:002009-06-17T10:00:00.325-04:00

Why does it take so long for us to accept the fact that we need help?Why don't we know and admit immediately that we're living a life that's not exactly whole?For years and years I existed in a sort of psychological bumper cars, accepting the constant full-body crash of the PTSD symptoms insomnia, rage, hyperarousal, hypervigilance, emotional numbing, dissociation, intrusive thoughts and

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-2461801727135308472009-06-16T22:59:00.004-04:002009-06-16T23:09:37.936-04:00

So today I spoke with the one and only Dr. Alex Pattakos (that's Dr. Meaning, to you!) and he had some very interesting things to say about how the search for meaning applies to trauma healing.A quick overview:Logotherapy - This is the psychiatric core of Pattakos' theories. 'Logo' = Greek for meaning, soul, spirit. Logotherapy is the spiritualization of psychotherapy.Inherent in each of us is

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-62919310589988635932009-06-16T13:00:00.001-04:002009-06-16T17:22:37.580-04:00

I met Gary Jacobson in the phenomenal Yahoo! Group: Combat Vets with PTSD. I love this group. They are a terrific community of vets and significant others all of whom are dedicated to a healing path that nurtures education, connection, comaraderie, compassion, knowledge and proaction. It’s a group of people all over this continent who support each other and work together to figure out how to

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-49026531634083753442009-06-15T22:08:00.005-04:002009-06-15T22:30:03.360-04:00

Dear Fellow PTSDers, it is with great excitement and honor that I'm announcing my interview with Dr. Alex Pattakos, on Tuesday, June 16 at 11:30am EST.Known around the world as 'Dr. Meaning', Pattakos is the protege of Vicktor Frankl, the trauma survivor who developed the therapeutic system of Logotherapy. Pattakos is the author of the internationally celebrated book, Prisoners of our Thoughts,

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-81988894255941490472009-06-15T11:24:00.004-04:002009-06-15T11:28:40.824-04:00

When we enter into the therapeutic relationship, how focused are we? If you’re anything like me, not very. I was a mess. Such a mess (and so against being in therapy) that I didn’t actually choose, seek out, or decide upon my therapist. I hit rock bottom; splatted against a wall of depression and powerlessness, and then let someone else push the pieces together and into my therapist’s office.

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-12415155765109969542009-06-14T14:48:00.008-04:002009-06-14T15:01:45.770-04:00

I met Laura Burlingame-Lee when I stumbled upon her blog, The Other Side of the Couch. I immediately liked her personable voice and her incredibly educated and knowledgeable approach to communicating with those of us on, well, the other side of the couch!One of her posts referenced Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), something I'd never heard of before. I wrote asking for details and voila! In

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-469596856812520902009-06-13T18:20:00.004-04:002009-06-13T18:27:55.170-04:00

Back in the News saddle after a week of trauma conference coverage and other bumpy life things.This afternoon I hosted a BTR show: ‘Bridging the Gap Between PTSD and The People Who Love Us’ — fabulous interview with my mom and Deb Vaughan, two people who have gone to great lengths to support survivors in recovery. For tips about how to facilitate communication and proactive healing, listen to the

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-49251649285567524902009-06-13T11:07:00.015-04:002009-06-13T16:29:23.233-04:00

Today at 2:30pm (EST) I will host a radio show on BlogTalkRadio:Bridging the Gap Between PTSD and the People Who Love Us: What Every PTSDer Needs to Know About the View From the Other SideGuests for the show will be my mom, Eileen Rosenthal, who stuck by and did not abandon me (despite all the reasons I gave her to do so!) through 25 years of undiagnosed PTSD hell.And Deb Vaughan, who runs the 'I

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-78568346011134467752009-06-12T09:15:00.001-04:002009-06-15T09:59:15.250-04:00

Can't help myself from looking back over the past week and recognizing how important it is to revamp our ideas of who to consider when we're seeking help. It's easy to get stuck in the rut of thinking only clinicians, therapists or trained practitioners can help us. But there's a whole world out there! Help can come in many different forms and from many different sources, from neuroscientists to

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-13673333736112833232009-06-11T11:15:00.003-04:002009-06-11T11:19:58.070-04:00

For those of you who've been following this blog for a while, you know I'm a dancer and how much dance had to do with my PTSD recovery. When all therapies failed me I decided to pursue joy as a way to overthrow trauma's vicelike grip and to habituate myself to something outside of my trauma addiction, and to reconnect to my pure and innocent and untraumatised self, which I believed still existed

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-30844817886272496872009-06-10T11:44:00.006-04:002009-06-10T12:06:43.200-04:00

A double post day because:Last night I spoke at the local meeting of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The topic:Are You Participating in Your Recovery?5 Tips to Supplement Therapy with Self-Empowered HealingToday, in my ever-increasing tech evolution: a slimmed down audio version (15 minutes) of last night's hourlong presentation.Comments? Thoughts? Things you would add?(Photo: maraculio)

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-59030540168899735392009-06-10T09:23:00.007-04:002009-06-15T09:59:15.251-04:00

Continuing from Monday's post... We never know from where or when healing comes. We receive the gift of progress from unlikely places. This can happen even more frequently if we're openly seeking input and advice from people whose perspective we admire. My experience at the trauma conference last weekend is a perfect example. But first: bringing the story up to date in terms of my own history:I

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-75519749311379440752009-06-09T09:43:00.004-04:002009-06-09T09:47:44.839-04:00

I love to hear the strong, resilient voice of a survivor who's determined not to let fate get the best of her. Donna Allen has such a voice. The victim of child abuse - and then the survivor of a plane crash - Donna Allen's voice is clear, committed, proactive and full of self-determination and belief. Bravo!When I was an abused teenager, I felt victimized, helpless, and overwhelmed and I shut

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-45520674633366221942009-06-08T21:09:00.008-04:002009-06-08T21:21:44.828-04:00

For those of you in the Palm Beach County area:Tuesday, June 9th I'll be speaking at NAMI's monthly chapter meeting. I've been invited to present on the topic: Are You Participating in Your Recovery? How to Supplement Therapy With Self-Empowered Healing6:30 - 7:30pm Oakwood Center of the Palm Beaches1041 45th StreetWest Palm BeachNAMI meetings are open to and free for the public. Refreshments

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-51592970997749994022009-06-08T09:15:00.000-04:002009-06-15T09:59:15.252-04:00

For the past 3 days I've been posting about my experience at the 20th Annual Trauma Conference in Boston. It's got me thinking about how we PTSDers view the professional clinical world, plus how we do and don't utilize it, and why we have a love/hate relationship with the people we should be relying on for help.Let's go back 28 years. Before I even left the hospital after my trauma I had shut

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-70117052644016037442009-06-07T00:20:00.009-04:002009-06-15T15:49:33.898-04:00

I love learning. If being a student was a profession it would have been the perfect one for me. Since I can't be a serial degree candidate, these sort of crash course weekends are really invigorating.The trauma conference ended yesterday, but not until I learned about emergence, complex systems science, attachment theory, theater vs. therapy and somatic transference. And then I had a very, very

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-56557857220089481742009-06-06T07:39:00.003-04:002009-06-06T07:47:25.247-04:00

Yesterday, a friend set me straight on my perspective about this conference. He explained to me: "Most people who get interested in the science are studying lab rats. It's unusual for the lab rats to be studying the science."Once I understood that I am a rat at this conference, I got into the groove of the maze. As any good rat would, I adapted to the stimuli and made my way to find the cheese.

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-75570635337512056672009-06-05T00:35:00.007-04:002009-06-05T07:47:14.815-04:00

I'm in Boston at the 20th Annual Trauma Conference. I spent yesterday in a seminar with Bessel van der Kolk, Alexander McFarlane, Jim Hopper, Ruth Lanius and Rachel Yehuda on the topic of 'Reorganizing the Disorganized Brain', all about the neuroanatomy of trauma. I learned some interesting things about primary, secondary and tertiary dissociation, failed cortical inhibition, neural networks, the

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-56239925828446493802009-06-04T07:46:00.005-04:002009-06-04T07:52:21.342-04:00

I’m still thinking about partners and PTSD. I’ll tell you why. In the past two weeks, I’ve received more than one email from men wanting advice about how to stand by, support, help and love women struggling with PTSD. The traumas range from domestic violence to rape, but the words of the men are all the same: “I love a woman with PTSD. How can I help her recover?”In times when we’re so depressed

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-66310712291832200842009-06-03T12:06:00.006-04:002009-06-15T10:00:26.719-04:00

For a long time I thought I was stronger than my trauma. After all, I had survived it, so that meant something, right? I was tough. It wasn't going to beat me twice. It wasn't going to beat me once - I was done with it. Over it. Fini! Oh, those symptoms? They're not trauma related...I would have gone on suffering and struggling forever if I hadn't reached a day that something broke in me and I

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-84408243874790213332009-06-02T08:35:00.005-04:002009-06-02T10:04:44.187-04:00

I met Debbie E. on Twitter and was immediately taken in by her proactive, positive outlook on coping and healing. To give you a taste of what she's like, her Tweet from only a minute ago is: "I'm hungry for pancakes." Now that's a survivor who's healing! Today, in her own words, Debbie's journey from infant abuse to woman healing.Growing up, I was abused to the point that, at the age of three, I

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-37806269264029964152009-06-01T08:45:00.005-04:002009-06-15T10:00:26.720-04:00

It's a new month, which means on to a new part of the BRIDGE THE GAP healing workshop! Now that we're clear on our intentions, we're talking, reaching out, and we've educated ourselves and others about PTSD, we're in the perfect position for 2009 Healing Resolution No. 6: I WILL SEEK HELP.A word about this activity before we dive in: Seeking help is, quite possibly, the toughest part of healing.

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-39246227299331277762009-05-31T14:05:00.003-04:002009-05-31T14:08:58.541-04:00

Since forgiveness seems to be the dominant theme this week, it seems only fitting to include a professional take on the forgiveness question. Dr. Nancy Irwin has a winning approach to helping her clients. In her own words,"As a therapeutic hypnotist and doctor of psychology, I know for a fact that we are all born to win. We learn to fail, and what we learn, we can un-learn. Therefore, I work to

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-51892319609229054262009-05-30T18:14:00.005-04:002009-05-30T18:26:24.882-04:00

I'm trying out a new format for the news today: short synopses rather than just a linked title. Like? Dislike? Don't care? Let me know what you prefer.... Also, a short note before the news: For those of you chiming in and/or following the 'Forgiveness' thread going on here with Nancy Richard's post and then mine, I think you'll find Jaliya's latest installment a really interesting way to

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-68697735563797429382009-05-30T11:41:00.006-04:002009-05-30T11:45:47.542-04:00

Whoa – another month just flew by in the BRIDGE THE GAP healing workshop. We covered many aspects about how to educate friends, family, partners and colleagues about PTSD, including:Communicating with the Outside WorldDeciding Which Family Member to Talk To7 Tips For Talking about PTSDNavigating Negative Reactions8 Dos & Don'ts For Breaking PTSD NewsThe Importance of AttitudeEducating

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-64135322971671729602009-05-29T08:30:00.001-04:002009-05-29T08:37:09.404-04:00

So, I asked you all for input about how to deal with PTSD at work and there were no takers for thrashing out that challenge in the comments. But: I received several personal responses via email and an online PTSD group I'm in. I'll post them here for an overview of how we deal:I do believe that honesty is the best policy, however I feel it is best to wait a while before confiding too much in

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-12633816889417658872009-05-28T07:34:00.008-04:002009-05-28T08:46:41.080-04:00

When we're wronged by someone we can spend hours, days, weeks, even years thinking about how much we've been hurt, how we're owed an apology, how we didn't deserve whatever thing was done. We can lose ourselves in the victim mentality and fall down that rabbit hole of wanting an apology so that we can move on.And we should do that. We need to acknowledge what's been done to us and hold the

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-84610054744890904522009-05-27T09:16:00.004-04:002009-05-28T21:53:54.811-04:00

Today, I need your input. The workplace is not somewhere I ever discussed my PTSD.I could, of course, write about how I managed my physical and emotional PTSD symptoms at work – which was just to bear with them, control them, get the work done, and go home.I could write about how I never told anyone what my interior world was like. Or, how I just kept quitting jobs because I crashed physically

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-19250852775528870112009-05-26T10:25:00.003-04:002009-05-26T10:41:33.184-04:00

A few months ago I stumbled upon Nancy Richard's blog, Heal and Forgive, and was immediately taken in by this statement in her bio:"When I finally mustered the courage to buck societal expectations; not to forgive; and to put my own healing and well-being first, I achieved a level of healing that I never thought was possible."Don't you need to hear more from this person? I know I did. And now,

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-64993791718010103382009-05-25T14:05:00.008-04:002009-05-25T14:42:28.695-04:00

It’s a holiday today, so John and I stayed up late last night watching a movie, taking Baylee for a post-midnight walk and then flopping on the bed for a long, lazy talk. I love those evenings when I can lie against John's chest and we are just still for a while.I wasn’t always able to do this sort of thing, relax with my partner. I was too antsy to sit at home and watch a movie, too agitated to

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-91586297727330472942009-05-23T16:07:00.005-04:002009-05-23T16:29:58.752-04:00

A sort of light newsweek, but still some interesting topics.....First, how do we feel about this:The psychiatric community recently discussed at a conference the idea of Post-Traumatic Embitterment Disorder. Modeled after PTSD this is a ‘mental illness’ of people who are wronged and then seethe with the need for revenge. Are we feeling generous enough to let them co-opt our lingo? Does feeling

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-26227549748067545762009-05-22T07:15:00.012-04:002009-05-22T10:05:08.010-04:00

We can talk all we want, but sometimes friends and family (and anyone else who is not the source of our PTSD but is standing by us while we're in it) needs a PTSD survival guide, something they can refer to that speaks directly to their experience and gives them a sort of road map. Today, a post just for them:For all of you who love someone with PTSD, here's a Top 10 list of things you need to

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-27077823133914115592009-05-21T09:45:00.005-04:002009-05-21T09:56:38.546-04:00

I hear over and over that 98% of what we do every day is by habit. And I read recently that 95% of the population is habituated. The psych community has assured us it takes 21 days to form a habit. And the breaking habits pros say it takes just as long to replace bad habits with good.All this has me thinking about how those numbers apply to the PTSD experience. As in:To what extent do and have we

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-56318068397133904692009-05-20T09:29:00.007-04:002009-05-20T09:58:35.746-04:00

In studying organizations, institutes and associations’ tips and tricks for speaking about mental health, I’ve come to the conclusion that it all boils down to attitude – our attitude in terms of these two things:1 – what we want to accomplish2 – what we think the reaction will beKnowing What You WantFor many years I was a publicist. This meant I was often pitching people about news stories they

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-68047382326250653072009-05-19T11:01:00.000-04:002009-05-19T18:47:48.661-04:00

I'm meeting a lot of survivors who are poets, which makes me wonder: Are we poets before our traumas, or does trauma - and then PTSD - bring out the poet in us?From my own experience I know I've been a writer since I was 7 and was writing poetry before my trauma at age 13. But it was through writing poetry, 20 years later, that I began to cross the bridge back to myself.And so, the question

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-70928162073377155292009-05-18T09:13:00.005-04:002009-05-20T10:32:12.236-04:00

Let’s face it: While there are literally thousands of resources for how family members and friends can and should approach us about mental illness, there’s not a single resource for how we should approach them. Time to get creative and make a resource of our own.I’m taking as my inspiration here one of my favorite (and the most fun) mental health bloggers, Alicia Sparks’ piece, ‘Don’t Avert Your

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-12710913248371865462009-05-17T11:28:00.005-04:002009-05-17T12:02:26.894-04:00

You can only imagine that a man whose blog is part of the Joy and Balance Community would have some interesting things to say about, well, finding joy and balance on the path to healing PTSD. True enough, when I asked Dr. Dan Kaufman to write a guest post about how we might support ourselves and so further healing, Dr. Dan dove right in with this great post about how we can learn to change

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-67073853467749496222009-05-16T14:34:00.004-04:002009-05-16T15:04:55.186-04:00

Before we get to the news, just a reminder that the PTSD community is joining together to help me build the most survivor-friendly and PTSD resource oriented web site on the net. If you haven’t already read about this project, read this post and leave a comment or shoot me an email with your thoughts. News for both civilian and combat PTSD: An Adventure In Grief – memoir about a woman dealing

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-91508235651128323152009-05-15T09:00:00.006-04:002009-05-15T11:15:07.769-04:00

The usual BRIDGE THE GAP post is suspended today for a very important public service announcement:Behind the scenes this month I'm working on writing copy for the Heal My PTSD, LLC, web site, which will launch in June. I want this to be the mother of all survivor-friendly sites for PTSD awareness, education, treatment and self-empowered healing. Covering and including all types of PTSD in every

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-37660838523910865982009-05-14T11:02:00.004-04:002009-05-14T11:11:46.793-04:00

Reeducating family can be tough – an enormous job where we have to overcome negative reactions, assumptions, comments and perceptions. I was corresponding with someone about this today when all of a sudden it hit me: the most difficult person to educate in my family was… me!I’ve written before about how avidly I fought my PTSD diagnosis. As if dealing with the symptoms wasn’t enough, I

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-5855626056068488962009-05-13T08:06:00.012-04:002009-05-13T09:03:12.654-04:00

A blog reader left the following comment on Monday's post:The hardest thing for me after carefully selecting friends and family to tell, is the negative reactions.The one that hurts the most is, "It was a long time ago, JUST GET OVER IT". Don't they think if I could just get over it I would?Another response is, "Why do you have to take those meds, you are a pill popping, drug addict?" One of my

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-48535974644252434622009-05-12T22:39:00.000-04:002009-05-12T09:49:22.798-04:00

Stanley Aldrich is a Vietnam vet who writes the blog, Desert Spirit (Living with PTSD). A couple of months ago he wrote a guest post about recognizing Combat PTSD and seeking help. Now, he’s agreed to explain something about navigating the VA system. For all you veterans wondering how and where to begin, Stanley gives some concrete tips on how to manage your healthcare. For all you civilians who

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-40921809774305557052009-05-11T09:22:00.003-04:002009-05-11T09:38:15.651-04:00

Last week I dove into writing about how to tell family about your PTSD diagnosis. I was right there riffing about 7 Tips for Telling Your Family when Svasti brought up a really important point in a comment. She wrote:Actually, something else I think is important (for your own sake) is not assuming your family will understand or be as supportive as you'd like. Some families are and will be. But if

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-44568403004505658232009-05-10T15:20:00.004-04:002009-05-10T15:44:49.818-04:00

It's Mother's Day, so the topic of caregivers seems appropriate for the calendar. Whether you are the mother of a PTSDer, or the caregiver, or both the stress of watching someone struggle with symptoms is tough. I marvel that my own mother had the strength not only to watch me struggle to survive a horrific, life-threatening illness, but also to watch me for over 25 years afterward battle this

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-14931996347704649722009-05-09T15:15:00.007-04:002009-05-09T16:52:19.476-04:00

The first bit of news has to do with the new poll on the sidebar:Q: Who have you told about your PTSD diagnosis?A: Friends, Family, Partner, Colleagues, No one.Have you left your answer yet? I'm interested in getting a sense of how much we talk. I didn't tell anyone but my family for a long time. When I finally got comfortable with the idea of my diagnosis I told a few friends so they could

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-28655081717039626582009-05-08T09:45:00.004-04:002009-05-08T10:04:38.223-04:00

OK, so you’ve thought about how to choose which family member to speak to about your PTSD diagnosis and hopefully you've decided on someone. Now, you actually have to follow through with doing it. Problem is – let me guess: It’s hard to talk about it. Don’t I know it! One of the symptoms of PTSD no one ever, er, talks about is how tough it is to talk about. The PTSD brain fog and chaos make

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-49620441596414196022009-05-07T10:06:00.003-04:002009-05-07T10:22:27.867-04:00

Here’s what they don’t tell you about healing PTSD: the healing journey doesn’t end when the nightmares cease, or when the insomnia goes away and the anxiety ebbs. The yellow brick road to recovery doesn’t run straight into the Palace of Oz when dissociation takes a hike, hypervigilance lies down, emotions unnumb and the intrusive thoughts fly away on a monkey. No, what happens when you heal PTSD

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-85182808054157697942009-05-06T08:50:00.003-04:002009-05-06T09:15:21.791-04:00

When we think about educating our world about PTSD, the most logical place to begin is with family. Assuming you’re on speaking terms with them and they’re not the origin of your trauma, family is usually the first line of defense between a PTSDer and the outside world. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and extended relations are usually the people we feel most comfortable being ourselves

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-10965998486749632432009-05-05T08:54:00.005-04:002009-05-05T09:51:31.979-04:00

This week's survivor speaking out is Catatonic Kid, prolific and insightful PTSD blogger, and also - a poet. I interviewed CK about how she uses poetry to heal. You can view her terrific poem, 'Before' here.Also, in the reverse of this month's BRIDGE THE GAP topic about how we communicate and educate those around us about PTSD, yesterday Catatonic Kid wrote about our peceptions of how people

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-50378031391826553942009-05-04T11:21:00.008-04:002009-05-06T09:15:21.791-04:00

It’s been a busy weekend here at PTSD Central. I spent a lot of time working on the Heal My PTSD, LLC, web site, which by the way, I could use your input on. Please visit this post to join the conversation about how we, as survivors, define PTSD.Also, for those of you dealing with PTSD from child abuse, check out Wendy’s totally cool comment on Friday’s post about how to find a good PTSD therapy

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-84164388862777456122009-05-03T15:38:00.005-04:002009-05-03T15:50:44.216-04:00

Today I was reading the DSM IV definition of PTSD, which is:The essential feature of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is the development of characteristic symptoms following exposure to an extreme traumatic stressor involving direct personal experience of an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury, or other threat to one's physical integrity; or witnessing an event that

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-75384238475113288912009-05-03T12:17:00.007-04:002009-05-03T12:30:36.427-04:00

In our PTSD Education series, one final word on EMDR from practitioner Jill Landefeld. In this interesting and insightful piece, a professional talks about her personal trauma healing experience. (I swear, I didn't ask her to write the first sentence, but I didn't edit out the kudos!)Michele is to be commended for putting forward the message on this site that we can recover from trauma and move

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-46862540973490463872009-05-02T16:10:00.003-04:002009-05-02T16:25:09.269-04:00

First off today is our rather uninspired voting turnout to the question, ‘How Much Do you Know About PTSD’. The results:26% = I know everything there is to know.19% = I know what I experience.46% = I’m learning but taking it slowly.7% = I don’t want to know anything just make it go away.What do you want to know about the thoughts and ideas of your fellow PTSDers? If you have polling questions you

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-23901163460885329772009-05-01T09:58:00.005-04:002009-05-08T09:44:17.202-04:00

So here we are, at the end of another month in the BRIGE THE GAP healing workshop. This month we covered a lot of great information in our search for PTSD Education. I think I’d have to say that PTSD U has been a success! We’ve studied the causes, symptoms, effects and several treatments for PTSD. We’ve heard from survivors healing and from professionals helping us on the path. As survivors, we’

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-12810170912829545592009-04-30T10:33:00.010-04:002009-04-30T11:14:16.907-04:00

My approach to my own PTSD healing was all wrong. I thought I could force it to happen, cause it to occur overnight and then, poof!, 25 years of undiagnosed PTSD and all the memories and emotions tied to 1 life-threatening trauma would just evaporate. Just like that. Wasn't I optimistic?OK, so now I’ve learned it doesn’t happen that way. Back then, though, I didn’t understand all of the work that

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-62633245635085539752009-04-29T21:50:00.003-04:002009-04-29T21:56:06.124-04:00

You all are being very quiet about your approach to your PTSD education! How much do you know about the symptoms, causes, effects and treament of PTSD? I'm curious to see how we as a community approach the idea of PTSD education. Particpate in the poll on the left and help me take the pulse of how we feel about the importance of knowing about this thing that ails us.(Photo: Enrico Fuente)

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-60143930216044182002009-04-29T10:47:00.006-04:002009-05-08T09:43:34.405-04:00

One of PTSD’s most extreme symptoms is our tendency (devotion!) to avoid anything and everything that reminds us of our trauma. However, avoidance only feeds our traumatic feelings and encourages us to continue to embrace and act upon them. Exposure therapy aims at ending that cycle once and for all. According to an article on Medical News Today exposure therapy has proven to actually intercept

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-48727406027623862772009-04-28T03:02:00.004-04:002009-04-28T03:30:24.780-04:00

Susan is my favorite kind of survivor - while juggling a family and her own healing she continues moving forward with tenacity despite the setbacks. She was not originally an artist, but now she uses photography, quilting and chalk pastels to help bridge the isolating PTSD gap between her and the rest of the world.What, if any, relation did you have to photography, chalk pastels or quilting

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-15377102986294585572009-04-27T10:22:00.006-04:002009-05-14T08:15:08.222-04:00

If my interview with Tapas Fleming, creator of Tapas Acupressure Technique (TAT) left you curious to see how TAT works, you're in luck! There are many great sources to see TAT in action. You can work with a practitioner, or you can practice TAT on your own. Below, a few videos to get you acquainted with the process. #1 - How to Practice TAT Yourself. #2 - Tapas Fleming (Founder TAT) live

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-44552303477064461632009-04-27T09:17:00.011-04:002009-05-08T09:43:34.406-04:00

We're coming into the homestretch of our month long education about PTSD symptoms, causes, effects and treatment.Today, an interview with Tapas Fleming, creator of a very popular information processing technique that's shown great results with trauma survivors. Last week, a very cheerful, chatty, informed and giving Tapas provided in-depth answers to my questions. Enjoy!Tapas, your Tapas

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-87879767802920738412009-04-26T09:59:00.005-04:002009-05-14T08:15:08.223-04:00

Julie Levin (MFT, CHT) specializes in relief from anxiety and related behaviors in both individuals and couples. Recently, I asked her what she thought made survivors resilient. Her answer:"One of the things I'm becoming aware of as I use EMDR more is the importance of a 'resource' person ... or a person who believes in the survivor and ideally loves or cares about him/her. I think this is a big

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-33211025616512671292009-04-25T12:45:00.000-04:002009-04-25T12:47:45.177-04:00

It's been a busy week! As we come close to the end of our focus on education about PTSD healing we covered Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Emotional Freedom Technique and Thought Field Therapy, plus the idea of surrounding ourselves with the right people while we heal. This is good, meaty stuff to keep our journeys moving forward.Now, it's time for a rest. 'PTSD in the News' is

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-55961500989136976302009-04-24T06:47:00.005-04:002009-05-14T08:15:08.223-04:00

The following video was supplied by Joanne Callahan to supplement her terrific guest post (see below) on Thought Field Therapy (TFT). Paul Harris is an automobile crash and burn victim who successfully used TFT to heal his trauma wounds.

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-19159386817903389392009-04-24T06:31:00.021-04:002009-05-08T09:43:34.406-04:00

During my PTSD healing, I tried every information processing technique there is. Thought Field Therapy (TFT) is another tapping exercise that can provide substantial results.Today, Joanne Callahan, wife and partner of TFT's founder, Dr. Roger Callahan, wrote a guest post for us explaining the history of TFT and its benefits. Happy tapping!How Thought Field Therapy Came to BeThis year we celebrate

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-72627211844506293172009-04-24T06:04:00.005-04:002009-04-24T06:24:47.206-04:00

In response to my comment earlier this week that I'm outgrowing my blog space, a cheeky Englishman sent me an email agreeing with me - and making some great suggestions about how to rectify this problem. Thanks to his really good advice, I've now moved (and totally organized!) 'My Favorite Trauma Links' to its own page. There's a link on the homepage now, too, for easy future reference.My goal is

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-32987466458063209472009-04-23T11:01:00.037-04:002009-05-25T16:45:53.760-04:00

The following list of organizations & informational sites is designed to give an overview of basic PTSD symptoms, causes, effects, treatments, healing options, and online support groups. Whether you're an adult or child, a civilian or vet, a post-partum mother or a friend/family member of someone strugging with PTSD, you'll find something on this page to advance healing. (For PTSD-related blogs,

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-72434791331390574582009-04-23T07:35:00.008-04:002009-04-23T08:07:37.566-04:00

The following quote comes from Mike H's ever evolving and really interesting Zen/PTSD blog:You simply cannot become healthier and happier as a human being unless you hang with people who are healthy and want to encourage health. That's the crux.This morning I'm wondering: Who are you hanging with? During my healing PTSD years, I made and got rid of many friends. Some friends I made because it

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-24543014041990686432009-04-22T09:29:00.006-04:002009-05-14T08:15:08.224-04:00

After reading John Garrett's illuminating EFT interview I posted earlier, don't you just want to see how this process works? Yep, I thought so! Below, you'll find some great links to see the who/what/when/where/why/how of EFT in action.For an intro to what EFT is, watch this.For a powerful explanation and how-to by Judy Byrne, master practitioner (including specifically about how EFT works with

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-89226728636218575002009-04-22T09:19:00.007-04:002009-05-08T09:43:34.408-04:00

John R. Garrett is a Vietnam Vet (1970-71), Retired Deputy Sheriff (2002), Realtor, and Andalusian Horse Breeder. He lives in Parker, Colorado, and… he’s a pro at the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Because of this, I asked him to do an interview that would lay out the basics of EFT for us. We’re in luck because the MindGuy (as he’s called on Twitter) responded to my questions with an

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-56652807230331709152009-04-21T09:20:00.004-04:002009-04-21T09:32:44.546-04:00

Rock stations often have 'Two for Tuesday'. Today, I'm rockin' out.Mike Burns has not only learned about and experienced EMDR for his own issues, he's become so intrigued by the modality he's making a movie about it. Anyone want to be an extra? Mike's always looking for survivors to participate in the film. You can contact him through the link below.My story is one that like many others, is still

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-10375032673691292992009-04-21T08:58:00.004-04:002009-04-21T09:15:12.787-04:00

So here I am, deep in the North Carolina woods in an enormous house built into the side of a mountain. My bedroom overlooks a lake, smooth as glass, twisting through the pines toward the mountains that rise in the distance. I may not leave, as scheduled, on Sunday! To continue our EMDR exploration: today, the words of a survivor living with PTSD, learning about EMDR, and experiencing the positive

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-23411379906358438202009-04-20T10:28:00.004-04:002009-04-20T12:11:37.935-04:00

1 – Yesterday, Mike H added a blog roll to his blog and I experienced a pang of jealousy. The words, I want one, too!, sprang to mind. The problem is, I’m outgrowing the space on this template (bear with me, I’m in the process of rectifying this). Nevertheless, my very own blog roll is now at the bottom of the blog.2 – I’m flying to North Carolina today for a working vacation week in a house on a

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-74673819515054341142009-04-20T09:16:00.006-04:002009-05-08T09:43:34.408-04:00

Today - and for the next week - BRIDGE THE GAP posts will cover information processing therapies. Don’t know what those are? Well then, this will be a very educational week!It goes like this: Your brain processes events and stores memories in much the same way as a computer. Pathways are built and constructed for the cataloguing and retrieving of information. Sometimes, the circuitry is a little

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-21364470544435780912009-04-19T12:29:00.008-04:002009-04-29T21:37:08.815-04:00

Mindfulness is a really crucial aspect of how we heal. PTSDers have such a tendency to not be mindful (we dissociate and thereby escape the horrible pain of being mindful) that it's a sort of foreign and non-instinctive issue for us. Well, it's time for that to change.When we become more mindful we begin to heal. Mike H made a great comment on Thursday's post. Among other things, he wrote, ...

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-1857232864036563782009-04-18T13:51:00.005-04:002009-04-18T14:16:25.272-04:00

If you missed the big conversation on Thursday about how we heal and our own expertise in our healing, check it out here.Some interesting things in the news this week, including the link between smoking and PTSD, female vets & PTSD, and a former marine singing about the sacrifices of service members.CIVILIAN NEWS: Smoking Could Make PTSD WorseAnguish of Story can haunt journalistsIn Plain Sight

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-69890066965129391032009-04-17T10:37:00.006-04:002009-05-14T08:15:08.224-04:00

Hypnotherapists are so generous with their time. Take Roger Straus, for example. I asked him how PTSD experiencers might use self-hypnosis to supplement their healing progress – and he wrote this entire post about how self-hypnosis and related methods can be used to help those with PTSD self-heal. Just more info for us to throw into the healing mix...Roger Straus, PhD., has a background as a

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-27386622926459536412009-04-17T09:36:00.011-04:002009-05-14T08:15:08.224-04:00

It would be wrong of me to post about hypnotherapy without addressing the myths associated with hypnosis. For an overview of the Top 10 Hypnosis Myths – and then a bust of each one – I asked my friend Jon Rhodes to write a guest post. After all, his business includes the web site Hypnobusters, so he knows a thing or two about the perceptions vs. reality. He also has a terrific site, Hypnosis

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-37246315699422027492009-04-16T09:42:00.003-04:002009-04-16T09:55:51.425-04:00

I’m still thinking about the significance of the AMA study about how much and how quickly different therapies work. And I’m still not surprised that hypnotherapy has the best rate of return because we do our own healing in hypno. I know this sounds strange because, after all, a professional practitioner is involved. But any hypnotherapist will tell you (pretty aggressively in my experience) that

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-14243735925568100082009-04-15T01:52:00.009-04:002009-05-17T18:10:07.603-04:00

Many people will be quick to tell you that any given treatment doesn’t work for everyone. To which I say, No kidding!Swapping healing stories doesn’t suggest we are all on the same path and will get the same results. It only suggests, This helped me – have you tried it? In the spirit of that idea, I'm about to explore the option of hypnotherapy in-depth here because it is the one and only

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-81707712827572658402009-04-15T01:19:00.007-04:002009-05-08T09:43:34.409-04:00

As many of you know, I have a big soft spot for hypnotherapy. When all else failed, hypnotherapy finally helped me (as hypnotherapists like to say, You did the work yourself!) find relief from insomnia, nightmares, anxiety and a slew of other lovely PTSD symptoms.I've written about hypno a lot already - the history of it, why and how it works, and my own experience with it. I'm not going to

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-33378397589082503822009-04-14T08:09:00.005-04:002009-04-14T08:49:13.329-04:00

John Ortiz was a wireman on Hill 881 in Vietnam. In a guest post today, he shares his perspective on surviving both Vietnam and PTSD. For further reading, visit his blog, The Wireman, A View From the Hill.In VietnamMy tour of duty as a young Marine in Vietnam sometimes pales in comparison to my tour of duty to survive Combat PTSD. I mean no disrespect to my service and especially to those with

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-75742521283552515712009-04-14T00:29:00.002-04:002009-04-29T21:45:32.213-04:00

K. is a vibrant, self-aware, incredibly interesting woman I've recently met. She's proactive and healing her PTSD through a constant evolution that includes letting go of the past and reformulating how she perceives the present. Last week, when she did not even know I'd be profiling CBT, she wrote me the following, self-reflective note. I saved it and with her permission am sharing it with you

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-16408531708671496382009-04-13T10:22:00.007-04:002009-05-08T09:43:34.409-04:00

Continuing our educational exploration of PTSD treatment options, next up on the list: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). One of the most prevalent therapies for healing trauma, CBT is based on the premise that changing the way we think changes the way we behave. It’s all about thought monitoring, baby; learning to hear your own internal dialogue, recognize when it’s skewed, and become adept at

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-49211890250560896572009-04-12T13:32:00.005-04:002009-04-13T07:47:35.361-04:00

From time to time, I think it’s good for those of us who are healing to hear from those who are trying to help us do that. So, a new sporadic Sunday feature: ‘Professional Perspective’ begins today with a guest post by Lisa Canon M.B.A., M.H., Chairman and Founder of Holistic Health. In addition to a web site about holistic healing, Lisa also writes the blog, Holistic Counselor.As a counselor I

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-83553363902594373412009-04-11T16:54:00.004-04:002009-04-27T09:03:05.119-04:00

A quick overview of PTSD hot topics this week…Civilian PTSDHolistic Psychiatrists Discuss Using Herbs, Nutrients and Yoga for Enhancing Mental Health(San Diego) Neurofeedback for PTSD TreatmentYoga For Anxiety & DepressionStress: Paying the Price of Fearing Fear ItselfPTSD in Post RapePTSD May Be Diagnosed with Brain ScanNo Direct Link Between Panic Attacks, PTSDWitnessing Suicide Could Cause

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-64928669937594694342009-04-10T16:06:00.006-04:002009-05-14T08:15:08.225-04:00

To follow is an excerpt from my forthcoming memoir, Parasites of the Mind: A Memoir of Trauma, Survival, Identity and the Pursuit of Joy. This portion chronicles my beginning psychotherapy. It was 1998; 17 years after my trauma, 10 years into the extremely dark emotional pit of PTSD; the beginning of 10 years of extreme physical PTSD complications.When I met Henry Grayson, PhD., for the first

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-9893798243511181352009-04-10T08:38:00.006-04:002009-05-08T09:43:34.410-04:00

For the next couple of weeks I want to really take this idea of education and drill down into the most popular available treatments so that we learn, hear and see just what, exactly, they have to offer. During my healing I tried all of the most popular techniques, so I can tell you my experience mixed with the theory and facts of each approach. Since it’s the place where most of us begin, I’ll

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-25248091068108270562009-04-09T09:43:00.004-04:002009-04-09T16:05:44.380-04:00

It doesn’t do any good to know the facts, stats, symptoms, and causes of PTSD and just stop there. While we may feel helpless, muddled, hopeless and flattened by the weight of PTSD, it is, in the words of a psychologist friend, ‘eminently treatable’. And not just in the ‘let’s control the symptoms way.’ There is more to be done in recovering from PTSD than just striving to stop flashbacks. There

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-1906597284534273962009-04-08T08:10:00.006-04:002009-05-08T09:41:57.671-04:00

So you’ve got your PTSD diagnosis – now what? Learning about what ails you cannot be complete if you don’t research your treatment options. PTSD is not like having a burst appendix, in which case the universal answer is, Take it out! No, PTSD is a little more interesting and colorful. It’s more wily and precocious and so we will have to become wily and precocious in our efforts to recover from

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-11505839772108808902009-04-07T19:21:00.002-04:002009-04-07T19:28:39.375-04:00

For those of you who don't follow me on Twitter (and, ahem, here's a reason you should!), I don't want you to miss out on a great tweet yesterday.I came across this wonderful clip of what happens when you put together a universal song, a crowd of anonymous people, a busy train station in Antwerp, and some travelers who just really want to dance.You are about to witness the power of music, the joy

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-54718316995741485472009-04-07T04:02:00.007-04:002009-04-07T04:40:05.433-04:00

Tina is a survivor who knows how to cope. Unable to work - and then forced by economic reasons to leave her friends, family and doctors to relocate to a more affordable city - she is not only exploring art as therapy but building a business out of it!Survivors never cease to amaze me. In the midst of our PTSD issues each of us continues to find the most amazing reserve of resiliency.1. What, if

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-63019117157328955562009-04-06T08:12:00.005-04:002009-05-08T09:41:57.672-04:00

OK, let’s set the record straight. The more widely known it becomes and the higher profile it has the more those 4 letters P, T, S, D get tossed around and misapplied. I read around online a lot. I often come across blog posts and articles where people are saying things like, “I have PTSD from taking this class,” or, “By the time I quit this job I’m going to have PTSD.” There’s a big difference

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-13335711581008383582009-04-04T01:02:00.004-04:002009-04-04T01:13:27.848-04:00

The usual Saturday feature, 'PTSD in the News: Weekly Roundup' is suspended this weekend as I have to go out of town. So, my friend Michael Coski is stepping in today with some guest notes about how we measure quality of life, and how that measurement can affect and motivate healing. You can watch a video of Michael on his 'Constructive Change' channel on YouTube.Mike's thoughts and the process

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-19482396800996576192009-04-03T09:02:00.005-04:002009-05-08T09:41:57.672-04:00

So, now that we know the definition and stats of PTSD, you can see how incredibly large the PTSD pool is. And, I’ve received more than one email from professional mental health colleagues who suggest that PTSD is underdiagnosed, which means the numbers are below the actual amount and they grow every day.To add to our understanding of the PTSD experience – and to learn even more about the large

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-80161708579046904422009-04-02T09:22:00.005-04:002009-04-02T10:46:55.335-04:00

I’m overwhelmed. I’m running so fast I can barely breathe – and not for the same reasons I used to feel this way.Years ago I ran and ran and ran trying to escape the past – I was miserable, depressed, and struggling with the mother of all PTSD experiences.Then I ran and ran and ran trying to catch up with the present – I was hopeful, determined and obsessed with healing.Now I’m running to try to

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-75932781746363549552009-04-01T09:03:00.004-04:002009-04-01T13:45:12.335-04:00

The polls closed at midnight last night on the Parasites of the Mind question,'Do you think it's possible to heal PTSD?'Here are the statistical results:54%: 'Yes'11%: 'No'6% = 'Maybe'5% = 'I've given up'22% = 'I don't know but I hope so'Not the resounding vote of confidence in ourselves I had hoped to find, but maybe we can improve the percentages with a little teamwork!Do you have a poll

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189484005463654040.post-60100919424543641682009-04-01T08:57:00.005-04:002009-05-08T09:40:10.632-04:00

Sometimes I wish someone would found PTSD U – a university for the study of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms, causes, effects, treatments and everyting in between! PTSD is so vast and diverse in the population it would take the equivalent of studying for a degree to learn about the biomolecular, anthropological, civic, statistical, psychological, physiological, historical, international,

Michele Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898364169417010039noreply@blogger.com1