What is your unconventional "treatment" for PTSD?

SGT Ben Keen — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 09:28:04 -0500

It is no secret that a lot of us are having to deal with some level of PTSD. For some, it locks them away into a personal cell of anxiety and uncertainty. For others, it can just be a pain in the butt. The one factor that is true across all cases is that without a form of treatment, PTSD can and has resulted in the lose of the service member.

When we think of treatment, we picture going to the VA and sitting in a room and talking about things. Some treatments are a little more intense. Either way, treatment is the key.

For me, part of my treatment was getting back into photography. There is just something about picking up my camera and helping others capture special moments as well as capturing special moments for myself. Again, this is just PART of my overall treatment program.

So it got me thinking, what are some things you have found as an unconventional treatment for PTSD? What is something that helps bring you back to 0?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2015 3:09 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 15:09:30 -0500

Hobbies and distraction certainly help to engage the brain while awake. Finding the outlet can help while awake.

At night..... with the night terror that some have...lavender is supposed to have some great results.
v/r,
CPT Butler

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2015 3:54 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 15:54:51 -0500

SGT Ben Keen Yoga, meditation, etc. for physical activity. According to this documentary, cannabis can treat PTSD.

Source: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/cannabis-research-studies/

Cannabis Research Studies

Collage of segments taken from various marijuana documentaries which specifically deal with the research on cannabis done so far.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2015 3:42 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 15:42:44 -0500

SGT Ben Keen, as I received the "Nursing Made Incredible Easy" (basically, it's written in basic medical speech, as opposed to research and statistical evidence, but still is peer reviewed), it highlighted some new developments in treatment that I had not remembered, and a few that I hadn't known about.

Also, they had a GREAT bit of news in the article that according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), PTSD is now a new category of "trauma and stress related disorders". Hopefully this can signal the shift from "ineffective coping" to a more realistic treatment plan that can help current veterans struggling to better understand and receive care early on.

Regarding the treatment updates, I will start with the pharmacological side. Obviously, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) like Zoloft and Paxil are there. Tri-Cyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) are also not surprisingly on there, as are Benzodiazepines (Valium). Surprising to me though was that this article included medical marijuana, stating that it can "buffer" the trauma of the event. (I was more surprised to see medical articles recommending Marijuana than the effects.) The one that I didn't know include Alpha and Beta Blockers. Beta Blockers are typically used to control blood pressure, and since these medications block the associated receptors, they can decrease the sympathetic "fight or flight" response that is triggered in PTSD patients. These seem to have positive effects with alleviations of nightmares.

Second, this includes NON-pharmacological medications, which is exciting to me. Again, there are the usuals of group therapy, exposure therapy, and meditation and focused redirection/mindfulness exercises (focused breathing, redirection of the brain, controlled movements), and the cognitive behavioral therapy. The cognitive behavioral therapy is basically "problem solving your emotional response". Understanding your emotions, allowing you to control how you react to the memories, and working forward.

The shocking one to me here was the use of EMDR. I had forgotten that when I went through therapy for anger management as a young adult, they did EMDR with me. Basically, it involves talking about things while your eyes are moving to focus on dots in your peripheral vision...moving from left to right. The concept is to link the hemispheres of the brain between your memory side and your emotional/creative side. As you are doing this, they are asking you to talk about specific things that will help trigger these memories. When I did this, I thought it was a quack (I even told the psychologist this.), but surprisingly it brought up things that I didn't even remember that had helped trigger the response. I didn't do it long term, but it definitely helped to recall some of the memories that were triggering my emotional responses. (Note: Straight from the magazine, "EMDR is contraindicated in patients who are suicidal or psychotic, who have substance abuse disorder, and those with a detached retina or glaucoma).

Just figured I'd post the updates in the event that people were still needing help and wanting "the latest and greatest" from the medical side of the house.
v/r,
CPT Butler

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Sep 29 at 2015 5:22 PM

Maj Kim Patterson — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 17:22:30 -0400

Equine and dance. Literally getting back on the horse. Dance has provided a multitude of benefits for me but one of the biggest is developing a degree of trust and letting someone into my world. It makes those happy endorphins come back, and the lightness, joy and freedom when I dance with my friends really is undescribable.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 23 at 2018 4:39 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 16:39:56 -0400

Divide my life by the past, present, and future. I reduce a lot of stress by focusing on the present and taking on the future with judicious thought. I also try to stay positive even if the moment sucks.

Response by SPC James Duggin made Jun 20 at 2019 4:15 AM

SPC James Duggin — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 04:15:52 -0400

VALIUM!!!!!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 1 at 2022 6:17 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 18:17:43 -0400

LOVE

I am a proponent of cognitive therapy.