Messages

   and          and        Contessa!

Yes, welcome PhoenixRising!  I hope you find some good resources and support to help you on your journey 

You did it, we are 20 responses.  My research partner is surprised but I am not - you are an awesome community 

We will leave the questionnaire open until tomorrow morning in case there is anyone who still wants to participate.  After that we will close it and begin the analysis and write up.   The first draft report should be ready within a month or so.

THANK YOU ALL !!!!!! 

Wow, you folks are awesome      We only need about two more respondents and we have our target.  Thanks again for helping with this 

A big warm "Welcome" to you dewachen, so glad you took the risk  to post - it's bigger step forward than you might think 

Hi Broken Mind and a warm welcome to OOTS      There are lots of us here at our computers around the world who struggle as you do with this disorder so you have a place to come to and talk about your feelings where everyone does understand now.  That can provide some relief from the constant stress you're feeling, at least it does for many of us and I hope this is true for you as well.

You may also want try therapy again, but with a T who has training and experience with trauma related disorders and in particular Complex PTSD (versus PTSD which is different in terms of symptoms and treatment to some extent).  We do have some information sheets and forms under "Resources" and then "Downloads" that may be helpful in finding a suitable T.

I know at the moment you feel broken, but this is a stress disorder that you can recover/heal from.  Perhaps thinking of it in this way will help you find a smidge of hopefulness at a time when you do feel broken.   

Thanks so much to those who completed the questionnaire, we appreciate you taking the time!!    

We need about ten more responses so if you haven't filled out the questionnaire and are willing to do so, please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OOTSLearningSurvey.

Kizzie

Great info Radical.  I can feel a difference in how I function after going through the neurofeedback which essentially does what you are suggesting - increases connectivity in the brain so that it functions more fully.  FWIW I liken having unprocessed trauma to a  record that has a scratch and the needle gets stuck playing the same thing over and over. The connectivity helps with getting us out of that groove by having more of the brain to process the trauma.

I just wanted to add to my post that I had to try a few different medications before landing on one that worked so the type of med can make a big difference. And when I say worked, I don't mean my CPTSD was gone, it was just that the over-reactivity (getting stuck in that emotional groove), I was experiencing was quietened enough that I could focus on therapy and getting well.   

Dr. Doyle is a lecturer at Southampton Solent University in the United Kingdom and is involved in an ongoing a research study investigating whether childhood trauma may make women vulnerable to post-natal depression.  He has asked and I have given permission to recruit participants from OOTS on an ongoing basis. 

In order to participate, you must be a female over 18, have had a baby within the last three years, and not be pregnant currently. This study entails completing an anonymous survey which will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.  He suggests in his email to me that "The benefits of this research would be  to help understand an area of mental health that requires much greater attention."

For further information and to view the Informed Consent form and survey, go to https://educ.sphinxonline.net/v4/s/0rb8to

Please direct any questions regarding this research to Dr. Doyle at mark.doyle@solent.ac.uk or 023-8201-2056

[Note:]

As some of you may know I am a university professor at a university in Canada. I teach and supervise graduate students in the Masters of Adult Education program.  I am also involved in research as part of my employment and have chosen to investigate learning in online self-help forums such as OOTS together with the Dean of my Faculty, Dr. Rita Kop.  The title of our research proposal  is "It's Not Just about Support: Self-directed Learning in an Online Self-help Group."

The purpose of this research study is to investigate the nature and purpose of informal, self-directed learning (SDL) in an online self-help group in order to provide information to others (i.e., sufferers, professionals) who may want to develop and/or improve self-directed learning about a disorder/disease at an online self-help site. The data will also be used to improve learning at Out of the Storm (OOTS) specifically.                 

Participation will involve the completion of an anonymous online questionnaire which will take between 30 and 60 minutes to complete.  The questionnaire will provide data regarding:  your experience with Complex PTSD (e.g., diagnosis, causes, symptoms); what you have learned at OOTS; and, what you would like to learn at OOTS. 

If you are interested in participating please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OOTSLearningSurvey.   There is additional information about the study there.   Study is closed.


Note: In order to ensure this research is conducted in an ethical manner, we have taken measures to preserve your anonymity.  First, the questionnaire is completely anonymous. Second, any communication about the study should be directed  to my colleague as follows:

Dr. Rita Kop - Telephone: 506 454-1220 #1379;  Fax: 506-459-3489; or, Email: rkop@yorkvilleu.ca. 

Should you choose to contact Dr. Kop, please be assured that she will not reveal any identifying information about you (e.g., your real or forum name, email address) to me. I have locked this thread to ensure anonymity of potential participants.

As my earlier post outlined, I too am someone whom medication has helped tremendously.  It took me from one ongoing awful EF, hiding in my closet drinking to get through the day (not kidding unfortunately), to being back to work, to be better able to look at the trauma and pain I have endured rather than succumb to it, and begin to process and integrate it.  Please understand that I am not advocating that everyone should take medication, I am simply trying to add some balance to this discussion. I think we can all agree it is a good thing for some and not for others.

FWIW I have three suggestions when making a decision about whether to take medication and what type:

• Share your concerns openly with your GP, including negative material, and have a discussion so that you are informed about why they are prescribing it, the drug's efficacy, side effects, and what if any alternatives there are (medication or otherwise);
• talk to your pharmacist about the medication(s) and share your concerns.  I started doing this when I had chemo for ovarian cancer in 2007 and they worked with me and the hospital oncology staff to get better drugs when I was having side effects.  For example, I had constant, bad nausea even with the anti-nausea meds I was prescribed.  The staff at the hospital did nothing, but when I told my pharm she talked to them, and got them to switch me to what is considered the Cadillac of anti-nausea drugs.  It's quite expensive so the hospital wouldn't prescribe it, but when pushed they did. It was smooth sailing nausea wise after that
• If you are going to look at information on the Internet about a certain medications, be sure to look at a range of material so you can make as informed a decision as possible.

Hi and a warm welcome to OOTS Deadlikezane 

Nice to meet you too Candytron    It sounds like you have done a lot in terms of recovery so good on you!    I hope being here also helps

[Note to OOTS Members:]

Hi Kitty - I have also been having a really difficult time with the news since Brexit in the UK and now the US election.  I have had to limit myself as to how much I watch.  For me it is for the same reason, the gaslighting (bald face lies and denial of reality) and threats, etc.,  are what I grew up with so to see a number of countries such as the UK and the US dealing with people in power who use tactics that are the hall mark of those with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, has triggered me repeatedly.  You are not imaging what you are seeing, I see it too as do hundreds of thousands of others. 

I am Cdn but both of those events turned my world upside down and recently we have just had a similar character enter into the race for the leadership of one of our parties. That has done it for me.  I went out and bought some pink wool and knitting needles. I couldn't act as a child, but I can as an adult so the antidote to the triggering is to push back and that's what I will do.  (I'm not suggesting that you should by the way, I'm just saying what is helping me.)

Note to OOTS Members:  We have not talked much about this on this forum because the whole topic has been so divisive and corrosive for so many.  If you do want to post, please refrain from getting into the nitty gritty politics of these countries, rather talk about the behaviour and character of those involved whom you find triggering as Kitty has done.  Above all else, please be respectful and considerate of the feelings and opinions of others. 

Hi and a warm welcome to OOTS SilentLucidity     So sorry to hear of all that you endured and I do hope being here with people who have been through trauma  and are struggling to recover too will help you with some of that.