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Gift From Within - PTSD Questions & Answers with Frank Ochberg, M.D.

PTSD: Definition of PTSD How Common, Who Gets PTSD? Is PTSD a normal event? Does PTSD Affect The Brain? Duration Pregnancy Delayed Onset PTSD PTSD Tip Sheet for your Doctor Medications for PTSD Distinguishing PTSD from BPD Generalized Anxiety Disorder Can the Wounds of PTSD Heal? Complex/Chronic PTSD: CPTSD Explanation Long Term Prognosis & Complex PTSD PTSD vs. CPTSD Managing Past Intense Feelings Overcoming Complex PTSD PTSD Symptoms: Anger and Brain Injury Anger Flashbacks Loneliness Feelings Of Loss And Sense Of Self Anxiety Numbing Re-Traumatization Differences bet. Depression, Dysthemia, Major Depression Depression vs. Sadness and Grief Biological Depression Memory Loss Triggers and Body Sensations PTSD & Facial Tics Emotional & Physical Reactions Delayed Stress Response after Experiencing a Shock Can A False Memory Happen? Differences Between Hypervigilance and Hyperarousal Negativity & Pessismism after Trauma PTSD/PTSI Insomnia: Not Being Able To Sleep PTSD/PTSI & Psychosis Relationships: Peer Support Issues Explaining PTSD To Children False Memory Toxic Family Of Origin Protection From Unwanted Contact Preventing Intergenerational PTSD Numbing in Male Survivors of Domestic Violence How To Increase Social Support Caregivers/Partners with PTSD: Starting a Conversation about PTSD Both Partners with PTSD & its Complications Fiancé Doesn't Believe in Therapy Managing PTSD After Partner Pushes Too Hard Childhood Abuse: Emotional Abuse Childhood Trauma & Intrusive Images Revisiting The Scene Of Trauma And Abuse Gaslighting Stockholm Syndrome & Child Abuse Survivors Can a Child be Born Depressed Childhood Survivors and Being a Parent Work Issues: Disability Letter for Attorney-Sample Low Stress Jobs Doctor's letter for Employer Sample Dealing with Co-Workers Job Searching with PTSD Recovery: Frank Ochberg's Color Wheel of Positive Emotion Triggers Rebuilding Self Esteem Life After Trauma Coping During The Holidays Substance Abuse Improving A Damaged Self-Concept Explaining PTSD is a Responsibility Grief & Loss from a Tragic Death The Trauma Bond & Forgiveness Sudden Panic, Anxiety & Flashbacks Stockholm Syndrome, Trauma Bond and Undue Influence Therapy: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Inadequate Therapy When to End Therapy Repeating Your Trauma Story PTSD Symptoms After The Therapy Hour Exposure Therapy Service/Therapy Dogs & PTSD ECT (Electro-Convulsive-Therapy) Bipolar & ECT Therapy: An Interview Telling Trauma Story to Therapist PTSD Client Expectations from Therapy Sessions Veterans & PTSD: PTSD A Disease Seasonal PTSD & Anniversary Reaction. Emotional Injury Therapy Sessions Active Listening for Moms and Friends Military Sexual Assault Professionals: Compassion Fatigue Consequences Of Emotional Numbing School Teachers And PTSD Using The Counting Method with Clients Helping Clients with PTSD Other Conditions: Borderline Personality Disorder Social Phobia Dissociation Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Cutting & Self Harm Link between PTSD, BPD and Bi-Polar Somatization Disorder or Briquet's Syndrome Stockholm Syndrome & Child Abuse Survivors Dealing with Psychopaths & Narcissists
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			Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Q: Dear Dr. Ochberg I have PTSD, OCD and major depression. My OCD seems to be tied to my PTSD because the OCD functions to get rid of thoughts from the trauma experiences. My question is- is treatment for PTSD more difficult since the OCD is there as well or will the OCD likely go away when the PTSD is treated? How would you go about treatment? I just finished DBT training because my therapist felt it would be good to have this background to help with the strong emotions and suicidal thoughts. Any thoughts? Almost out of soap and low on hope in Virginia. Thank you. J A: Dear J, I know this is a serious request, but I had to chuckle at your last line about soap and hope. I take it the OCD involves hand washing. Your OCD should not necessarily make treatment for PTSD more difficult. Informed treatment for PTSD should reduce unwanted, disturbing dreams, flashbacks and intense recollections. I use "the counting method" ( http://countingmethod.com/ ) but there are other equally effective ways of overcoming the "re-experiencing" symptoms of PTSD. EMDR is the most popular technique because it has been the most researched and publicized. Counting or EMDR are specific elements of a broader approach. I call the broader approach "PTT" or "post traumatic therapy." Here's a good paper on the philosophy and elements of PTT: http://www.giftfromwithin.org/html/trauma.html Without knowing you, but assuming that you suffered a serious trauma -- maybe more than one -- and that it causes haunting and painful memories, and that OCD helps reduce the fear and, possibly, humiliation, and that DBT helps you learn to reduce the intensity of strong negative feelings and of destructive impulses, I'd strongly recommend treatment by a therapist who has expertise and experience with PTSD, or by a therapist you like and trust who has access to a trauma expert as a consultant. The PTSD symptoms may be at the heart of all the mental health conditions you face. As the PTT paper explains, trauma therapists who share my general approach help their patients understand PTSD, improve their resilience (including diet, fitness, humor, spirituality, personal relationships and self-esteem), ameliorate symptoms and assure that all important medical issues are addressed. Some medications are quite useful for OCD, depression and PTSD. You may already have found one or more that work for you. Usually, it takes rather high doses of Prozac or a related medication to reduce the OCD symptoms, and, often, it takes more than Prozac alone to overcome persistent depression. This being the case, a non-MD trauma therapist needs the help of a family doc or a psychiatrist to assure proper use of medications. I have a high opinion of DBT and I have a feeling that your therapist is on the right track. The combination of issues you describe is not uncommon, but can be challenging for a trauma survivor and for her therapist. My very best wishes, Frank Ochberg, MD Tweet Was this helpful to you? If so, please consider supporting our work.

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