GFW PTSD Home  | Site Map  | Site Search   
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
		PTSD Questions & Answers with Joyce Boaz & Dr. Frank Ochberg, M.D. Read "Survivor Psalm" by Frank Ochberg
	search this site the web site search by freefind Search FAQ pages (use FAQ in your search string)
				Telling your Trauma Story to your Therapist Q: Dear Frank, Many trauma survivors have said that they are nervous about telling their story to their counselor. The first visit seems to bring the most fear. And some survivors say they freeze in support groups. All of a sudden physical symptoms arise like tight throats or stomachs. How can a survivor overcome this? A: Dear Joyce, It isn't easy to tell a trauma story and it shouldn't be. Part of the definition of PTSD is avoidance of reminders, including a reluctance to tell details. People who do not understand the "invisible injury" assume that survivors want to share, want to be among caring people, and "just need to get over it." But that is simply not true. The invisible injury of PTSD makes it physically difficult to put details into words. Some brain studies show that the speech center isn't fully on-line. It has lower blood flow and less ability to act efficiently. When a person is "scared speechless" they, literally, have lost the power to form language in the speech center, Broca's Area, of the brain. They may also have difficulty breathing. You can't speak easily and coherently when your breath comes in gasps because your level of arousal is so high. But there may be other reasons to find it very difficult to "open up" to a counselor or a support group. Can they take it? Will they be overwhelmed by the images that still haunt you? Although this thought may not be explicit in your mind, you would be in good company if you found yourself holding back because you didn't want to hurt a person by exposing them to a terrible ordeal that you managed to survive. Many combat veterans, many law enforcement officers, many sexual assault survivors hold back for just that reason. It isn't that they are full of shame or guilt. They do not want to bring pain and terror to someone else. Also, they may not be sure that the listener can listen and will listen, absorbing and understanding the meaning of grave trauma. Survivors have usually told parts of their stories before coming to a therapist or a peer-support group. So they have some experience with others who, perhaps, try to be helpful but don't really know how. And that creates "the second wound." I first heard the term, second wound, from Dr. Marty Symonds. He was a police officer before he was a psychiatrist and he knew that many trauma survivors were interrogated in harsh ways by family members, lawyers, insurance agents, police and health professionals, making matters worse, not better. Often, the second wound was more painful that the first because it felt like a humiliating betrayal. You expected help and compassion and you were cross-examined as though you were to blame. So there are many, many good reasons to be nervous about telling your story to someone who has not earned your trust. Assuming that the listener will turn out to be trust-worthy, here are some things to consider in telling details: First, you do not have to tell the whole story all at once. You can tell a piece of it, and see if your counselor or group of peers is attentive and kind. If you do not feel like continuing, you can say so. You should be respected and allowed to set your own pace. Second, you can ask a therapist what he or she is most concerned about learning. And you can ask a therapist to talk about herself or himself. That makes it more of a conversation and less of an inquisition. Some therapists are very reluctant to talk about themselves, but they should let you know about their education, their professional experience and their interest in working with survivors. I teach young doctors and residents to do this, since survivors of trauma are normal people who encountered abnormally terrible events. They should not be assumed to need psychoanalysis. They need a partnership as they overcome the impact of a trauma injury. But finally, you should consider what a professional therapist and what a compassionate peer is looking for, as you tell your story. They want to know how you hurt. They want to know what you have done to overcome the pain. They want to know what you were like before being hurt, and what you aspire to be like once your injury, your stress injury, has healed. So you are not just telling a trauma story - a "war story." You are telling your story. Your life story. And there is a lot more to your life, past, present and future, than the trauma that brought you to therapy. Tweet Was this helpful to you? If so, please consider supporting our work.
									top

Article Index: Addiction | Adoption | Auto Accidents | Chaplains, Police, EMT | Childhood & Adult Sexual Victimization | Compassion Fatigue Culture, Race, and Ethnicity | Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault | Grief | Journalists, Survivors, and the Media Male Sexual Abuse & Domestic Violence | Partners & Families | PTSD Treatment & Recovery | PTSD and Health PTSD and Workplace Issues | Recovery & Self Help | Resiliency | School Disasters Spirituality & Trauma | Survivor Guilt | Trauma Responses in the Aftermath of Disasters | Veterans & Their Families

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Home Page | Site Map | Articles | Webcasts | Order Form | DVDs on PTSD and Trauma | Q&A with Dr. Ochberg
PTSD Etiquette: Finding The Right Words | Meditations | Support Pals Humor Grab Bag
Support Pals Share Inspirational Stories | Support Pals Share Favorite Healing Ideas | Support Pals Book Reviews
Support Pals Finding A Therapist | Support Pals Talk About Living With PTSD | Support Pals Favorite Books & Music
Support Pals Discuss: What PTSD Means To Me | Military Family Resources | Support Groups | Internet Links | Retreats & Respites
Conferences, Workshops and Seminars | PTSD & Trauma Bookstore | Poetry | Art | Music | Survivor Psalm | Memory Shouldn't Be...
Mission Statement | What People Are Saying | Support GFW | Frank Ochberg's Bio | Joyce Boaz's Bio | Board Members | Contact Us
Awards | Band of Angels | What's New | View Our PSAs | Site Search | Guestbook