Have been treated for PTSD for 10 years. Medication and CBT. You hit it on the head with the negative thoughts. I am trying to increase my desensitization to expand my world. This video is amazing. Thank you so much. I stopped it several times to take notes. I will be watching all of them
Hi Kathy: Thank you SO much for letting me know how helpful this video was for you. That means a lot to me! :) So sorry you have suffered for so long with PTSD, - it can be a long road to recovery. Wishing you all the best.
I literally started crying when you said look around you, you’re in a safe place. I have ptsd from 2 separate events, childhood trauma and issues from a concussion. I’ve did attend therapy but when I stopped I started falling apart. It’s so hard undoing 40 years of bad things.
A video from 2 years ago still applies to my life today! Amazing how God's timing is, we just never know what the day will bring..gifts like Barbara's work❤️🎯
My nervous system is outta whack. Restlessness all over my body and mind. My body vibrates, can’t keep my hands still. I have to twitch my face,pace back and fourth, curl my toes,and grasp my hand in order to deal with the feeling. I feel like I’ve been in a war. I feel like a car going 100 mph & i can’t stop it.
Ive lost 5 jobs since 2020 because of my own actions, I dont take drink or drugs but my dangerous behaviour was to fight anyone who made me feel less of myself. I was almost jailed for beating a man badly at work. All because he was beign racist to another memeber of staff. I was there less than a week. Previously had multiple fights with bosses at work too. All physical. Never verbal. I was not sleeping at the time and was having hallucinations by the time I went to the doctor and asked for help. I'm currently having therapy and councilling twice a week. I hope to beat this oneday, its so exhausting feeling on edge everyday for years. I'm such a nice guy and have so much empathy for good people. Im just missunderstood. Anyone that is struggling. Please reach out, its nothing to be ashamed of. I promise you that. 👍
@@Julia20508 That's OK. I hope you can find some good help. It has taken me a long time to. I was Passed from pillar to post in the process. I wish I could say I'm cured but in reality it's still a battle for me too. And I think it always will be. It seems that when I sense danger or become a victim of someone else's actions I can't allow myself to be that victim anymore. I almost want to put that person in the position I'm feeling and beyond. It gets me into alot of trouble because my emotions bring me back to when I was that victim, unable to protect myself as a child. This can scew my perseption sometimes as I sense danger when really it may not be as it seems. But when you get lost in that moment the only way to react is to react out to it. This is what PTSD and abuse does to a person. It is normal, there's nothing wrong with you. It's how we as humans are designed. It's the fight or flight thing. We just choose to fight. I'm still doing everything I can to control my emotions better without taking pills to achieve it. If you find a cure let me know ♥️
PTSD can be so traumatic for those struggling with it. Had the opportunity to help a couple of clients who have had it. Glad you made a video to help those who may have it. Great video Barbara 👍
Thank you, I never realized that I am standing within areas that I should feel safe until today until you mentioned these wonderful words "I assume you are in a safe place otherwise you wouldn't be watching this video". Thank you! (watching your video in 2024).
Thank you for this video. I subscribed too. Diagnosed w/ CPTSD. Disregulated w/ rage outbursts from a lifetime of trauma. Literally from birth, so 55 full years. Never got my needs met emotionally. And I am an empath- very sensitive. Your video really helped me come up w / new strategies to deal w/ every day life. I’m in therapy- but I don’t trust my therapist. I’ already freaked out bc I can’t control my reactions at times & he makes it worse by over reacting & wanting to hospitalize me & take what little freedom I have left. Lately it seems like I’ve been trying to convince HIM I’m ok- rather than actually work on my issues, so I’ve been doing what little I can by watching self help videos & trying techniques suggested. Everything really feels out of control & I dread my therapy 2x a week. It’s not helping. Just another way I have to be so vigilant. I’m going to watch the rest of your videos & try exercising, yoga & meditation. Can’t hurt, right? Thanks for being here on YT. It gives me some hope that somehow I’ll make it thru this.
I hope You're doing well OP. I was ambushed by a stranger at age 7. My home life was pretty good, in fact I had a lot of blessings to make it this long without any law enforcement issues. My first therapist was actually arrested for Phild Corn after my EMDR sessions. I'm in a good place, and there's just so much to still do. I highly suggest the yoga, meditation, ASMR, and lots of love (animals are great). Breathing, learn how breathing exercises.
Please make a video about meditation for people with trauma. Perhaps a highlight on moving meditations or meditation techniques or methods that do not provoke trauma.
My really good friend suffered from PTSD. It was really scary time for all of us. Wish I had have seen this video before. Sometimes I didn't know what to say or do.
Yes, it can be so hard to support people going through this. Sounds to me like you really cared, which is probably the main thing your friend needed! I often think our just being there is what is helpful.
I’ve watched this video 3x since last week. I didn’t speak to anyone at the time, but I was having a pretty shit experience. Somehow found this video and it’s helped me, and helped me understand. Thank you for putting this out there.
Thank you for this video, i worked in the human service industy for 10 years and worked in dss with children with ptsd i also have a 16yr old who has ptsd. I argued with hos drs and theropist for years that my son was suffering from hyperarousal but they were convinced he was ADHD and were medicating him for that which had the opposit effects that it should. Your video helped give me a piece of mind and helped prove to me that i was right about my child and gave me good gidelines to help him work on and live with this dissorder
Hi Derek: Thank you so much for sharing with me how meaningful this video was to you. That means a lot to me. I am so sorry you went through all that for years. And I agree that hyperarousal as well as emotional dysregulation get misdiagnosed, over-medicated, etc... From my heart, I truly wish you and you son a journey of recovery and healing.
Could you also make a video listing physical movement treatments for CPTSD like, TRE Tension Stress Trauma Release exercises, Non linear movement therapy, and feldenkrais method. I have heard drumming is really good for PTSD. Many PTSD experts are suggesting acting classes, singing groups, and dance as well.
Hi Barbara. Thank you for your video. I hv not slept spontaneously in 7 years. I’m finally getting the right help. I meditate, visualise, do deep breathing, body scan meditations. I truly believe in the power of the subconscious but how long does this take. I’m so tired of this, it’s been really awful… unbearable often. Thank you
Deep massage can really help! It make you breath deep + relax + decrease anger + address self destructive behaviour + feeling safe ... getting married with the right person can help also ♡
Thank you so much, Susan. I had an intrusive thought that came just before sleep, after a traumatic event. I understood the event, but still had the thought. I saw an OCD therapist and used exposure therapy, and things improved. If I’m under a great deal of stress, I’m angry about the situation, and the thought. How can I process my angry, fearful thought if it pops up. It seems if I get it at bedtime, that’s it for the rest of the night. Thank you for any help you might offer.
I've never had any real trauma in my life to associate with PTSD but I have just found out today that I have Hyperarousal from your video. To actually have a name associated to my condition is a help as I can now research how to help myself without medication. So everyone out there in cyberspace please help me if you can to overcome this with any tips, tricks or hacks you may have, as it consumes my life and at times is overwhelming. All the help and love you can give will be a great help to my well being. Thanks for this video - seeing it will hopefully help change my life. Please comment with things that have helped you to help me.
Hi Barbara. Erin from the UK here. Thank you for this video - did you do a video on meditation for people with trauma and hyper vigilance? Truly grateful 🙏
Please make a video about meditation for those who have anxieties! May God bless you may he ease all your hardships and give you the best of this life and the next amen! You are truly making this world better🤍🤍🤍
I'm realising I likely have C-PTSD, and the realisation of what I've been through has almost caused me trauma in itself. I can't eat, sleep, I keep going on runs to get rid of all this adrenaline and guilt and shame and anger and fear, but I still feel my heart pumping after the runs ended and I've sat down for 10 minutes, I feels like right now I can't escape it. Thank you for this video.
I have all of these symptoms. It's awful, I got 3 hours of sleep last night. The rest of the night I just laid there. THis is extremely problematic because I'm in med school. You can't learn if you can't sleep. Barbara, if you're inclined, please reach out to me.
I feel you. I just started in a nursing program and my (probable) ptsd/cptsd has been acting up, I can’t imagine what it’s like in med school. I wish you the best man!
2 things... the first is that I'm so happy you touched on that fact that meditation can be really hard when you're left with your brain. I spent 9 weeks in hospital, with other first responders, and the facilitators just couldn't seem to wrap their heads around why this was making us all really upset. (You mentioned there were better meditation exercises? I have c-ptsd). 2...What actual brings me here is..what we thought was insomnia..But have now learned is an insane startle response when I'm sleeping. It's getting me up at least four times a night. We've tired to throw 4 to 5 various sleeping pills at it...But i still keep waking up...screaming apparently...but then thinking I need to respond to an emergency ...or that I'm a small child and I need to hide. I guess I came onto RUclips hoping to see that someone else does this. But I didn't. I am seeing an amazing trauma OT and therapist...But because of covid its done virtually now. I guess I was wondering if other people have this hyperarousal while they're sleeping?
Hi: In January, I'll be releasing a series of "exercises" that are helpful for those who find meditation difficult. If you subscribe, you'll be notified, or feel free to join my newsletter list. And yes, hyperarousal impacts sleep. So glad you are seeing an amazing therapist!! Wishing you health and healing.
I have no idea how to change the fact that I jump out of my skin at the simplest of things… A butterfly taking off in front of me… The sound of my partner putting her key in the lock of my front door… An object falling to the floor making a Loudish noise that actually makes me involuntarily jump into the air… I am not naturally an anxious person but since I was physically assaulted from behind by a random man back in 2014 (John Guscott, Kent, U.K.) things have actually escalated. He is in prison until 2027 at least. Not wanting to sound dramatic at all but at the moment I feel a little broken.
This is how I am right here. I was trying to sleep and heard an almost imperceptibly quiet barking dog, far off in the distance and jumped off the bed involuntarily and made a shrieking sound. I hear you! ❤
@@ultraviolet8792 Thank you so much for your kind reply…… Would you mind me asking about what happened to you to make you feel so uncomfortable and unsettled? Please feel free to ignore or tell me to F off if I am being disrespectful or intrusive?!
I've just found you , I was involved in a hit and run accident a year ago and still suffering from a smashed hip , head injury , night terrors . It's so hard during covid , the doctors haven't a clue and still waiting for neurologist , any help is most grateful
PS my hyperarousal would happen from simple things like light changing in blinds, someone outside on the sidewalk, (I would flinch constantly, or jump up and need to see what was going on outside and who it was). Ie: I didn't allow myself to think about the events at all. No flashbacks practically, not a requirement for CPtsd diagnoses I promise you. And when I did recall it I did not think of it as intrusive; it was my every breathing moment and part of my life. My cortisol and outbreaks and whatever else were so bad, I was so teroroised that I was hyper aroused several times a day for probably 10 years. Now when things go devestatingly traumatically wrong in life related to a relationship I will experience hyperarousal somewhat and prolonged unreasonable fear for hours. There was a whole cycle I remember of hyperarousal and then a complete exhaustion after. The stress ate probably 500-800 calories a day and I was poor and affording food for a 6'1" man, on a single mom's income.
I absolutely can't stand when people say breathe. It is really condescending and sick, honestly. It never even touched the amount of terrorizing, memory destroying, unwanted debilitating tragic anger invoking hormones coursing through me.
Also: excercise: is supposed to be a good way to get it out, but I will tell you that in fact it made me more aggressive also, the endorphins, the testosterone, cortisol adrenaline whatever it was generated by building muscle and working out.
Yes, it is only PTSD if you have clusters of the other symptoms. Otherwise, its just being too revved up and anxious! A societal norm at this point in the US! The techniques can hopefully still be helpful :)
Been suffering from PTSD for many years and misdiagnosed, leading to many years of wrong therapies and meds. Luckily my latest therapist realized it immediately. With EMDR therapy, things are getting better. Recently discovered your videos, which I find are insightful together with my therapy. Also, the book " The Happiness Trap" offers really great insights and exercises that work. Ty
My mind feels fine but my body feels so so unsafe all the time? Jumpy , feeling dizzy , can’t concentrate , feel like I’m gonna faint - my mental dialogue is fine but the body is in so much distress
Thank you Barbara, have suffered for many years made worse by death of my mother in may. Your content and the reassuring manner in which it is delivered are a wonderful thing, have subscribed, regards, Terry.
Why cant i find someone like you in my area?!? Ive used the relaxed breathing, i still have a lot of problems all these years later. I use it to help sleep. I've not found it helpful, yet! It still takes hours!!!
Hello Mrs. Hefferman, thank you for sharing your knowledge on this. I have been dealing with PTSD symptoms from a motorcycle accident resulting in an amputation. The reminder and pain is always there, so I find it hard to not have a chain of thoughts lead me back to the trauma. I wish I could say that is the only source of trauma but it’s not. Staying focused is a challenge especially at work. My question is about activities/hobbies that reward hypervigilance. Before my accident I was very active and enjoyed things like skateboarding, snowboarding, and gaming. All of these things reward making quick split second decisions and there is a genuine sense of accomplishment/enjoyment I derive from them. Am I making matters worse by continuing to do things that reward hyper-vigilant behavior?
What about crying? I cannot do exercise, i'm too exhausted and it just stimulates my nervous system.The PTSD I'm suffering ftom is not normal as in an event, although there are many. I've just had many stressful situations that I can't cope with and my symptoms are so severe, I'm getting hyperarousal from a text message because I'm so afraid of triggers. I just cry for hours. I try so hard to help myself etc, but nothing works.
I met a person who can't remember what happened to him during the car accident. His doctor told him he had PTSD. But he does have any of them hyperarousal symtpoms. I guess he is less sevee?
Often we don't remember pieces of traumatic events, but not all traumas lead to PTSD. Is he driving ok? If he is avoiding driving, or avoiding the area where the accident happened, or feeling panic in other areas - then I'd suggest he address it, as the sooner the better and all the symptoms can go away. LMK if you or he have any other questions!
If you are totally anxious and freaking out and even if you’re not don’t stress about doing anything for five minutes the only thing that you could do or anything else really but if you just think the word inhale and exhale as you’re breathing that’s great because I also taught yoga in the human services field to brain injury survivors.
This has massively helped me. Got diagnosed last year, two years after leaving the army and after losing a friend. Everything in this video is spot on. Thank you
Can you have PTSD without thinking about the traumatic event or am I just have a lot of stress? I know I have hyper arousal because a can't sleep very well and can't relax, thanks
I tend to be most effevted while i try to sleep as thats where my trigger is due to past experiance. I find when its quiet and im not scrolling or watching something it spirals oit of control because i think excessivly leaving me little to no sleep every night its so very exausting .
OK also regarding EDMR. People like me or not candidates for that because well according to a full psych eval my ADHD is so bad that I probably shouldn’t have a drivers license anyways my therapist of forever -Him and I discussed it off and on for a couple years... this was years before the psych eval by the way and he told me that with my attention span and with how “on“ I always him that it wouldn’t be beneficial for me so what do you think about that? Suggestions
Hi Barbara! I have sleep anxiety…it was triggered back in 2019 when I became convinced that I wasn’t going to recover from a”dizziness” that I had had ..I fell & shattered my knee cap (2007) & as a result, developed a “dizziness-like” feeling..(I think it is neuro vs ears) …my psyche became convinced I would not recover & I was given double whammy steroids which causes insomnia-hence…sleep anxiety…any thoughts?
Ok here we go. I have come to terms with the fact that I am never going to be fully at peace and I don’t think anybody is and I think when we meet people where they are at and have real conversations about the worst stuff even if it’s not the worst the worst anyways that is empathy in action. Instead of paying somebody one on one in a professional setting where they have to write something down to label you what we need to do is reestablish community and a sense of family with people that we feel safe with a.k.a. a lot of times that are blood relatives or our immediate caregivers/families
I don’t feel scared or nervous I just shake for no reason and I don’t know how to stop it. It started on July 2020 and I can’t figure out how it started or how to stop.
I am very much the same. And am living in a peculiar type of angst similar to an existential treat .. PTSD is very much misunderstood by people and unutterable and hard to talk about .
Dear Barbara, I have a question. I have recently begun seeing a therapist to combat my CPTSD, but I am rather apprehensive towards him because of something he recently said which rubbed me wrongly and caused me to develop some aspersions towards his outlook. Basically, I have dealt with trauma and anxiety surrounding it for most of my adult life, relating back to a prolonged series of events throughout childhood and teenagehood. It would cause erratic bouts of insomnia, sometimes quite severely, but the thing is that it would usually rescind itself with time--basically I would eventually get a 'good night's sleep' and then I would be okay again for a long period of time, like a month or so or sometimes longer. But the problem is that randomly and recently (in the grand scheme of things) I woke up one day with muscle spasms (for the first time in my life), and this really set me off. I went 4 days without sleeping, and then was only able to get a bit of sleep with the help of an OTC non-prescription sleep aid. The problem is that ever since then, I have had severe chronic sleeping issues/insomnia and can no longer sleep without a sleep aid, and even then sometimes the sleep aid does not work. I take a long time to fall asleep, wake up frequently, and do not usually feel refreshed (although I sometimes do), in addition to being very sensitive to my environmental stressors and how they may keep me up literally all night. I now have an extreme amount of anxiety in my life due to a constant dread of going to bed and not sleeping, as well as a concern that there's some extreme underlying neurological condition destroying me that is not just PTSD, especially because my sleep is not getting better. Due to the area I live in, consulting a neurologist will require a year long wait list. It has been 10 chronic months already of this nightmarish cycle, where I will basically get a few good days of sleep (still not as good as I used to have before this chronic issue began) and then go anywhere from a few days to weeks of awful sleep mixed with numerous nights of zero sleep whatsoever. To tie this back to the therapist, I tried bringing up all of this to them and they stated that PTSD cannot cause chronic sleeplessness/insomnia, and that at most, PTSD induced insomnia should last around 2 months. He then suggested I might have schizophrenia or something else, which I found very upsetting as I do not believe I exhibit any symptoms of schizophrenia (even prodromally) other than these sleeping issues, but what I wanted to ask you is if my therapist is correct about PTSD not possibly causing chronic insomnia for a 10 month period or if I should seek a second opinion. I am not taking any medication other than THC as my sleep aid. My initial sleep aid was benadryl, and then about 3 months in I swapped to THC. Thanks for your time if you read this. And if anyone else reading this has any input, it would be appreciated.
Thank you for your information. I think it is spot on and very helpful. However, how exactly does one process trauma? In my case betrayal, lies and deceit.
Hi Barbara, thank you so much for this video. I got into a car accident a month ago and I think I have dealt with it and that I have processed it the first few weeks by accepting it that it was horrible that it happened to me but I survived. And I don't have flashbacks anymore after I think that I have fully accepted it. But until now I still have these hyperarousal symptoms like difficulty sleeping or difficulty waking up when I sleep and I get startled a lot, also I have headaches and bad coughing and my face is breaking out badly it never happened to me before. Do you think that it's possible that it's linked to the PTSD I have? Thank you
Hi: Hypervigilance symptoms like the difficulty sleeping and the startle response are often linked to an accident. It is hard to say about the other symptoms - we can break out or have headaches when we feel stressed... but might be worth checking with a doctor if it all continues.
Have been treated for PTSD for 10 years. Medication and CBT. You hit it on the head with the negative thoughts. I am trying to increase my desensitization to expand my world. This video is amazing. Thank you so much. I stopped it several times to take notes. I will be watching all of them
Hi Kathy: Thank you SO much for letting me know how helpful this video was for you. That means a lot to me! :) So sorry you have suffered for so long with PTSD, - it can be a long road to recovery. Wishing you all the best.
@@BarbaraHeffernan please 🆘
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I understand people being consumed by their thoughts. What did you mean when you stated your working on increasing desensitization? Thanks.
@@GreasyBaconMan maybe reactionary impulse control.
Thanks God for pills, they definetly block my flash backs ❤🎉
I literally started crying when you said look around you, you’re in a safe place. I have ptsd from 2 separate events, childhood trauma and issues from a concussion. I’ve did attend therapy but when I stopped I started falling apart. It’s so hard undoing 40 years of bad things.
Me too, I'm so grateful this was on target for me
Me too..... 38 yes with tons of trauma including head trauma
Me too. My heart started racing. Feel like I can’t breathe. I can’t do it. I will never feel safe again.
i am a torture victim suffering from C-PTSD and I am truly struggling .
9 months later hoping you've found some peace
I suffer with anxiety and angry out bursts. When I’m out of my element I feel anxious
A video from 2 years ago still applies to my life today! Amazing how God's timing is, we just never know what the day will bring..gifts like Barbara's work❤️🎯
So pleased this resonated with you and I wish you health and healing!
My nervous system is outta whack. Restlessness all over my body and mind. My body vibrates, can’t keep my hands still. I have to twitch my face,pace back and fourth, curl my toes,and grasp my hand in order to deal with the feeling. I feel like I’ve been in a war. I feel like a car going 100 mph & i can’t stop it.
❤
Ive lost 5 jobs since 2020 because of my own actions, I dont take drink or drugs but my dangerous behaviour was to fight anyone who made me feel less of myself. I was almost jailed for beating a man badly at work. All because he was beign racist to another memeber of staff. I was there less than a week. Previously had multiple fights with bosses at work too. All physical. Never verbal.
I was not sleeping at the time and was having hallucinations by the time I went to the doctor and asked for help.
I'm currently having therapy and councilling twice a week. I hope to beat this oneday, its so exhausting feeling on edge everyday for years.
I'm such a nice guy and have so much empathy for good people. Im just missunderstood.
Anyone that is struggling. Please reach out, its nothing to be ashamed of. I promise you that. 👍
@@Julia20508 That's OK. I hope you can find some good help. It has taken me a long time to. I was Passed from pillar to post in the process.
I wish I could say I'm cured but in reality it's still a battle for me too. And I think it always will be.
It seems that when I sense danger or become a victim of someone else's actions I can't allow myself to be that victim anymore.
I almost want to put that person in the position I'm feeling and beyond.
It gets me into alot of trouble because my emotions bring me back to when I was that victim, unable to protect myself as a child.
This can scew my perseption sometimes as I sense danger when really it may not be as it seems.
But when you get lost in that moment the only way to react is to react out to it. This is what PTSD and abuse does to a person. It is normal, there's nothing wrong with you. It's how we as humans are designed. It's the fight or flight thing. We just choose to fight.
I'm still doing everything I can to control my emotions better without taking pills to achieve it. If you find a cure let me know ♥️
Mine is definitely infinite agitation from the time i wake up until the time i go to sleep,also intrusive thoughts that i can't seem to shake off
PTSD can be so traumatic for those struggling with it. Had the opportunity to help a couple of clients who have had it. Glad you made a video to help those who may have it. Great video Barbara 👍
Thank you Clifford! I hope this video can be helpful for other people you work with!! How awesome that you help people through this!
from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for making this video.
Stephen: thanks so much for sending your comment. It means a lot to me, and is the reason I am doing these videos!
I haven’t been able to sleep properly in 72 hours after experience the MSU shootings. You’re video helps a lot in working through what happened
I’m so sorry to hear this and I totally understand. How horrible and scary. I’m glad the video was helpful and I do wish you all the best.
This is me so much. I never feel relaxed at all, always hyper vigilant. PTSD was from years ago though but still suffering
I love that...Stop Count to Five & take Breaths...Always calms me down...This is very helpful to me...Thank you Barbara :)
You are so welcome!
I never felt so understood in my life!She is on it!Great video !
Thank you, I never realized that I am standing within areas that I should feel safe until today until you mentioned these wonderful words "I assume you are in a safe place otherwise you wouldn't be watching this video". Thank you! (watching your video in 2024).
Thank you for this video. I subscribed too.
Diagnosed w/ CPTSD. Disregulated w/ rage outbursts from a lifetime of trauma. Literally from birth, so 55 full years. Never got my needs met emotionally. And I am an empath- very sensitive. Your video really helped me come up w / new strategies to deal w/ every day life. I’m in therapy- but I don’t trust my therapist. I’ already freaked out bc I can’t control my reactions at times & he makes it worse by over reacting & wanting to hospitalize me & take what little freedom I have left. Lately it seems like I’ve been trying to convince HIM I’m ok- rather than actually work on my issues, so I’ve been doing what little I can by watching self help videos & trying techniques suggested. Everything really feels out of control & I dread my therapy 2x a week. It’s not helping. Just another way I have to be so vigilant.
I’m going to watch the rest of your videos & try exercising, yoga & meditation. Can’t hurt, right?
Thanks for being here on YT. It gives me some hope that somehow I’ll make it thru this.
You need a new therapist. Look for someone better for you. There’s always a way.
I hope You're doing well OP. I was ambushed by a stranger at age 7. My home life was pretty good, in fact I had a lot of blessings to make it this long without any law enforcement issues. My first therapist was actually arrested for Phild Corn after my EMDR sessions. I'm in a good place, and there's just so much to still do. I highly suggest the yoga, meditation, ASMR, and lots of love (animals are great). Breathing, learn how breathing exercises.
Thank you for sharing this amazing knowledge! Definitely going to watch more!
Something that I've found that can help if getting into a meditative mindset isn't possible is something repetitive like hand sewing.
Please make a video about meditation for people with trauma. Perhaps a highlight on moving meditations or meditation techniques or methods that do not provoke trauma.
This is really useful information. I wasn't aware that there was so much involved in PTSD! Thank you for sharing this information :)
My really good friend suffered from PTSD. It was really scary time for all of us. Wish I had have seen this video before. Sometimes I didn't know what to say or do.
Yes, it can be so hard to support people going through this. Sounds to me like you really cared, which is probably the main thing your friend needed! I often think our just being there is what is helpful.
This video and knowledge was super helpful. I'm so grateful I came accross this video. Thank you for sharing it.
You are so welcome!
I’ve watched this video 3x since last week. I didn’t speak to anyone at the time, but I was having a pretty shit experience. Somehow found this video and it’s helped me, and helped me understand. Thank you for putting this out there.
So pleased to hear this was helpful, and I am sorry for your suffering :(
Thanks so much Barbara. This information is great.
You are very welcome!
Yes, trauma and meditation videos, please!!! That would be so very useful along with anxiety recovery!!!
Yes please post the tools for deepening meditation with PTSD
Thank you for this video, i worked in the human service industy for 10 years and worked in dss with children with ptsd i also have a 16yr old who has ptsd. I argued with hos drs and theropist for years that my son was suffering from hyperarousal but they were convinced he was ADHD and were medicating him for that which had the opposit effects that it should. Your video helped give me a piece of mind and helped prove to me that i was right about my child and gave me good gidelines to help him work on and live with this dissorder
Hi Derek: Thank you so much for sharing with me how meaningful this video was to you. That means a lot to me. I am so sorry you went through all that for years. And I agree that hyperarousal as well as emotional dysregulation get misdiagnosed, over-medicated, etc... From my heart, I truly wish you and you son a journey of recovery and healing.
I always learn something valuable from you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Could you also make a video listing physical movement treatments for CPTSD like, TRE Tension Stress Trauma Release exercises, Non linear movement therapy, and feldenkrais method. I have heard drumming is really good for PTSD. Many PTSD experts are suggesting acting classes, singing groups, and dance as well.
Thank you for making this video. It helped me to learn some techniques on how to deal with my hyper arousal. Very useful video.
Hi Barbara. Thank you for your video. I hv not slept spontaneously in 7 years. I’m finally getting the right help. I meditate, visualise, do deep breathing, body scan meditations. I truly believe in the power of the subconscious but how long does this take. I’m so tired of this, it’s been really awful… unbearable often. Thank you
Deep massage can really help! It make you breath deep + relax + decrease anger + address self destructive behaviour + feeling safe ... getting married with the right person can help also ♡
Yes, massage can be very healing and a good relationship helps too!
Thank you.
This is gold. Thank you!
Thank you for letting me know it was helpful - that is helpful for me! And, you are very welcome :)
This was a very engaging video and comforting to know our trauma can be treated if we follow this advice😊
This is awesome. I believe it will help quite a lot
Thank you for this wonderful video Barbara! Very useful information
You are welcome Anna! I hope it is helpful for you, your loved ones, or those you work with!
Yes please do a video on meditation.
Thank you so much, Susan. I had an intrusive thought that came just before sleep, after a traumatic event. I understood the event, but still had the thought. I saw an OCD therapist and used exposure therapy, and things improved. If I’m under a great deal of stress, I’m angry about the situation, and the thought. How can I process my angry, fearful thought if it pops up. It seems if I get it at bedtime, that’s it for the rest of the night. Thank you for any help you might offer.
I've never had any real trauma in my life to associate with PTSD but I have just found out today that I have Hyperarousal from your video. To actually have a name associated to my condition is a help as I can now research how to help myself without medication. So everyone out there in cyberspace please help me if you can to overcome this with any tips, tricks or hacks you may have, as it consumes my life and at times is overwhelming. All the help and love you can give will be a great help to my well being. Thanks for this video - seeing it will hopefully help change my life.
Please comment with things that have helped you to help me.
Never stop talking to professionals (mentalcare) unless they tell you you're completely cured.
Thanks for the tips.
You are welcome!
Thank you!
You’re welcome. Hope it is helpful!
Thank you so much for this video
Most welcome 😊
Hi Barbara. Erin from the UK here. Thank you for this video - did you do a video on meditation for people with trauma and hyper vigilance? Truly grateful 🙏
I often suggest people start with my "aah! mini-series" :ruclips.net/p/PLhEK7JY7zF9kA_tAaHg7IAViexM94wqnx
Please make a video about meditation for those who have anxieties! May God bless you may he ease all your hardships and give you the best of this life and the next amen! You are truly making this world better🤍🤍🤍
I'm realising I likely have C-PTSD, and the realisation of what I've been through has almost caused me trauma in itself. I can't eat, sleep, I keep going on runs to get rid of all this adrenaline and guilt and shame and anger and fear, but I still feel my heart pumping after the runs ended and I've sat down for 10 minutes, I feels like right now I can't escape it. Thank you for this video.
Great video, now watching more of your videos. Very helpful and calming to listen to.
A video on meditation for people with depression and anxiety would be great!
Pls talk about dpdr
Wonderful video thank you Barbara!
I have all of these symptoms. It's awful, I got 3 hours of sleep last night. The rest of the night I just laid there. THis is extremely problematic because I'm in med school. You can't learn if you can't sleep. Barbara, if you're inclined, please reach out to me.
I feel you. I just started in a nursing program and my (probable) ptsd/cptsd has been acting up, I can’t imagine what it’s like in med school. I wish you the best man!
How are you now Please share your experience , i cant sleep I’m depressed
I am definitely interested in you doing a video on meditation.
2 things... the first is that I'm so happy you touched on that fact that meditation can be really hard when you're left with your brain. I spent 9 weeks in hospital, with other first responders, and the facilitators just couldn't seem to wrap their heads around why this was making us all really upset. (You mentioned there were better meditation exercises? I have c-ptsd).
2...What actual brings me here is..what we thought was insomnia..But have now learned is an insane startle response when I'm sleeping. It's getting me up at least four times a night. We've tired to throw 4 to 5 various sleeping pills at it...But i still keep waking up...screaming apparently...but then thinking I need to respond to an emergency ...or that I'm a small child and I need to hide. I guess I came onto RUclips hoping to see that someone else does this. But I didn't. I am seeing an amazing trauma OT and therapist...But because of covid its done virtually now. I guess I was wondering if other people have this hyperarousal while they're sleeping?
Hi: In January, I'll be releasing a series of "exercises" that are helpful for those who find meditation difficult. If you subscribe, you'll be notified, or feel free to join my newsletter list. And yes, hyperarousal impacts sleep. So glad you are seeing an amazing therapist!! Wishing you health and healing.
@@BarbaraHeffernan hi i been suffering from this it is devastating i never understood how horrible it is , it is painful
Hi Enn… I’m right there with you. It feels like I’m doing so much to fix this. It seems like a long windy windy path to enlightenment/health. 🙏
I wake up at night with intense emotional pain... Feels like i am dying!
Your videos are amazing
Thanks! ❤️❤️
Love you
Thank you for what u do! I appreciate you ❤️😍❤️
Thank you for yet another gift. I wish I could watch all your videos at once, haha
Great tips! Thanks for sharing
Thank you!
I have no idea how to change the fact that I jump out of my skin at the simplest of things… A butterfly taking off in front of me… The sound of my partner putting her key in the lock of my front door… An object falling to the floor making a Loudish noise that actually makes me involuntarily jump into the air… I am not naturally an anxious person but since I was physically assaulted from behind by a random man back in 2014 (John Guscott, Kent, U.K.) things have actually escalated. He is in prison until 2027 at least. Not wanting to sound dramatic at all but at the moment I feel a little broken.
This is how I am right here. I was trying to sleep and heard an almost imperceptibly quiet barking dog, far off in the distance and jumped off the bed involuntarily and made a shrieking sound. I hear you! ❤
@@ultraviolet8792 Thank you so much for your kind reply…… Would you mind me asking about what happened to you to make you feel so uncomfortable and unsettled? Please feel free to ignore or tell me to F off if I am being disrespectful or intrusive?!
Video on meditation for people with trauma and anxiety and panic, please.
I've just found you , I was involved in a hit and run accident a year ago and still suffering from a smashed hip , head injury , night terrors . It's so hard during covid , the doctors haven't a clue and still waiting for neurologist , any help is most grateful
Wishing you healing and health,
great infomation
Thanks! I hope it is helpful for you or a loved one!
You're awesome. Thank you.
Thanks! :)
We can all benefit from the tools and techniques to lower our hyperarousal, hypervigilance, stress... What are your favorite methods?
PS my hyperarousal would happen from simple things like light changing in blinds, someone outside on the sidewalk, (I would flinch constantly, or jump up and need to see what was going on outside and who it was). Ie: I didn't allow myself to think about the events at all. No flashbacks practically, not a requirement for CPtsd diagnoses I promise you. And when I did recall it I did not think of it as intrusive; it was my every breathing moment and part of my life.
My cortisol and outbreaks and whatever else were so bad, I was so teroroised that I was hyper aroused several times a day for probably 10 years. Now when things go devestatingly traumatically wrong in life related to a relationship I will experience hyperarousal somewhat and prolonged unreasonable fear for hours.
There was a whole cycle I remember of hyperarousal and then a complete exhaustion after. The stress ate probably 500-800 calories a day and I was poor and affording food for a 6'1" man, on a single mom's income.
I absolutely can't stand when people say breathe. It is really condescending and sick, honestly. It never even touched the amount of terrorizing, memory destroying, unwanted debilitating tragic anger invoking hormones coursing through me.
Also: excercise: is supposed to be a good way to get it out, but I will tell you that in fact it made me more aggressive also, the endorphins, the testosterone, cortisol adrenaline whatever it was generated by building muscle and working out.
Great video, thank you.
How is Bulimia linked to childhood trauma? Can you do a video on this subject?
I have a lot of these things :-(..... I blame my parents ! I do not think it is PTSD in my case . Excellent Video Barbara.
Yes, it is only PTSD if you have clusters of the other symptoms. Otherwise, its just being too revved up and anxious! A societal norm at this point in the US! The techniques can hopefully still be helpful :)
Been suffering from PTSD for many years and misdiagnosed, leading to many years of wrong therapies and meds.
Luckily my latest therapist realized it immediately. With EMDR therapy, things are getting better.
Recently discovered your videos, which I find are insightful together with my therapy. Also, the book " The Happiness Trap" offers really great insights and exercises that work.
Ty
Is it benefiting to cause Ptsd arousal to train my stress treshold?
Super videos, thank you! Really helpful.
So glad you like them!
please do a video for meditation,I've ptsd and undiagnosed Adult ADHD, ❤it would be a tool to help
Hi! I have a whole playlist for meditation. Check them out - I totally agree it is helpful!
My mind feels fine but my body feels so so unsafe all the time? Jumpy , feeling dizzy , can’t concentrate , feel like I’m gonna faint - my mental dialogue is fine but the body is in so much distress
Thank you Barbara, have suffered for many years made worse by death of my mother in may.
Your content and the reassuring manner in which it is delivered are a wonderful thing, have subscribed,
regards,
Terry.
Yes please can you do more on meditation
Yes, I will! Thanks for asking! Have you seen my meditation playlist? ruclips.net/p/PLhEK7JY7zF9loqErUBTDjrq7wfgPlv7f1
Why cant i find someone like you in my area?!? Ive used the relaxed breathing, i still have a lot of problems all these years later. I use it to help sleep. I've not found it helpful, yet! It still takes hours!!!
What are your thoughts on self administered EDMR?
Hello Mrs. Hefferman, thank you for sharing your knowledge on this. I have been dealing with PTSD symptoms from a motorcycle accident resulting in an amputation. The reminder and pain is always there, so I find it hard to not have a chain of thoughts lead me back to the trauma. I wish I could say that is the only source of trauma but it’s not. Staying focused is a challenge especially at work.
My question is about activities/hobbies that reward hypervigilance. Before my accident I was very active and enjoyed things like skateboarding, snowboarding, and gaming. All of these things reward making quick split second decisions and there is a genuine sense of accomplishment/enjoyment I derive from them.
Am I making matters worse by continuing to do things that reward hyper-vigilant behavior?
Do you have any programs available?
What about crying? I cannot do exercise, i'm too exhausted and it just stimulates my nervous system.The PTSD I'm suffering ftom is not normal as in an event, although there are many. I've just had many stressful situations that I can't cope with and my symptoms are so severe, I'm getting hyperarousal from a text message because I'm so afraid of triggers. I just cry for hours. I try so hard to help myself etc, but nothing works.
Can you guys post the link to the mini course and Barbara's EMDR videos? Also any anxiety and meditation videos like she mentioned?
I met a person who can't remember what happened to him during the car accident. His doctor told him he had PTSD. But he does have any of them hyperarousal symtpoms. I guess he is less sevee?
Often we don't remember pieces of traumatic events, but not all traumas lead to PTSD. Is he driving ok? If he is avoiding driving, or avoiding the area where the accident happened, or feeling panic in other areas - then I'd suggest he address it, as the sooner the better and all the symptoms can go away. LMK if you or he have any other questions!
How about blanking out. I totally have to keep rewinding. Idk if it's zoning out because it hits home or something else
If you are totally anxious and freaking out and even if you’re not don’t stress about doing anything for five minutes the only thing that you could do or anything else really but if you just think the word inhale and exhale as you’re breathing that’s great because I also taught yoga in the human services field to brain injury survivors.
This has massively helped me.
Got diagnosed last year, two years after leaving the army and after losing a friend.
Everything in this video is spot on.
Thank you
You are very welcome. I wish you health and healing!
Can you have PTSD without thinking about the traumatic event or am I just have a lot of stress? I know I have hyper arousal because a can't sleep very well and can't relax, thanks
Mam can u help me after the hyperarousal i have several pain in my jaw bones please if u have any video about it link it in my comment
I tend to be most effevted while i try to sleep as thats where my trigger is due to past experiance. I find when its quiet and im not scrolling or watching something it spirals oit of control because i think excessivly leaving me little to no sleep every night its so very exausting .
I have this and its hard to live with it, the quality of your life is awful, I will try these steps hope it works, thank you 🙏
Yes, it is difficult. Recovery is possible :)
I relate to some of this...maybe I have some ptsd! Thank you for sharing such valuable information!🥰
Yes, many of us have become hypervigilant, always on edge...almost a societal disease at this point!
What if someone doesn’t connect with their feelings enough for emdr?
I have every single symptom you listed… but i can’t remember my trauma
OK also regarding EDMR. People like me or not candidates for that because well according to a full psych eval my ADHD is so bad that I probably shouldn’t have a drivers license anyways my therapist of forever -Him and I discussed it off and on for a couple years... this was years before the psych eval by the way and he told me that with my attention span and with how “on“ I always him that it wouldn’t be beneficial for me so what do you think about that? Suggestions
Can video games help with this ? I have heard some say it gives relaxation and some say it can gives you agitation?
Hi Barbara! I have sleep anxiety…it was triggered back in 2019 when I became convinced that I wasn’t going to recover from a”dizziness” that I had had ..I fell & shattered my knee cap (2007) & as a result, developed a “dizziness-like” feeling..(I think it is neuro vs ears) …my psyche became convinced I would not recover & I was given double whammy steroids which causes insomnia-hence…sleep anxiety…any thoughts?
Ok here we go. I have come to terms with the fact that I am never going to be fully at peace and I don’t think anybody is and I think when we meet people where they are at and have real conversations about the worst stuff even if it’s not the worst the worst anyways that is empathy in action. Instead of paying somebody one on one in a professional setting where they have to write something down to label you what we need to do is reestablish community and a sense of family with people that we feel safe with a.k.a. a lot of times that are blood relatives or our immediate caregivers/families
Shauna, why so many posts?
I don’t feel scared or nervous I just shake for no reason and I don’t know how to stop it. It started on July 2020 and I can’t figure out how it started or how to stop.
I'm sorry to hear that. Sounds like it might be worth consulting a doctor? Wishing you health and healing,
I am very much the same. And am living in a peculiar type of angst similar to an existential treat .. PTSD is very much misunderstood by people and unutterable and hard to talk about .
How do we know if its ptsd or schizophrenia
Dear Barbara, I have a question. I have recently begun seeing a therapist to combat my CPTSD, but I am rather apprehensive towards him because of something he recently said which rubbed me wrongly and caused me to develop some aspersions towards his outlook. Basically, I have dealt with trauma and anxiety surrounding it for most of my adult life, relating back to a prolonged series of events throughout childhood and teenagehood. It would cause erratic bouts of insomnia, sometimes quite severely, but the thing is that it would usually rescind itself with time--basically I would eventually get a 'good night's sleep' and then I would be okay again for a long period of time, like a month or so or sometimes longer. But the problem is that randomly and recently (in the grand scheme of things) I woke up one day with muscle spasms (for the first time in my life), and this really set me off. I went 4 days without sleeping, and then was only able to get a bit of sleep with the help of an OTC non-prescription sleep aid. The problem is that ever since then, I have had severe chronic sleeping issues/insomnia and can no longer sleep without a sleep aid, and even then sometimes the sleep aid does not work. I take a long time to fall asleep, wake up frequently, and do not usually feel refreshed (although I sometimes do), in addition to being very sensitive to my environmental stressors and how they may keep me up literally all night. I now have an extreme amount of anxiety in my life due to a constant dread of going to bed and not sleeping, as well as a concern that there's some extreme underlying neurological condition destroying me that is not just PTSD, especially because my sleep is not getting better. Due to the area I live in, consulting a neurologist will require a year long wait list. It has been 10 chronic months already of this nightmarish cycle, where I will basically get a few good days of sleep (still not as good as I used to have before this chronic issue began) and then go anywhere from a few days to weeks of awful sleep mixed with numerous nights of zero sleep whatsoever. To tie this back to the therapist, I tried bringing up all of this to them and they stated that PTSD cannot cause chronic sleeplessness/insomnia, and that at most, PTSD induced insomnia should last around 2 months. He then suggested I might have schizophrenia or something else, which I found very upsetting as I do not believe I exhibit any symptoms of schizophrenia (even prodromally) other than these sleeping issues, but what I wanted to ask you is if my therapist is correct about PTSD not possibly causing chronic insomnia for a 10 month period or if I should seek a second opinion. I am not taking any medication other than THC as my sleep aid. My initial sleep aid was benadryl, and then about 3 months in I swapped to THC. Thanks for your time if you read this. And if anyone else reading this has any input, it would be appreciated.
Thank you for your information. I think it is spot on and very helpful. However, how exactly does one process trauma? In my case betrayal, lies and deceit.
Hi: Therapists are often needed to process trauma, particularly betrayal trauma. Not all of this work can be done on our own, unfortunately....
@@BarbaraHeffernan thank you for responding, I really appreciate it. 🙏
Hi Barbara, thank you so much for this video. I got into a car accident a month ago and I think I have dealt with it and that I have processed it the first few weeks by accepting it that it was horrible that it happened to me but I survived. And I don't have flashbacks anymore after I think that I have fully accepted it. But until now I still have these hyperarousal symptoms like difficulty sleeping or difficulty waking up when I sleep and I get startled a lot, also I have headaches and bad coughing and my face is breaking out badly it never happened to me before. Do you think that it's possible that it's linked to the PTSD I have? Thank you
Hi: Hypervigilance symptoms like the difficulty sleeping and the startle response are often linked to an accident. It is hard to say about the other symptoms - we can break out or have headaches when we feel stressed... but might be worth checking with a doctor if it all continues.
- DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING.
- Progressive muscle relaxation.
- exercise.