"The Body Keeps the Score" Article.

[Freedom]

Hi,

I just started reading the subject article and it seems to address a number of issues brought up in recent posts. It can be found at

https://www.trauma-pages.com/vanderk4.htm

It is pretty technical but it is worthwhile as it contributes to better understanding of the relationship between the psychology of trauma to its biological manifestations in the body.

For instance it mentions that "after severe shock ... the dream life continually takes the patient back to the situation of his disaster from which he awakens with renewed terror... the patient has undergone a physical fixation to the trauma." p.1

I also recognized certain aspects of SA in its description of traumatized person: " flexor changes in posture, hyperkinesis, 'violently propulsive gait', tremor at rest, masklike faces, cogwheel rigidity, gastric distress, urinary incontinance, mutism, and a violent startle reflex." I have seen most of these.

This piece also has an extensive bibliography.

I hope it helps explain some things and assist in the healing process.

Peace, Freedom.

 

[taipan]

Yes that article does shed light on what a lot of us are going though. Lori (she is a top of her class nursing student) has speculated that I have post traumatic stress disorder, because I tell her that (now that I don't smoke pot before going to bed) I wake up at night shaking with cold sweats, nightmares and feeling very anxious. My doctor has prescribed 2 Xanax before bed which have helped me sleep unit about 4 am, when I will wake with milder symptoms. I do identify with some of the things in the article (I hope Lori will help me understand the more technical parts) but, I wish I knew what the answer is!
I guess all I can do is keep going to therapy and building myself into a caring loving person; what other choice do I have? Avoiding the issues and self medication sure wasn't working.