Where to now?

[Secondchance]

Thank you Chart 

Will be thinking of you! Have a lovely restful day. I will.

Not feeling better yet, but the evidence is there. Also joint improvement from supplementing boron.

[Secondchance]

Sorry I've not been around since November. It has been my health problems - getting so much worse, and having to spend so much time researching and trying things out. No help with chronic Lyme here, in fact I have heard sufferers say their GP laughed when they said they thought their problems was due to this.

During this time, I have found two new counsellors - both from charities and both subsidized, and I have had two sessions with each, so now I must choose. Well I have chosen but have wondered whether I could keep going with two and if that ever works out.

Neither has asked me if I do have another counsellor, so I feel that I am not breaking the rules, (though the juggling will be difficult) and my recent finding of Carolyn Spring, coach and teacher on cPTSD has shown me that, the things that I have accepted from the big traumatologists are not necessarily true.

For example, Carolyn says that as someone who has had DID and severe abuse both sexual and other, including rapes resulting in two pregnancies in a very young girl, having a counsellor who is empathetic is far more important than 'trauma informed'. I was under the belief that it was something that I should look for.

The first counsellor is the first one I have felt that she is sitting alongside of me. We gelled quickly even though she is not trauma informed but she gets me. The other is not empathetic and after-wards I do not feel great which I do after the first one. But I wondered if I could use the session to maybe talk about different aspects of the huge grief I carry if two sessions are better than one.

I also had the latest results from the lab I use that does Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis. This tests for minerals and their ratio as a way of seeing what exactly is going on in the body regarding metabolism and stress levels. Blood tests are not so good as the blood is constantly balanced by the body to keep things going and changes constantly.

My results have been concerning this past year. The good news is that I found someone who can interpret them in greater depth for me and advise about diet and helpful herbs. She is on the same page as me concerning natural healing.

So there has been a lot going on for me and I feel that after the last NHS counsellor, I had become stuck, but now am hopeful again. 

Apparently I am now in adrenal burnout and it will take some time to put right, and my kidneys are showing sign of trouble, as well as spikes in blood sugar. I do feel terrible. However, since hearing that I am in a bad way, I have all of a sudden been able to control my overeating and weight is going down which will help.

Carolyn Spring has been a great help to me having bought two of her books and taken a course of hers. I love her!

I also dislike my screen name, as I was never given a first chance! So hello again.

[dollyvee]

Hey Secondchance,

I'm sorry you're going through everything with your NPD family on top of dealing with really significant health issues. I've been in the same boat for the last 10 or so years when I saw a functional medicine practitioner who helped me trace my issues back to mold/mycotoxins and CIRS, which as I understand it is linked to Lyme as well and the way the body cannot process the toxins (referring to Neil Nathan's Toxic here, don't know if you read it).

For me, I've found that health issues can significantly impact the way I am experiencing my trauma, which unfortunately seems to be quite overlooked. However, my t's have been open to it. I found that when inflammation is high, when I eat gluten etc, I have a lot more "body anxiety" and it can be difficult to approach things in a more calm mindset. However, once I began treating these things (gluten is a huge one for me as well as mycotoxins), it helps stabilise my mood. There's a ton of other factors, which I'm sure your aware of, like hormones, active viral infections, gut health etc which can all contribute.

It's difficult but hope you're able to put you first and guve yourself the self care you need to deal with it. Unfortunately, the NHS was also not a help to me with these specific health issues and battled a lot of, it's in your head for years. The most beneficial things for me regarding a t have been someone who supports an idea of agency (specifically NARM and IFS). I grew up from a place (and probably even prebirth) where everything I did was wrong, or I where I had to give up my self for someone else. So, learning to trust myself (ie against doctors saying there's nothing wrong) has been a big, yet difficult, learning curve.

Sending you support and a hug if that's ok 

dolly

[Secondchance]

dollyvee thank you for the hug which is much appreciated.

I have been off gluten for a long time and now am off other things like dairy and was off all grains for a time and am highly sensitive to chemicals and many other toxins. I have got my flat pretty much chemical free and low EMF's yet still have high inflammation.(I know Neil Nathan)

There have been many years of fixing these things. I don't depend on doctors AT ALL nowadays and stay well clear.

I did manage to get my then GP to refer me to Hemmel Hempstead private clinic in London but am pleased I did not do what they wanted to do which was put a piccline in for antibiotics as I have heard bad things about that.

[Chart]

For example, Carolyn says that as someone who has had DID and severe abuse both sexual and other, including rapes resulting in two pregnancies in a very young girl, having a counsellor who is empathetic is far more important than 'trauma informed'. I was under the belief that it was something that I should look for.

I agree. I believe empathic-connection is the single most powerful element in the therapeutic process. At the core of ALL developmental trauma is utterly failed attachment/connection. This is titanicly important for childhood self-conception and the capacity to auto-regulate (mind and body). Realizing that empathic-connection is actually possible (even far later in life) is phenomenally important and is probably the true beginning of recovering from trauma.

I also had the latest results from the lab I use that does Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis. This tests for minerals and their ratio as a way of seeing what exactly is going on in the body regarding metabolism and stress levels. Blood tests are not so good as the blood is constantly balanced by the body to keep things going and changes constantly.

Thank you for that info! Absolutely fascinating. So many doctors ONLY use blood tests and NEVER discuss the limitations in testing a medium that is in constant flux.

I also dislike my screen name, as I was never given a first chance! So hello again.

You can change your screen name anytime you like. This won't effect your posts. (Just confuse some folks a little:-)

For me, I've found that health issues can significantly impact the way I am experiencing my trauma, which unfortunately seems to be quite overlooked.

However, my t's have been open to it. I found that when inflammation is high, when I eat gluten etc, I have a lot more "body anxiety" and it can be difficult to approach things in a more calm mindset.

However, once I began treating these things (gluten is a huge one for me as well as mycotoxins), it helps stabilise my mood.

I'm exactly the same. I've been experimenting with the Keto diet and it's having a marked impact on my depression.

 

[dollyvee]

Yeah it's frustrating about doctors. I have had a couple that are open-minded enough, but this stuff is so far outside their comfort zone. I even had a fmp tell me recently that some of my test results were down to age when it's pretty well known that mold messes up your hormones. It's frustrating to deal with this on top of family stuff.

All the gluten free stuff are steps I tried on my own along the way and kept up with it because I could see what a difference it made. When I eat gluten, it changes my personality and it's like my brain goes into hyper mode and I can't think. Trying to process that anxiety on top of my learned behaviour from NPD family members was a stressful mix. It was like never being able to get a handle on anything.

I know that clinic, but haven't been there. It's good that you found someone helpful and have a safe home. I had to go through quite a few. I think at the end of the day you have to do the treatment that you feel is right. I have a friend who was telling me about his friend and his sensitivity to EMFs. I had just read Neil Nathan's book and said, did he ever live in a flat with mold by any chance? He apparently had to remediate his whole flat because of it. Anyways, I sent him a bunch of information and we connected some months later where he said he tested positive for lyme and was having strong reactions to the antibiotics, which can also be a sign of needing to clear the mold first. I digress, but there's never a clear path forward it seems, just little steps along the way. Regarding the food sensitivities, have you tested for SIBO, or gut dysbiosis? I have those as well, but don't think they're going to budge until I clear the mold unfortunately.

[Secondchance]

For example, Carolyn says that as someone who has had DID and severe abuse both sexual and other, including rapes resulting in two pregnancies in a very young girl, having a counsellor who is empathetic is far more important than 'trauma informed'. I was under the belief that it was something that I should look for.

I agree. I believe empathic-connection is the single most powerful element in the therapeutic process. At the core of ALL developmental trauma is utterly failed attachment/connection. This is titanicly important for childhood self-conception and the capacity to auto-regulate (mind and body). Realizing that empathic-connection is actually possible (even far later in life) is phenomenally important and is probably the true beginning of recovering from trauma.

***How to tell if you have empathetic connection with your counsellor if you don't know what it is, is the question. Also how to know if you could find better. I suppose you have to kiss a few frogs first.

The thing I am concerned about with my new counsellor with whom I am happy for now, is when the allotted sessions end (20) I do not want to have to wait months on a list. So perhaps you have to start 'interviewing' before it ends.

I also had the latest results from the lab I use that does Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis. This tests for minerals and their ratio as a way of seeing what exactly is going on in the body regarding metabolism and stress levels. Blood tests are not so good as the blood is constantly balanced by the body to keep things going and changes constantly.

Thank you for that info! Absolutely fascinating. So many doctors ONLY use blood tests and NEVER discuss the limitations in testing a medium that is in constant flux.

***Exactly. It is used for forensic purposes too.

I also dislike my screen name, as I was never given a first chance! So hello again.

You can change your screen name anytime you like. This won't effect your posts. (Just confuse some folks a little:-)

***

For me, I've found that health issues can significantly impact the way I am experiencing my trauma, which unfortunately seems to be quite overlooked.

However, my t's have been open to it. I found that when inflammation is high, when I eat gluten etc, I have a lot more "body anxiety" and it can be difficult to approach things in a more calm mindset.

However, once I began treating these things (gluten is a huge one for me as well as mycotoxins), it helps stabilise my mood.

I'm exactly the same. I've been experimenting with the Keto diet and it's having a marked impact on my depression.

***The worst thing for me is with Lyme and the moon phases whereby there is a lot more bacterial activity during a full moon.

 

[Secondchance]

@dollyvee

"Regarding the food sensitivities, have you tested for SIBO, or gut dysbiosis? I have those as well, but don't think they're going to budge until I clear the mold unfortunately."

Yeah I am sure I have that as well but have not tested yet.

[Secondchance]

Goodness, does anyone else have problems with this site regarding replying to people?

[Blueberry]

Goodness, does anyone else have problems with this site regarding replying to people?

How do you mean exactly? If I know more specifically, I or others who've been on here a long time can maybe help you?

[Secondchance]

Thanks BB. There does not seem to be a 'new posts' section apart from just the latest one. Navigation seems very complicated here.

[Blueberry]

Thanks BB. There does not seem to be a 'new posts' section apart from just the latest one. Navigation seems very complicated here.

There are Updated Topics and Unread Posts.
Top of the page, left-hand side, you'll see three idk what you call them: symbols maybe? One looks like a generic person (head and shoulders) and one is a bell. Click on the generic person, and you'll see a list starting with Updated Topics and ending with Log out. Hope this helps. If not, ask again, possibly here: https://www.cptsd.org/forum/index.php?board=65.0 where you might get an answer from somebody better at computer terminology than I am.

I'm on a desktop, it may look different if you're using a mobile phone or other smaller device.

[Secondchance]

Thanks BB.