I am in the middle of reading a secular book entitled PTSD
for Dummies. As someone who was diagnosed with this in 2008, I just wanted to
read not only for my healing, but to understand what it’s about as well as what
are ways to be cured from PTSD. So far, from what I’ve read, CBT (cognitive
behavior therapy) is one way – and what that boils down to is replacing
distortional thoughts that were brought on as a result of the trauma from the
past (whether it be childhood sexual abuse, rape, domestic violence, emotional
abuse from a relationship or from childhood, etc.) or even things recent (such
as a family loss). The following chapter was talking about medications. I was
really interested to see what this chapter was going to be all about, and the
first paragraph caught my attention. This is what it says:
These
days we have a pill for just about everything, from balding heads to overactive
bladders. Thus, many people are surprised that doctors don’t treat PTSD simply
by writing a prescription for some new wonder drug. But drugs, although they
have their place in treating PTSD, aren’t number one on the list of treatment
approaches – and often, patients don’t need them at all.
I couldn’t agree more with that paragraph if I tried. As I
think about the medical (health-care) system, everything is now about putting
somebody on medication and the end result is more damage done to the human
body. And I commend those doctors that don’t just grab their prescription pad
immediately to have someone pop a pill. Now, I’m not saying that all medication
is bad. There are more serious conditions that merit it. When it comes to
trauma, dealing with the mind is what’s really needed. Just like a body gets
sick, a brain gets sick.
A real-life story: my first medical doctor diagnosed me with
PTSD and she immediately grabbed her pad to prescribe me with Zoloft. I, of
course, gave her one more chance to reconsider the second time I would visit
her. She upped the stakes the second time and sought to prescribe me with
Seroquel. The first medication was an anti-anxiety depressant, the second was
psychotic. What baffled me when she sought to prescribe the latter drug; she
went down the list of pros and cons. The cons were about 2-3 times more than
the pros (and I was going to have to have my blood examined to see if I’m able
to take it). At that point, I looked at her and said I must be psychotic if I
take this and I left her office to never return to that therapist again. I
sought another therapist recommended by a medical doctor in my church and he
said straight up, you don’t need medication. In fact, he stated my gift of
writing was a life saver. And he referred me to a LCSW (licensed counselor
social worker). Now if you know me, you know I’m good at challenging people.
Believe me, I give my LCSW a hard time every now and then, but we have that
understanding.
The message: why was I so hard on the medical profession
(and why am still hard on them today)? Because I believe that our health is
worth fighting for. The last thing that’s needed is for the medical system to
make a profit off of us while at the same time, causing unnecessary illnesses
via a medicine that we really don’t need.
Anyway, back to the original lesson: I’m so glad the book
stated that many doctors don’t prescribe medication as a first resort for PTSD.
If you’re someone going through the healing process and are
diagnosed with any of the following: PTSD, OCD, and possibly Biploar or Borderline
Personality Disorder, seek therapy and also let these Bible passages calm your mind and spirit (and
don’t be afraid to pull from the roots the thoughts that are trapping you and
paralyzing you): Philippians 4:13; Matthew 5:7; Luke 4:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17;
Isaiah 61:3; Philippians 4:8; Galatians 6:9; Mark 11:25-26.
I encourage you wherever you are to never stop fighting for
your healing and your health.
Blessings:
The Mayne Man
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