Send Your Replies to Elle, who has nightmares and other problems

Dear Elle,

Do you have anyway of getting a doctor to give you meds until you can find a therapist ? I am about to go therapist hunting myself and it seems even hard to find someone in the city to me. But I did want to mention that if you could get a med doctor there is good meds for stopping nightmares. It's for PTSD. Prazosin is what I was given. My son got a different one from the same family of meds and it stopped his terrible nightmares. I believe in therapy over meds unless you can't find a therapist. That is why I am taking meds now. I pray God leads you to a good therapist.
I went through County Mental Health for many years. Every city I think has one I think. Hope I've been helpful.
God Bless,
Judy H.

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Dear Elle--

I have to say that I think there is overlap between "DID" and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Both
involve fluctuations of identity, for instance. I think diagnosis, in part, would depend on how much your identity changes and also
on what will help you. If you need a treatment professional who knows how to work with different identities (alters),
and don't have one, contact ISSTD--or contact Lynn. Maybe she has ideas. If you don't need that, then it may not be entirely
necessary to differentiate between the two for the purposes of treatment.

If you don't like your treatment professional-- and this is a long-standing feeling (believe me, I went through times when
I *really* didn't like my treatment professional)--consider another one. On the other hand, be cautious about changing
without really giving it some thought and careful consideration. Be sure that you aren't just "starting over" because you don't
like what you hear, or are uncomfortable facing the work to be done. Give the treatment professional a fair chance. Talk to her
and tell her what is upsetting you. If she listens respectfully and wants to help you resolve it--that is one sign of a good
treatment provider. If she dismisses it, gets angry about it, gets rude--that is a problem. Everyone has a bad day.
But she should be able to respond in a constructive and consistently helpful way.

Also, there are times when it just isn't a match!

It sounds to me like you may be wondering if your treatment provider really understands your experience.
Ask her!

A Survivor

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Hi Elle,
I agree that sometimes remembering of events can be obsessive. And, we often do need to be told over and over again that it wasn't our fault. As
for the emotions... As Lynn said, they are probably locked up somewhere so that you can survive. I know that has been my case for many, many years. I have recall of what happened during traumatic events, but I haven't been able to put emotions to the events till lately. Now that I'm not dealing with the
major problems at work, I guess my brain is telling me I'm ready to deal with the emotions. But, they don't just appear. They seem to "seep out"
every now and again. I'm thankful I have a therapist that is supportive and caring to help me begin to validate and understand these feelings.
Christi

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Elle,

Just thought I would let you know that you are not alone feeling that you are lying- I'm not quite sure why but it must be common because that is a constant battle for me. I don't have nightmares, but I live with feelings of constant fear almost all day every day. I think maybe parts of ourselves cannot accept things we are trying to deal with. For me the ultimate goal is to be able to validate the reason for the confusion my brain is in , and validate it in my own mind. I think I would be a lot more at peace if I could, and maybe everyone who faces problems like these would be more at peace with a clear understanding and acceptane of what generated the problems that they (we) have.-

Just some thought I wanted to share with you,

Sandy

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Dear Elle,

I think you should really discuss your trust issues with your therapist, openly, to begin sorting this out. Having a DID 'diagnosis' isn't the important thing, in my opinion. That's a label, nothing more. To me, the important goal is to feel better, and reduce your level of tension, nervousness, nightmares, etc. Talking clearly to your therapist is one way to start finding solutions to the anxieties that are taking up so much of your life. It is very positive that you have a good friend to confide in, who encourages you and tells you that the abuse of the past was wrong.

As far as "not feeling" goes -- you may have your feelings locked up far away from your knowledge. That happens to many abused people. Your therapist will help you, gently, bring the two parts together. But go slow so you are not overwhelmed. You want to be comfortable, and that will happen if you give yourself enough time.

I'm sure other people will have ideas and comments for you, too. Good luck!

Lynn W.