I voted yes because it's not a mental illness. Its a medical disorder. I was raped at 19 and when I did yoga 2-8 hours per day there was no trace of PTSD, I was strong and had no fear being alone, being near people - ziltch. But when I stopped doing the yoga over time, it came back.

Cures to me don't mean take a pill and it's all over. To me if action cures the disorder, then you are re-ordering yourself. For me, yoga is as much of a cure as a pill would be for an illness. I just don't have the time for yoga like I used to in my older age. But I am making time for it now. I don't like medicines.

I voted no and I agree with Nam and Anthony's perspectives.

A very good friend of mine uses a very harsh saying to describe how PTSD has changed him to people that push for the "hope" that he will become who he once was. "The old XXXXX died years ago, you'll just have to accept that and move on. I did." He lives a fairly stable life now but just like all of us in the world of PTSD; stability is constantly changing. We could have a good day or a great week and then something really small will set us back for a day or even longer.

Sweetface - I also find yoga helps enormously. For me a 'cure' isn't a magic pill, it's feeling better and like myself again. I do feel I'll likely have a lifetime of having to be careful not to relapse, but that's no the same as actively being ill.

But, as I said, I'm less concerned with the medical reality, and more concerned with having an attitude that for me, will help me stay optimistic and get better, and celebrate successes. I know this will be different for everyone. But for me believing I will get 'better' is critical and helps me get through it. And I've seen enough concrete improvements in my condition to honestly believe it's possible.

I have heard of someone saying that they had (as in the past) PTSD but with help have gone on to live a healthy life. Only thing is if she is so ok then why is she still getting thearpy after all these years? I say no there is no cure

I voted yes.
I say this because of my own experience. I had PTSD, and other psychiatric diagnoses for years.
I was close to dying, no one thought I could ever recover. I was given up as hopeless after 4 months in a drug rehab, that also had a program for people with PTSD. These were some of the best psychiatrists and counselors in the country.
Then I discovered something a person can do, something very simple.
I have not had ANY nightmares, or jumped out of my skin at sudden noises in over 4 years. What were once never ceasing flashbacks are now faint and distant memories.
I wrote about what happened, and there has been some discussion on this forum.
If you think your situation is hopeless, believe me, it is not.


I Believe PTSD is Curable - An Anonymous Source

Hi all,

I vote yes, even though I myself don't have much strenth to fight for my own ptsd. I mean yes, as in manageble life.

I think firstly, is to face reality asses all your strength and weakness as in personality. Try to be a better person everyday and correct your flaws including dealing with the disorder. Secondly, finds ways of dealing with the stress to a manageble degree and learn how to relax. We've since long fogotten how to relax, that is what I'm doing now. Third, find a religion that makes sense to you. Learn to forgive, learn to love nature and animals first...I think for most of us; we've been hurt by human being (evil one). The most important person is to love yourself! Every single time I got hurt by another people, I try to love myself a little more.

However, lately it seems to be harder to love myself......I gues I just have too much too grief for....I can't even control my tears falling down my face....no longer able to control any emotions. My eyes are ever so sad; filled with endless sorrow.

New research shows that our traumatic memories are indelibly written into the code of our primative brain. They will always be there. This is an early human evolutionary thing which probably saved the species. Knowing and remembering threatening things- instantly -when needed is part of that. So I don't think flashbacks and persistant memories can be cured. Anxiety and depression can be mediacted. Therapy can really help me understand what happened to me and help me learn to deal with it.

The Queen Mother, who had been widowed for more than 50yrs, was asked by one of her recently widowed courtiers if the grief and mourning ever got better. She said,"No dear. We just get better at it."

I think PTSD is like that. We learn our triggers and try to dismantal them. We learn that as kids we were not born to be abused.....etc. Our quality of life can improve dramatically. But the traumatic memories will always be a part of me. I guess I am trying to rise above them so I can see a different horizon.

This is a great quote. I feel this way as well. I've found myself in stressful situations since I started recovery and there are some things that are still there and still the same regardless of the time that's passed. My stressors are still there, my triggers are still there, my mind/body reactions are still there. The only thing that's really changed is the way I deal with all of this. The same thing that six months, a year, two years ago would have knocked me flat on my ass now is something I can deal with. No more fun...but doable.

I guess I'm just getting better at it.

Lisa

I too have been dealing alot better with the physical aspects that I can slow down a panick attack..turning into a full blown one. I positive self talk myself all of the time...still seems like two voices in my head though. I am not shaking half as much and am not taking atenolol, use ativan prn. Sleep meds prn...I still dream but they do not overcome my day as much..I get angry but I let it go. I have accepted that I have to accept this disorder and cured or getting cured is done through the healing process and learning tools to overcome the adverse affects that we can learn to control with much research, support and hard work!

WE are the strong survivors here!!!!! When you actually feel your thoughts changing it is kind of neat. (if that makes sense...it was kind of like an aha moment for me when I chose to start looking at positive and that I had been negative so long...I didnèt even realize how bad this was for me and my whole self. You canèt change what you donèt acknowledge...as Dr.Phil would say! UUUGGGHHH My computer wonèt work right..where the heck is this èèèèèèèè coming from when I want an apostrapheÉ and there is the question mark.....I am terribly computer illiterate.

I have to say that my intuitive response is "No," at least as far as my own experience goes. I'm 49 years old and have had a whacked-out nervous system since infancy. There's constantly mounting evidence from various branches of neuroscience that show how the brain, central nervous system, and peripheral systems (endocrine, immune, etc.) are irrevocably altered by chronic stress, especially if the stress comes on early in life.