I would be interested to hear people's thoughts on residential treatment programs for PTSD. Not a psychiatric hospital per se, but rather something along the lines of a drug rehab program, except for trauma. Evie's former psychiatrist, who specializes in trauma, recommended a couple of private facilities to us. The one we are especially considering primarily makes use of behaviour and cognitive therapies, and specializes in treating patients who have serious physical illnesses as well as PTSD (which Evie most definitely does). The treatment program is for a duration of 3 months and there is some family involvement as well. Finances are not an issue for us. Jim and I are simply considering whether such a program would prove beneficial or not. I should add, Evie is willing to go if it will help her, she would in no way be coerced. Any and all opinions would be appreciated.

I think it would be great. Remove the person from current circumstances so that they can work on just their symptoms, trauma and management! Hell ya!
I'd do it in a heartbeat if able.

I think it's a great idea.

bec

Kathy,

If I had the chance as a younger person, and had not had to go through my life out of control.... I too would have jumped at the chance. I think it's a wonderful opportunity to really FOCUS on the triggers, symptoms, and teaching you how to desensitize yourself from the effects of them from exposing yourself to them in a safe manner and with support.

I really think it's a great thing for Evie to try. God you and Jim are such wonderful people.

Ever consider adopting a 53 yr old woman?????? LOL!!!! I would love some nurturing.....

Wendy

omg.......IF i HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY i WOULD DO IT IN A HEARTBEAT. There is a facility in guelph, I think it is called homewood but that is the only one I know of around here. I am not sure of the cost but i could never leave ny son for that amount of time. But I wish Evie well and hope she takes this gift as i truly see that opportunity as a gift.

I've been wishing I could go somewhere like that for months! When I had the job, I had insurance but no time. Now I've got more time and no insurance. However, we're going to win the lotto tonight, so....ha, ha.

Hello Kathy, I think if is Evie's former psychiatrist recommending it then its worth a look. I think its a good idea as long as its not going to go over stuff already learnt I guess. I cant quite put into words but its got to be totally consuming not just tickle at the problems. If it is then I think it would be great. It'll be extremely hard work. I'm sort of undecided in a way because I think this would have been fantastic for me at the start but not now. I'm not 100% sure that things can be sped up. Thats my view though, the only person that would really know is Evie.

I did one Kathy for six weeks, and whilst I will say it contained a lot of useless information, what I really got from it was talking directly face to face with other PTSD sufferers, hence how this forum was born. The information given has to be taken appropriately per person, and should never be attempted in blanket scenario's as they often feel works. I believe this is often where therapy fails, because a therapist becomes to familiar with certain techniques, and attempts to blanket all patients with the same repetitive techniques, instead of adapting uniquely to each and every person. This is why people sit in therapy for a decade vs. get more in six months with other sufferers than with a therapist.

I would say that if Evie is doing this like a course, where she is exposed constantly to other sufferers from various walks of life, that would be the ultimate experience for her to learn. The simple choice then comes down to Evie at that time, to participate and get the most out of herself, or sit in a corner waiting for it to be over!

I say that because I participated in my course to the point where I ended up leading the group, and this was a group primarily of soldiers. Coaxed them to participate, questioning them to help myself and others, to be involved. Some just wanted to sit in the corner and be wallpaper, and whilst the staff got most involved when they did that, you could be wallpaper if you wanted for the majority of each day. Its a choice, one which Evie has to make; that choice simply being 'do I want to participate and give it my best?' Only Evie can make that choice, and even though she says she will do it, that doesn't mean she will give it her best at all times.

If Evie wants to be in that atmosphere for 3 months and truly participate to the best of her ability, and then beyond her ability, she should do it.

Not sure how any person would go though being 3 months. Thats a long time for a sufferer to be exposed to such treatment! They know what their doing though, and I would highly recommend her to do it if she fits the suggested criteria above, being her mindset of choice.

I agree with Anthony, kind of what I was trying to say but couldn't spit out!

Its ultimately down to Evie and even then its not that simple. You can want to get better and be in the right environment to do it but sometimes you cant rush the process. I sometimes get the most from my therapist sessions after the event. When I accept what's been said and understand things more and get those 'light bulb' moments when stuff just makes sense. I get those moments when the pressure's off usually.

For me thearpy is very slow at this point. Always everyday stuff or problems at home lately when I see my Doctor. So we rarely get a chance to work on healing me. If I could go somewhere just for the jumpstart I absolutely would go. Let us know how this works. Just like with an Alcoholic I think you wouldnt get it all fixed in that time. But wouldnt be wonderful to focus on nothing but healing for three months? Hell yeah!!

And as far as dealing with the trauma for a long period of time. Unless they were complete iddiots they wouldnt put her in harms way.

Sounds like a plan!!!!

I believe the idea of such programs are more to lay the ground work, then the person leaves and continues what they have learnt, ie. put into practice what was preached, so to speak. That is how my course worked, and I still use some of those tools today.

There are people from my course that have not changed one bit. They still drink heavily, still medicate, have done really very little since the course. Why? Because they attended, they even participated, but they didn't really care enough for themselves to want to move beyond their current lifestyle. They don't want to change, and are happy in misery, whinging daily, and having an excuse for their actions.