Does Psychiatry Truely understand JW Post Traumatic Stress Disorders?

by The Berean 33 Replies latest jw friends

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  Georgiegirl

  Hey there. Sounds like you have been pretty frustrated in finding a good therapist. I completely get that; I was so lucky to have stumbled on one who happened to have some training in working with cults. I am currently studying for my degree as a counsellor. I am NOT certified to provide therapy at this point (I have not yet gotten my master's) so please take what I'm saying with the spirit in which it's offered...just educating...my last paper, ironically, was on cults and mind control. I plan to have a pretty narrow focus simply because of "been there done that" (raised as a JW) and b/c there are simply not enough counsellors in this field.

  Having said this...PTSD is one of those terms that is often mis-used. In order to actually diagnose it, there are several criteria that must be met. Here is a link: http://www.mental-health-today.com/ptsd/dsm.htm Most counsellors would be reluctant to diagnose PTSD based on the majority of experiences most ex-JWs have. In no way am I trivializing the pain, grief, and trauma most of have gone through. I'm simply saying that unless there was trauma like physical or sexual abuse associated with a specific JW experience, most ex-JWs would not qualify for this specific diagnosis. For example, I recently worked with a gentleman who has PTSD; he was subjected to horrific child abuse (physical and sexual). In the military he was special forces and has described to me actions that were just...well...more than any one person should ever have to endure. He experienced incredible trauma and will disassociate completely and be unaware of his actions, conversations, etc. etc.

  The DSM-III had disassociation as a possible diagnosis resulting from the mind control exercised by cults. However, the research that was based upon was found to be flawed. For that and other reasons, mind control as a reason for diassociation was removed in the DSM-IV. (DSM-III and IV are the manuals used by psychologists and psychiatrists to diagnose disorders).

  So yes. I agree that the psychiatric profession needs more qualified counsellors to work with survivors of cults. I'm sorry you are going through a hard time - I don't know any details, of course, but it is obvious you are struggling. If I can help, feel free to PM me.
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  Tyrone van leyen

  Hi Georgie. I checked out your link. Interesting. It seems that alot of the cases mentioned refer more to physical trauma. In the extreme. I think soldiers used to call this shell shock. Anyways, there's a lot you don't know about my life, but I would have to say that most of my anguish has always been more mental extremes, from left to right. I was a true beleiver, a born in, and with my religious as well as social structure collapsing. It's funny however, that I seem to meet alot of the end results. Perhaps it wasn't PTSD I can't say for sure. I have come up with another theory though in my search for answers. There are many other factors, I have never talked about, here regarding my life. It's rather complicated.
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  Tyrone van leyen

  Thanks anyhow. I've survived a long time with help from no one, and figured out a great deal, through shear thought. I have more peace now, than ever before. My posts may not always indicate this, because I'm living in the moment when I type, but I've come a long way.
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  steve2

  I'm glad that some posters have taken your question seriously and provided you with some excellent web site-based information. It sounds like you were treated in an unacceptable manner when you were seeking help from mental health profesionals.

  I am a registered clinical psychologist. While I cannot speak for specific clinicians, graduates of clinical psychology training programs are trained in the assessment and treatment of mental health disorders, PTSD included. They are registered professionals who must abide by their discipline's code of ethics. If you have been treated in a poor or neglectful manner by them, you have a right to lodge a complaint with their professional body.
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  Tyrone van leyen

  No, it's not that Steve. I think he was letting me vent for one. But I wasn't able to really verbalize the whole thing either. Too much happened, and I was very disturbed at the time. He was giving me something to calm me so I could speak more, but it seemed to have the opposite effect on me. He sat in silence for months. I couldn't ever figure out why he wouldn't talk much to me. It was because he was trying to drive home the point that I don't know how to communicate. He was right too. Talking to some is actually an art form. Just cuz your lips are flappin doesn't mean you are communicating. He got out a piece of paper one day, and showed me that there are 31 things that it takes on both parties sides if you wish to communicate efectively. One of them is trust. And with me. Their ain't none. There's more too it than that though.

  Reality in some cases has to be lowered very slowly on some people, or you will blow their minds. This board does not bear, that intensity for me.
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  rebel8

  Based upon the wording of the OP and topic, there might be a disconnect between what you're seeking help for and what is actually needed.

  Psychiatrists are medical doctors who treat brain illnesses via medication and promoting behavior change. If you need a therapist you may be better off searching for a licensed counselor, psychologist, or social worker. They have a lot more training on talk therapy. (talking US here)

  Secondly, if you are seeing a therapist because he/she specializes in PTSD, and then you're disappointed because he or she doesn't understand cults, I'm not surprised. PTSD is something entirely different than ex-cult issues. (A person can have both.)

  A therapist who has experience in treating people who were in psychologically abusive & controlling relationships has all the skills and knowledge necessary to treat ex-cult issues IMO.

  lulu.com/ex-jw
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  Georgiegirl

  Tyrone - one of the other things that I have learned, and that I think most people don't know, is that there are different approaches to therapy. For example, the psychodynamic approach is more Freudian whereas cognitive-behavorial therapists are more thinking/action oriented - it's not so much about the past but about creating ways to deal with now and future. Depending on the approach of your therapist - it simply may not have suited your needs or personality.

  Nevertheless, I think it can take great courage to allow yourself to be vulnerable enough to speak to a therapist/counsellor/psychologist and even though that particular therapist might not have worked out for you, I have to commend you for going at all. So many don't.

  Steve2 - I've pm'd you. :)
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  mkr32208

  That's like saying "the roofer I hired is the worst plumber ever..."

  You wouldn't say that because it's stupid. Construction is a complicated field that has many specialist so you would hire a specialist in the area you needed help in that is common sense! Psychiatry is a much much more complicated field then construction. You can't go to a family counselor and expect to get serious help in getting over your meth addiction! You can't go to a drug counselor and expect help getting your wife to respect you!

  The problem of course is that it seems every psychiatrist THINKS that they are the living end in EVERY field ... The second problem is that unfortunately in small cities and towns where there might be only one or two for the entire area, they have to do it all. This despite the fact that you can't do it all WELL. Kind of like comparing the work of a master electrician or plumber to the local handyman who dabbles a bit in everything. When it comes to a serious job like new kitchen cabinets who you gonna call? So when it comes to mucking around inside your head who are you gonna call? The specialist who knows what they are doing or the local one size fits all handyman?

  Call around get some references find one who specializes in cults or recovery even one who specializes in drug abuse would be better then a family specialist.
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  garybuss

  Here in South Dakota it's not hard to find a therapist that's trained and experienced in post exit syndrome. Virtually all prison inmates as well as Jehovah's Witnesses, Children Of God, The Way, and members who exit other high control groups experience the same symptoms.
  
  We're not unique. Not at all. In fact we're so un-unique, we're predictable. The predictable part and many of the posts on this and other forums highlight it, is: We don't have a religious problem . . . never did. We have marriage problems, we have abuse issues, we have mean and nasty relatives, and we have addictions, but we don't have a religion problem.
  
  One of our common symptoms is denial. We protect the abusers, we try to manipulate, we avoid, and we look beyond the problem. Many of us stay in our cycles, we live the life of a mole . . . we live underground, we tunnel and we eat worms.
  
  
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  wha happened?

  My therapist gets it. She deals alot with individuals who were raised in very controlling religions. It's interesting hearing factoids on other religions that are are conservative or attempt to keep it's members "out of the world".