Reddit reviews The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control and Becoming Whole

We found 16 Reddit comments about The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control and Becoming Whole. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.

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16 Reddit comments about The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control and Becoming Whole:

u/RedHotPotatoSalad · 9 pointsr/CPTSD

Here’s the book.

The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control and Becoming Whole https://www.amazon.com/dp/1623158249/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bbsODbX5TM4N2

u/immolatea · 9 pointsr/CPTSD

Here's the thing, (and yes it's shitty but you sound like you don't appreciate sugar coating things, so I'm giving you this straight) PTSD is an anxiety disorder. If your trauma was prolonged or when you were developing, then your brain physically changed to protect you from trauma.

This article details the physical changes to the brain [Trigger Warning for generalized traumatic events].

If you have a disorder, you'll have symptoms. If you have PTSD, your symptoms will get worse when you're triggered (like in therapy), but your symptoms could also get worse at any time.

>PTSD symptoms usually begin within three months of a traumatic event. Sometimes, however, reaction can be delayed, sometimes for years. Symptoms can come and go and are often more likely to occur during times of stress in your life, or if something happens in your daily life to trigger a memory of the traumatic event.

Yes, therapy will aggravate your symptoms, especially at first, but therapy will also give you a dependable structure to figure out how to improve your symptoms (i.e. meds, coping strategies, ect). To use the broken arm analogy: Your arm is already broken (PTSD), which sucks, but you CAN control where you broke it. Breaking it in the hospital or close to the hospital (therapy) or breaking it while backpacking in the wilderness (random triggers).

Here's a few things I think everyone who starts recovery should know so that they can have realistic expectations:

Recovery is intense emotionally AND physically. Don't underestimate how much energy anxiety and stress uses. Everyone can get bitchy when they're stressed, so make sure you give yourself more time to relax and rest.
It will take years. You aren't just learning something new. You have to unlearn what you've been doing before now as well. And then you have to practice until it becomes just another habit.
Therapy and medicine costs add up. You'll benefit from a healthcare plan that covers both. Inconsistency with either will make recovery and your symptoms much more difficult.
You can't do this alone. You need compassionate, supportive and PTSD-educated people more than ever during recovery. Group therapy helps with this. Also, communication with your fiance is more important now than it was before. You're going through some rough stuff right now and you're going to change, so don't expect yourself to be exactly how you were pre-recovery.
It gets worse before it gets better. This is what you're experiencing now, but it is impossible for it to not improve with medicine, therapy and support.
Recovery isn't linear. Sometimes your symptoms will get worse randomly or you will struggle or even give up for a while. Ever since your trauma happened you've been coping in your own way. Its okay to say fuck it for a bit if that's what you need. You're human. That means both joy and grief, pain and euphoria, peace and turmoil.
Its your life and your recovery. Every single person with PTSD has different symptoms and experiences and will have their own version of recovery. Take initiative and build a way of living that you can be proud of. As long as you don't endanger yourself or others, you don't ever have to go to therapy again if that's what you want.

On that note, here are my own suggestions based on what's worked for me:
Have a goal to motivate you. I got by without therapy until I started college. That's when it really hit me that I either needed help ASAP or would have to drop out (My therapist tells me that she's surprised I managed to graduate high school - all things considered). I didn't even know I had C-PTSD at the time, just thought I had ADHD and a bad work ethic. So now if I get discouraged or things get hard, I just think about why I decided to start recovery in the first place AKA college (since then I've found many more reasons). If you don't want to be in therapy, going anyway will make the whole experience even more miserable.
Find a therapist you trust who specializes in trauma/PTSD that you can meet one on one with. Group therapy is great, but you need more time/attention than only doing group therapy can give you. I've had two therapists before the one I have now and they weren't good fits. I needed someone really calm, but not afraid to call me out on my bs if necessary.
Get some meds. Right now you're in pain, which is important and normal. Anyone who has been through what you have would be feeling just as much pain. That's the beauty of modern medicine: just because you're in pain doesn't mean you need to suffer. After I started working on my C-PTSD in therapy, my symptoms got so bad that I could barely function. I feel better on my meds now than I ever had, even before therapy (but I grew up thinking that suffering and extreme emotional pain were normal - nothing to complain about - so they may not be as dramatic for you). They'll help you feel stable.

I'll leave you with a quote, hopefully it speaks to you in some way: "You aren't broken in need of fixing, you're deeply hurt in need of care." - Arielle Schwartz

(edit: formatting)

u/eaten_by_the_grue · 6 pointsr/JUSTNOMIL

If FSIL is interested in having a book to read and work through with his therapist, I can recommend this one for sure. I've used it myself and it was very eye opening and reassuring. I've seen this other one around but haven't read it yet.

It sounds like you've got all your bases covered. Silver lining from your stalker experience I guess... if such a thing could be had.

Stay safe!

u/acetanilide · 5 pointsr/CPTSD

Hey there. I'm glad things are finally making sense for you. Here is a workbook I've been going through. You might consider getting it. It talks about all the types of therapies available and even gives you a little taste of them. Best of luck to you on your journey. If you have any questions feel free to ask me or PM me.

u/FinneganOFay · 5 pointsr/CPTSD

In my case when this has happened before it's because in previous trusting relationships (parents especially) when I overshared, it was used against me, to say that I couldn't trust my own opinions because I was too messed up. The fact that you're posting this here probably means that you know that quitting therapy isn't right for you, but you're really feeling the intensity of being vulnerable. That's normal, and it means that you're getting to the part that will be really healing if you can stick it out. Your future self deserves your current self's best efforts to sit with the intensity and stick it out. The fact that you're having this reaction means that you're strong enough to have survived some really tough stuff. You're strong enough for this too, and we've got your back.

I found this book to be helpful in collecting the tools for dealing with the intensity associated with processing this stuff. The short version is to take some time for self care, have a cup of hot tea, sit with the emotions you're feeling for a few minutes, and then pack them away for now. I know it'll sound silly writing it here, but in case it helps to have an example, my mental tool for packing away my emotions and overwhelming memories when I'm not working on them is a bookshelf in an orderly old fashioned study housed in suitcase like Newt Scamander's, that I store in a cave behind a waterfall guarded by a pet dragon. You get to pick your own tools that are useful for you, but that one helps me to feel like my traumatic past is safe while I'm going about my life but that I can access it and sort through the pieces and then pack them away when I'm not using them.

Good luck, and keep reaching out!

u/sponge_cat · 4 pointsr/CPTSD

> Idk when I'm gonna get trauma therapy. My current therapist revealed something about himself that is making me seriously consider asking for someone else. He purchased a workbook for CPTSD but he says he won't study it unless a client studies with him. Idk, we have a lot in common... but... I think getting help from him will be like pulling teeth...

I just wanted to say that you are more than justified in being skeptical - I would definitely seek out another therapist.

You are the patient, as well as the client - it is not the client's responsibility to shepherd the care provider through their own professional development, education, and training... I would even go so far as to consider reporting this behavior/statement as unprofessional and irresponsible.

If that's the only option you have available, I would purchase a workbook and just work through it yourself. I've done this, myself, in the past - and I'd find that infinitely preferable to paying somebody to "hold their hand" through their own learning process.

I know first-hand how difficult finding appropriate care and therapy is, I really do. However, there are providers out there who are already experienced and trained in caring for patients with trauma and histories of abuse - you do not have to accept being somebody's guinea pig or training exercise.

u/RadicalForestry · 3 pointsr/CPTSD

Memes have been a weird but deep source of relief for me, too! I get a weird soothed feeling about really dark memes about nihilism and despair.

I really hope you find something that can help you! Have you looked at this self-help workbook at all? Complex PTSD Workbook

u/TypicalButterscotch · 3 pointsr/CPTSD

I found The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control and Becoming Whole https://www.amazon.com/dp/1623158249/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_-ge0Db1GJN9KX helpful, but I don’t know if something geared specifically toward identity-related trauma would be more helpful (please, let me know if I am not describing it correctly). However, it appears to me that there is likely to be overlap, so it could be helpful in those areas.

u/oO0-__-0Oo · 3 pointsr/todayilearned

A type of cognitive behavioral therapy that was originally designed specifically for the treatment of BPD. In fact, the woman who developed it was a therapist who had BPD herself. Interesting story.

Try reading this:

https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748

and doing one or both of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Dialectical-Behavior-Therapy-Skills-Workbook

https://www.amazon.com/Complex-PTSD-Workbook-Mind-Body-Regaining/dp/1623158249

If they resonate with you, then you should consider seeing a therapist, preferably who either specializes in trauma, or who is credentialed in DBT. Much easier to find the former than the latter. Real full-on DBT is very involved.

u/IndieMoose · 2 pointsr/ptsd

Here you are! I recommend the paperback version.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1623158249?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

u/CupsBreak · 2 pointsr/CPTSD

I've heard good things about this book. There used to be a free review copy of it available but it has expired. I'm going to take mine into the counselor and see if they'll help me get through it. Maybe you want to try too?

u/NuclearHubris · 2 pointsr/CPTSD

Probably, but man we can't diagnose you, sorry bro. I'd see a professional for a diagnosis if that's in your books, but otherwise, if the shoe fits, you know? I recommend this workbook highly. it's an often recommended workbook.

u/cucumber_waters · 1 pointr/slavelabour

u/Tiffariffic · 1 pointr/Fibromyalgia

You could try the CPSTD workbook. My therapist is literally just reading it and have me tell her my thoughts. If you could come up with the money for it, I know it's hard, I definitely wouldn't have the money for it this moment.

https://www.amazon.com/Complex-PTSD-Workbook-Mind-Body-Regaining/dp/1623158249

u/bridgemixture · 1 pointr/CPTSD

Has anyone used this one?
https://www.amazon.ca/Complex-PTSD-Workbook-Mind-Body-Regaining/dp/1623158249/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=&amp;sr=8-15

u/[deleted] · 1 pointr/CPTSD

I think it's entirely possible to outgrow a psychologist. Over the years, switching psychologists based on where I am at the moment has been a useful tactic.

I've also had some bad experiences with "best in field" types of mental health providers. I personally find that the best mental health providers out there aren't seeking accolades and awards and attention. That's the shit that tends to attract more narcissistic personality types which tends to be counter-productive to trauma recovery IMO.

Regarding worksheets, I don't know of any for DID but have you worked your way through the CPTSD workbook yet?

There are also some good DBT workbooks out there that I think are applicable to most of us as well.