lyme in Putnam
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11561
posted
Does anyone think trauma is keeping them sick. Wondering. I've had much and it's been brought up to me.
-------------------- He took u to it, He'll you through Posts: 2837 | From NE. | Registered: Apr 2007
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
I would say "No" for me, only because my memory has been so affected by lyme, it has been a blessing in disguise, as I am forgetting a lot of the negatives (the positives too) and don't remember a whole lot of anything anymore. Amnesia.
But when some of my friends or family bring some things up that happened to me, it shocks me that I lived with that (emotion/memory) for so long.
If I remembered that stuff still, I would want to deal with clearing those emotions.
Maybe if I start to get better and the memories come back I will have to go for some therapy and get some new coping skills. I'm pretty sure I forget mine old coping skills. Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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lax mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38743
posted
For me, ABSOLUTELY.
My husband's illness when I was 3 mos post-partum re-traumatized me and left my immune system vulnerable.
I think trauma goes hand in hand with high cortisol, sleep dysfunction, etc that keeps us from healing.
It's in Dr H's book as one of the 16 points. So, I would say that it doesn't help the immune system. You have to work on healing EVERYTHING.
TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
I know some top lyme doctors who believe that trauma can keep a lyme patient sick.
One such doc asked my friend a certain question, and based on her reply, he told her that he believed she had not forgiven herself for a terrible tragedy that happened to her daughter.
He told her that this could hold back her recovery.
My friend had gotten great lyme treatment but was still not well. She truly DOES believe that she did not do enough for her daughter and so feels guilty about what happened to her daughter.
So, it seems there can be cases where your internal messages to yourself can stop your body from fighting these diseases.
If you are always thinking "I don't deserve to be healthy. I deserve to be sick because I did or didn't do X" then your immune system says, "don't fight these germs. Lay down and play dead."
So, if you are telling yourself negative messages, you really need to change your thinking. It can influence your body.
Sit quiety and prayerfully ask yourself, "Why am I not well?" and see what comes to mind.
Here is a website that gives you an excerpt from a book written by a lyme doctor discussing this aspect of getting well:
The book contains a 30-page chapter on this important aspect of getting rid of lyme disease.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
There is a book entitled "Mind over Medicine". It is by a doctor called Lissa Rankin.
She firmly believes that our bodies have an innate ability to heal itself. It is based on staying in our parasympathetic state.
She proves her hypothesis from medical science. She also offers ways to help your body heal.
She is not saying that "it is all in your head". What she is saying is we can activate our bodies natural ability to heal which work in conjunction with medical treatment.
Posts: 538 | From kentucky | Registered: Nov 2011
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posted
I would say no for me. I was sent to many psychologists pre-diagnosis. If psychology could have cleared up Lyme, it would have!
Having said that, I still think it's a good idea to work through any trauma so you're not carrying that burden also - to find ways to ease its impact on you.
I think a nice way to do that is to imagine a different past and live that for awhile, internally, to get a break from any heavy stuff.
Another way to do it, if it's pertinent and possible to do, is to go to the actual physical site where bad stuff happened and process it there onsite - it feels very real there.
Personally, my preference, if onsite, is to acknowledge the good stuff there, then name what didn't work, then work to negotiate that - play out many scenarios where you answer back, stand up for whatever you wanted, reimagine other outcomes, do whatever you need to do to fix the bad memories.
Life is so happenstance - whatever happens to us. Frankly we all get stuff we like, and that we dislike, in life. So I think we have the right to reimagine other outcomes, solutions, etc. 'cause it could have gone that way too.
And whatever trauma we can't "fix," to know this experience can make us more understanding of others' challenges.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Yes, trauma is part of illness and needs to be part of healing. Can you clean it up and get rid of it? Sure, but it takes some work, hard work.
Greta, just because you don't remember some stuff because your memory is so bad....don't think you mind/body/soul has forgot any of it.
It's there. One part of peeling the onion is cleaning up and throwing out the garbage in our lives. Believe me you carry everything with you.
You might think you can think only happy thoughts and all that garbage will stay buried. It won't without some type of clearing.
It's all there underneath the illness physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally.
There is some really good reading on this site buried in the search icon on The 5 stages of healing. Also look at some Gigi #259 posts about healing & words from Dr K on the very subject.
This search should also take you to some good urls about this very subject.
I've always called this illness a big picture or a big puzzle. So many pieces? Finding it piece by piece? It is an emotional/mental/physical/spiritual illness.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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Annie C
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14
posted
Absolutely not for me. I had 3 life altering traumas all in one year. I had been receiving Lyme treatment for 7 years. Then these events all took place in 2007. Effecting my family for generations yet to be.
I try not to let them control my life today. But it's because of these events I'm alone and without close family support. All this on top of Chronic Lyme. And 3 new tic notes in June 2013 I just keep trying to accept my life today. And not what it could have been. Traumas can cause Conversion disorder. It can go dormant and then bam right out of the blue. So am I Blue.
And today will be tomorrow's yesterday. My eyes have never seen or experienced today. That is what I have to keep reminding my self. Hang on I need more Tylenol.
Ok in back. I also took my Monolaurin. I might herx and I might just get worse than I am right now.
Back to trauma. It's all in what took place or witnessed. Was there a death. No just my spirit and trust died for many people. Today I will not put my faith in or on people. Christ is who I keep all my faith and trust in.
Trauma lives in the brain scars that no one can see except God and my self.
Is this hindering my health of course it is. But remember I had Lyme before traumas. Believe I. Yourself and You Will Happen
-------------------- May God Bless you every day. And Never say never and do not give up no matter what. We need you to help others. Posts: 1288 | From Tetons Wyoming | Registered: Oct 2000
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