Healing Complex PTSD and the Vagus nerve

[FairyCrystal]

I happened upon a YT channel on childhood trauma and the woman spoke of (C)PTSD. Complex Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.
I had never heard of it, but the stuff she explained in her many vids resonated greatly and made me realise that I have CPTSD...

She mentioned the name of another woman who also did courses on it like her, but who had written a book on the subject of Polyvagal Therapy as well.
Polyvagal therapy is a method with which you can heal your CPTSD.
I looked that woman up, found yet another name of another woman who fine-tuned the polyvagal therapy, Deb Dana.
I bought a book by her and another one that I came across on the Nervus Vagus & the Chakras.

What it means when you have C-PTSD is that trauma dysregulated your nervous system and if that doesn't get regulated it can create all kinds of trouble in your life, from issues with socialising, finding love, to chronic ailments that doctors cannot explain nor treat.
Also illnesses btw that can be alleviated/treated in the long run.

So if you've had trauma it wreaks havoc in your life. And hell yes, does it do that!!

I'm currently reading in my 2 books that both have exercises. I also bought a card deck by Deb Dana on polyvagal. Each card has an exercise that make you go deep into yourself, all helping to resolve the trauma.

Polyvagal therapy works with the Nervus Vagus, the longest nerve in our body that has 3 branches. 2 of these have to do with fight, flight, freeze, the other is the more joyful branch.

There is also actual polyvagal therapy with a therapist. I've inquired about a 10 week course that is free as it's covered by healthcare.
I've decided I want it sorted. i want to get regulated.
For now I'm doing what I can by myself with my books. And obtaining insight and information.

I now also get why I smoke(d) and find it so so hard to quit: I smoke to regulate myself.
When I began with exercises from the books I got restless. Clearly things got stirred up, and my urge to smoke reared its ugly head. I couldn't stop it, so I bought some tobacco. It immediately gave me a sense of peace & tranquility.
Not helpful, as it doesn't do your body good to smoke, it actually triggers a stress reaction to smoke in the body!

Nevertheless I'm very hopeful, and joyful about it all!
For the first time in yonks I have good hope that I can be cured from my ailments or at least get some alleviation!

Books I got:
Chakras and the Vagus Nerve by C.J. Llewelyn

Polyvagal Exercises, the nervus vagus as source of safety & trust by Deb Dana
Title may be slightly different as I got this one in Dutch.
It's her book from approx. 2021 with exercises from her other book and new ones added to it.
So if you want info & insight this is not the right book.

[Miss Hepburn]

Holy Cow!!! This is amaziing!!!
I'm telling my friends!!! All therapists.
I have a book on the Vagus nerve. I know all about the Vagus nerve ---ha - or thought I did!
Complex PTSD? Brilliant !

[FairyCrystal]

I also thought I knew a lot about the vagal nerve, did a 7 week course on it few years back.
Yet, certain things I still didn't get, I still had lots of unanswered questions.
I find that the author of the first book I mentioned, the chakras and the nervus vagus, explains it incredibly well!
NO more questions after reading the info in there.
I've learnt things that I didn't expect at all, and that explained so much I've experienced physically!

[FairyCrystal]

Some more info for people who want to hear more on this to see if they've got it...

C r a p p y Childhood Fairy on YouTube (TONS of free vids! Also free material on her website and courses)

Irene Lyon, another expert on polyvagal and trauma therapy. She's got a YouTube channel as well, 3 free vids for info on her site, and I believe a book (not sure).

You may want to check out Stephen Porges, the man who developed the polyvagal therapy theory in the 90s.

This book (I might get that one in myself, renowned and recommended even for therapists!):
The Body Keeps the Score - Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
By Bessel van der Kolk

There's another woman who knows tons about this, Kathy Kaine.
There are interviews of her on YouTube that are very worthwhile.
Here's one of Kathy and Irene Lyon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RLFmlo2vb0&t=460

[winter light]

Hi FairyCrystal,

I've got a lot of related things going on too. I read The Body Keeps the Score and it's very good. It really helped me to understand and accept that PTSD is what I was dealing with. And also set me on a path to find what I needed to move forward when I was at a very low point.

I think the book talks a lot about neurofeedback treatments and so I found a couple of places nearby where I could get sessions. They helped a lot and the best part about that is you don't have to go back and re-experience the traumas while they clear. Not quite a free ride but much less stressful than talk about it therapy. And I also found a therapist who practiced EMDR and I am still doing that along with EFT in the sessions. Both modalities are very powerful and complementary.

With regards to the vagus nerve, for years I have been practicing a healing modality based on acupuncture meridians and nervous system. But it is done purely with the mind and energy. It works by just looking for the energy blocks and clearing them. I have also found that the nervous system and the acupuncture meridians and emotions are all interrelated. These are precursors to physical health as well. As you described.

After a while as I learned it got more clear how to use the information from each to really focus in and clear issues. When I close my eyes now sometimes I can see the energy blocks light up. Or get clear intuition what to work on. And when I am working on myself or others I can feel in my own body where the blocks are as another point of reference.

So anyhow I'm very glad to hear that you found these types of energy work. It is life changing. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[FairyCrystal]

Wow, great feedback! Thank you for sharing your experiences!
From what I've read & heard EMDR and EFT are usually part of treatment of C-PTSD.
And like you say, talk therapy doesn't remedy it. You have to go much deeper in order to reset the nervous system that got dysregulated by trauma.
C-PTSD is more difficult to treat even than PTSD. Not sure about you of course, but I have C-PTSD (complex PTSD).

I love that you make the connection with it and energy work as that's what interests me too. It's also why I love the book I mentioned on the Vagus Nerve and Chakras.
Since I love energy work it's an easy entrance, like an open door, to me, hihi.
I'm not sure if I'd dare go for EMDR as I've had vertigo (seeing the room spin around you) and since then I very easily get dizzy.
And getting dizzy or getting vertigo is directly related to eye movement. As a matter of fact, the illusion of the room spinning is caused by rapid eye movement! They then move left & right very quickly, creating that effect of the room spinning.

For now too busy still with the 2 books I've got, but I certainly will keep The Body Keeps Score on my list

Feel free to give more feedback! You've got a lot of experience, I'm a beginner with this.

[kundalinikid]

Hmm, interesting find. I will have to dig deeper into this when I have time. I also have PTSD issues from my first psychosis and other traumas.

One thing I've happened onto recently are these singing bowls on youtube. Now I've tried singing bowl meditations before, and I haven't noticed too much. This one channel in particular is SUPER effective. I literally feel the sound frequencies interacting with and relaxing my energy centers. I tend to get a lot of anxiety symptoms in my heart and throat chakra. Try one out if you get the chance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK0jTjcmrKE

[FairyCrystal]

Originally Posted by kundalinikid

Hmm, interesting find. I will have to dig deeper into this when I have time. I also have PTSD issues from my first psychosis and other traumas.
...

I'd make sense that the method would work for PTSD as well. Bear in mind though that CPTSD is not the same as PTSD.
But I guesstimate the nervous system is also dysregulated with PTSD.
However, it is possible that PTSD requires a slightly different approach. I don't know, but maybe the internet can provide answers to that.

[kundalinikid]

Yes, I understand this. I suspect mine is closer to CPTSD because it is more a large grouping of events and experiences that led to my condition. Though, the psychosis caused me to have panic attack like flashbacks for years after. I am more or less on the mend though at this point.

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by kundalinikid

... singing bowls on youtube. This one channel in particular is SUPER effective.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK0jTjcmrKE

Wanna say I love when people leave these youtube links AND tell us what
we are clicking on...can't wait, k.kid. Thank you! Wow, it even says, Reset your Vagus Nerve!!
TEN Hours!? This is a gift, thank you again.