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The way it was explained to me - our brains need both of its sides functioning during an experience to classify, and categorize, our experiences appropriately. For example, when we have a bad dream, or nightmare, when we wake up we might recall it fully - but our brain has already given it the 'dream' clasification/code... and we can shake it off, eventually. In some PTSD, in the case of a extreme-stress event, one of the brain's sides (hemispheres), doesn't kick in to do it's job during the experience and the experience isn't 'coded' appropriately...i.e., it isn't given (in my case) the 'it happened in the past, it's over now' classification. For 7 months, back in the winter of 2010-2011, I lived in extreme fear. By choice, and because there was no other choice, I kept my husband alive through constant vigil, 24/7. Some things were in my control (right meds at the right time) but the things that I had no control over were the source of my fear: if the power went out he would die within 15 minutes and all I'd be able to do is watch. Remote Canada. Winter. Snowed in. Rescue wouldn't make it in time. Yeah, right. I didn't realize the physical-stress toll this had taken on me until after he died, in the spring. The power never did go out - amazingly - but that constant fear still had me by the throat; couldn't even start to grieve, could barely function; I was so fucked up and didn't know how to fix it and sought help. I got lucky. EMDR was pretty new back then & the counselor I found wanted to try it. The theory is this: Stimulate both sides of the brain while the experience is relived, through recalling everything, so the experience can be classified/coded the way it should have been in the first place. It took six 2-hour sessions, twice a week. The debilitating fear no longer had me by the throat. I still remembered (and remember) everything....but only as a memory, rather than as flashback, and my stress-level (from the fear) dropped to near-zero. Everyone's story is different. EMDR might not be effective on all types of PTSD. By god, though, it's worth a try. Saved my life, that. I'm open to questions, if any. Warm regards

some time ago i found the book ' waking the tiger' in the secondhand-shop. The ways of DAO are great, to bring this book on my path at the moment i'm able to understand and use the content. The book explains how posttraumatic stress can lead to all the symptoms it does and how to get rid of it. The reading of it was so emotional to me that i've read it in small sections. But now I do understand what is happening to me. Part of the exercises i do is spontaneous movement, the effects can be astounding and after reading this book i do understand much better what is happening. ( and also why the effects are so different compared to my fellowstudents) i thought i'd post it, maybe other bums with these kind of problems can make use of it