I am 59. I have had a migraine since I was in my mid-twenties (poetic license!). Seventeen years ago I was diagnosed with the prelude to what has now evolved into Lupus. I have had this condition for 5 years - suffering stuff that I wrongly attributed to God knows what - until a major flare-up this year resulted in the diagnosis.
 
This year I have had one flare-up after another. I control one with steroids - get over it - another comes. I have been working with all kinds of techniques/therapies on my own (have a background in psychology) and then I hit the jackpot:  relaxation, emotional protection, visualization.

Dear Belleruth:

After being married for 33 years to the same man since I was 21 years old, I have asked for a divorce. He has been unable to change his emotionally & verbally abusive behaviors, in spite of counseling. In October, I discovered he was having a sexual affair (2nd time) with a woman younger than him (he is 58, she 45). He said he wanted a divorce, that he has been unhappy a long time. I said fine, I will make this happen.

I am fed up with him, but I feel so sad, heartbroken really, in spite of the problems.  What do you suggest for all the emotional upheavals? Please change my name to Kathie. Do not give my last name or email.

-Kathie
 

Question:
 
Dear Belleruth,

First of all thank you for the PTSD Guided Imagery Mp3's. They are, perhaps quite literally, a life saver. I've been in therapy for severe childhood trauma and I listen to your MP3's on my iPod ... well ... I can't imagine not having them and it's been a wonderful compliment to my therapy sessions.  And every time I hear you say "You are healing ... you will continue to heal", I feel deeply moved beyond words.  The sound of your voice, your help and guidance that comes across makes you the most dearest and treasured friend I've never met. : )

Hi!  I have used your CD's to help me with my Breast Cancer treatment.  I am now done with the treatment and left, hopefully, medically cancer free.  But oh what a number has been done on my spirit!  Lack of trust in my body, in the future, and sea sickness from all the emotions roiling around in me. 

I have read that MANY (maybe most) Breast Cancer survivors have to seek help from anti-depressants or simply suffer untreated depression after their medical treatment.  Since what especially needs healing now is the spirit, what better work for guided imagery?  Maybe your post trauma CD is what I am looking for and I will try it, but it seems there are some specific aspects of cancer fighting (like the possibility of recurrence) that make this need unique.
 
Do you take requests?  : )
Thanks, Joyce

A reviewer at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Administration Medical Center in Houston, Texas, reports on the value of pharmaceuticals for posttraumatic stress, and particularly of alpha-blockers for PTSD-related sleep disturbances. 

The article reports that an estimated 70-87% of patients who suffer from posttraumatic stress experience sleep disruption – difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, as well as distressing nightmares in which the traumatic event is reexperienced.  Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s such as Zoloft, Prozac, Luvox, Celexa, Paxil, etc) are the pharmaceutical treatment of choice for PTSD, but with the exception of fluvoxamine (Luvox), they are often ineffective or only partially effective for sleep problems.