Patient C

(Patient C) is 35 now and has been diagnosed with PTSD due to a very traumatizing event when she was twelve and others later on in her teens.

These memories have left a deep trace resulting in claustrophobia. Any situation could trigger past memories in her that would generate a panic attack straight away. By using meditation techniques taught in class she has been able to manage the symptoms before the full panic attack develops. In this way, she is better able to manage her life, be it travelling on public transport, going to large shopping centers, or getting onto a table for an MRI.

Meditation helped (Patient C), as she explained, “to connect away from chaos in my brain… I was in a real heightened post-traumatic stress… where everything’s really on high alert. So that really helped physically.” When someone experiences trauma one of the first things they can lose touch with is their sense of self. (Patient C) put it this way, “The main thing with trauma and any kind of thing like that is you are not relaxing – you can’t relax - you don’t have the skills and you lose your sense of self”. For (Patient C), a main benefit of practicing the meditative techniques was “getting a sense of self as well as remembering myself - like my inner self and my own strengths…That alone made me feel more optimistic. Then, over long term it helps re-awaken I am (Patient C), I am myself, I am a woman, I am a person, I enjoy escaping and I love what happens in my brain.”
(Patient C) changed the way she interacts with her thoughts, and by doing so changed the way she interacts with life. Instead of being overwhelmed by anxiety or panic, she managed to catch the initial thought that triggers this process and simply observe it and relax, keeping her focus on her breath or creating a peaceful mental image or visualization that could also aid her in dissolving, or letting go of, the initial thought. This is a bit like learning to drive a car. Once you understand the basic mechanics, you must master the rules of the road, to ensure a safe and pleasant journey.

“A year ago, the world was a very scary place. I felt I was trapped in the trauma that I experienced whenever something would trigger something. That was never ending… I was at a point where I would stop using transports. That was a long time ago – a year ago. Even when I met my fiancé a year ago, when were first going out, I was having panic attacks a bit. Things would rise up in me. I remember I would start using the techniques and now I don’t get that anymore. I think I immediately go: "ok no," alright, and take deep breath. I do a bit of breathing - quite a lot. Which is a good thing…. that is gonna help.”