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of the bad experiences in your past, i.e. when you can accept yourself
and all that has happened to you, you will probably no longer have
PTSD or DID.
The last 25 years have seen heated controversies among
professionals over "repressed memories," often involving beliefs that
child sexual abuse caused adult problems, and "false memories,"
usually about sexual abuse memories prompted by probing, suggestive
questions by therapists. Other related arguments were about the use
of probing therapies and hypnosis to uncover the truth about childhood
causes of adult problems. A short history of these hot topics can be
found in Frederick C. Crews lengthy review of two books, one on each
side: Remembering Trauma by Richard McNally and Memory, Trauma
Treatment, and the Law by Brown, Schaflin, & Hammond (see
The Cognitive-Behavioral therapies involve using learning-based
techniques to actively change emotions and behaviors, without lengthy
exploration of the patient's history, trauma, or understanding. Using
these approaches, Marcia Linehan (1993) has researched and
developed an extensive individual therapy/psychoeducational
treatment program for Borderline Personality Disorders, which often
have a history of trauma, dissociation, and intense, poorly controlled
emotions. Many of her treatment methods are self-help methods: role
all found in different parts of this book. Other self-help methods may
techniques, including writing a history of your life or "the story" of
your disorder repeatedly. Of course, other kinds of therapy may help
too: Group therapy or online discussion groups, Family Therapy,
medication, and some of the newer techniques, such as TIR
Since one of the central features of a trauma experience is feeling
helpless, learning ways to increase your self-control--your mastery of
the situation--is an antidote to helplessness and hopelessness. In
addition to the self-mastery techniques mentioned above, this sense of
"I can handle it" can partly be achieved by simply involving your self in
more fun or constructive activities. Getting deeply absorbed in
challenging but doable work, recreation, or something intellectual is
satisfying-a process called "flow." Flow is when you are performing at
your best and loving it (Csikszentmihalyi, 1991). Learning that you can
overcome barriers and problems in your life is a powerful step; this
feeling of "self-efficacy" can replace discouragement and shame with
pride and hope. However, strong emotional reactions often involve
complications, e.g. some people who have been traumatized find
therapy to be very difficult, even highly traumatic. Partly this is
