Although war PTSD is probably similar in some ways to domestic violence PTSD, they would both be very different from Childhood abuse PTSD. When you have a non-violent childhood then go to war or marry someone who abuses you, you have a foundation of what NORMAL was. You may not be completely aware - but your instincts -primitive brain knows it. With childhood PTSD, they have no idea what normal is. Violence IS normal! The world - not just the war, or a spouse - THE WORLD is a scary place. When that child grows up, most likely stuck in the abuse their whole life, they cannot really grow up in any psychological way. Even the animal/primitive brain is affected! When a 17-20 year old goes to war the ENEMY tries to kill them, but when you are a baby or a child or a teen you are trapped in time psychologically because your FAMILY tries to kill you for so long, the trauma becomes a physical part of your brain - the brain actually changes how it functions. War vets need support and care definitely! but the people who need it most, are the ones who are forgotten - the adults who were abused as children. Even their primitive brains are affected. Child abuse victims are one of the reasons fawn was added to the F list: flight, fight, freeze... and fawn. Their animal instincts must be ignored in abusive home so they cannot react like most people... Their family IS the enemy, for a lifetime! The emotional complications cannot even be expressed! It’s one thing when an enemy tries harming you, but when it's your father or mother, or uncle or grandma... it's a whole different thing psychologically! The child is so much smaller with no weapon either. They learn to fawn to the family-enemy to survive, regardless of what they must sacrifice of themselves. People who 'go to war' can come home one day - if they survive. But people who were raised in war (abuse) have no home, and survival actually begins to feel like a curse because they have no family support, and they have trouble keeping friends (relationships are confusing-scary), and when they ask society for support or empathy or help, they are given more hate: "get over it," "deal with it," "it's over now," things people say that are not only false, but basically telling the victim of violent hate by family members that it's their fault and they deserved it - here's some more hate! War vets and domestic violence victims need empathy and support by professionals as well as from society as a whole of course - and people seem to be understanding that better these days, but adults who complain about being abused as kids (that could have lasted into their adulthood), and not being able to function still receive the same HATE from society that their own family gave them from as far back as they could remember! I think that adults who have been abused (esp. long term abuse - into adulthood) need MORE support and empathy from professionals and society because they probably don't have family if they are seeking kindness from strangers. I'm done with my rant... If you made it this far....you probably didn't actually. lol
ty my experiences on dealing with my trauma throughout my own life. spot on where ever you got this info from it is correct keep following them they are doing accurate vital work
Totally agree. In my case I didn't know that my abusive childhood home life wasn't normal till I had children. I knew several children at my Primary school that were being beaten. So I thought that was normal. I even went on a Parenting course to find out what normal was. So I have C PTSD and PTSD. Haven't got a clue how to heal. I just stay at home. Stress has made me physically sick anyway.
Yes. This is so so very true. No one in our society really understand what you are saying and we are constantly retraumatized over and over again in my case by so called professionals who feed you pills and throw you into psychiatric hospitals involuntarily were I was just retraumatized by staff and patients and once again fed more pills and called sick. At 66 I have now lost everything I worked for my whole life and just live with flashbacks of all my traumas. I wish I was sent to war where I could have died.
Honestly.....it feels so wholesome that he just shreds hella hard at the end, just sharing with us what he does to blow off steam. Feels sweet, hope this guy is happy and living well.
I recently needed to have my body checked for peripheral neuropathy. Sure enough the test showed that I had “significant neuropathies”. During the test the Dr. looked at me at one point and asked if I had any trauma during my childhood, and I said yes, quite a bit. So when I returned to the clinic to talk with his Medical Assistant I asked her why he had asked me that, as I was so surprised that no other doctor had asked me that in 57 yrs. She explained that if a child is traumatized it wreaks havoc on the immune system and the wiring within your brain which can lead to auto-immune disorders, chronic pain, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and the list goes on. ALL of which I have, so if you are struggling I do encourage you to seek help somewhere, somehow, etc. Find the path that works for you. The saddest thing about emotional abuse is that it is even harder to heal as it is intangible and therefore others don’t take the “abuse” seriously, or they brush it aside with a typical response, “oh it couldn’t have been that bad”. Not what one needs to hear when trying to get help within the family structure which is causing the abuse. Anyway, I wish all of you the best of luck with your healing and may you find something that speaks to the healing of your whole body, mind and spirit. Be kind to yourselves as you are healing!!
I have all those things you listed too. I have autoimmune disease, I live with chronic pain, constant pain every day for years, I have peripheral neuropathy, anxiety, depression. Etc. I had Childhood trauma too. It is hard to heal. It's been an ongoing thing for me to try and get well and feel balanced. But It's work and tiring and costs money. And my physical health has got worse. I try to self help and do meditation etc and I see a psychotherapist. She helps with cognitive therapy. And she Validates me, She Hears me. I'm 55. I started seeing her a year ago for anxiety and depression. She's been Helpful. Someone has mentioned EMDR therapy to me and suggest that may help. I haven't done that yet. It is effed up that we didn't get a healthy emotional start in life. It messed our immune system and brain wiring up. And I added to it by not making the best life choices in my younger years. How are you doing? What's your path to healing, what do you do for yourself? Hope you are having better days.
OH ! glad to know this question has been asked. My cardiologist asked me that question also and referred me to a counselor. We found an answer. The root cause of that chest pain.
I grew up in an abusive home and later an abusive relationship. To this day my heart races if my partner is angry with me and if he makes any sudden movements I immediately put up my arms to protect my face. This reaction is actually progress for me. And yup you can tell yourself over and over I’m safe everything’s ok now but the anxiety never leaves. Maybe someday there will be an answer. Blessings to you all.
There is no "cure" because not every one who suffers brain is EXACTLY the same. Kinda gets me pissed when a person reaches out for help and then a comment comes up and says " oh yes, but it's treatable". (Not cured) yeah?! And?! So is cancer!!! So logically then, You feel the same condescending way towards them? SMH
Tyler Bearance I come from long term trauma as well and whenever my mind is stuck "playing the victim", I tell my myself to get over it, get over myself and get over what happened to me because I can't change it so I need to get over it.
This is for Molecular Moonlight, Im currently his patient at the TBI clinic FT Gordon. He has done more for the Soldiers then any other medical provider. I was that guy that was deployed many times. He has save my life and others Soldier as well. So, he knows his stuff and it works!!! I have heard it many times from others. I give respect where it is do and he has my respect!!!
+booker little - When shit gets deep, go to the Beach. Here's what I mean... whenever you feel overwhelmed by anything, or you have a PTSD reaction, find a quiet place to sit down. Close your eyes. In your mind, open your eyes. You are sitting on the sand at a beach. It's a warm, slightly overcast day - filtered sun. There's a slight breeze, and you can smell the salty tang of the ocean. The surf is gently rolling in with a peaceful rhythm. You hear some gylls singing as they fly. You hear children laughing, and you turn your head and see two children building a sand castle a ways up the beach, You look the other way and see an older couple holding hands and slowly walkong towards you, but still a fair distance away. You look out at the waves breakingl the water is the color of turquoise. IN YOUR MIND you close your eyes and just listen to the gulls, and the surf rolling up on the sand, and the childrens' laughter. You feel the breeze, and the warmth of the sun. It's a perfect day, and you feel completely at peace. It takes a little practice
+Hippiekinkster obviously you've not experienced a real PTSD reaction- and while maybe you thought you heard what Dr. Riggs was saying- it just did not sink in. I'm sure you mean well. What you shared helps with A LOT OF PRACTICE, as a prevention, but not when a PTSD reaction is being experienced. Oversimplication such as this can even appear devaluing to someone who hasn't worked thru enough of their trauma to actually put this into practice.
I really respect this guy. I know a lot of doctors, and I’ve been to a lot of doctors (I get injured a lot). I have a TBI (traumatic brain injury) now, and I know everyone with a TBI is a handful. But meditation (for me, prayer) has changed my life. I feel better when I exercise. And I wouldn’t be where I am today without being able to play the piano. Thank you!
As a sufferer of ptsd and having quacks trying to shove drugs down my throat to treat it with no result I can tell you this guy knows what he is talking about.
This TED talk helped me understand the complexity of the brain and the order situations are interpret and delivered in an instant. Going through a divorce after 20 years of marriage and not understanding what the hell just happened can incapacitate (and did) a person from living or wanting to live a life anymore. The both of us experienced stress right from the start of our marriage that set the stage for it's inevitable end. Knowing our reaction to the stress wasn't on purpose or malevolent helps me understand how and why things played out the way they did. And you, Mr. John Riggs are such a great guitar player, I'm glad that you enjoy your creative outlet and know it helps others see that there is hope for the rest of us to be that happy and at peace with one's self.
it sucks losing someone you would swear is your soulmate and you woldnt trade them for nothing no billions no nothing you cherish an worship their existence but it goes away somehow it just sucks losing mine change my life and my sons life i dont know what to tell him or what to do ????
I have a dissociative dissorder due to childhood abuse and neglect, the body keeps score is also a really good book about the brain also .. basically goes super in depth to this same topic.. this was a really great ted talk.
Same here, me too it sux to witness one self as a bystander and every thing going on around you. Life doesn't even feel real alot of the time for me anyways !!!! I feel like I bear humanity's pain sometimes ! I can't even fake happiness anymore!!!
Yes, The Body Keeps the Score, by Bessel Van Der Kolk, was an eye opening & life changing body of work. I highly recommended this book as a crucial read to EVERYONE as a means to best understand the fundamentals of PTSD/C-PTSD & just exactly how the brain is physically, psychologically, chemically, and biologically affected/triggered! It's an invisible disability that is WAY more common in society than anyone could ever really imagine!
I got super screwed up by my childhood. Depression, social phobia, CPTSD, sleep apnea, eating disorder, fibromyalgia, hearing loss. It's a lot to deal with, but I know that there's other people out there who need to heal like me. I look for them.
Your failure to learn from it, or to be able to think with it did not make it "useless, nonsense, nonsense." Dull brains are uninterested in anything cognitive. Enjoy your career of washing dishes.
Respect to this fella... Lack of empathy is the key we are so trained to focus on ourselves home and kids we forget the real pain to solve to equal peace and equality...
After a couple of REALLY traumatic experiences when I was in my late teens,I get so stuck in the “feeling” sometimes,I cannot even get out of bed,much less go outside...
Oh honey i stay inside and stay safe....my life sux but I have nearly gone to jail once over this so I am the dangerous one....and im actually non violent.
I feel you. Thankfully there are very effective trauma therapies now which are deep and actually have a neurobiological effect in healing trauma. Hugs!
Trauma is real, your body never forgets the trauma and your body and mind need IFOT/ Body focussed trauma to help support your transition to learn to take a sliver at a time, be present and focus to help your body and to help your mind. We stay where we are cuz it’s familiar. Change isn’t. You can find some examples on UA-cam, Shirley Turcotte - an excellent example of leaning into the land
I was getting a divorce after living with a negative passive aggressive covert narcissist for 25 years and tragically lost my 15 yr old daughter in an accident. What i did after that was leave as soon as possible and that set off a series of unfortunate events...i was acting out of my animal brain and wound up being diagnosed with PTDS a couple of years later. I had no idea what was wrong with me. I’m am STILL recovering and the triggers are real. I thought i was losing my mind and really hurt a lot of people. I never meant to do so I was out of my mind even though I was still functioning day to day. When i finally got help it was almost too late. Thank God. The damage has been done, how do we repair hearts? This talk was excellent in every way! Thank you Mr Rigg for helping so many....
There are actually 4 Fs now, taking into account C-PTSD (complex post tramatic stress disorder). Fight, Flight, Freeze and Fawn. Fawn (or appease) is mostly seen in Complex-PTSD where people have been abused since early childhood, for instance having been abused by parents with a Cluster B personality disorder (sociopaths,narcissists, borderline, etc.). The survival mechanism since early childhood is to become overly agreeable and co-dependent to survive the gaslighting, disgust, suppression and other kinds of systematical emotional abuse by their parents. These victims are often the scapegoats of a family. For victims of this kind of abuse who have developed C-PTSD it's very difficult to change their lives for the better, because their brain has been in the reactive mode for so long. Trauma often comes back to the surface through "emotional flashbacks" which means that a flashback is only an excessive emotion without images. It's very difficult and it takes many years to change the brain's responses and the stress levels because of the learned danger responses in relationship situations. Even normal relationships are stressful for people with C-PTSD because there might be danger of being covertly abused anytime. It takes many many years of living without actual being abused for these victims to start trusting people. Another problem for these victims is the learned survival technique to be co-dependent, helpers syndrome, which attracts more sociopaths/narcissists in their life. Therefore, often they become stuck in a cycle of co-dependent relationships with abusers, therefore repeatedly keep being abused throughout their life. Awareness of these issues is the biggest step especially in modern times with the increasing numbers of people with Cluster B personality disorders.
Yes. Sadly the politicians won't allow Childhood Trauma to be accepted into the DSM because there are no votes in shining a bright light on poor parenting. It stinks. Fortunately there are people like Riggs and Van der Kolk pushing the solution to PTSD anyway.
advocate 1, I agree! I wish I knew people didn't care about people who survived traumatic lives before I went asking for help! They essentially told me to kill myself to solve my problems. I would have if I didn't believe in a supreme being I would have to answer too after suiciding. Maybe he would understand.... no one on Earth does.
I don’t know much about neuroscience, but after listening to you speak about the “thinking brain” and our “primal brain area”, it has made me think that during and after being hit with a barrage of abnormal, one-after-another major life stressors, the fast-reacting primal brain area is so hyper-activated that it rapidly changes your normal neuro-pathways (neuropathy) in the cortex. Yes, you can go to therapy to try to create new neuro-paths (and try to get rid of of the newly acquired bad ones), but it can take years to undo what the primal brain has altered in a relatively shorter time. Goes back to the old saying, “once bitten, twice shy.” And that saying is very true. Seems the primal brain (when on a sustained high alert) can really do a number on your thinking-brain’s neuropathy. Because after sustained stress, one develops new reactions (and sometimes actions) such as fear, anger, etc - which then continues to create new feelings such as being misunderstood & having mistrust in others. Then, new behaviors such as unintended self-imposed isolation...and it’s a vicious cycle. It’s what our Vietnam Vets went through when they came home. Not only were they in a very confusing war (long-term mission wise), but when they did get home, the protestors and young people totally didn’t like them. They got hit in another way, and that was rejection by the very people they thought they were fighting for. They tried to SURVIVE over in Nam, and when home, no nurturing. Anyway, I just thought this was such an excellent talk, that I just wanted to say it made me think a lot! Thanks for your Ted Talk!
@@meganladner I keep reading and hearing things about micro dosing but I’m too scared to try it. At the same time I can’t carry on as I am in this vicious cycle, every part of me is exhausted. What does it feel like when you do psychedelics?
I needed to see this. Now I know what to work first with my therapist because there are things one can't scape from when you're triggered. Medication can be necessary if you have an existing illness but for traumas, therapy it is.
This dr rigg is mindblowing. What a sensitive and brilliant man. Multifaceted and just amaaaazing. We need a million more of this man. I would love to hear from veterans who have been treated by this man and hear exactly what he has done for them. God bless you Dr Rigg a million times over.
sure but when words are shot at you, you have the choice to equip yourself with the tools to prevent those words from hurting you or you taking words personally....
He is not trained as a public speaker, rather he spoke from what he has learned and witnessed in his work. I found it very interesting and useful for most people whether or not you have not been to war. Who can not show empathy for another person suffering a stressful moment while overreacting to it by behaving inappropriately. Maybe having the knowledge of how it happens, gives us the needed empathy to behave better in our reaction back to them.
He is one cool doctor. This lecture was informative, makes me reflect back to the actions my father exhibited with PTSD, anger and raging issues. I wish he knew about these alternative methods of therapy.
I’m gonna let you know right now… It’s a combination of holistic, physical, spiritual, pharmaceutical and talk therapy… if one has true PTSD. I promise you… 🙏
Learned a lot from this video. Nowadays when people think ptsd they think military. And for good reason. But they forget that kids develop ptsd from chaotic environments at home too. Thanks Doc for the crash course in tbi.
Yes indeed.. I love this... I have always maintained that trauma is the largest cost in the medical field, and its not solved by drugs. Its a soul, mind and spiritual thing. This message confirmed it.. Wow amazzzzhing...:)
And the main thing to remember is not every victim/surviver experiences trauma the same way and the symptoms can be different. Someone who experienced the same as me would be dealing with the effects differently than I do and some could be affected worse or "barely" feel trauma at all.
Thank you so much for taking a holistic approach to our health and well being!! I love understanding my brain and how it works! Making my mind a safe place for me to rest is my highest personal goal!!
Thanks for the talk, John. Important information, especially about the two brains where the one is faster responding than the other, which is why thinking cannot stop a traumatic reaction!
Thank you for helping and treating our soldiers. I have multiple family members who previously served or are currently serving. I really appreciate this talk!
I forgot most of my childhood, and when I try remembering I tear up. While I don’t particularly remember any physical abuse, I remember constant yelling/screaming and then ignoring. I remember not trusting my own family and feeling alone. I have spoken to my mom and sister about this now at 21. At home I can somewhat tolerate being yelled at or scolded but if anyone scolds me or raises their voice or shows any signs of annoyance I start tearing up and trembling and the more I try to stop it the worse it gets.
Thank you for this information. I find it a bit scary. I'm thinking of how it pertains to our relationships and also to our penal system. It seems to me that we generally judge behaviors in an irrational less than compassionate way if we are not aware of this information. I am thinking that what you are teaching us not only pertains in important ways to notions such as "free will", but it also reinforces notions such as "What people say and do is not about us, it is much more just a projection of what/who they are." I think this is very true. Your course just reinforces that view. Life and relationships are very complex. Thank you for assisting us in our understanding of what is really going on with us human beings. ;) Your work is very meaningful and effects all of our experiences within and with others.
Thanks to the speaker, for a conscise explanation. Actually he's saving my life, as I come to understand why and what I suffer with. There are too many détails to write down here, but suffice to say that , loosing my love to suicide , constituted a major trauma event for me .She changed my life and I can't seem to get past it .The most beautiful, créative and soulful person I ever met ,just gone at 30 years old, whatsmore we had the time of our lives together...it has made it very difficult to deal with everyday normal stuff, which seems pointless , long bouts of dépression, rage fits, physical violence, not eating properly, not caring about personal hygiène, sleeping for days on end....I'm having to do a self diagnostic here but I think I'm suffering with some sort of PTSD.
I have experienced permanent muscle tension throughout my body all of my life. I am not aware of this for the most part. If I concentrate, I become aware of it and am able to relax. However, wants my mind is concentrating on something else, the tension returns. This is permanent. So are the nightmares.
causal effective disfunction of pre re n fn non cognition too very concrete detouchement of light feedback ..or sum. .. fictional head spook in brain not engaged pattern of behaviour. as is describing it
Yep. This comes into play sometimes when women are raped. Sometimes they are so scared they refuse to move or fight back because they can't even process what his happening to them. Or if someone is out hiking and a bear charges at them they might not try to escape and be eaten because they are so horrified by the animal's size and loud roar and speed that they don't even try to escape or might not even have time to flee before the person is unconscious being ripped apart within the mouth of the bear. These mental studies are important to understand human behavior in given situations otherwise stupid assumptions can be made out of ignorance.
thank you! I enjoyed the teaching. Not enjoying cause of the load of courages man/woman, out of military and having PTSD...but I like the clear no nonsense talk.
I love this talk. It is completely raw and the subject is spoken about with such passion. I don’t like to hear criticism about some of his comments, we can all say things that are deemed inappropriate when nervous and standing in front of an audience. I believe that society needs to be educated and informed about PTSD and trauma. How is this ever going to happen if people expect individuals to produce a faultless talk? As someone who has experienced PTSD and trauma, I’m happy that he had the courage to take a stand and speak out.
Dr. Rigg, thank you so much for these words. Thank you for encouraging yoga and meditation as treatment and thank you for helping our soldiers. I found relief through these practices and have dedicated my path to sharing them with others. It’s such a blessing to have someone in your position backing them.
"Complx Post Traumatic Stress Disorder" (aka: "C-PTSD") can be a VERY Difficult thing for the victim, and their loved ones to have to deal with, to try to mitigate it, and "retrain" their "thought processes. Very interesting stuff!!!
Not for all. This type of music causes major brain damage to some of us. 6 minutes of it proves him to be an exhibitionist. I wish he'd talked more about how to re-wire our brain to give hope instead of that noise (which I had to skip).
@@verabolton YES. I had to stop too. I studied classical music (piano and percussion) and this was just noise to me and clearly showing off. Just noise to me and annoying AF.
Zë Schumpert yes I stopped listening at that point. There may be a lot the speaker has to offer but I’m a bit taken aback that a talk about trauma moves into a judgement about what a woman is wearing and her subsequent objectification. As a woman that scenario brings up other trauma-related thoughts.
@@Sarahburrowes THANKYOU im glad i was not the only one who felt this way.... How sad that a DIRECTOR (PhD) of traumatic brain injury is this same immaturity
The most important aspect of this video is how it is articulated by Rigg. It is expressed in a way that every human being with a bit of English language knowledge can grasp the essence of the talk. this is very important in reaching out to those who might not understand psychology and its contents.
Best therapist I’ve seen in a series is Siri Sat Nam Singh, PhD his approach is empathetic, can feel what the patient is giving off and hard to explain his demeanor and skill. Watch him on UA-cam Noisey The Therapist with Corey Taylor and Katy Perry. Has sessions with many musicians in this series but those two taught me a lot and wish all therapist were at his level, very effective!!!!
I'm glad your doing what you do. I had pills thrown at me for 3 years before I retired from military. Best thing I got was a mind body medicine class! Keep on doing what your doing.
How do I deal with my stressed out man when he comes home from work and gets all snarly? I'm mellow from listening to music a good part of my day and I'm ready to be kind and listen to him. It's not easy, but it's worth it. Thanks for the lecture and the superb music!
Thank you sooo... much Dr. John Rigg! I've had very traumatic events lately, I've behaved in primal instinct ways as you explain. I've never been like that in my life, I thought I had a nervous breakdown, now I can understand my condition and learn how to recover from that. Many thanks for your yoga, meditation, holistic natural treatment and relaxation tips, especially your guitar playing reminds me that music does wonderful for our heart, mind and soul! 👍❤️🇺🇸☮️
being a low income mother I'm nearly always in that state of high stress! Even though I try to destress as much as i can, life is one crisis after another.
You make such a great point. I am also a low income, single parent and life is one crisis after another and even if the problem wouldn't be considered a problem for most, it becomes a crisis to me because I am in a constant state of hyperarousal and cannot discern between just a problem to be solved and a criss that will be the end of life as I know it. I have suffered through trauma as well which contributes greatly to the cognitive negative perceptions I view most all distressing situations from, but I think the constant stress is what really makes life seem harder than it should be.
@@cynfair2394 You talk too smart about your situation and seem to understand it better than a psychologist who could explain it to you. It's as if you engineered it to sustain yourself because you need, or like it's propelling effects.
Everything that exists, exists through Christ. When He was crucified, so were you. Christ's died to give you an escape from your dead, stressful, chaotic situation. Ask Him for His Spirit to live in your being and reckon yourself dead to your crisis screaming flesh, and I promise you, one day you will see that Jesus really is God, in you, whom you can turn to.
@@5jjt I've thought that before as well...that maybe I actually like it and that's why I haven't taken the necessary steps to fix it but I've just been dealing with so many little things, it becomes impossible to think about the big things other than in an abstract way- not to actually implement any solutions...though I've given it all a lot of thought over the years!
I know its easy said: But of your life is one crisis after another you really have to change your life, some of your life-patterns or your environmanent. Don't forget that you bring yourself in those situations(sure, not always!). There are always some other views on your situation and on problems, if there are some. I wish you the best!
I served for a private military organisation, we are not so fortunate to have someone of this calibre helping us, in fact we have no one, we suffer in silence, and just curl up when it get too much. Im glad that others have help like this
I have lived a life of unavoidable traumatic experiences all my life, I genuinely mean all my 60yrs, The only way I've learnt to cope, is to rewrite my own life story, visualise what & who I want to be, included with the emotions of excitement, I didn't learn this it was my natural coping mechanism,but over the yrs I learnt through meditation is that when a problem presents itself, I notice how can I handle this, find new ways to behave by changing my thought patterns. I will never dwell on a so-called traumatic experience, I'm here on this earth to learn everything about why I chose this life.
Ive lived in such a close proximity to cats as my family now, I'm actually convinced the more attention and care you give them,the more strong you make their personalities ,thus making them more intelligent which im humbled to give their species....
MOOGIE B & HOT LIPS. Thank u both so very much. I'm 47, no family, and I find it very difficult to trust anyone. I am finally in counilling, I was too scared to get help earlier, STIGMA, is a big problem world wide. I don't think I will ever get over whats happened, especially the triggers. But I can say this, I have forgiven. (For myself), so I can move on and heal. Unfortunately, I just can't forget. My dreams won't let me. Again. Thank u for explaining everything, the way u both did. Honestly. For the first time, I feel someone else understands me. That makes me feel a bit "normal". 🙏
I want to like what he's saying, but he lost me at "inappropriately tight" when talking about women's clothing and men's reaction to it. Ugh. Can we please place repsonsibility where it belongs -- on the shoulders of the person who is responding, NOT on the woman for choosing what to wear. Sigh. This guy is doing great work, but needed some better coaching before putting on a TedX talk.
What he is saying might be right but the problem is the delivery, I agree with you, I would have preferred some citation from a study and the result of this study and how this proves his point instead of “this happened to me, and to my buddy “
SAME i applaud him for his ptss syndrome work helping to deprogram and desensitize soldiers but calling short skirts and tight shirt inappropriate is inappropriate. and sexist. shame on you. find a better example. and if you can't please refrain from tight + short = inappropriate! when people think a seemingly benign comment like that is ok, it normalizes and veils sexism
it’s so hard and almost never talked about how that anger builds. For the longest time I didn’t know where it came from or why it was there but this video opened me up and gave me hope. I want to do better for my family it just gets hard
I have come from a very did functional home I’m 53y/o female. I’ve just escaped a physically and physically abusive relationship. Thank you for this video....... I can now begin to understand why I feel and behave the way I do. I know that I am just exhausted from living my life in survival mode.
I have been thru a lot of trauma in my life. And I do get into flight mode when presented. My thing is when my brain hits trauma I reach for mental health options and seek hospitalization. This really made sense why I make the smallest things into such much. Ty for this video. It helped me realize alot and I hope I can get thru it if it gets to this stress point again. This last betrayal trauma did me in and I'm learning a lot about myself
I love how he talks about non-medication treatments. I am a pharmacist and do not advocate drugs for anything! Everything can be cured by holistic methods and exercise.
Very helpful talk. And thankful for putting in the video chapters below. And i normally don't love guitar solos, but i did really enjoy that one! Thank you for taking care of us people with PTSD brains. Do you know of any org that will do for regular citizens what you do for veterans?
Rewinded several times….garnished deeper understanding of the ‘BRAIN’, and an alternative way to make sense of the human, reactive behavior. Plus his musical performance was a major alternative to move and dance instead of sitting and wallowing in whatever…..♥️❤️💋thank you mucho. BRAVO👏👏
Good video. And as an aside it also debunks the CBT theory of emotional disturbance the ABC theory. It is not your thoughts about an activating event that causes your reaction, it is the Amygdala in the limbic system that overrides the cortex. To heal we need to activate the prefrontal Lobes the Noticing brain, that calms the amygdala resulting in healing from trauma and better interconnections of the brain. The neurons the fire together wire together !
But first the stimulus zips through the cortex and then the amygdala kicks in and tells you to rely on animal defense behavior. That's been shown in the lab - so CBT was born - but maybe it doesn't always occur in that order - that would be a very informative experiment showing that! This speaker indicates that both brains receive the info simultaneously; perhaps this is newer info than I was taught.
Although war PTSD is probably similar in some ways to domestic violence PTSD, they would both be very different from Childhood abuse PTSD. When you have a non-violent childhood then go to war or marry someone who abuses you, you have a foundation of what NORMAL was. You may not be completely aware - but your instincts -primitive brain knows it. With childhood PTSD, they have no idea what normal is. Violence IS normal! The world - not just the war, or a spouse - THE WORLD is a scary place. When that child grows up, most likely stuck in the abuse their whole life, they cannot really grow up in any psychological way. Even the animal/primitive brain is affected! When a 17-20 year old goes to war the ENEMY tries to kill them, but when you are a baby or a child or a teen you are trapped in time psychologically because your FAMILY tries to kill you for so long, the trauma becomes a physical part of your brain - the brain actually changes how it functions. War vets need support and care definitely! but the people who need it most, are the ones who are forgotten - the adults who were abused as children. Even their primitive brains are affected. Child abuse victims are one of the reasons fawn was added to the F list: flight, fight, freeze... and fawn. Their animal instincts must be ignored in abusive home so they cannot react like most people... Their family IS the enemy, for a lifetime! The emotional complications cannot even be expressed! It’s one thing when an enemy tries harming you, but when it's your father or mother, or uncle or grandma... it's a whole different thing psychologically! The child is so much smaller with no weapon either. They learn to fawn to the family-enemy to survive, regardless of what they must sacrifice of themselves. People who 'go to war' can come home one day - if they survive. But people who were raised in war (abuse) have no home, and survival actually begins to feel like a curse because they have no family support, and they have trouble keeping friends (relationships are confusing-scary), and when they ask society for support or empathy or help, they are given more hate: "get over it," "deal with it," "it's over now," things people say that are not only false, but basically telling the victim of violent hate by family members that it's their fault and they deserved it - here's some more hate! War vets and domestic violence victims need empathy and support by professionals as well as from society as a whole of course - and people seem to be understanding that better these days, but adults who complain about being abused as kids (that could have lasted into their adulthood), and not being able to function still receive the same HATE from society that their own family gave them from as far back as they could remember! I think that adults who have been abused (esp. long term abuse - into adulthood) need MORE support and empathy from professionals and society because they probably don't have family if they are seeking kindness from strangers. I'm done with my rant... If you made it this far....you probably didn't actually. lol
One of the best concise comments ever shows so much insight that sadly not many have. Absolutely on the money.
ty my experiences on dealing with my trauma throughout my own life. spot on where ever you got this info from it is correct keep following them they are doing accurate vital work
Totally agree.
In my case I didn't know that my abusive childhood home life wasn't normal till I had children. I knew several children at my Primary school that were being beaten.
So I thought that was normal.
I even went on a Parenting course to find out what normal was.
So I have C PTSD and PTSD. Haven't got a clue how to heal.
I just stay at home.
Stress has made me physically sick anyway.
Yes. This is so so very true. No one in our society really understand what you are saying and we are constantly retraumatized over and over again in my case by so called professionals who feed you pills and throw you into psychiatric hospitals involuntarily were I was just retraumatized by staff and patients and once again fed more pills and called sick. At 66 I have now lost everything I worked for my whole life and just live with flashbacks of all my traumas. I wish I was sent to war where I could have died.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR SAYING THIS!!!
Honestly.....it feels so wholesome that he just shreds hella hard at the end, just sharing with us what he does to blow off steam. Feels sweet, hope this guy is happy and living well.
I recently needed to have my body checked for peripheral neuropathy. Sure enough the test showed that I had “significant neuropathies”. During the test the Dr. looked at me at one point and asked if I had any trauma during my childhood, and I said yes, quite a bit. So when I returned to the clinic to talk with his Medical Assistant I asked her why he had asked me that, as I was so surprised that no other doctor had asked me that in 57 yrs. She explained that if a child is traumatized it wreaks havoc on the immune system and the wiring within your brain which can lead to auto-immune disorders, chronic pain, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and the list goes on. ALL of which I have, so if you are struggling I do encourage you to seek help somewhere, somehow, etc. Find the path that works for you. The saddest thing about emotional abuse is that it is even harder to heal as it is intangible and therefore others don’t take the “abuse” seriously, or they brush it aside with a typical response, “oh it couldn’t have been that bad”. Not what one needs to hear when trying to get help within the family structure which is causing the abuse. Anyway, I wish all of you the best of luck with your healing and may you find something that speaks to the healing of your whole body, mind and spirit. Be kind to yourselves as you are healing!!
I have all those things you listed too. I have autoimmune disease, I live with chronic pain, constant pain every day for years, I have peripheral neuropathy, anxiety, depression. Etc.
I had Childhood trauma too.
It is hard to heal. It's been an ongoing thing for me to try and get well and feel balanced. But It's work and tiring and costs money. And my physical health has got worse.
I try to self help and do meditation etc and I see a psychotherapist. She helps with cognitive therapy. And she Validates me, She Hears me. I'm 55. I started seeing her a year ago for anxiety and depression. She's been Helpful.
Someone has mentioned EMDR therapy to me and suggest that may help. I haven't done that yet.
It is effed up that we didn't get a healthy emotional start in life. It messed our immune system and brain wiring up. And I added to it by not making the best life choices in my younger years.
How are you doing?
What's your path to healing, what do you do for yourself?
Hope you are having better days.
OH ! glad to know this question has been asked. My cardiologist asked me that question also and referred me to a counselor. We found an answer. The root cause of that chest pain.
I grew up in an abusive home and later an abusive relationship. To this day my heart races if my partner is angry with me and if he makes any sudden movements I immediately put up my arms to protect my face. This reaction is actually progress for me. And yup you can tell yourself over and over I’m safe everything’s ok now but the anxiety never leaves. Maybe someday there will be an answer. Blessings to you all.
Express your concerns, exposure therapy kind of activities does good.
I get the same way
I hope you are alright
@@Sanya0321 I am doing really well ty. God bless
There is no "cure" because not every one who suffers brain is EXACTLY the same. Kinda gets me pissed when a person reaches out for help and then a comment comes up and says " oh yes, but it's treatable". (Not cured) yeah?! And?! So is cancer!!! So logically then, You feel the same condescending way towards them? SMH
The people who love to spout the famous phrases "Get over it" and "It's not that big of a deal" need to be watching this.
Shalea Shaw
they are usually stupid - emotionally disabled, and never will accept it!! no matter how you reason..
Tyler Bearance I come from long term trauma as well and whenever my mind is stuck "playing the victim", I tell my myself to get over it, get over myself and get over what happened to me because I can't change it so I need to get over it.
I agree
Nothing reaches those people ... kind of like Donald Trump supporters and he man himself.
This is for Molecular Moonlight, Im currently his patient at the TBI clinic FT Gordon. He has done more for the Soldiers then any other medical provider. I was that guy that was deployed many times. He has save my life and others Soldier as well. So, he knows his stuff and it works!!! I have heard it many times from others. I give respect where it is do and he has my respect!!!
+booker little - When shit gets deep, go to the Beach. Here's what I mean... whenever you feel overwhelmed by anything, or you have a PTSD reaction, find a quiet place to sit down.
Close your eyes. In your mind, open your eyes. You are sitting on the sand at a beach. It's a warm, slightly overcast day - filtered sun. There's a slight breeze, and you can smell the salty tang of the ocean. The surf is gently rolling in with a peaceful rhythm. You hear some gylls singing as they fly. You hear children laughing, and you turn your head and see two children building a sand castle a ways up the beach, You look the other way and see an older couple holding hands and slowly walkong towards you, but still a fair distance away. You look out at the waves breakingl the water is the color of turquoise. IN YOUR MIND you close your eyes and just listen to the gulls, and the surf rolling up on the sand, and the childrens' laughter. You feel the breeze, and the warmth of the sun. It's a perfect day, and you feel completely at peace.
It takes a little practice
+Hippiekinkster obviously you've not experienced a real PTSD reaction- and while maybe you thought you heard what Dr. Riggs was saying- it just did not sink in. I'm sure you mean well. What you shared helps with A LOT OF PRACTICE, as a prevention, but not when a PTSD reaction is being experienced. Oversimplication such as this can even appear devaluing to someone who hasn't worked thru enough of their trauma to actually put this into practice.
booker little do you have his contact information please, also is he still working for the army
he is still there at ft. Gordon tbi clinic
OMG just reading this after the first 5 or 6 words and I was soooo relaxed. Where's the rest of this story!
I really respect this guy. I know a lot of doctors, and I’ve been to a lot of doctors (I get injured a lot). I have a TBI (traumatic brain injury) now, and I know everyone with a TBI is a handful. But meditation (for me, prayer) has changed my life. I feel better when I exercise. And I wouldn’t be where I am today without being able to play the piano. Thank you!
As a sufferer of ptsd and having quacks trying to shove drugs down my throat to treat it with no result I can tell you this guy knows what he is talking about.
Jet 82 Dr. Van der Kok is much better than this guy
Same here, I agree
This TED talk helped me understand the complexity of the brain and the order situations are interpret and delivered in an instant. Going through a divorce after 20 years of marriage and not understanding what the hell just happened can incapacitate (and did) a person from living or wanting to live a life anymore. The both of us experienced stress right from the start of our marriage that set the stage for it's inevitable end. Knowing our reaction to the stress wasn't on purpose or malevolent helps me understand how and why things played out the way they did. And you, Mr. John Riggs are such a great guitar player, I'm glad that you enjoy your creative outlet and know it helps others see that there is hope for the rest of us to be that happy and at peace with one's self.
Here. Here. Hope there were more professionals like you. Congratulations.
Thanks for the music too.
it sucks losing someone you would swear is your soulmate and you woldnt trade them for nothing no billions no nothing you cherish an worship their existence but it goes away somehow it just sucks losing mine change my life and my sons life i dont know what to tell him or what to do ????
I have a dissociative dissorder due to childhood abuse and neglect, the body keeps score is also a really good book about the brain also .. basically goes super in depth to this same topic.. this was a really great ted talk.
Ty for sharing!
Such a wonderful book!!
Same here, me too it sux to witness one self as a bystander and every thing going on around you. Life doesn't even feel real alot of the time for me anyways !!!! I feel like I bear humanity's pain sometimes ! I can't even fake happiness anymore!!!
Yes, The Body Keeps the Score, by Bessel Van Der Kolk, was an eye opening & life changing body of work. I highly recommended this book as a crucial read to EVERYONE as a means to best understand the fundamentals of PTSD/C-PTSD & just exactly how the brain is physically, psychologically, chemically, and biologically affected/triggered! It's an invisible disability that is WAY more common in society than anyone could ever really imagine!
BvdK is great. I knew a therapist who studied with him. Also Peter Levine and Babette Rothschild.
I got super screwed up by my childhood. Depression, social phobia, CPTSD, sleep apnea, eating disorder, fibromyalgia, hearing loss. It's a lot to deal with, but I know that there's other people out there who need to heal like me. I look for them.
ake care to be kind to yourself
i dig that, man. “i look for them.” i try to do the same thing. it’s important work. keep doing it
I was a victim as well!!! Now I'm highly educated life has becoming much better than it has
Kindred spirits find each other ♥️
Was there too
Watching TedTalks confirms that my school education was a pile of useless uninteresting nonsense.
Your failure to learn from it, or to be able to think with it did not make it "useless, nonsense, nonsense." Dull brains are uninterested in anything cognitive. Enjoy your career of washing dishes.
And that’s not even the half of it
EXACTLY.
Just realized this as well, these stuff is so real..
Same here! 👋
Respect to this fella... Lack of empathy is the key we are so trained to focus on ourselves home and kids we forget the real pain to solve to equal peace and equality...
After a couple of REALLY traumatic experiences when I was in my late teens,I get so stuck in the “feeling” sometimes,I cannot even get out of bed,much less go outside...
Oh honey i stay inside and stay safe....my life sux but I have nearly gone to jail once over this so I am the dangerous one....and im actually non violent.
I feel you. Thankfully there are very effective trauma therapies now which are deep and actually have a neurobiological effect in healing trauma. Hugs!
Your not alone, even severe bullying can cause trauma, like with what happened to me.
Trauma is real, your body never forgets the trauma and your body and mind need IFOT/ Body focussed trauma to help support your transition to learn to take a sliver at a time, be present and focus to help your body and to help your mind. We stay where we are cuz it’s familiar. Change isn’t. You can find some examples on UA-cam, Shirley Turcotte - an excellent example of leaning into the land
Same, im going thro that since 2020
As someone who is in their twenties and worked with the UN in the Congo, this talk and beautiful guitar presentation meant the world to me!
I was getting a divorce after living with a negative passive aggressive covert narcissist for 25 years and tragically lost my 15 yr old daughter in an accident. What i did after that was leave as soon as possible and that set off a series of unfortunate events...i was acting out of my animal brain and wound up being diagnosed with PTDS a couple of years later. I had no idea what was wrong with me. I’m am STILL recovering and the triggers are real. I thought i was losing my mind and really hurt a lot of people. I never meant to do so I was out of my mind even though I was still functioning day to day. When i finally got help it was almost too late. Thank God. The damage has been done, how do we repair hearts? This talk was excellent in every way! Thank you Mr Rigg for helping so many....
Accident? 😐
i am deeply sorry for the loss of your beautiful and beloved daughter. i cannot imagine. Bless you.
This is Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) from childhood neglect, emotional abuse, physical or sexual abuse.
There are actually 4 Fs now, taking into account C-PTSD (complex post tramatic stress disorder).
Fight, Flight, Freeze and Fawn.
Fawn (or appease) is mostly seen in Complex-PTSD where people have been abused since early childhood, for instance having been abused by parents with a Cluster B personality disorder (sociopaths,narcissists, borderline, etc.). The survival mechanism since early childhood is to become overly agreeable and co-dependent to survive the gaslighting, disgust, suppression and other kinds of systematical emotional abuse by their parents. These victims are often the scapegoats of a family.
For victims of this kind of abuse who have developed C-PTSD it's very difficult to change their lives for the better, because their brain has been in the reactive mode for so long. Trauma often comes back to the surface through "emotional flashbacks" which means that a flashback is only an excessive emotion without images. It's very difficult and it takes many years to change the brain's responses and the stress levels because of the learned danger responses in relationship situations. Even normal relationships are stressful for people with C-PTSD because there might be danger of being covertly abused anytime. It takes many many years of living without actual being abused for these victims to start trusting people.
Another problem for these victims is the learned survival technique to be co-dependent, helpers syndrome, which attracts more sociopaths/narcissists in their life. Therefore, often they become stuck in a cycle of co-dependent relationships with abusers, therefore repeatedly keep being abused throughout their life.
Awareness of these issues is the biggest step especially in modern times with the increasing numbers of people with Cluster B personality disorders.
wow! so true , i didnt know that existed,thank you
Yes. Sadly the politicians won't allow Childhood Trauma to be accepted into the DSM because there are no votes in shining a bright light on poor parenting. It stinks. Fortunately there are people like Riggs and Van der Kolk pushing the solution to PTSD anyway.
Super Frankie, yeah that's what I got.
advocate 1, I agree! I wish I knew people didn't care about people who survived traumatic lives before I went asking for help! They essentially told me to kill myself to solve my problems. I would have if I didn't believe in a supreme being I would have to answer too after suiciding. Maybe he would understand.... no one on Earth does.
I don’t know much about neuroscience, but after listening to you speak about the “thinking brain” and our “primal brain area”, it has made me think that during and after being hit with a barrage of abnormal, one-after-another major life stressors, the fast-reacting primal brain area is so hyper-activated that it rapidly changes your normal neuro-pathways (neuropathy) in the cortex. Yes, you can go to therapy to try to create new neuro-paths (and try to get rid of of the newly acquired bad ones), but it can take years to undo what the primal brain has altered in a relatively shorter time. Goes back to the old saying, “once bitten, twice shy.” And that saying is very true. Seems the primal brain (when on a sustained high alert) can really do a number on your thinking-brain’s neuropathy. Because after sustained stress, one develops new reactions (and sometimes actions) such as fear, anger, etc - which then continues to create new feelings such as being misunderstood & having mistrust in others. Then, new behaviors such as unintended self-imposed isolation...and it’s a vicious cycle. It’s what our Vietnam Vets went through when they came home. Not only were they in a very confusing war (long-term mission wise), but when they did get home, the protestors and young people totally didn’t like them. They got hit in another way, and that was rejection by the very people they thought they were fighting for. They tried to SURVIVE over in Nam, and when home, no nurturing. Anyway, I just thought this was such an excellent talk, that I just wanted to say it made me think a lot! Thanks for your Ted Talk!
Amen to this.
Psychedelics were a godsend to quickly reversing this damage for me.
@@meganladner I keep reading and hearing things about micro dosing but I’m too scared to try it. At the same time I can’t carry on as I am in this vicious cycle, every part of me is exhausted. What does it feel like when you do psychedelics?
I needed to see this. Now I know what to work first with my therapist because there are things one can't scape from when you're triggered. Medication can be necessary if you have an existing illness but for traumas, therapy it is.
This dr rigg is mindblowing. What a sensitive and brilliant man. Multifaceted and just amaaaazing. We need a million more of this man. I would love to hear from veterans who have been treated by this man and hear exactly what he has done for them. God bless you Dr Rigg a million times over.
I left 17yrs of domestic abuse so PTSD can affect anyone ... this talk definitely hit deep.
All speeches should end like this!! Really made me smile 😃
Words are like bullets once you fire them you can never take them back
sure but when words are shot at you, you have the choice to equip yourself with the tools to prevent those words from hurting you or you taking words personally....
@@annielwhite 🛡s up
LOVING the ending where Dr. Rigg played the guitar as a tribute to all the Veterans! Love it! Tears in my eyes now. So touched!
He is not trained as a public speaker, rather he spoke from what he has learned and witnessed in his work. I found it very interesting and useful for most people whether or not you have not been to war. Who can not show empathy for another person suffering a stressful moment while overreacting to it by behaving inappropriately. Maybe having the knowledge of how it happens, gives us the needed empathy to behave better in our reaction back to them.
Wish he was my doctor! Grey haired hunk with a real brain. Loved what you taught and how you presented. The music was top notch too. Thank you
He is one cool doctor. This lecture was informative, makes me reflect back to the actions my father exhibited with PTSD, anger and raging issues. I wish he knew about these alternative methods of therapy.
ElusvOptmst1
No fg it SF I
Bi the Bell
I’m gonna let you know right now… It’s a combination of holistic, physical, spiritual, pharmaceutical and talk therapy… if one has true PTSD. I promise you… 🙏
Learned a lot from this video. Nowadays when people think ptsd they think military. And for good reason. But they forget that kids develop ptsd from chaotic environments at home too. Thanks Doc for the crash course in tbi.
When this man pulled out the guitar the smile on my face, immeasurable . Thank you!
Yes indeed.. I love this... I have always maintained that trauma is the largest cost in the medical field, and its not solved by drugs. Its a soul, mind and spiritual thing. This message confirmed it.. Wow amazzzzhing...:)
He has a humbling personality. being a long term musician myself- I related deeply to his personality type/ communication choice.
Thanks so ttlgKara Trott uhh is
Why are people like almost jealous or defensive when a survivor is truly striving in life happy and maybe more happy then a non abuse victim..
And the main thing to remember is not every victim/surviver experiences trauma the same way and the symptoms can be different.
Someone who experienced the same as me would be dealing with the effects differently than I do and some could be affected worse or "barely" feel trauma at all.
They say it's not so much what happened to us as how we react/ respond. There is a wide spectrum of resilience.
Thank you so much for taking a holistic approach to our health and well being!! I love understanding my brain and how it works! Making my mind a safe place for me to rest is my highest personal goal!!
Thanks for the talk, John. Important information, especially about the two brains where the one is faster responding than the other, which is why thinking cannot stop a traumatic reaction!
Thank you for helping and treating our soldiers. I have multiple family members who previously served or are currently serving. I really appreciate this talk!
I forgot most of my childhood, and when I try remembering I tear up. While I don’t particularly remember any physical abuse, I remember constant yelling/screaming and then ignoring. I remember not trusting my own family and feeling alone. I have spoken to my mom and sister about this now at 21. At home I can somewhat tolerate being yelled at or scolded but if anyone scolds me or raises their voice or shows any signs of annoyance I start tearing up and trembling and the more I try to stop it the worse it gets.
I'm sending you a hug from Jesus Christ. I got healed on Christ
Dont try to fight it when its happing. just try be aware at that time of whatever is happening to the body.if you keep doing it it ll get better.
Surrender. And hold God with you as you process this.
Thankyou for people like this man to seek for the greater of all who have been traumatised , love this!
Thank you for this information. I find it a bit scary. I'm thinking of how it pertains to our relationships and also to our penal system. It seems to me that we generally judge behaviors in an irrational less than compassionate way if we are not aware of this information. I am thinking that what you are teaching us not only pertains in important ways to notions such as "free will", but it also reinforces notions such as "What people say and do is not about us, it is much more just a projection of what/who they are." I think this is very true. Your course just reinforces that view. Life and relationships are very complex. Thank you for assisting us in our understanding of what is really going on with us human beings. ;) Your work is very meaningful and effects all of our experiences within and with others.
so many ted talks but this one i actually watched through to the end and listened to him play. very insightful
! what a talented man!
I like how he just plays it out with a guitar solo...
Thanks to the speaker, for a conscise explanation. Actually he's saving my life, as I come to understand why and what I suffer with. There are too many détails to write down here, but suffice to say that , loosing my love to suicide , constituted a major trauma event for me .She changed my life and I can't seem to get past it .The most beautiful, créative and soulful person I ever met ,just gone at 30 years old, whatsmore we had the time of our lives together...it has made it very difficult to deal with everyday normal stuff, which seems pointless , long bouts of dépression, rage fits, physical violence, not eating properly, not caring about personal hygiène, sleeping for days on end....I'm having to do a self diagnostic here but I think I'm suffering with some sort of PTSD.
Dr. Bessell van der kolk from Boston is also on UA-cam and was the first one to address trauma issues. Been trying to get to his workshops for years.
The first correct usage of effect and affect I've seen/heard in ages.
This Dr is Absolutely Amazing. I'm grateful for stumbling on this Ted Talk ❤❤❤
I have experienced permanent muscle tension throughout my body all of my life. I am not aware of this for the most part. If I concentrate, I become aware of it and am able to relax. However, wants my mind is concentrating on something else, the tension returns. This is permanent. So are the nightmares.
Same here 😌
Me too. I have dealt with this from 13 years old to 39
Yeah I got that too.
This talk isn’t as long as it appears. It takes the most unexpected turn (in a good way) that I’ve ever seen in a talk.
Just as real and automatic as fight or flight is the freeze response.
causal effective disfunction of pre re n fn non cognition too very concrete detouchement of light feedback ..or sum.
.. fictional head spook in brain not engaged pattern of behaviour. as is describing it
Yep. Fight, flight, or freeze. There must be a lecture that goes into the details on that one too.
Mark Hatting
Mark Hatting t
Yep. This comes into play sometimes when women are raped. Sometimes they are so scared they refuse to move or fight back because they can't even process what his happening to them. Or if someone is out hiking and a bear charges at them they might not try to escape and be eaten because they are so horrified by the animal's size and loud roar and speed that they don't even try to escape or might not even have time to flee before the person is unconscious being ripped apart within the mouth of the bear. These mental studies are important to understand human behavior in given situations otherwise stupid assumptions can be made out of ignorance.
thank you! I enjoyed the teaching. Not enjoying cause of the load of courages man/woman, out of military and having PTSD...but I like the clear no nonsense talk.
I love this talk. It is completely raw and the subject is spoken about with such passion. I don’t like to hear criticism about some of his comments, we can all say things that are deemed inappropriate when nervous and standing in front of an audience. I believe that society needs to be educated and informed about PTSD and trauma. How is this ever going to happen if people expect individuals to produce a faultless talk? As someone who has experienced PTSD and trauma, I’m happy that he had the courage to take a stand and speak out.
Dr. Rigg, thank you so much for these words. Thank you for encouraging yoga and meditation as treatment and thank you for helping our soldiers. I found relief through these practices and have dedicated my path to sharing them with others. It’s such a blessing to have someone in your position backing them.
Amen! Thanks for sharing such important information on traumatic stress.
"Complx Post Traumatic Stress Disorder" (aka: "C-PTSD") can be a VERY Difficult thing for the victim, and their loved ones to have to deal with, to try to mitigate it, and "retrain" their "thought processes. Very interesting stuff!!!
This was great. I calmed down after watching this. This is why I love TED. So many great speakers and interesting topics. Amazing.
Playing an instrument is good therapy! loved your playing. looks like fun.
I used to play bass for blue Oyster cult
🧀🍒🥨🥞🍄
Not for all. This type of music causes major brain damage to some of us. 6 minutes of it proves him to be an exhibitionist. I wish he'd talked more about how to re-wire our brain to give hope instead of that noise (which I had to skip).
@@verabolton YES. I had to stop too. I studied classical music (piano and percussion) and this was just noise to me and clearly showing off. Just noise to me and annoying AF.
@@verabolton 🤨 how so
I was a little sus after he kept saying “inappropriately short/tight” like chill dude.
Zë Schumpert yes I stopped listening at that point. There may be a lot the speaker has to offer but I’m a bit taken aback that a talk about trauma moves into a judgement about what a woman is wearing and her subsequent objectification. As a woman that scenario brings up other trauma-related thoughts.
@@Sarahburrowes THANKYOU im glad i was not the only one who felt this way.... How sad that a DIRECTOR (PhD) of traumatic brain injury is this same immaturity
Yesss. Thought the same. Disappointing.
Exactly. It was exactly at that point that I checked out.
Yeah - me too. That was around the point I decided to start checking the comments for a 'too long didn't listen' summary.
This was one of the best talks I’ve heard yet on PTSD. Thank you!
Everyone needs to know this!
Most people already know.
These talks on PTSD are great teaching to help one hang in with relationships to at least understand others stance.
The most important aspect of this video is how it is articulated by Rigg. It is expressed in a way that every human being with a bit of English language knowledge can grasp the essence of the talk. this is very important in reaching out to those who might not understand psychology and its contents.
Best therapist I’ve seen in a series is Siri Sat Nam Singh, PhD his approach is empathetic, can feel what the patient is giving off and hard to explain his demeanor and skill. Watch him on UA-cam Noisey The Therapist with Corey Taylor and Katy Perry. Has sessions with many musicians in this series but those two taught me a lot and wish all therapist were at his level, very effective!!!!
I'm glad your doing what you do. I had pills thrown at me for 3 years before I retired from military. Best thing I got was a mind body medicine class! Keep on doing what your doing.
How do I deal with my stressed out man when he comes home from work and gets all snarly? I'm mellow from listening to music a good part of my day and I'm ready to be kind and listen to him. It's not easy, but it's worth it. Thanks for the lecture and the superb music!
I really enjoyed this - I've always known that music was "therapy"... but this just proved it! Excellent!
Gina Bullard I have a cousin who actually had a degree centered around music based therapy
Beamerball666 - Yes! This is most excellent! I've had art therapy - why NOT music??
Everyone needs to know this!
when you played that it is so relaxing I have PTSD and epilepsy and this took me out of a bad mood and mad me feel good God Bless.
You are so right! We need more awareness about these issues that affect us all!
Thank you sooo... much Dr. John Rigg! I've had very traumatic events lately, I've behaved in primal instinct ways as you explain. I've never been like that in my life, I thought I had a nervous breakdown, now I can understand my condition and learn how to recover from that. Many thanks for your yoga, meditation, holistic natural treatment and relaxation tips, especially your guitar playing reminds me that music does wonderful for our heart, mind and soul! 👍❤️🇺🇸☮️
The best example and solution cure I have ever seen.
being a low income mother I'm nearly always in that state of high stress! Even though I try to destress as much as i can, life is one crisis after another.
You make such a great point. I am also a low income, single parent and life is one crisis after another and even if the problem wouldn't be considered a problem for most, it becomes a crisis to me because I am in a constant state of hyperarousal and cannot discern between just a problem to be solved and a criss that will be the end of life as I know it. I have suffered through trauma as well which contributes greatly to the cognitive negative perceptions I view most all distressing situations from, but I think the constant stress is what really makes life seem harder than it should be.
@@cynfair2394 You talk too smart about your situation and seem to understand it better than a psychologist who could explain it to you. It's as if you engineered it to sustain yourself because you need, or like it's propelling effects.
Everything that exists, exists through Christ. When He was crucified, so were you. Christ's died to give you an escape from your dead, stressful, chaotic situation. Ask Him for His Spirit to live in your being and reckon yourself dead to your crisis screaming flesh, and I promise you, one day you will see that Jesus really is God, in you, whom you can turn to.
@@5jjt I've thought that before as well...that maybe I actually like it and that's why I haven't taken the necessary steps to fix it but I've just been dealing with so many little things, it becomes impossible to think about the big things other than in an abstract way- not to actually implement any solutions...though I've given it all a lot of thought over the years!
I know its easy said: But of your life is one crisis after another you really have to change your life, some of your life-patterns or your environmanent. Don't forget that you bring yourself in those situations(sure, not always!). There are always some other views on your situation and on problems, if there are some. I wish you the best!
I served for a private military organisation, we are not so fortunate to have someone of this calibre helping us, in fact we have no one, we suffer in silence, and just curl up when it get too much.
Im glad that others have help like this
I really enjoyed the lecture,and the way you play that blues showed that you not only have a good heart,but you also got soul-brother. Thanks again.
Thanks for helping me out. This is a difficult time for me.
Hang in there.
I have lived a life of unavoidable traumatic experiences all my life, I genuinely mean all my 60yrs, The only way I've learnt to cope, is to rewrite my own life story, visualise what & who I want to be, included with the emotions of excitement, I didn't learn this it was my natural coping mechanism,but over the yrs I learnt through meditation is that when a problem presents itself, I notice how can I handle this, find new ways to behave by changing my thought patterns. I will never dwell on a so-called traumatic experience, I'm here on this earth to learn everything about why I chose this life.
Epic solo and even greater talk, beyond what i expected. Show these younginz!!!!!!
what a nice man. ive never seen a physician rock out on guitar like this. he's great! 👍
You betta get it on that guitar! Music heals trauma!
in many ways
Well seeing comments saying it does damage 🤨
Ive lived in such a close proximity to cats as my family now, I'm actually convinced the more attention and care you give them,the more strong you make their personalities ,thus making them more intelligent which im humbled to give their species....
Wow thank you, sir! Certainly detailed Enough to help me understand why I am the way I am.
SO many talents! Musically inclined and medically trained; his mom should be so happy. nice man! :D
that ending is just awesome. it did make me destress after talkng about such a heavy topic. :)
MOOGIE B & HOT LIPS.
Thank u both so very much. I'm 47, no family, and I find it very difficult to trust anyone. I am finally in counilling, I was too scared to get help earlier, STIGMA, is a big problem world wide. I don't think I will ever get over whats happened, especially the triggers. But I can say this, I have forgiven. (For myself), so I can move on and heal. Unfortunately, I just can't forget. My dreams won't let me. Again. Thank u for explaining everything, the way u both did. Honestly. For the first time, I feel someone else understands me. That makes me feel a bit "normal". 🙏
The music at the end was the best!
Dang doctor, make a record..! My stress level went to zero!!! Love that thing you did on the guitar!!! And yes, I got what you said.
"inappropriately short and tight" Really??? Full eye roll.
I had a Head Injury when I was 19 in @1989 and I am still learning from today !!!
I loved that nervous little chuckle before that awesome jam. we salute you, good Doctor.
Excellent talk! LOVE the guitar playing. You are the bomb Dr. Riggs!!
I certainly admire this TED talk & Thank you for sharing your musicality ! This inspires me to learn the guitar!
This guy is making it hard to concentrate through all of his “Bro Talk.” I would need 3 other opinions.
Agreed
I want to like what he's saying, but he lost me at "inappropriately tight" when talking about women's clothing and men's reaction to it. Ugh. Can we please place repsonsibility where it belongs -- on the shoulders of the person who is responding, NOT on the woman for choosing what to wear. Sigh. This guy is doing great work, but needed some better coaching before putting on a TedX talk.
What he is saying might be right but the problem is the delivery, I agree with you, I would have preferred some citation from a study and the result of this study and how this proves his point instead of “this happened to me, and to my buddy “
SAME
i applaud him for his ptss syndrome
work helping to deprogram and desensitize soldiers but calling short skirts and tight shirt inappropriate is inappropriate. and sexist. shame on you. find a better example. and if you can't please refrain from tight + short = inappropriate! when people think a seemingly benign comment like that is ok, it normalizes and veils sexism
That comment was so awkward and like ‘oh we can’t help it, it’s out instinct’ was such a bad take for a talk like this.
it’s so hard and almost never talked about how that anger builds. For the longest time I didn’t know where it came from or why it was there but this video opened me up and gave me hope. I want to do better for my family it just gets hard
I have come from a very did functional home
I’m 53y/o female. I’ve just escaped a physically and physically abusive relationship. Thank you for this video....... I can now begin to understand why I feel and behave the way I do. I know that I am just exhausted from living my life in survival mode.
Whoa! He Rocks! Last thing I expected. An amazing start to my day for sure. Ill have to hear it again!
I have been thru a lot of trauma in my life. And I do get into flight mode when presented. My thing is when my brain hits trauma I reach for mental health options and seek hospitalization. This really made sense why I make the smallest things into such much. Ty for this video. It helped me realize alot and I hope I can get thru it if it gets to this stress point again. This last betrayal trauma did me in and I'm learning a lot about myself
take care to be kind to yourself
Ty I try. Life is so full of ups and downs and it's gets difficult but if we can't put ourselves first we can't recover. Ty
I loved the guitar music! Relieved some of my stress just listening to it!
me too
🎸🎶
I love this guy's speech. He's so spot on. Thank you Muchly appreciated.
I love how he talks about non-medication treatments. I am a pharmacist and do not advocate drugs for anything! Everything can be cured by holistic methods and exercise.
This.
This was Awesome.
Thank You Dr.
Very helpful talk. And thankful for putting in the video chapters below. And i normally don't love guitar solos, but i did really enjoy that one! Thank you for taking care of us people with PTSD brains. Do you know of any org that will do for regular citizens what you do for veterans?
Rewinded several times….garnished deeper understanding of the ‘BRAIN’,
and an alternative way to make sense of the human, reactive behavior. Plus his musical performance was a major alternative to move and dance instead of sitting and wallowing in whatever…..♥️❤️💋thank you mucho. BRAVO👏👏
Excellent neurologist, effective speaker, and amazing guitar player...and pretty easy on the eyes, too. Impressive.
Good video. And as an aside it also debunks the CBT theory of emotional disturbance the ABC theory. It is not your thoughts about an activating event that causes your reaction, it is the Amygdala in the limbic system that overrides the cortex. To heal we need to activate the prefrontal Lobes the Noticing brain, that calms the amygdala resulting in healing from trauma and better interconnections of the brain. The neurons the fire together wire together !
ironjohnlad Crucial point brilliantly made. Bravo.
they work together, thoughts indeed influence emotions and reactions and vise versa
But first the stimulus zips through the cortex and then the amygdala kicks in and tells you to rely on animal defense behavior. That's been shown in the lab - so CBT was born - but maybe it doesn't always occur in that order - that would be a very informative experiment showing that! This speaker indicates that both brains receive the info simultaneously; perhaps this is newer info than I was taught.