Does anybody know of any unorthodox techniques or treatments for PTSD?

[Anonymous]

My friend was the first responder to over 100 suicides and a bunch of murders. Now he is all fucked up in the head from it and I want to help him out. He's tried all the usual or conventional therapy, treatment, etc.

[Effably]

Sounds incredibly irresponsible of us to suggest things. So I'd stress that professional aid is and should remain the go-to.

As for drawing on personal experiences, I was shit at dealing with a similar but less quantified experience. Basically just hid it away and had it gnaw at me until it got too much. I did not want to solve it.

What has ultimately restored normality is a change in mentality. From a sports and competitive perspective I know that altering a person's mentality towards something is an active pursuit of a few weeks. Learning to go from being haunted by these memories to viewing yourself as more of a keeper of their memories. I am sure this type of approach can lay a swift foundation from which more orthodox approaches can work. I still would not recommend it of course.

As for potential harm to self, the most effective method I ever found, however immoral and wrong, was to simply accept it. Ask for a promise to be let known if they did anything and before they do. And to let them know I'd simply replicate it myself. No judgement. No threats. Simple acceptance and a "we're in this together" attitude. It is always easier to be strong for someone else than it is to be strong for yourself. The same goes for putting yourself back together. Again pretty shitty to suggest but a partner and someone to care for can do wonders.

[Asker]

There is only so much professional help somebody can get and he's done all of it. His wife even got a PTSD counseling certification.

[MikeInHawaii]

I have no idea. I drove a tow truck for eight years, much of it on night shift. I’ve been to hundreds of accident scenes. I’ve seen a team of four medical examiners load a man into their van in a pile of plastic bags. I’ve seen an eight year old girl loaded into a hearse. I’ve heard a girl with a broken femur letting out blood curdling screams while firemen were tearing open her car with a Jaws of Life.

Some people can develop a layer of insensitivity and deal with it. In the last example, while the girl was being extracted from her car, I realized they weren’t ready for me yet, went back to my tow truck and ate my sub sandwich. I’ve also eaten breakfast at a fatal accident scene.

[NotTacocaT6969]

Marijuana is famous for it’s ability to quiet PTSD.


For me it completely prevents flashbacks, like the one I should’ve had just now.


It’s very popular among war veterans.

[Asker]

He started smoking weed again

[Johnkandath]

I personally think 90% of thoughts come through subconscious mind you know just before sleeping and when any stimulus triggers that subconscious thought we get into fight or flight syndrome suggestion is take it out of mind in subconscious realm ask a friend to plant opposite thoughts when just about to sleep

[Imsmurter1]

Sounds tough maybe fix the city he lives in too late for his head.

[Asker]

He already quit the job and moved

[Imsmurter1]

Pick up a creative habit like comedy or painting I don't know good luck