Comments on: Tetris therapy for PTSD? http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2009/02/25/tetris-therapy-for-ptsd/ tech, science, news and social issues for geeks Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:00:20 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Chip http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2009/02/25/tetris-therapy-for-ptsd/#comment-137422 Chip Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:57:24 +0000 http://www.geeksaresexy.net/?p=10873#comment-137422 I, too, am suspicious about just how closely you can mimic a traumatic event in a laboratory. Perhaps, though, it could lead to a better understanding of how the mind works, and maybe to different forms of therapy that might help in some way. Obviously, your first thought after a traumatic event is not "I need to play a video game." I, too, am suspicious about just how closely you can mimic a traumatic event in a laboratory. Perhaps, though, it could lead to a better understanding of how the mind works, and maybe to different forms of therapy that might help in some way. Obviously, your first thought after a traumatic event is not “I need to play a video game.”

]]> By: Chip http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2009/02/25/tetris-therapy-for-ptsd/#comment-137421 Chip Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:54:41 +0000 http://www.geeksaresexy.net/?p=10873#comment-137421 Yeah, we'd have to budget that in as battle gear for soldiers -- and then after that maybe buy them some body armor, too. Yeah, we’d have to budget that in as battle gear for soldiers — and then after that maybe buy them some body armor, too.

]]> By: David http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2009/02/25/tetris-therapy-for-ptsd/#comment-137390 David Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:48:32 +0000 http://www.geeksaresexy.net/?p=10873#comment-137390 I have to agree with Michelle on this. While I understand that this may have become a standard for studying trauma, it is no where near the same as an experience of a traumatic event. I also can't picture how this would be handled, either. Would police and ambulance personnel responding to an accident hand the victim of an accident or a violent crime a Gameboy, and say: "trust me, just play this"? I have to agree with Michelle on this. While I understand that this may have become a standard for studying trauma, it is no where near the same as an experience of a traumatic event.

I also can’t picture how this would be handled, either. Would police and ambulance personnel responding to an accident hand the victim of an accident or a violent crime a Gameboy, and say: “trust me, just play this”?

]]> By: Michele Rosenthal http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2009/02/25/tetris-therapy-for-ptsd/#comment-137177 Michele Rosenthal Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:17:25 +0000 http://www.geeksaresexy.net/?p=10873#comment-137177 Those of us who are survivors think this is a ridiculous study. Here are some of the reasons why: We are having trouble believing in the promise of this ‘cognitive vaccine’ (as some are already calling this theory). It is one thing to watch a disturbing movie, and quite another to BE the lead role in that movie. We're not sure this experiment takes into account the extreme subconscious imprinting that goes on when one experiences trauma. Those safe, secure participants watching the film did not experience the terrifying psychological or somatic effects of being violated, rendered powerless or feeling life-threatened. If they were not part of the study, or not encouraged to document their thoughts about the movies for the following week, would these participants have even had thoughts about the movie in the days afterward? We don't feel this Tetris study comes close enough to appropriating the traumatic experience for its findings to be relevant. If you do not experience even the smallest life-threatening or powerless feeling, your response cannot matter in the realm of our fact or healing. It IS possible to heal PTSD. It comes from hard internal work, therapy, patience and a deep belief in the wholeness of the splintered self -- not from playing a game which many of us do not have access to in the few hours following our traumas. Those of us who are survivors think this is a ridiculous study. Here are some of the reasons why:

We are having trouble believing in the promise of this ‘cognitive vaccine’ (as some are already calling this theory). It is one thing to watch a disturbing movie, and quite another to BE the lead role in that movie.

We’re not sure this experiment takes into account the extreme subconscious imprinting that goes on when one experiences trauma. Those safe, secure participants watching the film did not experience the terrifying psychological or somatic effects of being violated, rendered powerless or feeling life-threatened. If they were not part of the study, or not encouraged to document their thoughts about the movies for the following week, would these participants have even had thoughts about the movie in the days afterward?

We don’t feel this Tetris study comes close enough to appropriating the traumatic experience for its findings to be relevant. If you do not experience even the smallest life-threatening or powerless feeling, your response cannot matter in the realm of our fact or healing.

It IS possible to heal PTSD. It comes from hard internal work, therapy, patience and a deep belief in the wholeness of the splintered self — not from playing a game which many of us do not have access to in the few hours following our traumas.

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