William Tollefson Values

Bonds of Loyalty

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Tollefson) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 21:46:00 +0000

I have written much about the subject of loyalty in reference to my work with the abused and traumatized population since my first loyalty article was published titled The Forbidden Betrayal: Loyalty within Sexual Trauma in Treatment Centers Magazine, February 1993.

I was asked by a coaching client the following question.

The client asked: "Dr. Bill, your concept about how the one thing that is the hardest to overcome with an abused person is the bonds of Loyalty which tie the victim to the abuser. Why do you think those bonds are there? What caused them? What powered them? I think it is shame. I can't say the word "shame" without having significant emotion bubble up in my throat. Understanding it more would really help me."

Definition of Loyalty

The issue of loyalty is one of the most important subject that I think has to be addressed to moved out of aftereffects of childhood abusive and/or traumatic experience sand the resulting Post traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) into healing and recovery.

From my 38 years of work as the owner and executive clinical director of my own PTSD inpatient program I had witnessed great progress from admission to stabilization of clients who were experiencing the aftereffects of childhood sexual abuse and trauma (physical, emotional, verbal, mental, spiritual, confinement, death of love one, divorce, rape, robbery, neglect, abandonment, natural and/or man-made catastrophes) as a result of participation in my trauma program.

Typical Case

I remember a client who was admitted into the program in total despair with symptoms of complex PTSD, major depression, flashbacks, panic, eating disorder, drug abuse, self harm acts and self defeating thoughts. She had been in inpatient and outpatient treatment for 16 years and was still having episodic bouts causing multiple hospitalizations a year. Yet with successful program participation she left stabilized in just 14 days filled with hope. After discharge she returned to her family, home and to her job. She worked on her recovery process with extreme drive, willingness, and commitment. Even though her accomplishments were significant all of a sudden, with no warning signs at all, she stopped practicing recovery and began to engage in self-defeating and self-sabotaging thoughts and behaviors once again. She returned to inpatient 6 months later in much mental pain from what she had told about her abuse and had the same presenting symptoms as before. One of the major needs she had was to recant what she had told about her abuse, abusers and reaffirm her loyalty to her abusers.

Loyalty

Loyalty is a message, rule, belief , promise repetitively engraved into a person's mind through repetitive verbalizing by the abuser to "keep the secret" because of love, induced fear or threat of losing life. Loyalty becomes embedded through emotional attachment or increasing the emotional charge in the victim. It is the emotional act of binding one person to another person. This emotional bonding can also be to a thing, ideal, family member, peer, authority figure or organization. Loyalty is a powerful destructive emotional bonding when used in abuse, addictions and trauma events.

On the other hand loyalty can also be healthy, and self confirming belief in healthy relationships.

Answer

On to the question asked about the bond of loyalty and shame. On the statement "I think it is shame." I wrote "you are partly right. What is shame? Shame is being taught or told that you broke a rule (man's or God's), law, standard, principle, word, loyalty..ethic or moral..(many more things). So a child is taught by normal means (instructed), or destructive means by force, terror or coercion that loyalty to family, country, group or "occult" is the highest degree of allegiance, devotion or faithfulness you could demonstrate to the "people" you love in order to be emotionally attached. As I have learned more and expanded on my theories of loyalty I discovered that the origin of "loyalty" is that it is an embedded mind code and an extremely high valued core belief. Shame is the tool used in an effort to "control" another person..keep them in line..the way to remind a person of indiscretion..away to make a person "tow an emotional line".. or not betray a person, or family (group, religion or "occult"). This "reminding process" or "shaming" process is used in the treatment of addictions but based on highly regarded loyalties such as making a promise or giving your word.."don't you feel bad you relapsed?..broke your word..and so on. By definition, shame is an accusation made toward a person to make him or her believe they had broken a belief, rule, standard, loyalty, ethic, moral, law, or promise that they had been taught or told to follow. It comes across as "Don't you feel ashamed that you broke your promise?” “Don’t you feel ashamed that you didn't follow this rule?” “Don’t you feel ashamed that you told this secret?". So shame is a sub code of loyalty.

So for anyone loyalty and shame are powerful influences on his or her thoughts, emotions and behaviors.

A Recorded Memory Gone Wrong

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Tollefson) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 02:13:00 +0000

Flashbacks

The worse symptom of Post-traumatic Stress is the re-experiencing of a traumatic memory. The problem with re-experiencing is that the mind makes the memory seems real and feels like the event is happening now.

The core belief connected to the memory of the traumatic event will surface into the conscious mind as a negative thought. The negative thought can develop into a loop and cause a decrease in self esteem and confidence. What is worse is that the looping thought can take you mentally to a place that is self limiting and self defeating.

Don't let it take over your reality by understanding that it is only a memory that can't hurt you. It happened, it is not happening!!!

Seeking Closure from the Painful Flashbacks

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Tollefson) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 21:20:00 +0000

A few years ago at one of my presentation, a woman in the audience, stood up and declared that she was a victim of childhood sexual abuse. She reported that around her 28th birthday, she began to experience flashbacks of those torturing years of childhood abuse. As I listened to her story, I understood that she had been in pain for many years without any relief.

When she finished, I asked her one simple question: "Why do you think those recollections of those events have returned?" She hesitated for a few seconds, searched her thoughts and ultimately was unable to give an answer.

I had discussed this topic with so many survivors over 14 years, which had experienced the same latent reaction to childhood trauma. Roughly 76 percent of survivors of childhood abuse and trauma have re-experiencing recollections. Too many believe that a re-experiencing of memories from childhood abuse and trauma is a sign of weakness or mental illness. It is neither. In fact it is a sign of growth and strength.

Like the woman at my presentation, survivors think that they are being punished and that there is no way out of their pain. They have attempted everything from medication to years of intense therapy to no avail or relief.

The answer has to do with the way the brain treats trauma memory differently from non-traumatic memory. Simply the brain is about order and process. Everyday non-traumatic memory is stored in an orderly fashion. Traumatic memory is stored in an unconscious compartment deep in the brain to protection of the victim. Traumatic memory is sent to a dissociated storage area. In doing so the brain is saving the victim from conscious awareness of the horror of the event being experienced. The memory can be locked in that dissociated storage area for years.

Then due to growth and personal strength perceived in the person by the brain, the memory is unlocked and sent for processing. The returning the memory to consciousness when not solicited is termed "flashback". A flashback is when the dissociated memory quickly crosses the mental screen in the mind. This process being performed is not an attempt to present pain or hurt, but healing. The brain wants the unprocessed traumatic memory to be processed, the emotions closed and the memory then to be filed in the normal way in long-term storage. Flashbacks are the brain's way of seeking order, even though does not feel that way to the recipient.

The natural response of the recipient to the flashback is to become fearful and repress or "shut down" the recollection with whatever means possible (thought, behavior or substances). What survivors all are striving for is relief from the intrusiveness.

To gain relief requires a new mindset. According to pilot study conducted with survivors of server childhood abuse and trauma there is a guided protocol which can assist the brain to achieve order with traumatic memory. The pilot study revealed "the purpose of the guided protocol is to give the survivor the opportunity to release the intense emotional charge, and achieve closure with the memory of the overwhelming, life threatening event".

I told the woman "What I know for sure is that if you're looking for a way to accomplish complete amnesia from past pain and hurt, you will always be disappointed. Closure is the best that can be achieved. In the end, you're the only person make closure with your past. There is no drug that can do it for you. So facing you're painful recollected emotions head on with a safe protocol can give your brain finality. There is nothing a therapist can say or do with memory that can give you what you can give to yourself. Taught the right skill, closure can be achieved safely."

If you are searching for a sense of closure from intruding recollections of abusive, traumatic life events or even combat, I encourage you to look no further than inside yourself. Understand that your brain is searching for order. Help it reach its objective by not shying away from the process. Storing of abusive or traumatic memories in an obscured location was God's gift of protection, and say "thank you" and move forward toward health. The irony of the process is that your brain brings back unfinished recollections not to hurt you but to complete what was not done at the time of the emotionally, life threatening overwhelming life event.

You are not ready for completion until you can affirm “I will never again give up my personal authority to my past”. Only then will you be free and ready for wholeness.

Dr Bill

For more information on the memory protocol, go to

http://drbilltollefson.hubpages.com/hub/HealingTraumaticFlashbacks

Acceptance in Addictions and Trauma Recovery

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Tollefson) — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 23:58:00 +0000

Acceptance is a big issue in addiction and trauma recovery. Once in sobriety or out of a traumatic event it is so easy to slip back into old pattern behaviors. To think that nothing is change or deserving of is common in but areas of recovery.

Let's look at the definition. The definition of "accept" from a dictionary states: 1. to receive willingly; 2. to approve or give admittance; 3. to come to terms with something: to acknowledge a fact or truth and come to terms with it; a situation; 4. to tolerate something without protesting or attempting to change it.

Another way to look at acceptance is that acceptance is the opposite of resistance and/or denial. It is the ability to give in fully, not create a barrier and acquire new skills to create a new way of life.

Acceptance is not the act of forgiveness. A person can forgive and not accept, or accept and not forgive. To do one, a person does not have to do the other. Accepting in many ways the belief that something is the fact and cannot be changed, like certain situations, events or people.

I believe that acceptance is a willful act of opening to a truth, re-shape one's life and identity, then move forward.

The hardest step is to believe in self's personal authority to regain one's power. Acceptance can be seen as closing a door without resistance on old unhealthy, desires, memories, situations, events, or people that cannot be changed. The next step is to open a new door and walk through it to a new self and future.

Loss of Identity to Trauma

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Tollefson) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:15:00 +0000

Experiencing a traumatic event is very painful and the aftereffects stay with the survivor for a long time. The hardest thing to deal with is we truly know that we are the same person after the experience as we were before. We are robbed of many aspects of our identity.

It is time to take back what we lost. It is possible.

Traumatic Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Tollefson) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:46:00 +0000

Traumatic memories have a tendency to push toward the forefront of our minds and interrupt your life. Can't let past painful experience rule present experiences.

Time to divert your attention to the moment and create a vision to nurture for the future.

Yesterday is just a memory,
Today is the moment,
Tomorrow is an enigma

Combat Flashbacks: Is Healing Possible?

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Tollefson) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 20:46:00 +0000

A fact is a fact. Memory is a fact. War is a fact. Unfortunately for many veterans the latter two facts collide. Every soldier at some point leaves the battlefield, but the battlefield never leaves the soldier. After soldiers return state side, and stand down from 24/7 battle readiness, vivid images of missions they experienced begin to flash in their minds. These mental images are normal and are termed “flashbacks”.

Neurological research has proven that the brain processes traumatic memory differently than non-traumatic memory. The human brain’s job in reference to non-traumatic memory is that of order and closure. Simply put, the brain receives all the information from an event; it processes all the images, smells and sounds, achieves closure with the associated emotions and then put the event into long-term storage for future retrieval and replay.

When the brain is faced with an intense traumatic event, the processing is put on hold as well as the closure of associated emotions. The brain’s normal function of order and storage is not achieved and the imprint of the event remains active. At some point, the brain will bring the imprint back to consciousness in order to process the event, make emotional closure and integrate it into long-term storage.

Soldiers from every service are highly trained professionals and when in battle mode, their brain responds and functions differently. In the heat of battle a soldier’s brain is so focused on completion the mission that there is no time to process its impact or make closure.

An example of this can be seen through the experience of a close friend of mine who returned from the Vietnam War. He was well decorated and was involved in many battles during his two tours in country. Initially his transition back into civilian life went smoothly. He lived with his wife and went back to work in his chosen profession. He lived in a large city where the police relied heavily on helicopters to patrol and less on squad cars. One evening it all changed. A police helicopter began to circle low over neighborhood looking for robbery suspect. That night the police helicopter triggered him into a combat flashback. In his mind he was back in Vietnam. He felt that he along with his brother-in-arms were under attack. He ran to his closet, pulled out his rifle, ran outside into his backyard and began to fire at the police helicopter. After that he had more combat flashbacks, slept less, became more anxious, and used illegal drugs to attempt to stop the images. On another occasion his wife woke up with him holding a knife to her throat telling her to be silent or they would be found. She left him the next day and did not return. Two months later he lost his job. Stories like this one were not uncommon for Vietnam Veterans.

Many stories just like the one above will happen again and again.

America

has a new generation of veterans (289,328) that have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan wars and each one has brought back combat memories. 106,726 (36.9%) veterans received mental health diagnoses. 62,929 (21.8%) were diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In these days of specialization, why isn’t there a teachable skill that would target one memory at a time and help a veteran to process through combat flashbacks one by one?

Well, there is. A guided protocol called Rapid Reduction Technique®© (RRT) was developed to reduce the effects of traumatic flashbacks and memories for women who have been traumatized and abused. The RRT has been used and studied with this population for the past 9 years. RRT has been successful helping survivors reduce the intensity of the flashbacks, help in the processing all the images, smells and sounds, achieves closure with the associated emotions and facilitate storage into long-term memory. RRT®© is a teachable and safe skill which works on one memory at a time. RRT®© is based on revisiting, not reliving or re-experiencing. Flashbacks are an attempt of the brain to achieve order. The RRT®© protocol teaches a survivor to bring a reoccurring flashback up to consciousness safely, work with the emotions associated with it and assist the brain in processing it.

One year ago a pilot study was conducted to see the effectiveness of the Rapid Reduction Technique™©. The study looked at seven areas of intrusive traumatic flashbacks and memories. Those areas were; inability to function, strength of memory pain, degree of triggering, level of emotional, physical, spiritual and audio pain. 66 women in an inpatient setting with diagnoses of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) participated. All 66 women were experiencing dysfunction in their lives due to flashbacks and memories from childhood and adulthood trauma and abuse. All areas studied showed a significant decrease in level of pain related to their chosen flashbacks or memories.

Within the studied population of the 66 women there were 2 veterans of the Desert Storm War and 1 contractor who served as support for the military during the Iraq War. All three had chosen combat or wartime memories and reported significant reduction in the intensity and associated pain.

Let’s look at the case of one Navy veteran in the pilot study. Her family had a long line of members who had served in the military. She served 10 years in the military and saw combat in the Desert Storm War. Her flashback was a result of one of her combat experiences. While part of a large supply convoy traveling into Iraq, the trucks she was responsible for got off route. Separated from the main convoy and making a course correction, they were ambushed. In the firefight, she was wounded; another officer and several ground soldiers were killed. Reinforcements helped them to win the firefight, get the trucks and fallen brothers-in-arms out. After months of physical rehabilitation, an honorable discharge with commendations and return to civilian life, flashbacks of the ambush began to surface. The reoccurring flashbacks caused her to experience agitation, guilt, bouts of deep depression, constant anxiety, and shame for not completing her mission. She was overwhelmed with severe regret for not bringing all her soldiers back alive. She went through years of psychiatric hospitalizations and medication, yet the flashbacks continued. Her everyday life became dysfunctional, relationships failed; she experienced sleepless nights and was unable to hold a job. Her days were full of anxiety, fear, and pain.

During one of her hospitalizations, she had the opportunity to volunteer for the Rapid Reduction Technique®© pilot study. She picked her ambush flashback to use in the study. On her pre-test, on a scale of 0 to 4, with “0” being no pain or inability to function due to her flashback and “4” being intense pain or inability to function, she rated all study areas at 4. She stated that the ambush flashback had caused a “loss of dignity, honor and direction.” Reporting on the post-test at conclusion of experiencing the Rapid Reduction Technique on her ambush flashback, she rated all 7 areas studied at “0”.

What grew out of the pilot study from the success of the two veterans and one contractor participating was that Rapid Reduction Technique had possible military application. A military guided protocol called Rapid Reduction Technique - Combat®© (RRT-C®©) was developed that would help male and female soldiers. RRT-C®© has already helped two male Vietnam Veterans.

One of the two was a 62 year old male Vietnam Veteran who had his voice box shattered when he was shot in the neck during a battle at the age of 19. Years after his return to civilian life, he started to experience severe flashbacks of that battle. He reported that the flashbacks would cause him to have increased physical pain in his neck as well as emotional pain. He went through years of anxiety, fear, worthlessness and a feeling that he let himself and his buddies down by being shot. His life became very dysfunctional. He lost his marriage, and his ability to hold a job. He said he felt “worthless, disgraced and an outcast.” He gave up and isolated himself from society. He resorted to drugs and alcohol to medicate his pain and cope with life. He went through years of being homeless with many admissions to psychiatric hospitalizations and substance abuse programs. Though it was difficult for him to communicate with others through his electro larynx, he volunteered to experience the Rapid Reduction Technique – Combat®©. He reported at the conclusion of his RRT-C®© experience that the emotional, physical and mental intensity of the flashback was significantly reduced. Week later, his memory of the battle only came up if he recalled it, and he did not experience any pain. He gratefully stated for the “first time in my life since I left Vietnam, I am finally free.”

Of course Rapid Reduction Technique–C®© is not a cure for PTSD, and more study on the RRT-C®© should be done, but there is promise. RRT-C®© has proven so far to be effective for veterans. It can be taught to veterans so they can take command of their combat flashbacks and finally complete their mission, one battlefield memory at a time.

_____________________________________________________________________

Clinical Research Update on RRT®©

Rapid Reduction Technique®© was clinically researched for 3 years at a major university and shown to be clinically effective for the relief of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms.

A Time of Blessing

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Tollefson) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 02:34:00 +0000

On this eve of Christmas, I want to take this chance to deeply express to all a Merry, Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays to all the loyal supports who have followed my blog.

As we near the end of this year, and not the end of the world as some had predicted, it is time to pause, take a moment and reflect on what we have been blessed with throughout 2012. The events we experience in the past 12 months do not always feel like a blessing, but later as time marches forward, we will see thing through a different pair of eyes. These same events will appear as positive. Positive, in that they pointed us in a different and better direction. Sometimes kicking and screaming because where we were so comfortable. Even painful and hurtful situations can become very comfortable. As some of us know, even trauma can be comfortable if jerked away and we have melted into a pattern.

Now is the time, a time for inner journey filled with dreams, fantasy, spiritual nourishment and validation. Open a new door and make a positive change to your life. It is not what we give or get, it is about erecting stronger bonds with our inner and outer environments. Confirming our positive core beliefs and shifting the negative ones which keep us stuck to old ways and habitual patterns. The stronger our core beliefs, the stronger of mind code and the stronger our ties with the ones we love. For as we have experienced this year, it can be a regular day, and boom - suddenly we will never see a love one ever again. Live in the moment and risk to enjoy. We need to give ourselves permission to live.

Love your family and yourself as though it is the last moment you have. Tonight and tomorrow morning is a magical time and season not only for our children and grandchildren but also for the inner child in all.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Blessings All

Seeking an Answer Out of Darkness

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Tollefson) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 22:17:00 +0000

“Life barriers don’t define us; it is our reactions to them that does. Each life event makes us stronger” ~ Dr Bill

We all experience negative, bad or overwhelming events. At the moment we feel as though we have been robbed of a piece of us. The resulting scars don't define us or weaken us, actually they increase our inner strength and resolve.

Sometimes it seems like our life falls apart in an instance and our life has changed forever. We focus on the wrongs and sometimes thrust judgment upon ourselves.

Initially there seems like there is no reason for what happened but it is meant reveal to us our inner power and strength. Do not close ourselves off to the possibility of growth. Maybe as a result a door opens within us and a new us is discovered.

But after sometime as the intensity of memories fade and the pain reduces we will see a new direction for ourselves. So when all the pieces come together a whole future will be revealed to us.

What to do?

Don't be a slave to the our memories. Don't react to what happened but what we accomplished in surviving. Move forward.

Slow down, listen to our inner truth, resist self-defeating beliefs, negative looping thoughts and the feeling of being broken or damaged. Rather seek the message that the universe has served up. Traumatic experiences make us stronger, not weak. Focus on the moment and create a positive future. Embrace self and celebrate every minute of life.

If you have any questions, leave me a comment below.

If you know of anyone that could benefit from the words in this blog, please forward them a link to the post.

2013 Seminar Opinion Survey

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Tollefson) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 01:43:00 +0000

I have been very successful in the past couple of years with developing my life coaching business and now I am ready to move forward. I am interested in teaching others the values I have discovered with life coaching, personal philosophy method and upgrading my rapid reduction technique. I would like the input of my fellow colleagues, friends, associates and clients past and present on your interests. So please, if you would click the link to fill out the attached form and lets move forward together.

Please fill out my form.

Thank you Dr. Bill

Freedom for Veterans from Combat Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Tollefson) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 22:09:00 +0000

Freedom is now possible from traumatic flashbacks.

Veterans do not have to suffer from battlefield flashbacks.

I am happy to announce now there is a ground breaking method to help combat veterans to re-write combat memory and reduce Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. 20% of all service men and women are suffering from combat PTSD once they return home. As a combat veteran, there is no longer a need to carry haunting battlefield memories. Now there is a method called Rapid Reduction Technique (RRT) which can assist vets to quickly disconnect all mental and emotional links to the battlefield. RRT has been studied in clinical research as effective, and safe in a 3 year clinical research project at a major University and the clinical data was presented at the International Trauma Conference in Berlin, Germany earlier in March of 2012.

No one has to remain a wounded soul or be a hostage to traumatic memories.

The clinical research study results also showed that it is extremely effective on memories for individuals who have survived abuse, trauma and catastrophic events.

Learn more. http://youtu.be/i82mbnIVkCw

Thought Addiction (TA) is a Fact

noreply@blogger.com (Bill Tollefson) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:59:00 +0000

“Pain can’t kill you but addictions can”

Many people and professionals are not familiar with TA, but it is spreading through the addiction field. As I have dealt with this issue of TA, I have come to believe that every addiction starts with a thought whether it is a substance addiction, eating disorders, emotional addiction, gambling addiction or sex addiction. In fact every act in life starts with a thought. Even when a person becomes sober they are left with the original thought that started the addictive behavior. If the TA is not addressed in sobriety then it highly possible that a relapse will occur.

How does a thought addiction happen?

If a distorted, illogical, rooted core belief or negative thought begins to loop in a person's mind, and the person is unable to stop it, the thought seems to on endlessly. This type of thought can cause devastating effects a person's life. There are many different types of looping thoughts; such as severe depression, compulsions, excessive anxiety, doubt, suicidal thinking, worry or uncontrollable focus on a behavior, emotion or an upcoming event. If a looping thought is caught in the beginning stage or even in later stage, the thought can be shifted to positive thought averting inappropriate addictive behavior, strong negative emotions or possible disaster.

This concept can occur due to life barriers or trauma and can cause a person to feel stuck in their life and not achieve the success they want.

Rapid Reduction Technique Finally Achieves Recognition in South Florida University

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Bill) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 18:00:00 +0000

I never thought this would happen but last week a doctoral student defended her dissertation on Rapid Reduction Technique RRT at Carlos Albizu University. She was successful at her defending her doctoral study. So we have a new Ph.D. in the world. Hurray!

In her 2 year doctoral study of Rapid Reduction Technique RRT, she proved that the RRT method for relieving Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms is for real, effective and valid. It is now independently proven that RRT does what I have said and shown for 12 years. "RRT alleviates PTSD "re-experiencing" symptom and disconnects the associated triggers.” The study also showed that RRT alleviated the depression associated with experiencing abusive, combat or traumatic life events.

This is a major breakthrough for working with traumatic memories and flashbacks. I have been waiting for years for an independent source to prove the benefits of Rapid Reduction Technique - RRT, so it would get the recognition it deserves. I never thought this day would come.

I could not wait, I knew RRT could do better so I updated it to RRT 2.0 and even though it takes longer than 5 minutes, it helps more on a deeper level with alleviating core beliefs also. Personally I have had deep faith in RRT through watching it help thousands over the past 11 years.

If you like this Blog then please SUBSCRIBE and make a comment.

Contact me at http://www.drbilltollefson.com/ if you would like more information on Rapid Reduction Technique - RRT.

“What are "Persecutor Alters in a D.I.D System?"

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Bill) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:40:00 +0000

I receive many questions on the subject of Dissociative Identity Disorder, known as D.I.D. from survivors of serve abuse and who are suffering from Complex PTSD. In all my years of working with D.I.D. clients, it is this type of alters that are feared the most and are the most misunderstood.

"Persecutor Alters" are the most feared, resistant and rejected by the host as well as the professionals that work with this population.

"Persecutor Alters" referred to or viewed two different ways.

1. If the person experienced ritual abused then persecutor alter(s) is "demon(s)" put into the victim by suggestion through brainwashing and torture over an extended period of time. The victim is put into a high degree of suggestibility by deprivation of sleep, food and drugged. The victim perceives that these persecutor alters are one of their own alters but are in fact a mirror image of one or more alters in the host system. These “mirror images or persecutor alters” have no eyes and are not a part of host’s Soul. This type of symbolic representations or persecutor alters generally create constant crisis and chaos for the victim internally and in his or her external life. Persecutor alters adhere strictly to the rules, beliefs, behavior and values that the abuser or group set forth by force. The victim was made to verbally promise to adhere to for the rest of his or her life at penalty of death. Persecutor alters sabotage the victim all the time.

2. The second way persecutor alters are viewed is that they are a “resistant alter(s)” that abide completely by the rules, behaviors, beliefs, expectations, and /or values of their abuser. These types of alters tend to not believe or accept the “host system” because no one helped or saved them. This type had been singled out from the other alters and were put through intense emotional excitement to make sure that the rules, behaviors, beliefs, expectations, and /or values of the abuser would embed into the subconscious. These alters are unknowingly affectionately attached and completely loyal to the abuser. Persecutor alter(s) is unable or willing to attach to the host system or authentically view the reality. They are stuck in the past and in a toxic relationship. Crisis and chaos is the only life they know.

PTSD: Change Your Mindset

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Bill) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:32:00 +0000

Post traumatic Stress Disorders cannot be ignored. Want to beat PTSD symptoms? It takes more than just a wish. Just ignoring them will not make them disappear. Essential to being successful is facing and recognizing them as a recording of an event that closure was not able to be made then. Compartmentalizing overwhelming emotional experiences was a God given skill to save a person’s life. Be grateful. If you are a survivor then shift your mindset. View the return of a flashback as a blessing and learn a skill that will help you to dissipate the intensity, close the unprocessed emotions and facilitate mental order and proper storage. No athletic ever won a gold medal without gaining more skills. Faith in the strength that you display to survive the traumatic event will help you to overcome the symptoms. As long as you acquire a new skill and work your faith you will be successful. Remember recovery from PTSD symptoms is long distances run not a sprint. There is a proven skill that will stop re-experiencing. See a skill that works - http://bit.ly/kbrjCG

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder & Thought Addiction

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Bill) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 23:20:00 +0000

"Thought Addiction is real and can devastate your life." - Dr Bill June 2011

Do you find yourself triggered by a flashback of a past traumatic experience and then unable to free yourself from residual thoughts. Yes
After such an event it seems as though you trapped within a constant thought pattern or mental loop. The result of a PTSD episode for many survivors is so strong intrusive thoughts. These afterthoughts such as “It was my fault”, I caused it to happen”, “I do not deserve better” or “I am not worthy of anything better” invades one’s mind. These thoughts to a traumatic thought or set of thoughts can wreck havoc in every aspect of a survivor’s life. This type of thoughts originates from rooted core beliefs that form at the time of the traumatic event and surface due to the triggering affect of the flashback. They can also produce a re-traumatization on top of the primary trauma memory. The thought can remain prominent in one’s daily thought and can disrupt their functioning and cause the survivor to isolate. Survivor can become addicted to the resulting thought or set of thoughts.

When focused continuously on the thought it begins to loop and one becomes addicted to the thought. The looping thought numbs the surfacing emotion and tolerance builds. The more one concentrates on the thought the more it cannot be stopped. Soon control is lost and the thought takes over. The more one attempts ignore the thought the more one focus on it. An everyday example is when you attempt to ignore a thought, the more you think of it.

There is hope in unblocking a thought Addiction. For more information copy and paste this link: http://hubpages.com/hub/Unblocking_Addictive_Thought_Patterns

Words Can Set Our Identity

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Bill) — Thu, 12 May 2011 00:11:00 +0000

“Our words have the power to shape who we are”

It is a fact that we are what we speak. Our words have extreme power in the formation of our identity. Words determine how we view ourselves, how we compare ourselves to others and the world and how we react or do not react to any situation.
We need to be very mindful of the content of our words about ourselves. I have learned that “the words that come out of our mouths go directly into our ears unfiltered”. So the brain registers the words, and it says “if that is how you want it then it will be so”. The brain will make it true and cloud the real truth. Understand that the human brain is a non-judgmental and non-emotional organ, and believes what we say about ourselves, is the truth. So speaking words like stupid, ugly, no good or worthless often, even though not true, will become part of our “true” identity.
We need to take stock in the words we utter, because they make come back to haunt us, even if we were just kidding or attempting not to be conceited. The words that we use to describe ourselves could deform our identity for years to come. Be ever vigilant. Speak positive self words and begin a formation of a positive identity.

Barriers to Success: Top Three Rooted Core Beliefs

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Bill) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 21:05:00 +0000

I wanted to share the results of the survey I conducted on Facebook. The question was “When doubt surfaces in you due to problems or stress in your life, what you think first?” I wanted to know the first thought that surfaced when a person was faced with stressful or overwhelming life events. I wanted to compare it to other surveys and what I was noticing in people I have been coaching. I though this knowledge was very important to increase understanding of why some people experience barriers when attempting to be successful in their life.

The people who participated had three choices: 1. “I am not good enough”; 2. “I do not deserve to___” or “I do not measure up”. The results were very interesting. The number one rooted core belief reported by the individuals who participated was “I am not good enough”. This rooted core belief was found to be the #1 in many other surveys and the number one reported by people I coach. This rooted core belief reflected the person’s self-perceive weaknesses or the skills they think they are lacking. The second most common was “I do not measure up to ____”. This one reflects that under stress people tend to compare themselves with others. The last reported was “I do not deserve to ____”. This rooted core belief tends to reflect the issue of permission or the right to heal old wounds, be rewarded or succeed.

The good news is that all three can be shifted and no longer be a barrier to personal growth or success.

Musing: A new way to Help DID

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Bill) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:40:00 +0000

One of my passions is to deeply understand the world of DID systems. Not only do I believe that the formation of DID is a normal response to an overwhelming life event, but also DID is a powerful defensive process against repetitive abuse and trauma.
For decades this "alternative world" was painted in negative light. For 14 years, I have been looking to develop a method to help individuals with DID systems to have a more cohesive life without crisis, chaos, separateness and constant episodes of terror. I think I have found a positive method from the life coaching I have been doing with DID clients. That method is "musing". Muses have been a huge inspiration for poets, writers and artists dating back to pre- Greek and Roman times. In reference to DID systems, musing is facilitating a massive shifting of the system's mindset from protective compartmentalization to collective inspiration. Through musing, a system (or as one of my clients called her system her "troops") stops focusing on possible threats and turns all energy toward being the inspirational and creative energy for the whole. Under this new mindset everyday is a blank canvas on which the muses create a new painting. Life then becomes art and not something to avoid.
This method has been embraced by many systems and I have witnessed quick mindset shifts and dramatic results. No matter where you are on the continuum, healing is possible.
To participate and gain the benefits of this exciting method, go to http://bit.ly/fG76X3

Dr. Bill's New Social Video Show on Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Bill) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:38:00 +0000

The question for my 1st social video show aired over Facebook was “What is your Personal Philosophy?” You can watch http://bit.ly/gN1d1M and learn more about my theory for personal growth and healing. I have gotten very good response from the viewers of the show. I plan on doing more episodes and I asked people interested in seeing more to suggest topics they would like me to talk about. Participate and send me suggestions at tollefsonenterprises@gmail.com for what you want to hear on "Transforming with Dr. Bill"

I will be co-hosting an internet radio show "Renew Your Life Radio Show with Dr. Lisa Palmer" in Boca Raton, FL on Saturday night March 12th at 6 pm. You can hear the show locally in South Florida on WWNN 1470 AM radio or anywhere on www.BlogTalkRadio.com

PTSD Memories can be Neutralized

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Bill) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 22:47:00 +0000

Why do negative thoughts enter my mind? Well there are two routes that need to be considered. Negative thoughts are generally triggered unconsciously in course of our daily lives and can be side effects of PTSD symptoms. To deal on a daily basis, you first have to understand the elements of memory and what gets attached to them. Memory has three compartments: content, emotion and audio. A core belief attaches to the memory on the side, as if that was not enough, because the memory content is from a traumatic event. Over time the core belief roots itself to the memory. Meaning the rooted belief will surface along with the other compartments when the memory is triggered. That being said, let’s look at how negative thoughts are routed into our consciousness.
Route #1 is when negative thoughts surface as the result of a current event stimulating a memory of a previous event to release a root belief from that event For example: a rooted belief could be “I am not good enough”. The other route is when the current event stimulates the audio portion of the memory and releases the direct statement recorded in the brain, like “You will never be any good at anything”. Understand that both routes of delivery are disempowering. You have no idea where they came from. Both influence you by running in the background but cause you to think negative ways and as a result you think you are crazy because there is nothing happening now, you think is causing you trouble.
The positive thing is once you understand the reasons you are thinking negatively today, you won’t feel like you are crazy. Also it is possible to make a shift from negative to positive as well as neutralizing the influence the thoughts have on you, so the thoughts no longer disempower you. Transformation can occur quickly. Check out the possibilities at http://www.lifeskills-transformation.com/enhanced_rrt.html

Follow Me through Twitter

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Bill) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:34:00 +0000

Hey everyone!!!!!

Guess what? I just signed up for Twitter. If you would like to follow me or tweet me, my username is @DrBillLifeCoach

I am real excited about this. Life Coaching is so powerful and can help everyone achieve their full potential. To learn more by going to my new coaching website http://www.lifeskills-transformation.com/index.html

Secondary Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Bill) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 22:44:00 +0000

In this modern age of technology, we are faced with images from around the world in real time. The events in Egypt, Chilean Mine Accident, Iraq War, Afghanistan War and 9/11 are streamed to our living rooms. Subconsciously we are being deeply affected. We are feeling strong emotions and thinking “why am I feelings this when I am not involved and watching them happen?”
If we have personally experienced an abusive or traumatic life event in childhood and it has been buried, a present event being viewed live over TV can cause images from the past to surface and affect your perceptions, emotions, thoughts and behaviors. So it is important that we learn about Secondary Post-traumatic Stress (PTS).
Experiencing Post-traumatic Stress is a normal response to an overwhelming painful emotional experience. There are two types of Post-traumatic Stress. One type is Primary PTS where you are traumatized by an act that happens directly to you. The second type is secondary PTS where you are traumatized by witnessing the traumatic act that happens to other people. The symptoms resulting from secondary exposure to trauma are no different from primary PTS. These symptoms could be affecting us on a subconscious level and could cause our life to be dysfunctional.

The symptoms that might be felt from constant secondary exposure to terrorizing images maybe anxiety, fear and uncertainty, dissociative reactions, feeling of emptiness, feeling of loss, detachment from our lives, hyper vigilance (heightened awareness), a need to isolate and depressed mood. Sleeping patterns and eating may also be affected. If any of these symptoms already exist in you, they may very well be increased disproportionately by secondary exposure to “traumatic images”. It is important to know that what you are experiencing is a normal reaction. Understand that for every action (witnessing a traumatic event) there is an equal and opposite reaction (aftereffects). These aforementioned symptoms are the equal and opposite reaction.

Another factor that may occur as a result of the secondary exposure is that witnessing current traumatic on others may trigger past buried memories of primary traumatic exposure that have remained inactive deep within us without us being conscious of it. If you are experiencing some or all of the symptoms listed above, then it might be the result of too much exposure to the media and causing past recollections to surface.
It becomes so important for your physical and emotional health to recognize that what you are feeling is normal. Give yourself permission to experience your strong sympathetic feelings for what others are going through. So here are a few suggestions that may help reduce the affects of secondary exposure.
1. Reduce exposure to the media.
2. Recognize that what is happening is not happening to you right now.
3. Resume normal activities.
4. Monitor your emotional reactions.
5. Nurture yourself. (Do not judge your emotions)
6. Give yourself permission to go through the grief. Witnessing loss cause grief reactions for others.
7. Talk to other people about your feelings and reactions to these ghastly events as a way to appropriately vent.

Rapid Reduction Technique Updated to 2.0

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Bill) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:59:00 +0000

Have you ever reacted to something you did not want to do but you found yourself doing it anyway? Probably you were triggered to do so by an old recollection, a flashback of an event that you have not made closure with.

Looking for a way to tune-up or refresh self while breaking the bond from an old recollection of a past abusive or traumatic life event that affect how you function today, well there is a way. It is possible to reduce the influence of a flashback quickly and safely. Break the emotional upheaval and affects of your past. Let go of the “old” and make room to accept “new” into your life.

Now there is a way - RRT® 2.0. Rapid Reduction Technique® 2.0 – RRT® 2.0 is an enhancement to the original RRT® that has been so successful for so many survivors with PTSD and who suffered from flashbacks. Everyone is influenced by past life experiences that drive how they think and behavior. Now RRT® 2.0 works for anyone who is just bother, consciously or subconsciously, by a memory that is influences their success, performance and how they function. Not only does RRT® 2.0 decrease the intensity of a recollection and disconnect the trigger, this new updated method assists in uncovering the root cause, disempowering embedded core beliefs, shift to a new mindset, dissolve resistance, and changes the core value, as well as disabling the associated emotions. RRT® 2.0 takes longer than the original RRT® but the benefits of RRT® 2.0 are so much more. RRT® 2.0 frees you from past barriers that impede you from achieving future intentions and success. In one session, you become freed from the hold that a memory has on you. Eliminate the influenced that past life events has on your present thoughts and behavior. Buried or dissociated abusive or traumatic events obstruct your personal and professional growth. Do not remain a slave to your past.

Exciting News

noreply@blogger.com (Dr Bill) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:55:00 +0000

I would like to share some exciting news. Last September I enrolled in a training course to increase my coaching skills with Dr. Patrick Wanis, Ph.D., Celebrity Life Coach. Dr. Wanis has been on Fox News, CNN, Dr. Phil Show and Oprah as well as many radio shows. He has written books and offers DVDs on his techniques. The course was on Subconscious Rapid Transformation Technique or SRTT. He only accepted 17 students in the country for the course.
The training course was 7 weeks long with a field practicum reviewed and supervised personally by him. I benefited and gained a lot of knowledge from Dr. Wanis’s teaching and mentoring. I learned in depth how to work with the subconscious or emotional mind. I felt the experience was well worth the hard work, assignments, time and study.
I am proud to announce that today I received my certification. Out of the 17 students who enrolled, I was 1 of 5 who completed the certification process. Subconscious Rapid Transformation Technique is for individuals who would like to learn why they have been stuck in their life and not having the life they are seeking.
I am now one of 5 certified by Dr. Wanis in the country to conduct SRTT. SRTT is a very powerful healing and transformational tool that I can add to my coaching practice to mentor survivors of abuse and trauma seeking to heal from overwhelming past life events.