I’m doing it. I’m pulling the trigger. My first video blog!
For the last two years I’ve thought about video blogging. I love to write… but there is something special about being able to see someone’s face, hear their voice, appreciate their funny quirks and mannerisms…
Today, in my first video blog I will be talking about a subject near and dear to my heart: Fear. Specifically: overcoming fear and panic after a traumatic event.
Post traumatic stress was something I first had experience with as a physician. I spent a year treating Irag/Afghanistan vets at the West LA VA Hospital who had combat-related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Then, I had my own experience with trauma. Last October, about a year ago, I experienced a rare but serious side effect of one of my nausea medications called dystonia. Over the course of a few minutes, my jaw clenched shut, twisting tighter and tighter until I couldn’t breathe. It only lasted a few hours, but it was so terrifying that for months after I was afraid to do anything or go anywhere for fear it would happen again. There was no moment in the day when I was not overcome with waves of anxiety and panic.
Thankfully, I was able to draw on my work treating PTSD to help myself get through it. In this video I talk about the dystonia, how the panic attacks developed afterward, and how over the following months I forced myself to engage in life to avoid getting locked in a pattern of fear and avoidance.
Here’s the direct link to the video again
I am thinking of doing another workshop to teach some of the specific tools and exercises to work through post-traumatic stress… is this something you would be interested in?
I hope you like this video and let me know what you think in the comments!
As I watched you humanize the universally terrifying experience of suffocating, I flashed on the ease with which Alan Watts translated Eastern thought into Western mindspeek. He did it so smoothly, without effort and in ways his readers immediately understood. You have always possessed that synthesizer skill, in your writings (Joshua tree tripping comes to mind) & now via video. You blend your personal nightmares into parables that help your readers (& viewers) “stay engaged with life.” L’chaim Elana. You are a blessing. May peace be with you. Namaste.
Hey John, I’m honored to be thought of remotely in the same category as Alan Watts… thank you for making my day 🙂
Loved it! And yes, I’d be interested in more talks about trauma. You did a great job.
Aloha Elana
Loved your speaking to me/us. Showing/sharing your heart resonates with my heart. I am feeling a secondary ptsd after the devastating fire that consumed my former home/community in no. CA last month & then the horrifying senseless random murder of a teacher/friend. I loce your being real, individual, professional in your blog. Thank you soooo much. U are an amazing being & your sharing/teachings will help many of us. Rock on Sista!!!! XO padma
Elana!!!!!!! It’s been a long time since I’ve had an update about you. I am absolutely thrilled with how well you look. While your video was interesting and very well done for your first effort, I was so excited to watch it because I thought it was an update on your CA diagnosis. Knowing what you’ve gone through this past year does explain your “non-updates,” or maybe I just need to follow you closer. So sorry to hear about the whole dystonia thing but happy for the growth as a result.
Please continue your blog. I can imagine your thoughts when you assessed the finished product. As a viewer I can tell you the content was well understood, you spoke clearly and at a good pace, and you look terrific!! I love your hair. The only criticism I can think of is to either hold something or keep your hands folded so you don’t scratch! 🙂
I am just so happy with how well you look and to hear you’ve been practicing at the VA.
My only question for you is~~~ have you been surfing? If not, sounds like an excellent future goal. Remember how free and spiritual it felt? Might have been excellent PTSD treatment.
Stay well, keep looking up, and please keep blogging.
See you in the line up~~~~Aloha!
Hello Elana. I enjoyed your video and was able to see the picture of PTSD through your experience. Very well represented and easy to relate to. Can u think about a video blog on dealing with/ getting over fear of death. This may be something you have some first hand thoughts about. Thank you.. Debbie.
Thank you so much for this video. I have experienced the exact same thing after developing a blood clot. The PTSD, panic attacks and anxiety were worse than the blood clot. I also would not wish this on anyone but like you said it has made me stronger and able to deal with things and help others. Thank you for all you do and you look fabulous!
Yes, please!
You’re Looking Fantastic and really enjoyed your talk.
I’ve had NHL for two years now and early on started to realize that there IS NO SAFE PLACE….lol. No matter how many wall we set up for ourselves and no matter how much money we accumulate bad things will still happen. I write and record songs as MY Therapy and wanted to share this one.
LOOKING FOR A SAFE HARBOR.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7f_JlMAKTI
Good Luck and looking forward to more talks….Barry [email protected]
That was great!! I really appreciate you and what you have gone through and how you are so honest and giving to others. I’ve heard that circumstances do not make the person, they reveal the person to themselves.
I can relate in small ways to your topic. When I got very sick a couple of years ago and did not know why, those times were tough. When I was attacked by a pack of pit bulls and survived, I had many moments of fear after that, but never full blown panic attacks. Same with a flight I piloted into severe storms where I kept focused for two hours not knowing if I would crash till I was in the clear. Time healed me as you suggested by living and pushing into the areas that I feared. I’ve often thought about how giving power to a situation or disease that threatens us only makes the disease stronger and us weaker. Theory is one thing but being in the situation ourselves is a whole different thing. It may be better to be the hammer than the nail, but I hope we can be the toughest nails that hammer ever hit!
Elana,
This hits so close to home, as I was heading to bed last night I thought about my next blog post, and most certainly I was planning on titling it FEAR. Because this experience has left me with SO much fear. How could it not right? But it is so interesting to at times feel so overcome with fear, paralyzed where in the beginning I was so confident that everything was going to be ok, I was just going to get a little chemo and be fine…boy how naiive I was. Anyway, it was terrific to see your face and your mannerisms (which I happily noticed within the first few moments!) I would love to hear more on coping with trauma. Hoping to connect in person soon!
Abbie
Love The Hair BTW & Big {{{{{HUGS}}}}} Love The Video Blog * You are Fabulous * A Bright shining Beacon of Light in a World gone yumpy * I want to be president of your Fan club. Namaste’ <3
Wow. I’ve received your updates for a while now and always, always appreciate your authenticity and the way you encourage others to nurture themselves even in the midst of pain, trauma, life-altering circumstances, etc. While I haven’t had a typical “traumatic” experience, I am grateful to hear your story and more importantly, how you overcame your fear. I initially found your blog as I was in very early recovery from an eating disorder and substance abuse. I was drawn to your beautiful writing AND you reminded me so much of my own psychiatrist. Bonus! I enjoyed your weekly updates and then, as you were on the cancer journey, the sporadic updates to let everyone know you were still alive and kickin’ (always a relief). I have been inspired by you and am happy to report that, with the help of several professionals, I’m back on track. Living s fuller, happier life. I truly think that all the connections (big, small, in-person, online) made this possible. Even though I’ve never had cancer, I know pain. And it helps so much to hear someone else say, “Me too.” We’re all in this together.
Thank you for the gift of your words and your resilient spirit.
P.S. I loved the video blog! It was great to put a voice with your words! Also helped to know that I’ve been saying your name wrong all this time.
That was very interesting. Thank you. I look forward to seeing and learning more.
You are radiant! So happy you are doing well and are doing what you love.
Slugger, you just hit them outa the park.
Elana
Thank you for your courageous truth telling and compassion through all you have gone through. It has been amazing to read your words and reflections through trauma in the last two years. It was even more powerful to see you and hear you now. As the video unfolds, your existential passion and beauty is manifest. Your voice is vulnerable and strong, grounded in deep waters, wellspring of joy. What a rare and beautiful gift–you are!!
Michael Granzen, Ph.D.
Nailed it. Thank you for your video and words… Comforting to hear you talk about your own experience that is relatable to so many… would love if you did a training. Love and light to you. M
Elana, I finally watched this. I know the perfectionist in you may have envisioned something more, well, perfect, but this was everything we needed and more. Your willingness to share every raw detail in the hope of helping others is so caring and healing. You are a healer in the truest sense of the word. I would love to see and hear more of you, in particular the wisdom (or stupidity!) of staying in proximity of a person/situation that previously caused mental anguish. And finally, it is a blessing to see you radiating good health. Thank God and thank you!
Elana it’s been amazing to watch your recovery. Your hair is coming back nicely. I enjoyed the video and would watch more. I am a BC survivor of 4 years (and a nurse) and I think most of us who receive a CA diagnosis have some sort of PTSD for awhile (some longer than others). You’re doing a fantastic job of taking something awful that happened to you and turning it into a positive for others. Thank-you and good luck on the journey!
Elena, you’re amazing. Your blogs make me laugh, make me cry and make me think. I’m always waiting for the next one. When I first found your site I was fine, life was good and I found your stories helpful for me to understand a part of life I hadn’t experienced… Now it’s different and I’m going through something that is so scary for me. I’m literally terrified. (blood clots, eschemia… Not cancer). Sometimes when I’m at my low points I think of what you went thru and it helps me see that I won’t always be like this and things can get better. Thank you! I’m so glad that you’re in remission and you look beautiful!
Dear, what do you think about farmakoteraphy ?
Elena,
I’ve been following you for so long now and have never commented. However you asked for idea for vlogs, and I would love for you to talk more about pain versus suffering, which was an early blog post. I have my own lovely set of medical conditions, and I come back to that post time and time again. I would love to hear you speak more to that thought process and how you apply it in your own life.
I know I am a stranger from across the country who randomly stumbled to your blog, but please know how inspiring you are with your truths. Please know you have helped to make my life better. And please know that I am cheering you on, praying for you, and sending all of the good vibes I can your way.
PS you are killin that hair style! Love it!
Loved this! I cannot wait until your next video. Anything informational dealing with psychiatry and self help I am always interested it. You’re doing great! And thanks for the information!